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Nerves electrified his stomach as he thought about the next step in his plan.
A few weeks into Matt’s recovery, Noah had received a text from Ryan, asking how things were progressing. Once Noah had given the update, it had occurred to him that he’d never actuallytoldRyan about the accident. How had Ryan known?
Grace.
Ryan had said she’d asked him if he knew anything, and when he didn’t, it had come out that she had been with Noah in Mexico when the accident occurred. She’d made Ryan swear not to say anything to Claire, told him she only wanted to know how Matt was doing and didn’t want to “bother” Noah, insisted it was nothing but friendly interest in Noah’s brother’s health.
Ryan had smelled a rat, and since Grace wouldn’t talk, he had gone to Noah, not letting up until he had the whole story—includingthe tutoring, which she had conveniently not mentioned.
Ryan insisted Noah still had a shot with her. And so, with Ryan’s confidence to lean on, Noah was taking a chance. A big one.
He didn’t dare look beyond that.
Setting his worry aside and focusing on the task at hand, he went back into his old apartment to gather the last of his belongings and finish up the checkout cleaning. Though he and Matt would be living a couple of hours away from each other again, they planned to continue spending time together. One of the most amazing outcomes from Matt’s accident was how much their mom’s anxiety had calmed down from spending so much time with her boys and seeing them get along better than ever. Noah hadn’t thought he’d ever get to the point that he looked forward to time with his family. Now he did.
And he owed it all to Grace.
He had accepted himself, his past, and his family, blemishes and all. Once he’d done that, the peace had come, and then the enjoyment.
It was time to move forward.
Chapter 45
Telegraph
There are definite benefits tobeing on the planning committee for Young Christians Serve: knowing what’s going on, meeting lots of people, and—best of all—you don’t have to worry about looking like you have nothing better to do if you show up. Because, well, you kind ofhaveto be there.
On the other hand, you have to show up to all the YCS activities.
I’m setting up for our fall social, and I’m 90 percent sure I wouldn’t be here without my assignment.
I work my way back around the park, savoring the late-summer sun as it cools into evening and the smell of dutch-oven barbecue, making sure everyone is ready. Pastor Will Johnson, who started YCS as a part of his young-adult ministry, is doing all the food, so that’s been an enormous load I haven’t had to carry. I can’t imagine where he found enough dutch ovens to feed this many people.
The giant blow-up Twister game is inflated and holding. I’m not sure what Melissa is thinking with this one: Twister—not my favorite to begin with—on what’s basically a bouncy house without walls? I’m definitely steering clear, but she was excited about it, so whatever. Maybe someone will enjoy it.
Hudson has somehow procured a large number of six-foot-long PVC pipes and swears the game he’s going to use them for is a winner. I’m skeptical but willing to give it a shot.
Chris is doing a variation of the telegraph game, in which he forces people who barely know each other to hold hands with their eyes closed so they can telegraph to the person at the end of the line to grab a spoon when the chosen card is shown to the person in front. I’m steering clear of that one too. Not feeling real touchy today. Or maybe I’m feelingtootouchy. Who knows?
Another benefit of being in charge: “Sorry, I can’t play because I have to go check on... something.”
I’m a party pooper. I own it.
Originally I wanted to set up some volleyball nets, but I was outvoted. Convenient, in hindsight, because I’m not as enamored of the sport as I once was.
Jamie, my new roommate, is wrestling a water cooler onto the serving table next to the cups, plates, and utensils. She could never replace Ivy—who is still mostly lost to the Newlywed Abyss—but she’s pretty awesome. Jamie isn’t even on the committee, but she’s here to help me.
See? Awesome.
“Good to go?” she asks, pulling her long brown hair to one side to get some air on her neck as I return from my circuit.
“Locked and loaded.” Now I’m just worried no one will show up. I’ve met a ton of new people here in Grand Junction, and there’s definitely a different vibe than in Oak Hills. There are more young professionals than college students, which helps, but sometimes that translates into less enthusiasm for activities. I’m mostly enjoying my new normal. It’s just—all the prep for this activity and everything else that’s been going on has made for a long week.
“Do you think—” I start, but Jamie interrupts me.
“Yes, people will come. Pastor Will’s food—regardless of anything else—will bring most of the guys, and that—”
“Will bring the girls.” She’s right. It’s my first activity as cochair of the committee, and I’m a little nervous, especially since the other cochair is out of town on business.
