Page 101 of Love for a Lifetime

“Hey, you’ve reached Olivia. I can’t answer the phone right now.”

Even her recorded voice had his shoulders lifting, but he ended the call quickly. On any other day, he’d leave her a funny message.

Not today. Today, he missed her so badly he could barely breathe. She’d been number one in his life for years, but he’d only experienced a day and a half of bliss before they both went back to the real world.

But the time they’d spent together at the campsite? It was epic. Those days would forever live at the top of his list of favorite memories. They’d finally given up on acting like they weren’t together and just told their friends not to tell anyone.

Dawson took full advantage of their time after that. He’d been so wrapped up in Olivia he couldn’t see straight. He’d barely been able to work–the reason they were camping in the first place.

Now, he was having Olivia withdrawals. He fired off a text message asking if they could meet up later tonight. Another night without seeing her sounded like torture.

A few extra trucks were parked in front of the garage. He’d expected to see Asa here, but Olivia’s dad and Asher Harding were a surprise.

Gage Howard’s beat-up truck stayed parked at the garage lately. Nothing about that guy sat well with Dawson, but he’d been doing a good job of keeping his eyes and ears open when Gage was around. You don’t earn a rap sheet like his without logging a whole bunch of hours for the dark side.

Dawson wove in through the open garage bay, but the shop was empty. It was suppertime, and just the thought of food had his mouth watering. He stepped through the back door and turned down the small hallway where voices drifted out of the break room.

Five men sat at the table, leaving only one empty chair. Beau and Asher took up one side with Jacob and Asa across from them and Mr. Lawrence at the head of the table.

“Evenin’, gentlemen,” Dawson said as he made his way around the table shaking hands and slapping backs.

“Good to see you, man,” Asher said as he stood to shake Dawson’s hand. “How are you?”

“Any better, and I’d be you. What brings you out here?”

“Just getting the tires changed on Haley’s truck. She drives like the law is after her twenty-four-seven.”

“We keep a close eye on her,” Asa said.

Asher laughed, but the smile on his face was nothing but pure, gushy love for his feisty wife. “Then you’re smarter than you look.”

“Olivia isn’t here,” Jacob said.

The room erupted into laughter, and Dawson joined. “Buddy, you’ll understand one day.”

“Not today, though,” Asa added.

Jacob shrugged like he wasn’t sure he cared to understand why Dawson followed Olivia around like a lost puppy. “Where is she?”

Dawson picked up a paper bowl and started filling it with chili. “Church. They’re packing for the Fish and Loaves ministry tonight.”

Jacob turned to his dad. “Oh, I want to do that too. Can I go next time?”

Asa nodded until he finished chewing the bite in his mouth. “Sure. Lyric is there now. I didn’t know you wanted in on it.”

“I do,” Jacob said quickly. “I’ve heard Lyric and Olivia talk about it before.”

Dawson added a pile of cheese to the chili and took the last seat at the table. “Then consider yourself volunteered. Liv would love to see more kids helping out.”

“How’s Liv doing?” Mr. Lawrence asked. “I haven’t seen her all week.”

Dawson didn’t run into Mr. Lawrence nearly as often as he did Beau and Olivia, despite the goats living on the old man’s farm. Mr. Lawrence lived a quiet life since his wife’s death, though Olivia constantly pushed him to get out of the house.

For the first time in a while, Dawson noted the extra gray hairs on the man’s head and the sagging skin under his jaw. Mr. Lawrence was Dawson’s hero growing up–a man who worked hard, loved the Lord, and made sure his family was fed and clothed.

Everything Dawson’s dad wasn’t. He couldn’t imagine Jerry Lawrence bailing on his family. What made a man do that anyway?

He looked back at Jerry. For once, the giant of Dawson’s childhood looked tired. “She’s good I guess. I haven’t seen her much this week either. She’s been busy.”

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