She gave a little shrug. "I don't know what I thought."
"Our family has canoes and paddle boards at the cabin." He pointed across the lake that was roughly a mile long and half a mile wide to the cabin that belonged to his mom and her sisters. "But I don’t want to bother Paige and Gabe."
"I'm sure they appreciate that." She chuckled. "There's something to add to your Dumb Things I've Done list. Interrupt your cousin's honeymoon."
"No, that goes on the list of Dumb Ways to Die list, because Paige would kill me."
"Gabe would do the same to me."
She grabbed the handle to open her door, but Damon put a hand on her arm.
"Let me get your door please." He gave her a little wink. "You know, since you're my girlfriend now."
"Girlfriend or not, I'm capable of opening my own door." Despite her words, her lips lifted in a grin.
"I know you're capable of a lot of things, Grace, but my parents raised me to be a gentleman, so please let me be one."
"Fine." She folded her arms. "Be a gentleman."
Damon climbed from the car and hurried around to open her door. When she got out, he stood close, invading her space.
She looked up at him, her face questioning.
"This is the part where I steal a kiss." His words were quiet and teasing.
"Is that how this works?" She wound her arms around his neck. "I should have let you open my door weeks ago."
"Yes, you should have."
He pressed his lips to hers and quickly got lost in the kiss. Holding Grace and kissing her would never get old.
Reluctantly, he let go and led her into the rental shop. Twenty minutes later, they were on the lake, laughing as they struggled to work together to paddle the canoe.
"We're just going in circles." Grace's laughter filled his heart with joy.
"That's because you aren't keeping your paddle straight when you pull it through the water."
"No, it's becauseyouare stronger than I am, and you're pulling harder."
"I swear, I'm tryingnotto pull too hard."
They finally found a rhythm, and Damon guided them to a little alcove where motorized watercraft were not allowed.
"Let’s take a break." He pulled in his oar and watched as Grace did the same. Then he turned to face her, so their knees touched. He took her hand in his and slowly traced each of the lines across her palm. "How was your mother this morning?"
"Tired." Grace let out a heavy sigh. "She sat up in bed and drank a few swallows of tea, but then she wanted to sleep again."
Damon's heart beat heavy in his chest as he sympathized with Grace. "The wedding festivities really wore her out, didn't they?"
"She was like this after the move. It took her almost two weeks to bounce back."
"Give her time to rest, then I'm sure she'll perk up."
"I just keep thinking that one of these times she won't bounce back." Tears filled Grace's eyes, making Damon's chest tighten. "Is it wrong for me to pray that she can get better or even just keep her strength when I know that's impossible?"
"Not at all. God wants to hear the prayers of our hearts, even when we know He can't answer them the way we want him to."
"I know there will come a time when I'm begging Him to take her because I can't stand to see her suffer anymore, but I'm not there yet." Tears flooded her eyes.
