He tipped her head up with his index finger. “Nothing’s more important to me than you, Jess. Nothing.”
“Honest?”
“Honest.”
She nibbled on her lip. “How could he do that, Dad?”
“I really don’t know.”
“Being so sick and not having a dad isn’t fair.” She crossed her arms as if defending her friend.
“It may not seem fair, but remember God has a plan for everything. Sometimes we can’t understand why things happen the way they do, but He’s perfect and so is His plan.”
Jessie seemed to ponder his words. They’d had so many conversations about God since Diane died, and Jessie’s faith had grown along with his. But she was only eight and still thought life should be fair.
Her brow quirked in question. “It’s not wrong to pray for Ella to have a father, is it?”
“Not wrong at all. In fact, why don’t we do that now?”
Jessie knelt next to her bed, and Reid joined her, taking her hand in his. Outwardly, he prayed for Ella and Megan in the way Jessie expected. But then he fell silent and offered his own prayer.
Now that this seems to be over, please give me the chance to help Megan find You again.
He didn’t add a plea to keep him from growing any closer to her and Ella, but Reid knew God heard his thoughts, and however things between them ended, it would be in his best interest. Too bad that didn’t mean it would end without any pain. God often used painful situations to help him grow, but Reid wasn’t sure he could handle any more growth right now.
What was taking Reid so long? Without him and Jessie in the room, Megan’s jitters got the best of her, and she couldn’t sit at the table. She crossed the large room to the window.
Outside, snow drifted lazily to the ground where five or more inches now blanketed the area. She loved snow. Clean and fresh, the white layer covered the dying grass and foliage. She wanted to experience it. Now. Without a window between her and the frosty flakes.
She grabbed her jacket and stepped onto the porch. A sharp chill bit into her, but she zipped her coat and smiled. The snow swirling down in front of her was exactly as she’d expected. Peaceful. Fun. Joyful. But more so, the freedom to come outside without fearing for her life bubbled up in a burst of happiness. Not even eight hours had passed since she’d stood in this very place and climbed in Reid’s car with agents flanking her for safety. Now Fowler was gone, and she was free to resume her life.
A sudden need to feel the refreshing snow on her face hit her. She moved carefully down the stairs and into the yard. She lifted her head and held out her hands, spinning with the joy of freedom. The door opened behind her, but she continued to spin, licking the frosty flakes from her lips.
“Our girls will be so mad if they discover we’re out here.” Reid’s teasing tone came from the porch.
She stopped and faced the lake outlined with snow-covered tree branches. “I couldn’t help myself. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Very,” Reid said, his voice seeming so far away.
“It’s perfect for catching snowflakes.” She could hear him moving on the porch, but instead of looking at him, she lifted her face to the sky and stuck out her tongue.
“It’s also perfect for this,” he called out.
A thump hit her in the back. She spun, and he pummeled her with snowballs.
“This is war.” She laughed and ran behind a tree. She scooped up snow and made a small pile of balls before straightening and firing her first shot where she remembered him standing.
No reaction. She peeked out. He wasn’t there.
She cautiously eased around the tree. Her heart pounded from the fun she’d not had in so many years and also from fear over being hit with an icy-cold snowball. She still didn’t see him.
“No fair hiding,” she called out.
“Fine.” His voice came from behind her as wet snow hit her with a thump, then slithered down the back of her shirt.
She groaned and spun. He laughed. She snatched up a snowball and raised it. He grabbed her arm and forced her to drop it. The snow plopped on her shoe, and he laughed harder.
She scooped snow from her jacket and raised it to his exposed neck.
