She nodded. “I miss them when birthdays happen, and Christmas, or when I need advice or–or when River announced that he was expecting his son. I couldn’t help wonder about how happy they would’ve been. Even now, I think about them, just because I want to introduce them to you. They would’ve loved you.”
“You think so?”
“Definitely, and it’s a good thing that, well… I’ve found someone like you. I think it’s because you already feel like family to me.”
His stomach fluttered at the admission. He felt both underserving and grateful that she felt almost the same as he did. Just like her song said, he wanted to make this real—raise a family with her, build a life together.
How can I do that the way that I am now?
He didn’t know, only that God was in charge. Nash’s desires were righteous—for the most part—and he just needed to have hope. Hope was also a commandment, wasn’t it? Along with faith and charity, hope was just as elemental to his existence.
And so he studied her face, her soft cheeks and hair, the lips that spoke in kindness, that erupted into song and smiles—not to mention how they were the source of all those sweet kisses. And for once, he let go of all of his inhibitions and imagined a future together.
He just wasn’t sure how to reach it.