She leaned closer so she looked into his eyes. “Jace, I think it’s very sweet.”
Her answer brought a smile to his lips that fled as quickly as it came. “Now my family is ended.”
“You’re wrong.” She let the words hang in the air between them. “You are the family now.”
Her words so closely echoed what Chet often said that he couldn’t dismiss them. “Chet seemed to understand why I’d disappear. Sometime after I returned, he’d say something about living my best life now was a way to honor my parents’ memory. Or remind me I carried their name and should make them proud by the way I lived.” His voice deepened to a growl. “I’ve failed in every way.”
“Jace, no?—”
He wouldn’t let her finish. “I should make a marker for Chet. It’s the least I can do to honor him.”
“That’s sweet.” She lifted their clasped hands and intertwined their fingers. As if binding them together. “Except it’s not the only way to honor and maybe even not the best.”
The silkiness of her thumb rubbing along his smoothed the sharp edges of his thoughts.
“Don’t you think the best way to honor him is by caring for the inheritance he’s left you?”
If he hadn’t been occupied musing about her fingers and thumb, he would have seen her question coming. Why couldn’t she accept his decision and let them enjoy their short time together? He rose slowly, giving her no hint of his inner turmoil, and held out a hand to help her up.
She ignored him, her attention on something near the wooden marker, and she edged closer. “Jace, did you plant something here? It looks like a lily poking through the ground.”
His knees pressed the green grass flat as he knelt beside her and touched the emerging plant. “It lived! I didn’t think it would. Chet gave it to me. Said a lady in town offered it to him, and he thought I might like to plant it. He never suggested where, but the look in his eyes was enough. I planted it here two years ago. Never saw any sign of life last year.” Surprise and awe rounded his words, but he couldn’t help it. Didn’t even try.
“I think it’s a reminder. No, that isn’t what I mean.” She sat back on her heels. “This little lily can push back the heavy sod because of God’s wisdom and—” She fluttered her hands as if unable to find the words she wanted. “It’s like a message from God.”
“What sort of message?” Would she offer him a cure for his guilt? Healing from the pain of his losses? Was that even possible?
Dianne studied the lily.Let her gaze go down the slope to where Eddie played with Skip on a green carpet dotted with bright flowers. Her insides burgeoned with promise and possibility, but the words to explain it didn’t come.God, help me make Jace understand what You are trying to tell him.And maybe me.“Just think. God embedded life in that little forgotten bulb. Gave it strength to push through the soil in search of light. Not only does it remind you of Chet, perhaps it might also remind you that you can start again. You have God’s strength and healing.” She fell silent, unsure if she made sense or if Jace would hear what she meant.
His only reaction was to touch the green stem, run his fingers over the letters on the marker, and then give her a long, wordless look.
She didn’t breathe, afraid to disturb his thoughts. Would hesee a new future, or would he return to guilt and sorrow—a journey that had no end.
A smile started in his eyes and then claimed his lips. “Dianne, if I stayed, it would not be so much for Chet as for you.”
“Me?” Did that mean what she thought it did? Before she asked for further explanation, he helped her to her feet.
“Let’s not waste this sunny day.” Her hand still in his, he led her along the slope, paused to show her the almost translucent purple blossoms of wild crocuses and the fluffy seed heads of more mature ones.
“The flowers are scattered across the hillside as if God lifted a hand and tossed them to the ground, laughing to know how much people would enjoy them.” Joy filled her words like music.
“You’ve turned it poetic.” A smile had taken up residence on his face.
“I’m no poet, but I do like to admire flowers.”
He plucked a perfect blossom and held it toward her.
“‘From daisies bold to roses fair,
God’s hand is woven in the air,
In nature’s bloom, we find our place,
A reminder of His boundless grace.’”
He blinked as if as surprised at the words that came from him as she was.
“Jace, that’s lovely.”
