24

Val stood on the bluff above the river, the gentle breeze warm and soft against her skin. The expansive view was just as she remembered it from her many visits during the last few months before she went away to college.

In the far distance, the broad river narrowed to a silver thread. The patchwork fields were shades of gold and green in these wan­ing days of summer, and the noonday sun—warm without being overbearing—illuminated the scene with a brilliant light.

Now, as in her younger days, the height and panoramic vista uplifted her. By offering a clear view to the distant horizon, this spot had always spoken to her of hope. And tomorrow. And God.

So it was a fitting place to take the final step on her journey to the past—and the first step into her future.

She looked at Karen, who stood on her left holding a single yel­low rose. Her sister’s eyes reflected love and support and encourage­ment, and she telegraphed a silent thank-you with her own.

On her other side, David held a small trowel. Kindness and goodness radiated from him, and she felt the sting of tears.

Thank you, Lord, for sending this wonderful man into my life.

Thank you, too, for all the blessings you’ve given me this summer. Please be with me now as I close this chapter of my past.

Val stroked the simple cardboard tube in her hands. It had taken her almost eighteen years to remove it from its dark hiding place. To expose it to the sunlight. To confront her mistakes and find the healing redemption she had long sought.

But now she could put it to rest forever.

At Val’s nod, David went down on one knee and dug into the rich earth, creating a small trench four inches wide, twelve inches long, and six inches deep. After he finished, he rose and stepped aside.

For a long moment, she stood there cradling the tube. Then she bowed her head and spoke in the silence of her heart.

My dear child, please forgive me. Please know that not one day has passed that I haven’t thought of you and loved you and regretted the life I stole from you. Today I leave my one physical link to you in this beautiful place, high on a hill, where the gentle rains can fall on it and the golden sun can warm it. But I will never forget you. You will always be in my heart. And I promise that when we meet in heaven, I will hold you close, as I never had the chance to do on this earth. I will whisper the words of love that are written in my heart and belong only to you. In the meantime, I commend you to God’s loving care. Good-bye, my little one.

A tear trickled down her cheek as she knelt beside the small trench. She placed the tube inside and carefully scooped the dirt on top. After she patted it down, Karen handed her the rose, and Val set it on top of the tiny mound.

She remained there alone for another minute—but when she at last started to rise, hands on both sides lifted her, supported her. Then Karen and David enfolded her in their arms.

No words were spoken.

None needed to be.

The very presence of these two special people said everything.

And though it was unseen, Val keenly felt another presence as well. One that surrounded her...consoling her, for­giving her, filling her with hope.

And as she left yesterday behind, she was filled with a quiet certainty that this presence would remain with her for all her tomorrows.

* * *

“You’ve had quite a week.”

Val opened her eyelids. From her position flat on the ground, the intense blue of the sky filled her field of vision…until David’s face blocked it as he leaned close to brush a strand of hair off her forehead with a gentle, lingering touch.

“Yes, I have.” She took his hand as he leaned back on the checkered cloth he’d brought for their picnic. His firm fingers en­twined with hers, and at his gentle squeeze, she released a soft, contented sigh.

“Is that from exhaustion or happiness?”

“Both. I could sleep for a month. Think about all I did in the past seven days. I interviewed at the high school here. I resigned from my job in Chicago. I closed up my condo and put all my furniture and personal stuff in storage. I moved back to Washington.”

“I’m getting tired just listening to that litany.”

“Think how I feel. I did all the work.”

“But it was worth it, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. More than.”

He rolled onto his side and propped himself up with one elbow to trace the contour of her chin with a tender, whisper-soft touch. “I missed you, Val.”

“I missed you too.”

After giving the nearby playground where Victoria was swinging a cursory scan, he leaned close and brushed his lips over hers in a sweet, simple kiss that left her yearning for more.

Backing off, he hovered a few inches away. “Don’t look at me like that or I may have to kiss you again.”

At the sudden, rough timbre of his voice, she gave him a teasing smile and played with a button on his shirt. “Is that a promise?”

“Stop that.” He captured her hand and folded her fingers in his “My willpower is already stretched razor too thin.”

“In that case, I’ll be good.”

His irises darkened. “Oh, I have no doubt of that.”

A jolt of electricity shot through her. Sizzled.

Oh, man. This could get out of hand—fast—unless one of them put a stop to it.

Summoning up every reserve of her self-control, she pulled her hand free and nodded toward Victoria. “We have a chaperone, remember?”

“Yeah. Thanks for reminding me.” He sat up and leaned back against his palms, one ankle crossed over the other. “So...how goes it with Margaret?”

Following his lead, she sat up as well and crossed her legs. “I can handle living with her for a while. She’s dropped a few broad hints that it could be a permanent arrangement, but I made it very clear the situation was temporary. As soon as I find an apartment, I’m out of there. I’m used to being on my own.”

“Not too used to it, I hope. Because I have some other plans in mind.”

“Whoa. Not so fast. We haven’t known each other long enough for this discussion.”

“It doesn’t always take a long time to know that a relationship is meant to be.”

She plucked a clover, lifting it to her nose to inhale the fresh, sweet fragrance. “That may be true—but I’ve made other mistakes by being too rash. I don’t want to risk that again.”

“I understand your concern—and I don’t intend to push. You have to sort out your new life, and the two of us have some logistics to work through. But I want to be very upfront about my own feelings and intentions.” He took both her hands in his. “The fact is, I’ve fallen in love with you. I didn’t expect to. Or necessarily want to in the beginning. Yet it happened, and I’m not sorry. I’ll give you however long you need, but someday, when you’re ready, I’d like you to be my wife.”

Her pulse began to hammer. “Is...is that a proposal?”

“No.” His reply was prompt—and firm. “You’re not ready, and I don’t intend to rush you into a decision—but I want you to know where I’m coming from. And someday, I hope in the not-too-distant future, I do plan to propose.”

“Daddy! Val! Come see what I found!”

It took several seconds for Victoria’s summons to register—and several more for David’s message to sink in.

The man who had helped her transform her life wanted her to be part of his—for always.

It didn’t get any better than this.

“We’ll be right there.” As David called out a response, he rose and extended his hand. Val took it without hesitation, and in one lithe movement he pulled her to her feet.

As they joined his daughter a few moments later, David lowered himself to her level.

“Is that a cocoon, Daddy?” She pointed toward a small object attached to one of the branches of a bush.

“Yes, it is.”

The little girl turned to Val. “Daddy said this is where butterflies come from. Did you know that?”

“Yes, I did.” Val dropped down beside her.

“Can I wait here and watch it come out?”

“It won’t happen that fast, sweetheart.” David inspected the cocoon.

She studied it too. “How long will it take?”

“Every type of moth and butterfly is different. Some are ready to come out in a couple of weeks. Some stay in all winter and don’t come out until the spring.”

“You mean it could still be there at Christmas?”

“Maybe. The butterfly has to wait until its wings are strong. If it tries to fly too soon, it could fall and get hurt. You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you?”

“No.”

“We’ll stop here again on our next visit.”

She edged closer to Val. “Will you come with us?”

“Yes, sweetie. I’ll come.” Val smoothed back a stray strand of Victoria’s hair and directed her gaze toward David. “And I have a feeling this butterfly may be ready to fly long before Christmas.”

“Like an early Christmas present?”

David gave his daughter a hug, but his smile was all for Val. “Yes, honey—and it would be the best Christmas present of all.”