Page 100 of To Belong Together
“Living differently won’t solve this. Not on its own. Humans can’t help but spiral.”
“You guys don’t.”
“In our own ways, we have and will again, but Jesus can redeem spirals.” Maybe even his spiraled relationship with Erin.
Tim focused on his food, signaling he was ready to end the discussion.
“I’m not kicking you out, but you’ve got to talk to me.”
Mouth stuffed, Tim grunted. “Hypocrite.”
Fair enough. John wasn’t about to start talking about what was going on in his life with Erin, how he wished she’d call. Drumming hadn’t been a distraction from her so far, but if he agreed to the show, he’d have more work to do and added motivation to do it well—he did not want to fail in front of a crowd. Besides, if Tim thought it would land Awestruck good publicity going into contract negotiations, he was probably right.
“About this show. Are the others on board?”
Tim coughed on his food. “Gannon said you’d never go for it, and he wasn’t going to ask. But if you’re in, he and Philip are.”
“Then I guess we’re doing a show.”
Erin hadn’t putin any time at Hirsh Auto in a week, not since Dad had gone missing. When she parked in the lot on Friday, she hesitated to leave the quiet of her car. Normally, she enjoyed activity, but the last week had been anything but normal.
Dad had died four days ago already.
Though she hadn’t seen John since Monday, he’d texted each day. The contact had been brief, but he’d packed the few words he’d sent with unbelievable encouragement.
She lit up her phone and looked at his latest text, sent when she’d messaged that she’d return to work that day, for better or for worse.
You’re stronger than you think, he’d written back.
The last week had proved the opposite.
She’d known Dad’s death would hit her hard. She hadn’t expected all her desires—eating, leaving the house, getting dressed—to disappear completely. She’d spent days catching up on sleep she’d missed during the search, but the rest never satisfied. She and Mom cried. They’d started planning the funeral.
Her dad and Uncle Nick had a sister. Unfortunately, she, her husband, and their grown children were all vacationing in Europe. So, though anxious for the closure of the funeral, everyone agreed to set the service for a week from Saturday.
At least the delay afforded her and Mom extra time to share memories as they chose which pictures to put on the photo boards. They’d also bonded over movies and meals with friends and family.
While Erin longed to throw off the heaviness that had cloaked her days, as she sat in the car, she knew returning to work wouldn’t free her. Still, Hirsh Auto couldn’t afford to be down a technician for much longer, and she needed the money.
She wiped fresh tear tracks from her cheeks and went inside.
Paperwork for an oil change waited on her toolbox. The task was one of the first car-related jobs Dad had taught her. Tears, ever-present this last week, dripped down her face. She dipped her cheeks to her shoulders, clearing them, and got to work.
“You think he might’ve preferred it this way?”
Erin turned from the oil pan.
Roy frowned at the car above her on the hoist, apparently too sheepish about what he was saying to make eye contact. “Quicker, instead of a long, slow decline?” He looked at her now, eyes hooded with concern.
How dare he wish Dad gone sooner?
If Dad were still there, they might’ve had some good moments.
And yet, those had been dwindling. What an awful disease. A delayed end would’ve meant more suffering for Dad, and watching would’ve gutted her.
She liked neither option. But, early on, Dad had said he’d walk whatever road God assigned because God would be with him every step of the way.
So, she believed God had been with Dad the night he drove off. He’d been with Dad in the forest. He’d stayed with them all day in the hospital, and He’d welcomed Dad to heaven when it ended.
