The dog bounded over, and they headed out into the darkness.
River came over to her, took the wooden spoon from her hand. “That was worth a Grammy.”
She sighed. “I think I just broke his heart.”
“You definitely broke mine.” River followed her gaze. “You should go after him.”
Keely looked at the kids dispersing. How Dawson had stared at her a long time before turning away. The smells of the kitchen rose around her, the sugar cookies, the bread in the proofers, ready for baking, the lingering scent of onions and garlic from tonight’s venison stew.
“This isn’t my world. No matter how much...” She looked at River. “It’s not real.”
“It is to me.”
“I’d have to...”
“Give up everything?”
“Maybe, yes. I don’t know.”
“You’ve heard ofNotting Hill? Or that new one,Finding You? Regular people fall in love with insanely famous people all the time.”
“Yeah. Usually they’re called stalkers.”
“C’mon, you don’t even want to try?”
She grabbed the spoon back and plunged it into the hot water, washing it. “It’s not that. It’s ... I have a big life. Complicated. And there are a lot of moving parts. He lives in Alaska, and I’d be a complete jerk to suck him into my world without ... well, without him knowing what it’s about.”
River nodded.
“I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I don’t think you were. You were listening to your heart.”
“The heart is deceitful.” She pulled out the spoon and took the towel from River. “My mother said that.”
“Yes. But God can align your heart to match his will. And hiswill is to bring you to a place of peace and joy. To sing the song you were meant to sing. You only have to ask.”
She stared at River. Swallowed. Oh no—was this what this was about? God bringing her here so she could fall in love with Alaska? With a man who ... saw her?
She lowered the spoon. “What if I’m afraid to ask?”
“Then you’ll never really know what it is that will bring you joy.”
“I think I know what makes me happy.”
“You onlyimagineyou know. But God says that no mind has conceived the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”
“He was talking about heaven.”
“Was he? Because God says that our abundant life starts here. In this realm. But only if we trust God, and surrender to him. Look to Christ, and you not only get salvation, but you’ll be set free to discover yourself too. The person you were made to be.”
Keely glanced at the door. Then she handed River the towel and the spoon. “Hold my mic.”
Because why not? It had all started with a crazy prayer four days ago, as the plane went down, a foxhole, desperate prayer that she couldn’t even finish.
But if she were honest, the ending went something likeGod,if you get me out of this,I’ll pay attention. I’ll listen. And I’lltrust you.
Or something like that.
