“You like pizza, don’t you?” “Sooo much, Mommy!” He ran off, yelling at the top of his lungs. “Mommy says any minute!”
The doorbell rang and Landon called out from the other room. “I’ll get it.”
Relief eased the cold and nervous edges of Ashley’s heart. Landon sounded happy tonight, hopeful and confident … the way he had always sounded before he started coughing. She brought the water to the other room, and everyone gathered around the dining room table.
“That’s a whole football field of pizza!” Devin held onto the back of one of the chairs and peered around it at the four large pizzas spread across the table. “I can’t wait!”
Cole put his arm around his little brother’s shoulders. “Maybe we should pray first, buddy.”
A serious look flashed on Devin’s face and he nodded big. “Yes. Maybe we should.”
Brooke’s husband, Peter, prayed … thanking God for the food and the time together, and asking that the Lord be present in all they said and did that evening. When he finished, they situated the kids at the table, and the adults carried plates of pizza out to the family room.
The conversation was easy and upbeat. Brooke talked about the crisis pregnancy center she and Ashley helped run in downtown Bloomington. Under Brooke’s direction, the center had started a Purity Pledge Program, where girls could come in and take a pledge to stay pure until they were married. In exchange for the pledge, they received a certificate, a booklet about the realities of premarital sex, and coupons from various local merchants. “Word’s definitely gotten out around the high schools.” Brooke looked comfortable next to Peter, his arm around her shoulders. “We’re busier than ever.”
They talked about Kari and Ryan, how it was to have him gone so much of the football season. “Jenny Flanigan jokes that she’s a football widow every fall,” Kari laughed lightheartedly. “I don’t mind, I guess. I love being married to a coach. Every season is a new set of players and games and possibilities for greatness.” She smiled at the others. “It keeps life exciting.”
In the other room, the kids’ voices blended together in a happy mix of laughter and teasing and pronouncements from Devin — who easily had the loudest voice of the group. Brooke noted that it was too bad Erin and Sam couldn’t make it. Their girls had the flu, so they’d stayed back for a quiet night at home. “She loves these Friday nights … I hope the girls get better soon.”
Kari’s eyes lit up. “Speaking of football, Ryan tells me he heard from Cody Coleman. He’s coaching at Lyle High near the Ohio border, remember? I think I told you all that a month ago.”
They nodded, agreeing that they knew about Cody’s position. Jenny Flanigan had talked to Ashley not long ago. She was interested in how his season was going. “How’s he doing?”
“I guess incredibly well.” Kari grinned. “His team is undefeated after three games.”
“What?” Landon raised his brow. “That team hasn’t won a game in two years.”
“Exactly.” Kari laughed. “God’s doing something amazing out there in that small town. Ryan tells me everyone’s got Cody slated as a hero. They could lose every game from here out and they would credit him with bringing life back to not only the football team — but the whole town.”
“That’s fantastic.” Peter set his empty pizza plate on the arm of the sofa. “I always liked that young man. I wish we could’ve kept him here at Clear Creek.”
A round of agreements came after that, and as the conversation lulled, Landon coughed a few times. Luke must’ve picked up on the fact. “What does your doctor say about your lungs … since the great news on the electromyography test?”
Ashley watched her husband closely. He didn’t flinch, didn’t let on that he was still suffering from the loss of his job. He clearly understood that Luke only asked because he cared. A casual smile played on Landon’s lips and he gave a slow single nod. “It’s good news … what they say now is I’ve got COPD.”
“Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.” Brooke looked concerned. She was a pediatrician, but she was knowledgeable on all things medical. “Landon … that’s still very serious.”
“It is.” The calm in his face remained. “I’ll be working soon with an occupational therapist, learning ways to work around the disease, and how to keep my airways as open as possible.”
“There’s a lot they can do now … between medications and walking programs.”