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Gemma glanced behind her, then pointed at the empty space of exposed wood floor. “Maybe I’ll put my bed there so I can see it.”
“That’s what I would do,” Hazel said.
“I could use cream and soft greens. Maybe get a soft rug. It would be like pulling in the best of the forest.” Gemma’s tone hinted excitement as she looked at Hazel and received an approving nod.
Hazel surprised him. In the most delightful way possible. Then again, he remembered how she’d been with him when all he knew in the world was her—when he’d thought they were married. She’d been tender in his most vulnerable moments, like being out on the dock in the deep dark of a mountain night, shivering with fear.
“Here, Ben.” Hazel had placed a palm on his jawline, turning his face so that he would look at her rather than the inky night. “Focus here . . .”
That moment had embedded in his mind, chiseled in his heart. It was the tenderness, the unmasked compassion, that she’d shown him in that awful moment that had stayed with him the most when he’d gone back to Chicago.
Hazel Wallace was significantly more than she let others see. He’d been enamored with the woman she’d allowed him to glimpse. And there she was now . . .
Bennett wondered if Hazel even saw this part of herself—the part that was warm and kind. The part that reflected the God in whose image she’d been made . . .
Awe and gratitude filled Bennett’s heart as he watched his two girls interact.My two girls . . .Interesting that he already claimed them both that way.
Inhaling a long breath of the stale air in that old, rundown Victorian, Bennett felt his spirit lift. Though he had been, and was still, upset with his father for this careless move, he found peace in knowing his Father in heaven hadn’t been surprised.
This was still new—trusting in God in the ups and downs of life—but Bennett had found more serenity in the past nine months of choosing to do so than he had in all the years he’d angrily told God that He’d failed and wasn’t trustworthy.
Bennett leaned back so that he could peek across the stair landing and into the other room. There he found Nathan sprawled out on his back on the hardwood floor, staring at that disco ball. He let his attention trail back to the room where they stood, taking in Hazel and Gemma, both gazing out the window.
There was so much uncertainty. So many things that weren’t settled and that could go terribly wrong, breaking his heart. He could come to love these kids, his heart growing fiercely attached only to have them leave and forget about him. Or reject him outright. He could lose the woman who had already rejected his marriage proposal.
And maybe that would happen. Every one of those devastating possibilities.
But this time was different, no matter the outcome. This time Bennett would runtoGod no matter what.
Not away. He’d tried that already. It had only led him straight into the dreadful darkness.
He’d hated the darkness. And he would never run away again.
Nine
Thesoundofwatertumbling over the ancient rock bed and gurgling through the canyon, and the smell of crisp fall leaves, joined with the solid warmth of Bennett’s fingers woven with hers to lend a sense of rightness to Hazel’s tired mind. He was there again. Holding her hand. His blue eyes had held her with appreciation and, more importantly, with love, when they’d been investigating the Elliot house hours before.
He hadn’t quit on her.
“You did well with the kids.” Bennett lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Thank you for coming down to meet them.”
Relief teased loose the tangled mass of worry in her gut. He’d come back. Hadn’t been so mad at her and hurt by her rejection that he’d decided to move back to Chicago and on with his life—without her. More than that, he was moving to Luna! So close that she could see him every day if she wanted to.
And now he was grateful she’d come down to meet his half siblings. Hazel could nearly giddy-sigh. “You’re welcome.”
They walked side by side, and she noted how much more surefooted Bennett had become when it came to trails in the past several months. This one, a wider path that paralleled Elk Creek as it ran toward the Madison on the south side of town, she hadn’t been on since she’d been in school. Back then it had been her escape from town. If she hadn’t been able to wander free up at Elk Lake, she’d found her way to the creek-side trail to set her wild heart free.
“By the looks of it, they are enjoying your wilderness,” Bennett commented.
With scuffles and the occasional sound of scrub brush being disturbed, the two kids paced quite aways ahead of them.
“You seem surprised.”
“A little bit. At least with Nathan. He was basically a zombie back in Chicago. I barely saw him because he was locked up in his room with his gaming all the time.” Bennett stopped at a bush whose leaves bore a tinge of fall red and on them hung clusters of nearly black berries. He held a cluster in one palm and looked at Hazel.
“Chokecherries,” she answered his unspoken question. “They’re good for jams and syrups. Not great eating fresh though.”
He nodded, brushed off his palm, and reclaimed her hand. He returned to their previous conversation. “Come to think of it, I’m a little surprised Gemma has taken to this place too. She’s kind of . . .”
