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Jay grabbed the blanket, tucking it around them both.
“I can’t believe this,” Bebe whispered. She leaned close to his ear. “Thank you.”
Goose bumps traveled across his nape. “You’re welcome.” He laced his fingers through hers and settled back as Santa led the way.
The wind picked up once they exited the barn, but Jay found that his beanie, the fur blanket, and Bebe pressed against his side kept him from feeling the cold. He glanced down at her, watching enchantment dance across her face.
As if she sensed his gaze, she looked up. “This is amazing,” she said softly.
“Which part?” Because he still couldn’t believe reindeer were pulling them across the Hammond farm as if they were going across snow in Alaska or some other snowy destination.
“All of it. Will Santa be the driver for the ball?”
Jay nodded. “He will.”
“And will the fur blanket be there too?”
“Yes. He has two teams, so we can have two sleighs taking folks back and forth.” Mr. Hammond’s son apparently had a Santa outfit he could wear as well.
“I’m so excited about this.” She paused, then squeezed his arm. “What happens when the ride ends?”
He could hear the underlying question.What will happen to us?He knew what he hoped for, but the logistics continued to evade him. “We trust God to work out the details.” He swallowed, unsure of where that came from. Yet the words felt inherently right. As if the suggestion had been straight from God and not of his own might.
“So you want us to work out?”
“Yes.” The answer came swiftly and without hesitation. Each day that Jay got to be around Bebe and spend time getting to know who she was now only confirmed that his feelings for her still ran deep. He loved Bebe Willabee Gordon.
She bit her lip. “Then I guess we know how to pray.”
Jay hadn’t done a whole lot of that prior to his injury, but he found himself lifting his voice to the Lord more and more.Jay needed to get right with God so that he could be the man Bebe needed him to be. The man he hoped to become. No way he wanted a repeat of them separating without any contact. If God was willing and feelings continued to increase between them, he hoped they’d never part again.
“I’ll pray right now.” He squeezed his eyes shut, clenching them in an obvious way, but truly prayed.
When he opened his eyes, he found Bebe had done the same and was still praying. He placed a kiss on her forehead and thanked God for second chances.
Chapter
TWELVE
For once, Bebe didn’t mind the early flag football game. Not when Jay sat next to her on the bleachers. He shouted enthusiastically every time Hope made a run. The little flutters that had been dancing in her heart seemed to morph into heart emojis in her eyes. His support of Hope was like a balm to her soul.
And so very dangerous.
How could she keep her heart guarded around a man who would spend his Saturday morning watching a bunch of second-graders play flag football? Not a single kid belonged to him, yet he showed up and cheered with the enthusiasm of a parent of multiple children. She peeked at him from under her Atlanta Falcons hat. A wide grin stretched on his face, emphasizing the crinkles that fanned out from his brown eyes. His cheeks were slightly red from the cold wind that blew.
He turned and caught her stare. “What?” He blew on his hands, then stuffed them into his jacket pockets.
“You really like football, huh?”
“You do too.” He tapped the bill of her hat.
“But it’s so early,” she whined. Not that she minded the earlyday. Something about connecting with Jay over football had her grinning after the dramatic whine.
He chuckled. “Yeah, but your girl is good. She’s the best player out here.”
“That’s bias talking.” Still, pleasure filled her heart at the words.
“Nah, truth. I bet the coach has already told you that.”
