“What if she’s dealing with something that prevents her from having kids?” Julian asked. “She probably wants to know information like that before considering a relationship. That way she and the guy can make an informed decision about getting more serious.”
“You think I’d not want to be with her if she couldn’t have kids?”
Julian shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just using that as an example. The bottom line is that she probably wants to know what’s going on with her health before making a big decision like getting into a relationship with someone. Even you.”
"Even me," Ben echoed, the words tasting sour on his tongue.
He wanted to be someone special to Amelia. Someone she could lean on during this difficult time.
But was that for her sake? Or for his?
He rubbed his thumb across his knuckles, feeling the sting from where he'd hit the bag a bit too hard. The truth in Julian's words resonated, even if he didn't want to admit it. Amelia had every right to want clarity about her own body before allowing someone else a place in her life.
"Have you heard anything back yet about the tests?" Ben asked.
Julian shifted on the bench. "I've made some calls. We should be able to get her in for comprehensive testing sometime next week. Do you think she’d be willing to travel to New York for it?”
“I don’t know,” Ben said. “Though I’m not sure she’d want to miss work to travel.”
“I was thinking that maybe we’d line everything up on a Saturday, and she could fly in on Friday night and then back on Sunday. Or Saturday night if she didn’t want to miss church.”
“I could ask her,” Ben said. “And let you know.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
The pair sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Ben was grateful for the advice of his older brother in a way he wouldn’t have been in the past.
“If you’re serious about Amelia, you need to just be there as a friend. Show her you care through your actions. And pray about the situation.”
Ben glanced at his brother. “It still comes as a surprise when you talk about spiritual matters.”
Julian’s mouth lifted in a brief smile. “I’m sure that’s true. It’s a big change from how I lived when you were a teen.”
“I didn’t like you much back then,” Ben said.
“The feeling was mutual,” Julian admitted with a frown. “It wasn’t anything that you did. It was just hard to see how Dad treated you, how he interacted with you, compared to how he’d dealt with me. And of course, I was carrying around a lot of guilt over the girls’ kidnapping.”
“I’m glad we’ve moved past that,” Ben said. “You’ve turned into a great big brother.”
Julian reached over to punch him on the shoulder. “And you’re not a bad little brother.”
“Do you enjoy being a husband and a father?” Ben asked. “I didn’t think that would ever be something you’d want.”
“Those two roles are the most important things in my life, and I really count it a privilege to be Kiara’s husband, and father to TJ, Sophia, and Crissy. I never realized how fulfilling those roles could be, and I’m glad that God gave me the opportunity to experience them. I don’t know where I’d be without Kiara and the kids.”
Ben stared out across the gym floor, pondering his brother’s words. They were somewhat surprising to hear, and yet not. Julian might not say stuff like that often, but his actions backed up his words.
“Don’t rush things,” Julian said, his hand landing on Ben’s shoulder. “Pray about it, and just be there for Amelia. She could probably use the support. Just remember that she’s different from who she was as a teen, just like you’re different.”
“I’d like to think I’m basically the same person I was, but I guess growing up does change a person.”
“Yep. It does.”
“One thing that’s still the same about Amelia is her strength. She was so strong and determined in her younger years, and I see that in her now. It’s something I’ve always admired about her.”
“She’ll need that strength,” Julian said. “For whatever the tests show.”
“I’ll be there for her, too.”
