come out and say it — the fact that she’d been on the way to see him coaching when she’d been broadsided by the truck. But the fact remained. In some ways this trip would be symbolic — finishing what she’d set out to do that afternoon. She sniffed softly. “Yes, Cody … yes, I’d love to.”
“Good.” He felt the sting of tears in his own eyes, aware of how important this trip was to her. “You think you’ll be okay?”
“Yes.” She uttered a sound that was more laugh than cry. “A million times yes.”
He helped her to the door, and then had her wait at the top step. “I’ve thought this through.” She wasn’t ready for stairs yet, so he took her walker and ran it lightly down the steps to the sidewalk. Then he came back and swept her into his arms. She held onto his neck, and he cradled her close to his middle, careful with every step as he made his way down to where her walker waited.
“You don’t weigh anything.” He set her down gently, making sure she had perfect control of the walker before he took his place beside her. “You’re going to get the biggest bowl of ice cream tonight. Just wait.”
They both laughed at the idea as they inched their way toward Cody’s pickup. “Tara will probably make me eat two bowls.”
“She loves you.” Cody admired the woman more every passing week. She worked hard all day, and then came home and played nurse to Cheyenne in ways Cody couldn’t. It was a beautiful thing that Tara maintained her relationship with Cheyenne despite the fact that Art was no longer in their lives.
The trip to Lyle was marked by easy conversation, and Cheyenne seemed happy and relaxed. Cody had wondered how she’d feel, taking this ride so soon after the accident that had nearly killed her. Halfway there she turned to him. “God has taken away my fear … isn’t that amazing?”
“About driving?”
“Yes, that.” She nodded, her face marked by a peace that could never have been from the world. “But about everything else too.” She smiled at him, a smile rich with the sort of depth that couldn’t be faked. “When Art went to war, I was terrified. Every day I worried that he might get hurt or captured … he might get killed.” Her storytelling was slower than before. Not because she had brain damage, but because she simply was still recovering. “Even after I heard the news that Art wasn’t coming home, I was still afraid.” She leaned back against the seat, quiet for a moment. “I was afraid of the heartache … afraid I couldn’t survive his funeral service.” She turned slightly, wincing from the pain that was clearly still a part of her. “I was afraid of being alone.”
“That makes sense.” Cody tightened his grip on the steering wheel and kept his eyes on the road. “I’ve felt all those feelings.” He didn’t say that he’d felt them about Bailey. This wasn’t the time.
“Anyway.” She looked straight ahead again. “I’m not afraid of anything anymore. I have God Almighty … I have my salvation.” She smiled bigger than before. “I’ll get to see Art again, and we’ll have forever to hang around in heaven. And in the middle of my most difficult days, I have Tara.” She looked at him again. “And I have you.” She lifted her thin shoulder briefly. “What could I possibly be afraid of?”
Cody wanted to pull over and hug her. The way she viewed life, the trials she’d come through, her attitude was enough to give him new confidence in God … in his future. In the plans the Lord had for him. Maybe even the plans He had for the two of them.
He spent the last half hour telling her about his counseling, how his flashbacks had been less frequent and how he’d felt more at peace lately.
“God is doing something … in both our lives.” She wasn’t flirting with him. Just a matter-of-fact knowing. God was at work.
“The truth is …” Cody glanced at her, wanting her to know how much he cared. “He’s using you to change me, Chey. He is.”
“I know.” She reached over and put her hand on his shoulder, but only for a few seconds. Her endurance wouldn’t allow anything longer. “God told me that.”
Chey’s faith was as attractive as her beautiful heart. The way she believed was different than Bailey, because Cheyenne hadn’t known God