Love Starts with Elle(85)
He shoved aside the emotion of missing Elle.
Straightening her covers, Heath wandered into the living room, then the kitchen. Without pausing to think about it, he reached for the letter, flipped it over, and tore open the envelope. Two pages fell out and he carried them to the living room.
Heath,
Babe, I’m in a hurry, but I have to write my thoughts before we move out. I hated getting cut off in the middle of our discussion. You were angry with me, and it’s unsettling to be at odds. Especially when I’m thousands of miles away. Lately it seems we are trying to fight for control. control. And, Heath, I don’t want that. Neither do you, I imagine.
Don’t be angry with me for being on this assignment. It’s just something I have to do, and I believe God is with me. Pray to Him for your peace and mine.
I wanted to tell you this news in person, but I can’t wait. Besides, a man has a right to know he’s going to become a father, doesn’t he? How and when he hears the news isn’t as important as the news itself, right?
I’m pregnant, Heath. I wasn’t feeling well and just thought it was fatigue from the hectic summer schedule, but then I got to thinking . . .
A test confirmed it. I should’ve told you first thing when I called tonight. Maybe we wouldn’t have argued. Maybe we would’ve argued more. I’m sorry, babe.
I’m about eight weeks now, give or take. The last few months have been so busy I’ve hardly noticed anything about myself.
Surprise, right? First we didn’t want any and now we have two.
Maybe this one will have my feet since our dear girl has your boxy ones.
I’ll be home before the end of the first trimester. I know it’s hard to believe, but this pregnancy only fuels my passion to raise awareness for the medical conditions for women here in Iraq. Their hospitals and clinics are raided. The villages are subject to attacks, abductions, and intimidations. We are so free, Heath, and they are still wanting and waiting.
I was thinking of a little brother for Tracey-Love? We could name him Ben-Love. Ha-ha, get it? Been love . . . okay, I know, too corny for a woman of my education and sophistication.
In three weeks, I’ll be home and celebrating our new child with you. I hope he has your eyes, nose, and mouth—because they are so perfect—and your athletic ability. But my brains.
Kiss TL for me. Tell her I love her and miss her terribly. I’ll call you the first moment I can.
I love you, as you know I do, so very much.
Your girl, Ava
The pages fluttered from his fingers to the floor.
TWENTY-SIX
Billowing clouds with rain-filled bottoms mounted in an azure sky as Elle drove to morning prayer, a slight yearning to sit in His presence swirled inside her.
The chapel came into view, and Elle tapped the brake, turning into the parking lot. The maintenance crew had finally fixed the front window and removed the plywood cover so the old building no longer looked like a set extra from Pirates of the Caribbean.
The chapel floor moaned under her footsteps as Elle walked down the aisle. Miss Anna’s spot by the altar was vacant.
Elle set her Bible and notebook down, sitting where the woman normally knelt, drawing her knees to her chest.
Hey, God, it’s me, Elle. For the first time in her life, she was beginning to understand why He was the Prince of Peace.
“Elle?”
She opened one eye. Jesus?
“Elle?”
Jesus sounded a lot like Julianne. Elle opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
She stood at the end of the aisle, stiff yet trembling with a haunting stare. Her chestnut hair was scooped back in a loose, uneven ponytail, like she’d fix it on the run. A brown stain dotted her orange top.
“Jules?” Elle got up from the floor.
“I can’t sleep, I can’t eat.” Her sister twisted her hands together, then raked them through her hair, pulling more strands from the blue scrunchy. “My heart pounds so hard I can’t breathe. I’m nervous. I snap at Rio. Last night she tipped over her milk and I almost slapped her in the face.”
Julianne raised her hand in demonstration, then broke into a deep moan, sobs melting her frozen posture.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay.” Elle held her shoulders with her arms and led her to the front row pew. “Tell me what’s going on.”
For a long while Julianne wept against Elle. Tears fell to her lap, leaving large, dark spots.
When she lifted her head, Elle’s top was wet with sorrow. “Can you tell me what started all of this?” She snatched the box of tissues from the altar.
“You, that’s who.” Julianne ripped a couple of tissues from the box and wiped her naked cheeks.
“Me?” Elle thought back over the last few weeks. She’d barely seen Julianne.
“You just had to talk to me about Danny, about coming out with the truth.” The pink ring around her eyes deepened to crimson. “Couldn’t you tell him to mind his own business?”
“Julianne, did you want me to ignore him? ‘Oh, hey, Danny, thanks for stopping by and telling me about you, Rio, and Jules. How ’bout them Clemson Tigers?’ Sweetie, he wants to right a wrong. Give you and Rio his name.”
Jules blew her nose. “I’ve told him a hundred times, I can’t do it to Daddy and Mama.”