Easter came early this year, falling on the last Sunday in March. Landon paced through his apartment, searching for any speck of dust or anything out of place. He’d spent all evening Thursday cleaning, down to the corner of the bathroom behind the door which was often neglected. Jessa and her parents, along with Phoebe, would stay at Gran’s, but he assumed they’d come visit his home at some point during their time in Maryville.

He looked at this phone, disappointed to see only three minutes had passed since he’d last checked. Sighing, he decided to head to Gran’s house anyway. He’d rather wait there, hanging out with his family than alone in his place.

This weekend was a huge step in his relationship with Jessa. He’d made trips to Jasper Lake almost every weekend to spend time with her—Mrs. Addy stopped charging him for a room and said he’d become family—but she’d yet to see his stomping grounds. He understood she didn’t want to leave her parents right now.

He’d seen for himself how they worried incessantly when not able to get in touch with Jessa or Phoebe, and if one left Jasper Lake for any reason, even to the other side of the lake, their parents would call every half hour on the dot. He imagined that’s how it would be until Trixie came home, which he prayed would be soon. Every time he saw the pain in Jessa’s eyes and the worry in her parents’, he wished he could do more.

Inviting her parents to come visit with her was the least he could do. He loved Jessa, and if making concessions for her family is what it took for them to have a healthy relationship, then that’s what he would do.

The drive to Gran’s saw little traffic. Most people were already at the ballfields, picnics, or wherever else a spring Saturday took them. He parked along the curb, leaving the empty spot in the driveway for Jessa. On the opposite side of the road, he spotted Tanya’s car and grinned. That meant a high chance his favorite little nephew was inside.

He jumped from the truck, grabbing the flowers he’d give Jessa when she arrived. As he strode to the door, he heard the cry of a baby with a healthy set of lungs. I don’t have to worry about waking him up with the doorbell.

Dad came to the door and welcomed him, and it struck Landon that he thought of his parents as Mom and Dad now without any acrimonious thoughts.

“We’re giving free earplugs to all visitors today.” Dad winked and gestured him in.

Landon stepped into the house, laughing. “Why’s the little guy crying?”

“Tanya said he’s tired and hasn’t slept since an hour-long nap at three this morning.” Dad pointed down the hall. “She set up his portable bassinet in there for the day, and Gran added a rocking chair.”

If he listened carefully, he could hear strains of Mozart coming from the room and Tanya whispering cooing words to her son. “Where are Scott and Lacy?”

“Scott had to work. It’s his first weekend at work since Caleb was born, and he’s not taking it well.” Dad grimaced. “He’s texted Tanya three times since she’s been here to check on the baby and that’s stressing her out. Mom said she needs to relax because the baby can sense it.”

His heart went out to his sister and brother-in-law. He knew Scott only had good intentions and missed his son, and he also remembered the many sleepless nights Tanya had when Lacy was an infant. “Where’s Mom?”

“Outside with Lacy picking flowers for a centerpiece.”

The crying subsided, and a minute later Gran tiptoed from the room. “Caleb is sleeping peacefully in his mama’s arms. Don’t make any loud noises to wake him up.”

Dad cupped Landon’s elbow. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure.” He didn’t know what about—they’d had multiple conversations already to air their feelings and begin the process of moving forward—but Dad’s face didn’t register any emotion to warn Landon it would bring distress. If so, he’d have said no on the grounds his nerves were already shaky with Jessa’s impending visit.

He followed his dad into the study, where a sleeper sofa would be Jessa and Phoebe’s bed for the weekend. All the linens to prepare it and four pillows were neatly folded on a table against the wall.

Dad grabbed a plain white envelope off the desk and sat on the right side of the sofa. “Have a seat.”

“What’s up?” He narrowed his eyes and assessed his dad for any hint of what this talk meant.

“Your mother and I have done a lot of talking lately. We’re excited to meet Jessa and keep trying to figure out if we spotted her at all during our visit to Jasper Lake.”

Landon laughed. “Probably. She’s all over town.”

“She’s the one, isn’t she?”

“Yes.” The answer came with no hesitation. His heart belonged to her, and only her, for the rest of his life if she would have him.

“I’m happy for you. One of my biggest regrets about what mom and I did was seeing how it affected you.” Dad took a deep breath and swallowed. “I don’t deserve the love you and your siblings have given me, but I’m eternally grateful for the grace each of you have shown. That said, I’m not sure I’d have forgiven myself if you missed out on a life of love because I spent too many years being selfish.”

“But that didn’t happen. I came close to losing my chance, but it would have been my own fault.” The entire ordeal with his parents had taught him many lessons, and he understood now how the truth could set him free.

“Will you move to Jasper Lake when you and Jessa marry?”

“We’re not even engaged yet.” Yet. He didn’t plan for that yet to last long.

Dad held out a hand, palm forward. “That’s only a matter of time.”

His heart pounded. He hadn’t discussed it with anyone except Jessa, but he did plan on moving to Jasper Lake. The decision hadn’t come easy, and it wasn’t made without reservations. He loved his family, even Mom and Dad, and he didn’t want to leave them. At the same time, once married—he chose to think in optimistic terms—his first loyalty would be with Jessa.

He couldn’t ask her to leave Jasper Lake, nor did he want to. He loved the town and could envision living there, raising his family in a home up the mountain or right on the lake. After much prayer and consideration, he knew Jasper Lake would be his forever home.

He breathed in and exhaled slowly before answering. “It’s only several hours away. We’ll all be able to make trips back and forth often to see each other.”

A knowing light brightened in his dad’s eyes. “That’s what I thought.”

“How do you think Gran will take the news?”

Dad chuckled. “She’s the one who first mentioned it, and she couldn’t be happier for you. She’s already told us to prepare for one weekend trip a month.”

Relief washed over him. “I’ll hold you all to that.”

“So will your grandmother.” Dad sobered and slipped the envelope to him. “This is for you, a gift from me and your mother. It’s for a down payment on a house.”

He tried to refuse it, but Dad insisted. Finally, Landon took it and peeked inside. His jaw dropped, and he stammered several times before speaking. “This is enough for an entire house. I can’t take this.”

“Please accept it. Your brother and sister also received a gift. I know it can’t make up for all the lost years and it's not meant to, but this is us wishing our children the best and doing our part to see that happen.”

“Bu…but, how do you have that much?” He’d not meant for the question to sound like an insult, though it did.

“Violet and I lived simplistic lives for many years, but we still worked. Since our expenses were low, we saved most of our earnings and invested them wisely.”

Landon didn’t know what to say. He’d made so many assumptions about his parents that had turned out wrong. They’d made poor decisions, there was no denying that, but they’d also made good ones apparently. They weren’t the vile monsters he’d made them out to be. He shuddered when he remembered how he’d once suspected them of moving in with Gran to mooch off her limited income. “The improvements that have been going around here. Who paid for them?”

His dad lowered his head. “Your mom and I.”

“Gran’s ramp?”

“Us.”

“Gran’s nurse on the days mom can’t watch her?”

“Her medical insurance covers those.”

Landon crossed his arms, trying to absorb this latest news. “So you could live on your own financially, but you choose to stay and take care of Gran?”

Shame dotted his dad’s face. “I want Mom to have the best care, and that means having family near her. I wasted too many years being a rotten son, but she won’t want for anything for all her remaining years.”

“I’m glad you’re here for her.” The words lifted all remaining weights from his shoulder. “And I’ll accept the money, if and only if it’s a gift and not an act of penance.”

“It’s a gift, son. Given freely with no strings attached.” Dad smiled and leaned forward. “Well, maybe one.”

“Oh?” He raised his eyebrows. “Let me guess, I have to invite you to the house from time to time?”

“You’ve got it.”

Landon chuckled, amazed at the difference from last spring to this one. “I think I can handle that.”