Chandler and Ivory, who were walking hand in hand off in the distance, too far away for Reid to tell whether they were going to the barn or away from it.
Loyal was probably inside helping with food, since he loved to cook.
A little pang of longing stirred in his chest as he watched Chandler and Ivory for just a minute. Chandler’s head leaned down while hers leaned up, and he couldn’t see it, but he bet they were smiling at each other.
Most of the time, he could ignore things like that and pretend it wasn’t what he wanted anyway.
But maybe because Emerson was home and maybe because he figured people were going to be asking him about her, why she wasn’t here and where she was and whether she was home for good. Or maybe because just seeing her had made everything that he’d always wanted stir up in his chest and come to the top.
Whatever was the cause, there was definitely a pull and a longing.
He turned his head away and walked toward the porch where Zane and Deacon seemed to be in a serious conversation.
They stopped talking as he approached. He smiled. “Don’t let me interrupt. What’s up?”
Deacon said, “We were just talking about Pastor Wyatt and Lynette.”
“I thought Lynette passed away?”
“She did. That’s what we’re talking about. Gus is taking it pretty hard.”
“I can’t blame him. She wasn’t sick very long, and she wasn’t old. It’s a hard blow.” Reid shoved a hand in his pocket and looked out over the pasture field that stretched out to the creek. He didn’t want to get in a conversation about death and sadness, and he wished he hadn’t walked over.
“It sure is. No one thinks he should be happy.” Deacon’s gaze followed his. “But he knows where she is and that she’s happier there anyway.” He blew a breath out.
Reid could understand the loneliness, and the need for someone to help with the children, and just missing her.
But the death itself...it was really supposed to be a blessing to a Christian. Why didn’t they look at it that way?
“Is he...able to function?” Reid asked. If the man needed help, Reid needed to be ready to give some.
“That’s what we’re talking about. Maybe needs some company, some people to talk to. He’s said that he’s happier just hanging out on his farm and healing, but it seems like he’s doing less healing and maybe going the other way a little.” Zane put a hand on the porch post and leaned against it, his other hand in his pocket. “I’m not saying the man’s not right to be torn up, because I know I would be if anything happened to Waverley.” Zane looked up at the house, and his tone was soft, like the thought of losing Waverley could barely be spoken aloud.
“I know what you mean,” Reid said.
Zane’s eyes shot back to him, and Reid resented the surprise that was on his face. Just because his wife didn’t live with him, just because he hadn’t talked to her for years, didn’t mean he didn’t love her anymore. He always had, and he probably always would. He couldn’t imagine how he’d feel if she were gone.
Even though she’d been in Switzerland, he always took comfort in the thought that she was over there, waking, eating, sleeping. He thought of her every day. He could see her in the faces of his boys. Hear her in some of the expressions they used, see her touch in his house: the decorations she’d left, the kitchen utensils she’d used, her clothes in the closet. Everything reminded him of his wife.
“I think that might be part of the problem. Pastor Wyatt sees the kids, sees the house, and everything is just too much for him. And he forgets that God’s there, that God has allowed this trial, and he doesn’t seem to turn to Him for comfort. Instead of thinking about heaven and the reunion there, Gus seems totally focused on what he lost here. I think it’s almost turned into a depression type of thing. And I’m not sure what to do about it.” Deacon’s voice was full of compassion and love. If anyone could help Pastor Wyatt, it would be Deacon.
Maybe that was the conversation that was going through their heads several hours later when they sat around the campfire. The children were out back playing flashlight tag, having bummed every flashlight that anybody had in their vehicles and all the batteries from