~*~*~
Lily followed Amy and Will as they walked down the aisle of the church. Though she'd missed the service that morning, she had felt much better and had wanted to attend Josh and Cami's concert. As they filed into a pew, she fought the urge to look around. No doubt people were curious about her reappearance. But mostly she didn't want to see Nate just yet, and she was fairly certain he was present somewhere in the sanctuary.
When Lance had told her about Nate's recent troubles and the fact that he was staying at the manor, she'd been shocked. Though she'd known she'd have to face him sooneror later, she hadn't figured on him being quite so close. It was pretty apparent from his absence from the manor all day that he wasn't all that eager to see her either. Not that she blamed him.
It had been for his own good. Now more than ever she was glad she'd ended things because the last thing he would have needed would have been her problems on top of his. She had been surprised—though she knew she shouldn't have been—at the shaft of pain she'd felt when Violet had told her he'd been dating a woman named Crystal.
Lily hoped that she was good for him. It was only now, looking back after almost three years apart, that she could see the relationship she'd had with Nate hadn't been a real healthy one.
"Have you been to many of their concerts?"
Lily pulled her thoughts back to the present and turned to see Amy watching her. "I've been to two, and they were great. I'm really looking forward to tonight."
"This is my first one here, but I always go to the ones they have in Dallas when they come to visit for Christmas. It's become a holiday tradition at our church."
"Are you planning to move back there? Or are you staying here now?"
Amy glanced over at Will and smiled. "Well, it's kind of looking like I'm going to be staying here for the time being. I don't have a job to go back to anymore, so I'm just going to hang around and see what happens."
Lily was curious about the young woman who had captured Will's heart. When she'd left, he'd still been struggling with his roles of widower and single father. It was so good to see a smile back on his face and the way his eyes lit up when he looked at Amy. Seeing her siblings in good relationships was going to have to be enough for her.
That first night after her diagnosis she'd spent hours reading everything she could find about MS, and it quicklybecame apparent to her that she was going to face this journey alone. Nate had often spoken of the stress his father had been under being a caregiver for his wife during her illness while also trying to run a business and being there for his son. Knowing that her condition would only get worse as the years went by, Lily had made the heartbreaking decision to spare Nate from having to care for her in the way his father had cared for his mother. She couldn't stay around Collingsworth after ending things with him, and even as she sat there today, she knew it had been the right decision to leave.
Noise from the center aisle drew Lily's attention. Before she could stop herself, she glanced to see what was going on. A group of young people were laughing as they filed into a row near the front. Her gaze moved to the row behind them, and her breath snagged when she saw Nate sitting at the far end of the pew. His head was bent, but as if sensing her watching him, he looked up and his gaze swung in her direction.
When their gazes met, Lily realized that no matter how much she thought she'd moved past Nate Proctor, her heart cried out for him. Fearful of what he might read on her face, she gave him a small smile before turning back around to where Cami and Josh were taking their places on the stage.
Lily had thought she was over Nate. But all it had taken was one look, and she was back to where she'd been three years ago. Part of the reason she'd felt ready to come back to Collingsworth was because she thought her heartbreak over Nate had finally healed. Unfortunately, it appeared that was not the case, but it was too late now to do anything about it. She was home, and she'd just have to pray that she was strong enough to be able to deal with him. He had moved on, and now she needed to do that as well.
Thankfully Josh and Cami's concert got underway, and she found herself relaxing and enjoying their performance. Most of the songs were familiar. Some she recognized as new songs they'd written together. Even though she'd been away, she'd been sure to keep up with their album releases.
As the applause faded after one of their songs near what Lily assumed was the end of their concert, Josh stepped forward. Cami stayed behind him, mic held at her waist.
"One thing Cami and I have learned in our own lives and as we've spoken to people at our concerts is that we all face struggles. So often we feel alone. We think that friends, family and even God have abandoned us to our pain. I know that feeling. I've been there. Cami's been there. And tonight I'm feeling there are some of you here that feel that way. This song was one that often came to my mind during those times when I felt so low that I didn't think I could go any lower. It's a reminder to each of us that we aren't alone. That Jesus does truly care."
As the music began, Lily closed her eyes and listened as Josh sang the opening to the song.
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long.
As Josh's voice faded away, Cami began to sing the next verse.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Together they sang,
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
