Page 44 of Echoes of Eternity

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for you to find out this way.”

Letting go of the door, it swung open as his brother proceeded over to his couch in the living room. Walking inside, Ryan noticed Chloe’s bedroom door open and her playing in her room with dolls.

Coming over to the couch, he sat down beside his brother and lowered his voice as he pulled the letter out from his back pocket. “I wanted you to see the letter Dad wrote me.”

Jason hesitated for a moment, then snatched it.

Unfolding the letter, Jason read it slowly.

Dropping the letter on the couch as he finished it, Jason stood and began to pace. “So, let me get this straight . . . Dad thought you were better than the rest of us? Is that why you came over here?”

“I don’t think ‘better’ is the right way to say it. I think he just got stuck in a hard place, and now I’m stuck.”

“You put yourself there when you decided to lie to me. You even lied to your wife, Bro.”

Ryan looked away. “I know. I was stupid. I just felt like I needed to help these people.”

“What?” Jason shook his head and sat back down. “You need to leave before I hit you.”

“Hit me? You understand that I could kick your butt if I wanted to, little bro. Even with only one good arm.”

Jason looked at him in that moment like he wanted to kill Ryan.

“What about faith? Trusting God? Praying? Where’s all that right now?”

Shaking his head, Jason glared again at him. “I forgive you, but that doesn’t mean I want to see you right now.”

“When’s a good time?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. But I think you need to leave, Ryan.”

Taking the cue, he exited, shutting the door behind him.

Emily was unloading the kids at the house when Ryan pulled back into the driveway. She sensed in his expression that it didn’t go well at his brother’s house. Sending the kids inside, she met Ryan as he got out of the car.

“Didn’t go well?”

“He wants nothing to do with me . . .” Ryan sighed as he walked into the grass of the front yard. “I just keep messing up.”

“He’s upset about his father. It’s not about you, Ryan.”

“No, it’s about me, Em.” He shook his head as he looked at her. She could see him trying to fight tears back in his eyes as he continued, “The one other person I cared about in this town wants nothing to do with me now.”

“Oh, Ryan.” Emily’s voice was sympathetic and gentle as she continued. “God brought us here for a reason. I’m not sure exactly what that is, but we have to keep believing that. Right?”

“It would’ve just been so much easier to give the business to Jason and be done with it when I had the chance. I feel like my pride and stubbornness got in the way.”

She shook her head. “Frank trusted you with the business, with what to do when it comes to Linda, not Jason.”

“But you were so upset. You know that’s what Frank would’ve done if he were alive.”

“Correct, but that doesn’t mean I like being lied to by my husband.”

“You keep mentioning that.”

“Because it’s what bothers me the most.” She looked him in the eyes as she felt her heart pleading with him. “It’s always been us against all odds, and lately . . . it hasn’t felt that way.”

“Since my dad died.”

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