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A thick lump swelled in Kevin’s throat. He swallowed against it as heat stung his eyes. “I wasn’t always that man. There was a time I desperately hoped you wouldneverbecome like me.”
“But you became that man, Dad.” Matt reached across the table and gripped Kevin’s elbow. “You are that man now. You’re still the man that all of us look up to. All of us try to be like you.”
“By divine intervention.” Kevin could barely muster the words out. “By God’s grace.”
Matt nodded and squeezed his arm again. Sometimes there weren’t words. Or maybe they just weren’t necessary.
As silence settled between them again and they fixed their attention back to the puzzle, Kevin regained his emotions while at the same time lifting the wonder of his redeemed life back up to his Savior.
Great are You, Lord, and greatly to be praised! Your greatness is unsearchable. Help me never to forget . . .
He saw a match and moved to secure the piece into place.
“Has Connor talked to you?” Matt kept his focus on the pieces as he asked.
An interesting jump in topics. Kevin eyed his oldest for a moment. Perhaps it wasn’t much of a stretch in topics at all. “We talk. Was there something specific you were thinking he needed to say to me?”
“He’s going to propose.” Matt met Kevin’s stare.
Kevin blinked. No, Connor hadn’t said as much. It hurt that he hadn’t.
“He’d like to at Christmas, when they’re here.”
“No, he didn’t say.” Kevin breathed through the squeeze of pain that fact provoked. It was his own fault, and he knew it. He hadn’t exactly been supportive or excited when Connor had talked to him about his interest in his new neighbor. Instead, Kevin had urged an abundance of caution—probably with too much force.
Grief can make you do things that maybe aren’t for the best, son. And this woman has her own baggage to deal with. Just . . . go slow.
Maybe it had been valid advice, but Kevin knew for certain that he’d spoken from a place of distrust. In God, mostly, regarding Connor. But maybe even in Connor. The wiser path likely would have been to go and meet Jade Beck and her children before offering a commentary on any of it.
But Kevin hadn’t done that, and Connor clearly felt that Kevin disapproved.
He’d not been that man Matt had just praised—the one his sons followed after. He’d been locked up in his own disappointment, captive to a faithlessness that had wounded his son.
Sadly, they’d been through this before, when Connor had married Sadie. Helen had been so discomfited about it. She hated the idea that Connor would marry a woman out of a sense of duty and miss the wild bliss of marital love.
They had underestimated God’s loving plan for hurting, ordinary people, and it had caused a rift in their relationship with Connor for a time. Blessedly, all that had smoothed out, and Helen and Kevin had both come to adore Sadie. So much so that letting her go had been excruciating.
Now, here they were again. Underestimating Connor’s good judgment and, very likely, God’s extraordinary ability to architect something breathtaking from reclaimed lives.
Matt braced his forearms against the table. “Dad, Jade is a really nice woman.”
Tyler had said the same thing right before Kevin got a ride in an ambulance. He was apparently not being the man his sons expected him to be on this. And they were right.
Surrender, son. That’s what this battle is.George’s voice echoed softly in the place of safekeeping of precious memories. Wise men listen to wise men, so Kevin gripped the long-past instruction firmly.
Kevin nodded. “Ty also said that. I’ll call Connor and bring it up.”
“It won’t upset you if he proposes?”
“Connor’s a grown man with a good heart. I’m sure he’s prayed about this.”
“He has. I really think they both have. And truly, Dad. They’re good together—Connor and Jade and the kids. Your approval would mean a lot to Connor.”
Kevin took another drink and then nodded. “I won’t be upset. I’ll be happy for them.”
“Even though it’s your anniversary?”
At that, Kevin grinned an impish smile. “If it’s Christmas day, it’ll be my second honeymoon. So frankly, I won’t much care.”
