So he explained a bit about what had happened, about how God had used the past few months to work things out for good.“And I guess that makes me happy.Which I know is probably uncool, but I can’t help it.”
Coach Aitken looked at him.“And your doctor friend?”
“Yeah, she’s coming tonight.You might even see her.I got her tickets behind the bench.”
“Hmm, well, I’ll be sure to say thank you if I do.Now let’s play.”
Kyle skated onto the ice for the warm-up, the thrill and rush of it drawing new adrenaline.He loved this game.Loved this sport.
A glance at the bench saw Bella and Gen were already seated there, along with—he squinted—Marco?Huh.Okay.He waved, and they jumped up and waved back, each wearing a jersey with his name and number.
“Your girl is a cutie,” Sam smirked as he skated past.
“Bella.She’ll be ten next year.”
“I meant your older one, but okay.”
He shook his head, knowing Sam was teasing.He’d seen the way Sam kissed his wife, so knew it was all good there.But it would be nice to one day know that Gen was his girl.His wife, one day, sure, but just to kiss her again would be amazing.
He shifted to practice passing pucks.Sorry, God.I know I’m supposed to be content but waiting is hard, You know?
He took his turn shooting into the net.Reassured the team doc that he felt fine.Which he did.Well, fine everywhere except these occasional bouts of discontentment.
Sorry, God.
Soon.
Whoa.Okay then.He smiled.
* * *
“Mommy, I’m scared.”
Gen side-hugged Bella, not wanting to admit to the same.She couldn’t bear it if Kyle got injured.Especially not in this, his first home game in months.
“He’s going to be fine.God is with him, remember?”
Bella nodded, and they cheered as one of his teammates scored a goal, and clapped as Kyle nearly did the same a minute later.This game against Los Angeles was intense, and they were only halfway through the first period.
She watched Kyle move, her heart twisting as he glided over the ice with the same determined focus he’d possessed in high school.She’d always thought him graceful, and now his extra muscled leanness gave a devastating edge to his skills.
And yes, maybe she was biased, but he really did seem to be the most skillful player out there, possessing instincts that others lacked.
Her breath held as she watched him, feeling the weirdness of remembering the boy she’d loved while watching the man she’d always known he could be.
Someone strong, yet gracious.Fierce, yet kind.Someone who was determined, but patient.Oh, she loved him.Shelovedhim.Lord, keep him safe.
“You okay there, doc?”Marco asked from beside them.
Kyle had got a spare ticket just in case Mom could come after all, but when she couldn’t, Bella had suggested Marco might like to come instead.And seeing Marco had been such a good neighbor over the years, it had been an instant yes.
She nodded.“Yep.I’m just praying for him.It’s pretty intense.”
He looked at her curiously for a moment, then shrugged.“I reckon.”
Hmm.Well, at least she was getting pretty consistent in dropping some God-bait, as Kyle liked to call it.Little comments and things that showed she was a Christian, that she wasn’t hiding her light under a bushel, whatever that was.But she knew that verse in the Bible meant shining a light for Jesus, which she wanted to do.Because how could she let people she cared about—Mom, Marco, even Philippa and David Tinker—run the risk of spending an eternity in hell?
She couldn’t.So she wouldn’t shy away from sharing the good news.
