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He nodded and took her hand, wrapping his warm fingers around her cold ones. “Actually, I do understand that. I’ve done a lot of soul-searching these last couple of months.”
She looked up at him, her eyes widening. “I wouldn’t have thought you had time for that.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, well, me neither, but sometimes God’s timing and your own aren’t the same.”
“Well, that’s the truth,” she said, then realized what his words meant. “You found faith!”
“Yeah.” His lips pulled up in an endearing half-smile.
Charlotte stopped walking and turned toward him to grab his arms. “I’m so happy for you! This is such an answered prayer.” Her eyes stung and blurred with unshed tears, and she pulled him into a hug.
He held her, rubbing a hand up and down her back. “You and my family. It’s like I just found God, but I always had Him, and believed in Him. It’s just that, well, now our relationship has changed.” He shrugged under her arms, and she pulled back.
“But don’t you see? That is everything!” She touched his clean-shaven cheek, knowing that he had shaved with a razor rather than a trimmer just for her. “That relationship with God is everything.”
“I’m seeing that now,” he said, his voice filled with a new depth. “And you know what?”
“What?” she asked, holding her breath though she didn’t know why.
“He led me to you,” he said, smiling like he just won the Nationals.
“Oh, He did, huh?” she asked, teasing, uncomfortable with the intensity that lived in his eyes.
“Yep, that’s why I’m here.” He cupped her face, his warm hand making her cold cheeks tingle. “To ask your forgiveness, to ask if you have it in you to give me another chance.”
“A chance for what?” she asked breathily.
“For us…at figuring this life out with you…of making us work.” His thumb stroked her cheek as he searched her eyes. “I don’t deserve that, but Pops said it’s best to ask and leave the rest up to God. So, here I am, asking…and praying God gives you whatever you need to forgive me…again.”
“Well, I doubt it will be the last time,” she said, smirking, though her heartbeat rushed in her ears.
“Yeah, you’re probably right about that. I’m not perfect. I make a ton of mistakes. Life gets a hold of me, and I forget important things…like where my priorities lie.” He slid his hand down her neck and arm, interlacing with her fingers. “But Pops, well, he said that a good woman is like the Lord, steadfast and forgiving. He said that’s what Mama was to him, and he and I both agree that you’re a lot like my mom.”
“You’ve been talking an awful lot about this with Pops, haven’t you?”
“Well, we’ve spent a lot of time together during his treatments, and we’ve had some real heart-to-hearts. Does it bother you that I’m heeding his advice?”
“Bother me? No. Pops is a good man, and I’m touched that you guys think I’m as good as Mama. That’s quite the compliment and expectation to live up to.” She bit her lip, thinking about how hard it would be to live up to Mama’s goodness. “You know, I’m not perfect either.”
“Well, it would be boring if you were,” he said, but he shifted his weight, his nerves making him antsy. “So?”
“So, what?” She cocked her head but tightened her hold on his hand.
“Can you forgive me? Can you see yourself being able to give me one more chance?”
“You asking to what…be my boyfriend again?”
“Why does that sound so juvenile?” His lips tugged into that half smile she loved.
“I don’t know, but it does, doesn’t it?” She laughed nervously.
When their laughter calmed down, she looked at him again, searching his eyes. “What about Nationals?”
“Well, I’m hoping you can understand that I need to be there…not just for me, you know, but for Pops and Adam. It’s their dream, too. After that…we can talk, figure things out…together.”
“I…I have to finish my residency. There’s no workaround to that.” She bit her lip, hoping that didn’t change his mind.
“I assumed that.” He took both of her hands in his. “I know these next couple of years might be rough. Depending on what we decide, we might go long stretches without seeing each other. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. The way I see it, I went eight years, and the moment I saw you again, it was like we had never been apart. All those feelings were still right there.” He let go of her hand long enough to pat his heart.
