Page 32 of To Believe In You
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“Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”
Lina stood at the edge of the bonfire with Isabella, roasting marshmallows and struggling with insecurity, and the question the girl posed in front of the group had to be about her love life?
In all her years working for the band, she hadn’t socialized much with Gannon, John, Philip, or Tim. She and Adeline worked well together, but they weren’t friends, and she’d only just met John’s new bride, Erin, tonight.
She ought to jump at the offer of friendship and community, but counting on these people for more than a paycheck felt … complicated. Much like her feelings regarding dating.
Shane had duped her. Her parents were interested in her for all the wrong reasons—Mom wanted her to boost her social standing, Dad his bank accounts. Grandma had been taken from her all too soon.
What relationship would fail next?
She didn’t have a boyfriend because fear had doused her courage to date, despite how much she wanted a family. Similar anxiety had kept her quiet at the bonfire.
Unfortunately, a lull in conversation meant everyone had likely heard Isabella’s question.
“Boyfriends aren’t everything.” This declaration came from Erin.
Thank you, Lord.The rescue meant Lina might not have to muster an answer herself.
John held Erin’s hand, apparently unthreatened, because her comment brought a smile. “How about husbands?”
“I love you.” She paused to grin, and Lina could hear the “but” coming before she continued. “But before you came along—and for a while after—I planned to live a full, happy life with or without a husband, so no, you’re not everything either.”
Over the chuckles and the crackling campfire, Lina almost didn’t hear Philip’s quiet offering. “Only God’s everything.”
He’d been as quiet as Lina tonight. His choice to break his silence with those words stoked her curiosity.
She glanced back to Isabella, who pouted next to her, probably disappointed at the way her question had been shot down.
Okay. Lina wanted to be a good role model. She also needed friends. Both required a certain amount of openness. A certain amount of trust that God had placed her here, with these people, for a purpose. She took the plunge. “Boyfriends really aren’t everything. Find the wrong one, and you’re better off without, but sometimes it takes a while to see the flaw in a relationship.”
Isabella’s expression turned thoughtful. Was she thinking about the underlying warning in what Lina had said, or was she about to fire off another personal question? The latter seemed more likely, and Lina’s feet shifted as though she were standing her ground in front of a firing squad.
Tim interjected before his daughter had the chance to take aim. “Which is why you’re not allowed to date until you’re thirty.”
Isabella moaned, and the adults laughed.
“Practical solution,” Gannon quipped.
As Lina and Isabella continued roasting marshmallows, the others dove into the dating rules they planned to set for their daughters—though only Philip and Tim had kids so far. The men around the fire vowed to be protective.
Unlike Lina’s father, who must’ve given Shane her phone number.
Yesterday’s message from her ex had been another apology. The softness in his voice as he’d asked her to get in touch brought back memories of their early dates. Their first kiss. A picnic dinner. An evening at the ballet. The way he’d calmed her down after a spat with her parents. All the promise of happily ever after.
All the hopes he’d dashed.
And then there was Matt. Shane’s opposite. Rough around the edges instead of suave, but oddly good with kids. Protective. Willing to share about his life in meaningful ways.
A squeal from Isabella pulled Lina from her thoughts. The girl swung her stick, the treat on the end an orange, glowing blur.
Tim called out a warning, and Lina touched her arm to still her.
Together, they blew out the flaming marshmallow and went to the snack table. Lina helped Isabella pull off the burnt outer shell of the marshmallow and left the girl to make a s’more before returning to her seat between Isabella’s empty one and Philip.
She’d much rather focus on Philip and his decision to leave Awestruck than Shane or Matt. Since he stared into the fire, largely ignoring the conversation around them, this made as good of an opportunity as she’d get.
