Page 85 of Dear Henry, Love Edith
“Because God wants for Sharon the same thing he wants for all of us—to have the kind of faith that knows he’ll provide what we need when we need it, even when we don’t see how. Especially when we don’t see how. Even Sharon would admit God’s always come through on that nursery of hers. You’re living proof of that.”
Edith released a soft laugh. “How do you figure?”
“You’re here, aren’t you? Why else would a young single woman without any ties willingly spend a summer in Illinois without payment of any kind unless she were answering God’s call?”
“Good point.” Edith chewed on her lip. “But I’m supposed to be leaving for South Africa soon.”
“Supposed to?”
“Well, with everything that was going on, I started thinking maybe I should just stay and...”
“And what?”
Edith cleared her throat. “Get married.”
“Oh, good golly grief. You arenotcanceling your plans for South Africa. I already told you. Nobody’s going to thinkany less of you when they find out what really happened. It’s going to be fine. There’s no reason for you to stay. Unless...”
“What?”
“Unless you really do love Henry.”
“It doesn’t matter whether I do or not. You’re right. If God is calling me to South Africa for the next however many years, then that’s where I need to be.”
“I think it does matter though.”
“Not when Henry doesn’t love me back.”
“Of course Henry loves you back. I heard him declare it in front of the entire bakery.”
“Yeah, when we were pretending. That’s all it ever was to him. Pretend.”
“Honey. About fifteen years ago I spent the longest three hours of my life watching Henry play Curly in the high school’s production ofOklahoma!How he got the lead role, I’ll never know, because the boy could not act and he certainly couldn’t sing. So believe me when I say, if Henry had been pretending, I’d have known.”
“Well, he’s never said it to me.” Edith stood up. “Anyway, you’re right. I can’t throw this opportunity to go to South Africa away. Not when I feel such a deep pull to go. I’ve ignored God’s direction in my life for far too long. I can’t keep doing that. I can’t stay here. Not like this. I have to go.”
Julie rose from the bench. “Are you still talking about South Africa, or do you mean the park? Because technically this place closed at sunset, and we do need to go.”
Edith laughed. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“I was half hoping James would arrest us since the jail is only a block from my car.”
“Oh, good golly grief.”
“Are you mocking me with my own expression?”
“I am. Now start moving. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“And for the record, Charlie Brown owns that expression, not you.”
“Not thegollypart. That’s all mine.”
“Fine. I’ll let you have that if you let me have the Snickers bar I saw you trying to hide in your purse.”
“What are you, part cat? How could you have possibly seen that in the dark?”
Edith linked arms with Julie. “I have a keen sense of smell. Especially when I’m starving.”
