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“Wow. I had no idea.”
Patrick sends a text, then pockets his phone before opening the door. The room is quite spacious, almost the same size as the garage. “How did I not realize this was here when walking around outside?”
“Without any doors or windows to the outside, it looks and feels like part of the house. It’s not a secret, but it’s not something my dad goes around advertising, either. It’s his personal space, and he only shares it with a select few. You’ve made the cut and now have the privilege to go where only one woman has ever gone before.”
Other than the unexpected size of the place, the first thing I notice is a pool table in the corner of the room. There are also a couple of recliners placed in front of a humongous, big-screen TV. There is also a bar area with a few stools. One wall is adorned with military paraphernalia from Don’s Navy Seal Days. Smack in the middle of all the memorabilia is a plaque that reads:
“Blessed be theLORD!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
TheLORDis my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song
I give thanks to him.”
Psalms 28:6-7 ESV
Patrick stands still next to me as I soak in the words. “Is this what you wanted to show me?” I ask. The scripture resonates deep within my soul, and a calmness moves through my body.
“Yes. You had mentioned wanting to go to battle and being unprepared. When you said that, the first thing that came to mind was this verse. You’ve prayed to Him, and He’s heard your plea, Ari. Trust that He’s put you right where you need to be and has given you the help you seek. There’s so much to be thankful for, even in the darkest of times and when hope is fleeting. When the battle call is sounded, you’ll be more than prepared. You’ll be wearing the ‘Full Armor of God’ and have your ‘Shining Knights’ beside you.”
Tears fall unbidden down my cheeks as I listen to Patrick’s heartfelt words. He uses the pads of his thumbs to wipe them gently away, staring deep into my eyes. The love and tenderness I see in their depths reflect my own. He would sacrifice everything, including his happiness, to ensure Alex and I survive whatever comes our way. It’s just as I had done years ago to protect him.
His lips barely touch mine when I hear the sound of the keypad beeping and the door opening shortly after that.
“Are you two decent?” Don asks, his hand covering his eyes. “There are some things a parent doesn’t need to see even though we know the truth of it all.”
“Knock it off, Dad. We’ve been here less than five minutes. How much trouble do you think we could get in with such a short amount of time?”
Don’s answer comes in the form of a raised eyebrow.
Patrick waves his father’s non-answer off and says, “Never mind. Forget I asked.”
Don stands beside his son, and I take a second to appreciate the family resemblance. I cross my arms and stand there, smiling at the two of them.
Don stands beside me and puts his arm around my shoulders. “What’s got you grinning from ear to ear?” he asks.
“It’s nice to know that Patrick will still be as handsome 30 years from now as he is today.”
“Ooh, I like her. Can we keep her?” Don asks Patrick, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“I’m doing everything I can to make that happen, Dad.” Patrick removes his father’s arm from around my shoulders, replacing it with his.
Don bellows out a laugh at his son’s faux jealousy. “Have you shown her ‘the room’ yet, Son?”
I look around, wondering what on earth he’s talking about. We’re standing in the room. What more is there to see?
“Not yet, Dad. I was giving her the grand tour of this one first. Plus, I thought you might want to do the honors. It was your project, after all.”
I gesture toward the wall with the scripture. “I thought you said that was why you brought me here.”
Kissing the top of my head, he says, “You asked if it was the reason, and I said that it is. But it’s not the only reason I brought you here, Ari. We have something else to show you that should make you feel even safer.”
Don goes behind the bar area, which doesn’t have liquor bottles like you would expect to see. It does have two taps for small kegs and a refrigerator full of bottled water and sodas. There’s an old-fashioned cash register butted up against the wall, framed by a large mirror with the word SALOON scrawled across it.
