Page 112 of To Bring You Back
31
Six Months Later
Adeline nudged an ice cube under the waxy leaves of her orchid plant and sat back in her desk chair. The visible edge of the ice turned glossy. The flowers had died a couple of weeks ago. Were ice cubes really enough to coax out another round of blossoms?
“Things are pretty slow, huh?”
Adeline swiveled toward the door of her cubical.
Tegan wore jeans and a light jacket that wasn’t suited to February in northern Wisconsin. She must be dreaming of spring. She waved a glossy magazine with Gannon on the cover.
In the photo, he leaned against a gray wall, his thumb hooked in his pocket, a look on his face as if someone had said something marginally funny.
Tegan plopped the magazine on the desk and took the chair usually occupied by the university students Adeline advised in their job searches. “Any big Valentine’s Day plans?”
Adeline shook her head. Tegan would’ve been the first to know if that had changed.
“Can you believe that when he showed up at Superior Dogs last summer, you told him to get lost?”
“I didn’t exactly say that.” She laid her fingers on the corner of the cover. She’d been so standoffish with Gannon back then. Now, she’d marry him in a heartbeat if he asked.
Wait. Would she? Marry him?
Tegan laughed. “Have you read it yet?”
She hadn’t even seen it.TMRhad to be one of the most famous music industry magazines, yet Gannon hadn’t mentioned being featured, and she’d given up seeking out articles about him. Studying the photos and quotes was like finding comfort in a tub of ice cream. Satisfying in the moment, but a letdown in the long run. The things he spoke about to reporters gave only a glimpse into his true thoughts and feelings. His conversations with her were richer, but not enough.
They talked about music—she’d written and recorded the bass line for the phoenix song. They talked about the tour and her work, the day-to-day challenges and wins. But she sensed he’d put up emotional barriers. Either he was protecting himself in case she didn’t come around or he thought she wanted distance. To a point she had, but she was in a good place now, wasn’t she?
God, I trust you to bring him back to me if that’s what You have for us.
She’d been praying it so much that the thought autopiloted through her brain. Now if only the mindset would permeate her heart.
Maybe it was all the tour. Maybe if not for that, he’d have come back already or at least would have had more time for deeper conversations.
But I trust you, God.
“So how’s work?” Tegan thrummed her fingers against the armrests and looked around the cubical as if she’d go stir crazy if their roles were reversed.
“I heard today from one of the students I helped land a paid internship in Madison. She’s been at it a couple of weeks now and loves it. She’s over the moon.”
“And so are you.”
Adeline bit back a grin. The student had emailed a thank you and credited Adeline with instilling her with the confidence she needed to take the big step toward her dream job. “I’m making an impact.”
“And the church hasn’t fallen apart.”
“Olivia’s been doing a good job in the office.”
Tegan moved to the edge of her chair. “I should let you go. Just, I think you’re going to like what he says in that interview. It’s not the same as a Valentine’s Day date, but it’s something.”
She studied the cover again. Had he said something for her this time?
She looked up as her friend reached the door of the cubical. “Hey, Tegan?”
“Yeah.” She stopped in the doorway.
“You didn’t like Gannon.”
