Where Two Hearts Meet (12 page)

Chapter Ten

The phone rang as Matt walked in the door of the lodge. It had to be Tessa. He dashed across the room.
Please, Lord, help me straighten this out.
Would she let him explain, or would this be the final blow that broke their fragile bond? No, he’d just turned everything over to the Lord. He had to hold on to the hope he’d been given. He willed confidence into his voice as he answered.

“Oh, Matt.” Tessa’s voice shook.

He gripped the phone. “What’s wrong?”

“I had an accident.” Tears laced her words.

“Are you hurt?”

“No—no, I’m okay, just a little cut on my forehead.” She sniffed, her voice still trembling. “But we were hit from behind, and Evan was . . .”

The floor seemed to drop out from under him, and he grabbed the desk chair. “Is he okay?”

“No, we’re in the Princeton emergency room. They’re taking him to surgery.” Tessa broke into jerky sobs.

He closed his eyes and sank into the chair, groaning a heartfelt, wordless prayer.

“I’m so sorry, Matt.” Grief choked her voice.

He shuddered and drew in a sharp breath. Was she talking about the accident or the trouble between them? It didn’t matter. He could never blame her for any of it. This was just as much his fault as hers. He should’ve been there to protect his family and prevent something tragic like this from happening.

Sorrow clogged his throat. He leaned forward and rubbed his burning eyes.

“Please come home, Matt. We need you.”

Her words infused him with new strength, and he rose to his feet. “I’m already on the way.” He heard more crying on her end of the line, making him long to be there and hold her.

“The Lord is going to carry us through this. Hold on to Him, Tessa.”

“I will, but please hurry,” she whispered.

* * *

An elderly woman wearing a blue volunteer smock checked the hospital’s computer and looked up with a smile. “Your son is in room 127. That’s one floor up in Pediatrics on B-1.”

Matt nodded and breathed a silent prayer of thanks as he strode toward the elevator. The news that Evan was in a regular room, not in surgery or intensive care, boosted his tired spirit. He followed the signs, rounded several corners, and passed the nurses’ station. No one had answered the home phone or their cell phones, so Matt hoped he would find Tessa and the kids here.

His journey from Lost Lake Lodge to the University Medical Center of Princeton had taken only eleven hours and twenty-five minutes. He knew that was nothing short of a miracle since he’d had no reservation, and he’d managed to get one of the last seats available on the only plane flying from Portland to Philadelphia late last night. He’d flown off into the midnight sky and then watched the sun come up and fill the heavens with light, his prayers and hope rising with the dawn. Though the circumstances surrounding his return were serious, he felt an unexplained peace. The Lord was at work.

Matt spotted room 127, and his heart lurched. What if he had manufactured those feelings of hope and peace in his own imagination and they weren’t from the Lord? What if they lost Evan?

No, he would not let doubt or fear creep in and steal what he had been given. The Lord would be with them no matter what happened.

The door stood slightly ajar. He whispered one more prayer and walked through. The sight of a sterile, empty bed shook him for a moment, but then he saw a curtain had been pulled to shield a second bed. He braced himself and stepped around the curtain.

His gaze darted from his sleeping son to his wife. She had pulled her chair up to Evan’s bedside and sat as close to him as possible with her head resting near his, her eyes closed, her hand covering his small fingers.

Matt stalled, practically bowled over by a powerful wave of love for them. The tranquil looks on both their faces told him his prayers for their comfort had been answered. He took a deep breath, trying to collect his emotions.

Stepping closer, he leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss across Tessa’s cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered, and recognition crossed her sleepy expression. She rose into his embrace. Neither spoke as they held each other tightly. Tears washed his eyes, and he let them fall, unashamed. Oh, how he loved this woman.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she finally whispered.

“Me, too.” He sighed into her hair, holding her close. Right then, he made a decision. No matter what it took, he’d rebuild his marriage and show his wife and kids how much he loved them. With God’s help he’d do it.

* * *

Tessa clung to Matt, drinking in the comfort of his strong embrace. She pressed her cheek to his chest, and the soothing scent that was Matt’s alone filled her senses. She finally pulled back and looked into his face, wanting to study each line and feature that was so familiar and dear to her.

“How’s Evan?” He clasped her hand and glanced toward their son, concern filling his eyes.

“He has a broken leg, but the doctors say he’s going to be okay. At first they thought he had a concussion, but they did a CAT scan and ruled that out. He had a three-hour surgery last night to put in pins and repair the fracture. They gave him some pain medication. I guess that’s why he’s still asleep.”

Matt nodded, his serious gaze still fixed on Evan.

Tessa’s throat tightened. How could she ever have doubted his love and commitment to her and the kids? She must have been deaf to the truth and blinded by her own foolishness.

He turned to her and tenderly brushed her bangs away from the cut on her forehead. “And how are you?”

Heat raced into her cheeks at his close scrutiny. Did he see the crow’s-feet, smudged makeup, and dark circles under her eyes? He smiled, and her fears vanished. His loving look convinced her he saw past all of that into her heart, and he treasured her.

A hot, exultant tear trickled down her cheek. “I love you, Matt. Can you forgive me for being so selfish and hurting you and the kids?”

He reached for her. “Only if you’ll forgive me for trying to push you into something you never wanted. That was way out of line.”

They spent the next half hour talking about the issues that had put a strain on their marriage and assuring each other how much they loved each other.

“I don’t want anything to ever come between us again,” he said.

She smiled, awed by his sincerity. “Okay, but you have to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“That we’ll spend the next twenty-five years together.”

Surprise and then understanding flickered across his face. “Today’s June sixteenth.”

She grinned. “Happy anniversary.”

“Wow, twenty-five years.” Affection and longing glowed in his eyes. He lowered his head and kissed her, gently at first and then more deeply.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss, wanting to show him he was her first and only love. She didn’t care what she had to leave behind. Nothing on earth meant as much to her as this dear, wonderful man and their life together. She’d made a commitment to him and him alone. Everything else needed to take a number and get in line.

Justin swished back the curtain and almost spilled the cardboard tray of fast food in his hands. “Dad!”

Brie rushed to hug her father. “Oh, Daddy!” The delight on their daughter’s face gave her a glow Tessa hadn’t seen for weeks.

Matt hugged Brie and then turned to Justin. “Come here, big guy.” He opened his arms and welcomed his older son with a slap on the back and bear hug.

“Hey, what’s going on?” a faint voice asked.

Tessa spun toward the bed.

Evan’s dazed expression turned to one of pure joy. “Dad, you’re here!”

Matt leaned down and gently embraced his tearful son. “Hey, sport. I’m sure glad to hear your voice. How are you doing?”

“I’m okay. When did you get here? How long are you staying? I want to go back with you.” Evan’s words tumbled out in a rush, and his chin quivered.

“Hey, slow down. It’s okay; we’ve got plenty of time to talk about that.”

Tessa pulled in a deep breath. “No, I think it’s time for a family meeting.”

They all looked at her, surprise on their faces.

Matt straightened. “You want to call a family meeting right now?”

“Yes. I have some things I need to say to all of you.” She turned to Evan. “That is, if you’re awake enough to listen.”

He blinked his droopy eyes. “Sure, I broke my leg, but my ears are fine.”

They all grinned.

“First, I need to apologize—to all of you.” Tessa looked into each face. “When your dad and I talked and prayed about going to Oregon, we asked the Lord to make it clear if we should move. He did, but I didn’t want to listen. I let selfishness and fear get in the way and make the decision for me, and that hurt us all. I need to trust the Lord to lead us, and we need a full-time dad and mom in this family, so—”

Matt interrupted her. “Wait. Before we make any decisions, I have some things to say, too. The Lord’s also been speaking to me, and He’s made it clear that keeping our family together is more important than where we live or work. And if that means I need to sell the lodge property and move home to New Jersey, then that’s what I’ll do. Living in Oregon would be a good choice for us, but it’s not the only choice. I love you—all of you.” He looked at each of them, and his gaze settled on Tessa. “And you’re worth more to me than any piece of property, no matter how long it has been in my family or how much business potential it has.”

Tessa smiled. “I love you, too, and I’m ready to move to Oregon if that’s where you believe the Lord is leading us.”

“But I could get a good price for that property. We could buy a new house here, and you could keep Sweet Something.”

“Since you guys can’t make up your mind, I think we should vote on it,” Justin said.

Tessa and Matt exchanged surprised glances.

“All those in favor of moving to Oregon raise your hand,” Justin continued.

Every hand went up, including Tessa’s. Laughter bubbled up from her heart. The Lord had made it clear again, and this time she would listen.

“Yes!” Justin pumped his fist in the air.

Brie squealed and grabbed her big brother for a hug. Evan’s sleepy smile spread wider, delight brightening his eyes.

Matt pulled Tessa close. “Are you sure, Tessa? Is this what you really want?”

Assurance washed over her. “Yes, I want to be with you. Wherever you’re going, I’m going, too.” Then she kissed him again, lingering, savoring the sweetness of their love tested and refined by twenty-five years of marriage and renewed by a miracle of God’s grace in their hearts.

The End

About the Author:
Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of thirteen inspirational novels and novellas. Carrie and her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, and speaker, have been married over thirty-five years and make their home in New Jersey. They often travel together on ministry trips and to visit their five adult children and four grandchildren. Carrie also leads women’s ministry at her church. When she’s not writing she enjoys arranging flowers, cooking healthy meals for family and friends, and walking around the lake near their home. Carrie loves to connect with reading friends through her website,
http://carrieturansky.com
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Carrie’s most recent novels include:

The Governess of Highland Hall

The Daughter of Highland Hall (October 2014)

Snowflake Sweethearts

A Man To Trust

Seeking His Love

Surrendered Hearts

Along Came Love

Christmas Mail-Order Brides

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