“I come here to think,” he said quietly. “And to talk to my brother.” Jack raised his arm and pointed to a small headstone that sat in the shadow of an elm tree.
“You mean he’s…” Ellie covered her mouth with her hand. “Jack, I-I didn’t know. Would you rather I left you alone?”
He shook his head. “Actually, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
Ellie was silent for a moment before speaking. “When did this happen?”
Jack drew a breath. “When I was twelve. Lewis—that was my brother’s name—was nine at the time.”
“So young. What happened to him?”
Jack took a breath before answering, steadying his nerves. “He drowned in the creek.”
“I’m sorry, Jack. I can’t imagine.”
“The worst part is it was all my fault.” Jack paused, recalling the events of that day. “When it happened, I was out there.” Jack nodded toward the lake. “I was fishing with my mamaw and papaw. Lewis wanted to go with us, but I wouldn’t let him because I thought he’d ruin my fishing trip. So he stayed behind and spent the morning playing in the woods below our house. When we got back to the dock that afternoon, George was on the verge of tears, and that’s when I knew something was wrong. He pulled me aside and told me what had happened. After that, I don’t remember much.”
Ellie scooted closer and put her arm around Jack. They sat quietly for a few minutes, listening to the breeze as it shook the leaves above them.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” said Ellie. “Sometimes it’s difficult for us to comprehend God’s plan, especially when it involves the death of someone so young. But God put Lewis here for a reason, and he called him home for a reason, and if you believe there’s a God in heaven, and I do with all my heart, you must trust that he knows what he’s doing.”
“Mama says the same thing,” said Jack. “But I can’t help but think that if I hadn’t been so selfish, Lewis would still be here.”
A few seconds passed. Then Ellie stood and gathered a handful of wildflowers. “Do you mind if I lay these on his grave to pay my respects?”
Jack shook his head and observed Ellie as she descended the hill. She stopped near the headstone, placed the flowers on the grave, appeared to whisper a few words, then returned to Jack.
“I’m sorry for being such a downer,” he said. “Sometimes, I just need to be here, to feel close to him. I feel like I owe him that much.”
“Don’t apologize. He was your brother. Besides, if anyone should apologize, it’s me. If I’d known why you were here, I never would have disturbed you.”
Jack circled his arms around Ellie’s waist and pulled her close to him. “But I’m glad you did. Aside from me, Mama, George, and Clara, you’re the only person that’s come to see him since the funeral. That means more to me than you know.”
* * *
The next evening, Ellie slipped out onto the side porch and read until sunset. Between tutoring, and running errands with Clara, these were the first moments she’d had to herself all day.
“Whatcha reading?”
Ellie looked up with a start. “Jack, what are you doing here?”
“You didn’t think I’d let an entire day go by without seeing you, did you?” He glanced at the book in her hands. “Anything I’d be interested in?”
“Not unless you find a detailed scientific account of star creation fascinating.”
“Can’t say that I do.” Jack cracked a smile, putting one foot on the step as he leaned against the porch post. “I don’t suppose I could talk you into taking a break, could I?”
She felt the slightest twitch at the edges of her mouth. “That depends. What did you have in mind?”
“There’s something I want to show you.” Jack nodded toward the woods. “But if you choose to come with me you have to promise to be very quiet.”
She could tell he was up to something. “Why not,” she said, intrigued. “Just let me tell Clara where I’m going.”
At the edge of the yard, instead of turning left toward the lake, Jack veered right, venturing down a path unfamiliar to Ellie.
“I’ve never been this way before,” she said as she followed Jack into the woods.
“Don’t worry, it isn’t far,” he reassured her.
