Page 76 of The Other Side

“Thanks.” Thea picked at a fingernail she could barely see by the light of the moon. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Jess won’t be if she doesn’t lay off. I’m assuming you heard some of that.”

“I did. I was looking for you.”

“It’s fine. She’ll get over it or keep stressing about it, but I’m through hearing about it.”

When he parked at her cabin, he turned off the engine and asked, “Can I carry you inside?”

“Why do you like carrying me?” she asked with a laugh.

“Because I like caring for you. It makes me happy when you’re happy.”

Thea’s shoulders slumped. “You’re so sweet,” she whispered.

“I’ve always felt that way about you. And you’re good to me too, so it goes both ways.”

“I haven’t done anything for you since I’ve been here,” she said.

“You don’t have to do anything for me. I just like hanging out with you. And I like carrying you.” He shrugged. “It is what it is.”

Thea chuckled. “Okay, Prince Charming. You can carry me inside, and I will thoroughly enjoy every second of it.”

Brett perked up as he opened the door and pulled out the food. “I’ll be right back.”

He closed the door and jogged inside, putting away the food before coming back to get her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her snugly against his chest. Nuzzling her face against his warm neck, she held on and relaxed into his embrace.

Inside, he kicked the door closed behind him and carried her to the kitchen. He set her gently in one of the chairs around the table and pulled another over for her to prop her foot on. “What do you want to drink?”

“Water is fine. I’ll get the food sorted.” She dug into the bag and started checking the boxes. He really had gotten some of everything.

He put a glass of water in front of her and another next to his seat. “I’m going to make a fire. Start without me.”

Thea grabbed for his arm. “Wait. Can you say the blessing first?”

Brett sat in a chair beside her. “Sure.”

“Thanks.”

He bowed his head. “Lord, thank You for bringing us through another day. Thank You for everything you provide–the food, the shelter, and the safety. Please help me to be the man You need me to be. Amen.”

Thea kept her attention on the food as she grinned. She’d been caught off guard the first time she heard Brett pray because neither of them had grown up with Christ in their homes.

Now, she sometimes craved Brett’s thoughtful and gentle prayers. She had no idea hearing him give thanks to the Lord would be so attractive, but it pulled her heart closer to him every time.

Brett tended the fire while Thea divided the food onto plates, giving Brett extra helpings of the foods she knew he liked most. When he came back to the kitchen, he dug into the spread.

“So, Ava didn’t need you this afternoon?” he asked.

“Nope. She was having a meeting with the food supplier before catching up on some emails. She was feeling good today, so she wanted to work.”

“Good. I have to say, after seeing her suffer for six months, I’m extra appreciative of women who go through all that for their families.”

Thea pushed to swallow the bite of grilled chicken she’d been chewing. If she’d stayed by Brett’s side, would they have had kids of their own by now? “I hate that she’s having such a hard time.”

“Me too. It makes me wonder why my mom kept having kids. It’s hard work, and she didn’t care about us at all,” Brett said.

---