Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(68)

One boulder after another.

It was half an hour till the church service. Cole’s parents and siblings were saving seats for Elise and him. Her coming to church was a step in the right direction, because until now Cole couldn’t even answer the most obvious question: Did the girl he loved really care about following Jesus? As far back as he could remember that had been at the top of the list. His mom used to say, “Most important thing in life is figuring out what to do about Jesus.” She would smile. “But second is finding a girl who believes in Him like you do.”

Cole helped Elise into the car. She was five months pregnant and still not showing at all. She wore a flowery skirt and a fitted blouse. The perfect Easter outfit. “You look pretty.” He still hadn’t kissed her. Didn’t want to until they had more of this figured out.

“Thanks.” She settled into the seat beside him. “You didn’t ask how my doctor appointment went.”

That’s right. Cole gripped the steering wheel. “Sorry.” He’d had a home game. No question his hitting was off. The burden of life made it hard to see the ball the way he used to. That’s what Cole had learned this season. He wasn’t half the hitter he’d been last year.

And even still the Liberty coach wanted him to try out.

He tried to be interested in what Elise was saying. He still listened while she read the pregnancy app on her phone. How the baby had gone from the size of a pea to a grape to a cantaloupe. And how the infant’s brain was developing, and the lungs and skin. The fact that the baby could hear now.

The details really were fascinating. But right now Cole only wanted to hit a home run, break out of his slump and turn a triple play at second base. He pulled into the church parking lot and found a spot. She was still waiting for him to ask about the doctor visit, her pretty hair spilling in waves over her slim shoulders. He remembered to smile. “How was your appointment?”

Her eyes sparkled. “I found out.”

No telling what she was talking about. Sometimes Cole felt like they were moving in opposite directions. She was obsessed with the baby growing inside her, and he . . . well, he wasn’t. No matter how much he wanted to be. He turned toward her. They had to hurry. Church would start in fifteen minutes. “Found out what?”

Disappointment flashed in her expression. “Cole. You know!” She studied him for a few seconds. She must’ve seen that he clearly didn’t know, because she let her head fall against her seat and she let out a loud breath. “Cole.” Her eyes found his again. “I found out the sex of the baby.”

That! Cole shifted in his seat. Of course! He took hold of her hand. “I thought you were going to wait.”

“I was.” She seemed to forgive him. Her tone was more relaxed again. “But they did an ultrasound. I guess that’s normal at this point. Looking for stuff that might be wrong.”

“Was everything okay?” There. That was better. More interested.

“It was.” The corners of her lips lifted a little and her eyes danced. “The guy doing the ultrasound suddenly goes, ‘Are you feeling her move a lot?’?” She allowed a single laugh. “And I was like, ‘Her?’” Elise lifted her free hand, as if she couldn’t contain her excitement. “And just like that I had my answer.”

“It’s a girl?” Cole tried to sound as happy as Elise.

“Yes!” she squealed. “Cole, we’re having a girl!”

We’re having a girl? The suffocating feeling was back. What was he doing? He wanted to correct her that they weren’t having a baby. They weren’t married. He had no idea if they’d ever be married. Rather, she was having the baby.

But it didn’t seem like the right time.

One thing was certain. As they walked toward the church building, their hands laced together, the idea of Elise’s baby felt way more real. Since she still wasn’t showing, it was easy sometimes to think of Elise as his girlfriend. The most captivating girl he’d ever met.

Here though, thinking about Elise having a little girl, the truth was much more tangible. With everything in him, Cole wanted to be like his dad. There for Elise, loving her through all that was ahead. But right now, even as they entered Clear Creek Community Church, Cole felt just one thing.

Overwhelmed.

They found their seats and Elise made her rounds from Cole’s mom and dad to his brother and sister and cousin. They all liked her. Though only his parents knew about their plans to move to Louisiana.

The church band sang four worship songs, and when they were finished, Cole looked at Elise. She had tears in her eyes. Spilling onto her cheeks. His heart broke for her. All she’d been through on top of missing this deep connection with God . . . of course she was feeling it today. On Easter Sunday.

The sermon seemed written just for Cole. Or maybe for Elise, too.

“Sometimes life comes down to trusting God.” The pastor looked around the congregation. “That’s the story of Easter.” He went on to talk about the fact that Jesus had told His friends He would rise from the dead. But still on Sunday morning they were shocked. Totally disbelieving that the tomb might actually be empty.

Cole let his mind drift. Was God trying to tell him to trust the situation with Elise? That somehow if he moved to Louisiana and spent the next few years—or even all his life—helping and loving Elise and her baby, then God would take care of things? Was that how he was supposed to trust?