Page 56 of Skylar

Her mom squeezed her arm, then let go. “Okay. Moving on.”

Skylar chuckled softly. “Moving on.”

They discussed the latest news on Shiloh, which indicated that the little girl would be discharged soon. Then they’d have to wait. Wait to see if the treatment had been effective in getting rid of the leukemia. If not, the next step might be the stem cell transplant and all that that involved.

There had been no results from the blood tests yet. Though she knew it was a long shot, Skylar really hoped that there would be a match from among the ones who had been tested. She didn’t care who it was, just so long as it was someone. Even Aiden.

As she sat there thinking about her birth daughter, Skylar realized that if she was going to purposely pray for anyone, it should be for Shiloh. But the thought her mom had planted in her mind about praying for Aiden wouldn’t leave her alone.

But she wondered if God would hear her prayers for either of them.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Aiden guided his car into an empty spot in the church parking lot. He still wasn’t entirely sure why he was there, but a large part of what had propelled him that day was a sense of gratitude.

Gratitude that he’d had the opportunity to meet and get to know his daughter. Even though he couldn’t take on the role of father to her, he was still in her life. And for that, he was grateful.

That gratitude had led him to make the decision to seek out the church where he’d first made a profession of faith and also the family who had played a role in that.

Aiden pushed open his car door, then reached back for the Bible he’d placed on the passenger seat. It was his dad’s, given to him by his mom when he’d told her that he was planning to go to Serenity for church that morning. His mom and Willow hadn’t come with him because they regularly attended a church near their home in Coeur d’Alene.

He had gone with them on occasion, but his attendance was sporadic. Perhaps his mom had sensed that him deciding to go to the church in Serenity was something different and special, which was why she’d chosen that day to give him his dad’s Bible.

Aiden didn’t like that tragedy was what had ended up bringing him back to God and opening his eyes to his failings in the past. But he felt like God was giving him the strength and desire to take accountability for his past actions.

With broad strides, he crossed the parking lot to the large front doors. The day was already warm, so it was a relief to step into the coolness of the building.

Glancing around, he spotted Wilder first, but he didn’t approach him. Aiden still wasn’t sure how the man felt about him, and he wasn’t really feeling up to a confrontation before the morning service.

Instead, he headed for the doors that led to the sanctuary. Once through them, he stepped to the side, taking in the sight of the space that looked much the same as it had the last time he’d been there.

Memories flitted through his mind as he stood there. First, of him and Cole and the other friends they’d had at the church, attending youth group together when they’d gone into ninth grade. Then Skylar had joined them, and as she’d blossomed from best friend’s annoying little sister to beautiful teen, he’d been drawn to her.

Any time there had been a service, he’d been there to sit beside her. Any time there had been a youth event, he was there with her.

Most of their dates had been as part of a group. They’d gone bowling together. They’d skated hand in hand at the roller rink. In the winter, they’d bundled up and gone ice skating with their friends. And afterwards, they’d sat around a fire built near the outdoor rink, pressing close to keep warm as they drank hot chocolate.

So many memories of that happier time bombarded him.

“Good to see you here, Aiden.” Jay’s voice dragged him from the past as the man’s hand landed on Aiden’s shoulder.

He turned to see Jay standing there with his wife, Misha, and a young girl he assumed was Ciara, who’d been just a toddler when he’d last seen her. “Good to see you again, too.”

“Are you planning to take a seat?” Jay asked.

He glanced at the pews. “Yep.”

Aiden’s intention had been to just sit at the back. However, he soon found himself following Jay and Misha down the aisle to the front. Several of the Halverson siblings and their spouses arrived right behind them, including Skylar, who made her way carefully down the aisle on her crutches.

When they were all settled in their seats, Aiden somehow found himself next to Skylar. He hadn’t intended to make things uncomfortable for her by showing up at the church, so hopefully she didn’t think that.

There was plenty of space between them, though. It was space that would never have been there when they were dating. But that was the past. He had to keep reminding himself of that.

The service format had changed little, though some of the songs were new. He didn’t recognize the people on the stage playing the instruments. Previously, members of the Halverson family had been part of the worship team.

When Pastor Kennedy stood up, Aiden smiled. The older man still looked much the same as he had when he’d last seen him. The pastor had the older kids that were in the service come to the front. After chatting with them for a couple of minutes, he said a prayer before dismissing them for their children’s program in the basement.

The familiarity of the format of the service made Aiden feel at ease. Skylar, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be relaxed at all.

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