Page 86 of Skylar

The teens were clustered near the back of the boat, using their phones to take photos. It was so odd to see the nextgeneration living a part of their lives that Aiden remembered so clearly. It made him feel old.

After a little while, Cole slowed the boat to a stop. They dropped anchor, then sorted out the food, opening the cooler bag that contained everything Cole had ordered from the deli. There was far more food than they’d probably eat, but when Cole did something, he did it big.

Once the food was all set out, Cole turned to Hudson. “Would you say grace for the food?”

Hudson nodded, and everyone bowed their head as he prayed. Though Cole didn’t practice the faith he’d been raised with, he was still respectful of it.

After the prayer, they loaded their plates, then found seats on the long benches. The boat had a Bluetooth speaker system and soon Cole had some music playing.

They weren’t alone on the lake. Given how beautiful a day it was, it was no surprise that there were a variety of watercraft out on the water.

Once they had finished eating, the teens quickly stripped down to their swimsuits and jumped into the water. There were some inflatables which Cole tossed out for the teens to use. The adults didn’t seem to be in any hurry to join them as they continued to sit under the canopy of the pontoon, out of the sun.

“Alright,” Cole said after they’d been talking for a bit. He slapped his thighs, then got to his feet. “I think I’m going to join the kids.”

Aiden stood up, and he was a little surprised when Skylar did, too. She’d loved to swim when they’d been younger, and it seemed that perhaps she still loved it.

Cole took his T-shirt off, then dove off the back of the pontoon. He popped up beyond where the teens were using some of the inflatable tubes. When he splashed them, they shouted and splashed him back.

Skylar came to stand next to Aiden on the platform at the front of the boat, then carefully removed her walking boot. She set it to the side, then grasped the handle of the ladder that could be used to climb up onto the boat from the water.

“It looks very refreshing,” she said.

“Want me to throw you in?” Aiden asked with a grin.

“I think not,” she said, but then she reached out with both hands to shove him.

Without thinking, Aiden grabbed onto her, and they both fell into the water with a mighty splash. As they sank, he wrapped his arms around her and kicked hard to get them to the surface. As soon as they broke through the surface of the water, he let her go, anticipating that she was going to be less than thrilled about what had just happened.

Surprisingly, Skylar was grinning as she used her arms to stay above the water. “Well, I suppose I deserved that.”

“So I don’t have to apologize for pulling you in with me?” Aiden asked as he grabbed one of the large tubes and hooked his arm around it. He moved it closer to Skylar so she could also grab it.

“Well, if I insisted on that, then I’d have to apologize for pushing you.” With one arm hooked around the tube, she leaned back, her feet floating to the surface. “Let’s just call it even.”

Aiden was happy with that. He leaned back in the water, his position mirroring Skylar’s. Contentment swirled inside Aiden,marred only by the uncertainty that lingered over Shiloh’s health.

He looked up at the sky, his gaze taking in the splendor of it. He knew that the God who had created the spectacular beauty surrounding them could heal Shiloh. He could erase the cancer from her body and allow her to gain health and strength once again.

But was that God’s plan for their little girl?

Aiden looked across the tube and saw that Skylar had closed her eyes as she floated there. He thought of the years he’d wasted by not approaching her to admit that he’d been so wrong in how he’d treated her and to apologize. But he’d been too much of a coward.

He hated to admit it, but it was only because of Shiloh’s cancer diagnosis that he was back in their lives. Without that, he wouldn’t even know that he had a daughter. Nor would he have Skylar in his life once again.

Had God used Shiloh to bring him back to this family? But more than that, had He used Shiloh’s illness to bring Aiden fully back to Himself?

Whatever the reason, Aiden wanted healing for his daughter. He might never be able to play the role of father in Shiloh’s life, but forever in his heart, she would be little girl.

Please, God, let the treatment have worked for Shiloh. She’s such a strong little girl. Precious beyond words. Please heal her.

“Are you okay?”

Skylar’s soft question had Aiden blinking away the moisture that had suddenly swelled in his eyes. As he felt a tear slip down his cheek, he lifted his hand to splash his himself.

Dragging a hand down his face to wipe away the tears and the lake water, Aiden shifted to rest his chin on the edge of the tube while he wrapped his arms around it from underneath it.

“I’m fine.”

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