Page 100 of Loyally, Luke
He’d thought and prayed about some small way he could make this transition a little easier. Probably not the best idea, but he’d seen the necklace in a shop in Crieff and it just fit.
He reached into his shirt pocket and brought out a little box. The shopkeeper even placed a tiny pink bow on top when he’d told her the reason for the purchase.
“But I got you something.”
She looked down at the box and then pushed her doll to the side. “What is it?”
He grinned and pushed it into her waiting hand. “Open it and find out.”
The box lid slipped away to reveal a small gold necklace. Faye looked up at him with wide eyes.
“I got a gold necklace for you because gold is pretty and special, like you are. But you know what is the most like you?”
“What?”
“Gold is strong. And you are strong.”
She looked down at the necklace, studying it.
His throat tightened. “And it’s a heart because I want you to remember something.”
Her gaze fastened back on his. “What?”
“That you are loved by lots of people.” He nodded toward the hall. “Mrs.Kershaw.”
Faye wrinkled her nose in disagreement. Luke held in his smile.
“Mrs.Rue.”
Faye liked that name a little better.
“Amara from all the way in Nigeria.”
Her smile brimmed at that one.
“Lots of your friends at the orphanage.” He tilted his gaze upward. “God.”
She looked up at the sky.
He swallowed through the tightness and worked the words through his lips. “And me.”
She smiled up at him and his heart nearly broke into a zillion pieces. “You too?”
“Me too. You were one of the very first friends I made when I came here.”
Her cheeks dimpled with her widened grin and his throat squeezed tight.
“I spied on you.”
“You did.” He cleared his throat. “And that heart necklace”—he tapped the box to give him something else to look at besides her face—“well, when you wear it, I want you to remember all those things.”
She touched the heart with her little finger, her smile fully intact. “I’m pretty and special.” She looked up at him. “And lots of people love me.”
“And you’re strong.” He nodded. “Strong enough to keep hold of that kindness and sweetness inside of you, even when things are hard.”
Her eyes rounded. “I’m not always sweet.”
“Who is?” He shrugged a shoulder, glad for the levity in the subject change. “But I hope you can hold on to your sweetness long enough to join me for supper with Mr. and Mrs. Frasier tonight.”
