“I was a hot mess.” Jenna’s self-deprecating laugh filled the air. “I knew I didn’t want to stay like that, but I couldn’t find a way out.”
“But you did?”
Jenna nodded. “One day, I put the Christian radio station on, and I heard this beautiful song. When I got home, I looked up the lyrics because I couldn’t remember them. No wonder they sounded familiar—they came from a passage in Romans. I found peace in those verses that told me nothing could separate me from God. I’d accepted him as my Savior, and I am His forever.”
“That’s beautiful.” But how does that relate to me, she wanted to ask. They’d delved into a side topic, of which she wasn’t familiar.
“Are you a Christian?” Jenna’s gaze locked on hers. “I’m not talking about going to church or being a good person but having a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
“Yes, though as I said, I haven’t exactly been living for him.”
“Then go to Him and talk to Him.” Jenna’s smile grew wider. “I wish I had a way with words so I could more eloquently express how my life changed when I accepted that God loved me, flaws and all, and that nothing could separate me from him. All that shame and regret, it fell to the wayside in light of His love for me.” Contentment shone in her eyes, becoming brighter with each word. “All that to say, God will listen to your prayers. You can’t stray far enough that He won’t meet you where you are. Allow yourself that peace and comfort.”
“You’re awfully wise for a twenty-year old.” Monica yawned again, but she still had half her tea to drink. “What was Rex like as a child?”
“He was ten when I came along, so I know more about his teen years, and whew.” Jenna shook her head her lips before breaking out in a giggle. “He and Lucas are only fourteen months apart and were very close. Everyone wanted to be friends with them because they knew how to have fun. Though popular, they never shunned people. One of Rex’s best friends was Damien Daigle, the so-called class geek.”
“That sounds like him. He’s never met a stranger he couldn’t become friends with.”
“He has a heart of gold. All three of my brothers do. They’d give their last dollar to help someone in need and are fiercely loyal to those they love.”
Monica’s chest tightened. She wanted to be grouped with those to whom Rex was loyal, but she couldn’t very well tell his sister that, not when she hadn’t even told him yet that she loved him. “What happened to Lucas? I don’t mean to pry, but you said he and Rex were close, but I’ve always gotten the impression Rex is closer to Beau.”
“It wasn’t always that way.” Jenna frowned and ran a finger around the rim of her mug. “The summer after Lucas graduated, he joined the army and hasn’t looked back. He stops in every now and then, but he’s a different man.”
“Military service can change a person.”
Jenna shook her head. “He changed before he left. As far as I know, no one knows what happened, but something did. Rex won’t admit it, but Lucas’s departure sliced him deep. He went off to college the next year and then traveled for work, but he still kept in touch and came home often. Since he moved back last winter, he and Beau have become nearly inseparable in their free time.”
“I’m glad he has his family.”
“My turn to ask a question.” Jenna sat up straight with a smile playing on her lips. “How’d you get involved with my brother? I won’t ask if it’s serious because that’s obvious, but how’d you meet? Was it love at first sight?”
She cleared her throat and ignored the l-word. “We met at a professional conference in Houston three years ago. He wanted to move into the tech side of the security industry, and my boss wanted me to step into a colleague’s place when he went on an upcoming medical leave.”
“At a conference?” Jenna wrinkled her nose. “That’s so boring.”
Laughter erupted from her. “It was, which is why I snuck out of the first night’s final session. I didn’t know Rex had also until I saw him in the downstairs lobby. We’d caught each other playing hooky and decided to grab dinner.”
“And you fell in love?”
“Not quite.” She held her palms forward, slowing down Jenna’s assumptions. “We became good friends, and that’s how it stayed until last winter. Rex wanted more, but I was afraid.”
“But not anymore, or you wouldn’t be here.” Jenna’s eyes sparkled. “Nothing else matters.”
Time will tell. She finished the last of her tea. “Thanks for the tea and talk, but if I don’t go to bed, I’ll fall asleep sitting up.”
Jenna took the mugs. “Go ahead. I’ll clean this up.”
Completely worn out, Monica didn’t protest. She shuffled into the bedroom and laid down, tucking Rex’s pillow under her head. She fell asleep breathing in the faint scent of his cologne and had blissful dreams of a happily ever after.
ChapterEight
Sunlight peeked through the curtains, bringing Rex to consciousness. Confused by his surroundings, he forced his mind to catch up with his body’s wakefulness.
Last night all came back to him. He was in his camper because Monica was in his house. His guest bedroom, to be exact. She’d shown up out of the blue, and they were going to try a relationship.
It all seemed surreal. This is what he’d wanted, but he’d given up on that dream. He’d remained cautiously optimistic though—they still had factors fighting against them.
