Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(69)

He made eye contact with his dad and they both smiled. Maybe it was an entirely different spin. Maybe God wanted him to trust his parents on this and stick with his first plan. Going to Liberty. Trust that God would take care of Elise and that if it was meant to be, they would find a way to be together, later. When they were older. When Cole had his medical training.

As great as the message was, Cole was more confused than ever as the sermon wound down. If he were honest with himself, he didn’t want to move to Louisiana. Didn’t want to get a job and support Elise. He wanted to go to Liberty. His whole future was ahead of him.

What had he been thinking to make such a crazy promise to Elise? And now that she was counting on him, what was he supposed to do? The walls of the church seemed to be closing in, and once more he had to work to get a full breath. He lifted his eyes to the cross at the front of the church. Jesus, I have no idea what to do. I feel like I’m drowning. Help me, please.

That’s when he noticed Elise still dabbing at her eyes, still crying. Why was she so upset? Was it just that good to be back in church, or something more? Had she heard from God?

Later, at his house after an early dinner, they walked to the stream that ran through his backyard. Like the first time he’d brought her here, he took her to the rock that anchored the edge of the water. Once they were seated she turned to him.

“I didn’t want to talk about this before dinner.” The sadness in her face was gone. Her eyes held a peace that hadn’t been there before. “Cole, I think God was talking to me today. At church.”

“Really?” He pulled one knee up and watched her, the way the breeze played with her hair. “What did He say?”

“The whole trust thing.” She looked straight ahead. “I think He was saying I’m supposed to place my little girl up for adoption. With Aaron and Lucy—the couple I picked out.”

Cole’s heart started to pound. He couldn’t sound too happy. What would that say about his desire to help her? That it was all an act? He exhaled and forced himself to be calm. Like when he came up to bat in the ninth inning, bases loaded. “So . . . what are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Okay.” Breathe, he ordered himself. You have to breathe. He grabbed a quick bit of air through his nose. “I mean . . . do you really think that’s what He was saying?”

“Maybe.” She turned to him again. “I think it’s me who’s holding on. And now that I know she’s a girl, she’s so much more a part of me.” Tears welled in her eyes again. “She’s my baby.”

Clouds gathered overhead and in the distance thunder rolled low and long. They had maybe ten minutes before the rain hit. Cole waited, listening.

“It’s hard to explain, but I think I heard a voice. Not a real voice, but . . . I don’t know.” She hesitated. “It’s like I could feel God telling me to trust Him. My baby girl would have the most amazing life with Aaron and Lucy.”

Cole nodded. “What about you?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to ask. “What do you want?”

She leaned closer and put her hand on his face. Then she stared into his eyes. “I want to be with you.” Doubt flickered in her expression. “I’m not sure about raising a baby. That’s the truth.”

A flash of lightning lit up the sky not far from where they were sitting. “We need to go.”

“I know.” They stood but the rain came before they could make their first move toward the house. Like most Indiana springtime storms, the rain came in buckets. The rain simply released all at once right over them.

“Come on!” Cole shouted over the sound of the sudden downpour. “Run!”

They held hands and sprinted across the property. Thunder shook the ground and they moved even faster. By the time they reached the shelter of the porch they were drenched.

“Cole.” She was out of breath, making a sound that was more laugh than cry. “Hold me.”

And he did. He opened his arms and she fit right between them, up against his chest. “Elise.” He brushed the rain from his face, still breathing hard. He whispered into her wet hair. “Sometimes . . . I’m so scared.”

“Me, too.” She held him tighter. Like she was only a child herself. “Why does life have to be so hard?”

Cole had no answers. Not for himself and certainly not for her. All he knew was that the idea of her placing the baby for adoption hadn’t only eased the boulders. It had allowed him to breathe again.

And that had to mean something.

? ? ?

LONG AFTER ELISE was in bed that night, when sleep wouldn’t come and the storm raged outside, Cole’s words played over and over in her heart. Sometimes . . . I’m so scared.

So scared.

She had known for too long that Cole wasn’t being completely honest with her. Yes, he loved her. She could tell by the way he looked at her. But he didn’t really want to be with her. Not yet, when they were so young. That’s what his eyes told her even if he didn’t say the words.

What did either of them know about raising a baby? And how could they plan to be married when they’d hardly even dated? All because he wanted to be like his dad.

Elise rolled onto her side. As she did the baby moved. The feeling was more of a kick this time. The flutters were gone, since the baby was getting bigger. Her doctor told her she would probably be showing to the world by mid-June. At the latest.