Page 46 of Echoes of Eternity

Emily knew Ryan’s desire to feed the community of Cedarwood Creek at no charge came from a principle his father had instilled in him as a young man. Though Frank had flaws which were discovered in his passing, when he was alive, he exuded Godliness and a kindness like no other person she had ever met. For Frank, loving others was like breathing.

“It’ll be fun.” Emily continued, “Maybe by helping, I can meet some new friends? I love our kiddos, but friends would be nice.”

“For sure.”

Scooping Jack into his arms, Ryan placed him on his back and gave him a quick piggy-back ride through the house. Naturally, Conner needed one as well.

As he started wrestling with the boys in the living room, Emily interrupted. “Don’t you have to go?”

Reluctantly, he nodded. “Yeah. I have to go, guys, but we’ll continue this later.”

“I love you, Daddy!” Jack lunged at him and wrapped his arms around him.

“I love you too, bud.” He kissed him and set him down on the couch. “Listen to your momma and be good. I’ll see you two in a bit.”

As Ryan left, Emily headed to go wake up Elizabeth. Knocking lightly on the door, she entered to find her already out of bed and curling her hair.

“Good. You’re up.”

“Yeah.”

As she walked into the room, she noticed her daughter had extra makeup on. “Why are you getting so dolled up, baby girl?”

Making eye contact with her mom in the vanity’s mirror she was using, she smiled. “Josh Branson is going to come hang out.”

Josh was the boy she was interested in who attended youth group at church. They had started talking after summer break started.

“I thought he was out of town with his family?”

Slipping a red ribbon into her hair, she said, “They came back early. How do my curls look in the back?”

Coming closer to inspect, she pointed out a section to her daughter. “Just this and you’re done. It looks really cute. Hey, we’re going to leave in about fifteen, so be ready.”

“I will.”

At the grill a short time later, Emily and Elizabeth helped Ryan set up tables out in front of the restaurant while Jack and Conner rode their bikes up and down the sidewalk. After everything was set, Elizabeth’s friend Jasmine showed up. Emily wasn’t the biggest fan of Jasmine, but she knew it was hard to make friends for her daughter, so she tried to be understanding but at the same time protective and on guard.

“Mom?” Elizabeth came over to her. “Jasmine and I are going to head over to the rope swing to meet up with the others from youth group.”

“Okay.” Knowing she was meeting up with other youth group kids helped, but a part of her still held worry. “Any adults?”

“Mike, the youth pastor, will be there . . .” Elizabeth seemed put out by the question.

“Have fun, girls.”

As they went and jumped in Jasmine’s car, Ryan walked up beside Emily. Watching the car drive away, Ryan shook his head. “It feels like only yesterday we brought her home from the hospital.”

“I know . . .” Wiping a stray tear, she turned toward Ryan. “I think she’s going to be okay in life.”

“I hope so. Will you start bringing the other stuff out, and I’ll pull the barbecue out from the shed in the alley?”

“Yes.”

Ryan was relieved by the fact that most of the town had turned out for the free hot dogs and burgers. There was one person he hadn’t seen any sign of and wanted to see there more than anyone—his brother, Jason. He longed in his heart to repair things with him, but the few times he had reached out in the last month, he was met with no response. No answer, no callbacks, and no texts. The last time he had tried to contact him was just yesterday. He had finally resolved to let go and let God handle it, but it still nagged at his mind.

Starting the cleanup process at about three o’clock that afternoon, Ryan was surprised to see Jason’s wife Natasha and their daughter Chloe walking down the sidewalk toward the grill.

“Hey, Natasha.”

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