Page 193 of Halo

“You love him.”

I look at Nick, who is now crouched beside an elderly woman’s chair trying to open her juice box because apparently this is his job today.

“I do.”

Mom reaches for my hand. “Does he love you?”

“So much it scares me sometimes.”

She squeezes my fingers.

“Do you remember what you used to tell me?” I ask. “About finding a man who loves his wife the way Christ loved the church? Someone who serves her and protects her and doesn’t make love about what she can do for him?”

Mom nods slowly.

“I found that. It just doesn’t look the way you thought it would.”

Her eyes drift toward Nick again.

“He doesn’t believe.”

“No. He doesn’t go to church. He swears too much, he’s stubborn, and half the time I think he enjoys getting on my nerves.” I smile despite myself. “But he loves me exactly as I am. He doesn’t love the version of me he thinks I should become. He loves me. I’ve never had that before, Mom. Not inside the church or outside of it.”

“What about children?”

“We have Grady.”

“But is Nick truly all right with that?”

“Nick doesn’t think he’s settling for me and Grady.” I shake my head. “He thinks he won the lottery.”

That finally makes her smile.

Then it fades.

“Matt told us what happened with Declan.”

My stomach tightens immediately. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

“All right.”

I look at her because I expected an argument.

Instead, she takes my hand in both of hers.

“I’m proud of you.”

The words hurt in a place I didn’t know was still waiting for them.

“I should have said that more when you were growing up,” she continues. “I’m proud of the woman you are, Leah. I’m proud that you got out. I’m proud that you’re still here.”

My eyes fill before I can stop them.

Nick reaches us then, holding out a juice box like an offering.

“Mrs. Barnett, can I interest you in apple juice?”

Mom laughs and wipes beneath one eye as she stands. “No, thank you. I think I’ll let you have your chair back.”