Page 48 of Love Story
By the time Cody landed in Louisiana, rented a car and set out toward the flood zone, it was late afternoon. Still enough daylight to find her, but not much. Cody didn’t care. He would’ve walked a hundred city blocks in the pitch-dark if it meant seeing her tonight.
As soon as he hit the edge of the disaster area, Cody felt his stomach turn. The torrential rain and flooding had been swift and certain. Entire neighborhoods were wiped away. Even now, with waters clearly receding, there were stacks of debris everywhere. Cars flipped on their sides, pieces of houses tangled up with broken trees and trash.
A police officer had given Cody the address of a temporary shelter. No guarantee Andi was there, but it was the first place Cody intended to look. As he drove, on either side he could see people helping each other. Many of them had shovels, and they worked to collect the piles of wood and garbage and broken belongings from what once must’ve been manicured lawns. Enormous bins sat in the streets and people everywhere were doing their part to fill them.
He had heard on the news that most of the workers were volunteers from local churches. Those leading the cleanup were mostly from Christian relief organizations like the one Andi worked for. All of it made Cody thankful for the church. The Bible commanded people to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to help the poor and serve others.
The scene playing out on either side of him as he drove was exactly what God must’ve imagined. Cody wished he could get out and help. But he had to keep going. Had to find her before the next few days disappeared.
Andi wasn’t at the first evacuation center he went to, or the second. Then someone told him about the temporary animal shelter. The man thought Andi might be working there. Cody’s heart pounded as he drove to the address and stepped out of the car. He stood there a moment, studying the place. It was an oversized aluminum shed packed with crates and cages.
The door was open and Cody could see people moving around.
Then he saw her. She was working in the shed. A tall blond girl whose graceful movements could only mean one thing. He had found her. Cody straightened and felt his courage double.I need You, God... help me do this.
Clouds had gathered overhead and everything around him was soaking wet. The heavy branches from the nearby trees, the muddy ground, and the shed. All of it was drenched. Cody wore a navy blue rain jacket, which he pulled tight around himself.
The whole time he never took his eyes from her.
For a moment he paused as she brought a puppy to her face and nuzzled it against her cheek. Cody couldn’t hear what she was saying, but watching her was enough. She loved animals, so working here was perfect for her. He was about to call her name when another worker, a guy, came up to Andi and stood close to her, the two of them admiring the puppy.
Cody took a step back. What was this? He watched another minute until the guy went back to whatever he’d been doing before. Were the two of them more than friends? The way they laughed and looked at each other, it almost seemed like it. Rocks filled Cody’s gut. Maybe he should turn around and head to his hotel. Think this through before he made a fool of himself.
But then he remembered the words the Lord had whispered to him.With Me all things are possible, My son.
Yes, that’s right. Nothing would ever be impossible with God on his side. And God was on his side. Even now. That didn’t mean he’d get the answer he wanted, but it meant he had to try.
He was too committed to leave now.
The shed was only ten yards away, and as Cody took a few steps closer, Andi must’ve heard him or seen him from the corner of her eye. Whatever caught her attention, she turned and faced him. And then she froze in place. After several seconds she set the puppy back in its cage and came out to meet him.
Cody didn’t move. He waited while she walked toward him, her steps measured, like she was in a trance. Her eyes locked on his and she never looked away, never even blinked.
A hundred emotions and thoughts whirled in Cody’s mind. How beautiful she looked and how different from the last time they’d been together. There was a strength to her now, strength mixed with confidence. As if she were exactly where she needed to be. A sense of purpose and resolve shone in her eyes.
Never had Cody been more drawn to her.
When Andi reached him, she took him by the hand to a spot behind a grove of trees. So they’d be completely alone. “Cody...” Her tone was compassionate, but clearly she was confused. “Why are you here?”
He had so many things he wanted to tell her. How he was sorry for letting her walk away and how he should have told her about thePTSD, how all he’d done since then was think about her and miss her and want her back.
But none of that came out.
Instead—with the greatest care—he took her into his arms and kissed her. Not a kiss of sudden passion or self-gratification. But a kiss that he hoped might tell her more than an hour of words ever could.
She drew back first, breathless, her eyes a mix of sorrow and shock. “What in the world...” Her hand moved across her lips.
Cody took a step back. Instant regret. “I’m... I’m sorry, I just... I couldn’t reach you and you wouldn’t take my calls or text me back. I saw you on the news and...” A soft rain started falling around them. “I missed you, Andi.”
Her eyes welled up and for a while she stood there, watching him, like she was fighting herself for even staying around this long. Then as if she had no way to stop herself, she slumped a little. And finally she came to him and melted into his arms. For a few seconds she looked like she might kiss him. Instead, she kept her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. “I missed you, too.”
The feeling of her in his arms was all that mattered. He could’ve left now and the whole trip would’ve been worth it. But he had so much more to say. He drew back and studied her face, her eyes. “I have to talk to you, Andi. What happened between us before, it was my fault. But there are things you don’t know.” He wiped the rain from his face and eyelashes. “Could we go somewhere, please? So we can talk?”
“Everything is fine?” A guy’s voice came from a few feet away.
Cody and Andi turned toward the sound. It was the dark-haired guy from a few minutes ago. Before Cody could say anything, Andi jerked away from him and crossed her arms in front of herself. She seemed guilty, like whatever was going on she didn’t want the guy seeing her with Cody. “It’s okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She looked at Cody and back at the guy. “This is Cody. My friend.” She glanced at Cody. “This is Caleb.”
Caleb nodded, his expression stone-like. “Pleasure.” The guy had an accent. Something European, maybe.
