Page 82 of Be Courageous

Miles thought for a second McKenzie might cry. As she fought for composure, he viewed his father through her eyes. Compared to Jared Jones, Drake Ellis was a superhero. Maybe Miles had misjudged him.

“Hey, uh, Dad,” he heard himself offer, “why don’t you join us all for Thanksgiving tomorrow?”

In his peripheral vision, he saw his mother swing around with the phone to her ear. Her gaze locked with his, and Miles could tell his offer had freaked her out, but he wasn’t about to recall it.

His father shrugged. “Sure. What time?”

“Well, I’m picking up Maggie at the airport at eleven, so let’s say one o’clock? Maggie will be glad to see you.” His mother had turned away to talk on her cell phone.

Dad glanced her way. “All right. If you’re sure I’m not imposing.”

“No, no. It’s the least we can do, after all you’ve done for McKenzie and me. Thank you.”

McKenzie echoed his words. “Yes, thank you, Dad.”

His father’s visage softened at the appellation. “Well. See you tomorrow, then. I’ll bring a centerpiece.” As he stepped out of the home’s front door, Dad sent one more glance at his estranged wife before closing the door behind him.

Was that yearning in his father’s eyes? Miles turned thoughtfully toward McKenzie. By the grace of God, they were finally together and would stay that way. If God could do that for them, perhaps He could heal the rift between Miles’s parents.

EPILOGUE

Am I dreaming?

McKenzie tried to wrap her head around it. Here she was her wedding reception, dancing with Miles for the first time ever, not the least bit surprised to find that he danced as skillfully as he did everything else. A dozen people, including Miles’s family members, looked on with indulgent expressions as the couple completed their obligatory dance together, weaving through the patches of sunlight that shone through the tall windows of his church’s reception hall.

The wedding itself—hastily planned and modestly attended—had been perfect. With only three days’ notice, Karen had pulled together flower bouquets, a wedding soundtrack, a gorgeous three-tier cake, and even a beautiful white dress for McKenzie to wear.

During the ceremony Miles gave her a ring once belonging to his maternal grandmother; she’d loved it on sight, just as she was loving this intimate reception taking place a mere twenty steps from the sanctuary where they’d pledged to have and to hold each other, until death parted them.

Speaking of death, Mr. Ellis—Dad—had assured McKenzie that in the extreme unlikelihood some vengeful Centurion caught wind of her wedding, the entire church was surrounded by people who worked for him. She caught Drake’s eye as he stood at the edge of the parquet floor, watching them dance. He sent her a crooked smile. What a blessing to have a father she could respect!

As his gaze wandered toward Miles’s mother, McKenzie knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he longed to reconnect with Karen.

Sudden movement wrested her attention from Dad back to Miles, who dipped her without warning. She swallowed a gasp and clung to him, delighted when he planted a stirring kiss on her lips. Everyone watching them cheered.

When he pulled her upright again, she tottered, both hot in the face and light-headed.Oh, my.

In her peripheral vision, she saw Maggie, Miles’s tall, raven-haired half-sister conversing with her father. One look at Maggie, and McKenzie had realized Karen wasn’t her biological mother, a circumstance that puzzled her as they behaved just as mother and daughter would.

And now Maggie was crossing the room toward Karen. Her purposeful expression told McKenzie she had an agenda.

“Hello, I’m right here.”

Miles’s words snatched McKenzie’s attention back to him. “Sorry, but I think your dad sent Maggie to ask your mom to dance.”

Her words startled Miles into glancing toward his mother. Sure enough, her wide eyes went from Maggie to Drake as she took in what Maggie had to say. With the firming of her lips, Mom shook her head and turned pointedly away to look at Miles and McKenzie.

Miles sighed. “Pretty sure that’s a no.”

“But he’s so lonely, Miles. Why won’t she give him a chance?”

“She gave him twenty-seven years, Angel. He was off working that whole time.”

Hearing resentment in his voice, McKenzie finally gleaned the reason for the tension between father and son. She glanced briefly at the elder Ellis. “Maybe he wants to make up for that.”

“Well, I think it’s too late for Mom. She’s moved on, if you know what I mean.”

“She’s seeing someone?”

---