The Waiting Game

s dim, lit only by the soft golden glow of the floor lamp beside Cassandra's armchair. The TV played some muted documentary neither o

med yet. She always knitted when she couldn't find the words. Yarn had become her safe p

aid finally, breaking the

't look up. "D

. "She texted 'Ma

gently, eyes on her work. "She

im. "I just want her to come home. Even if it's just to sit

used her knitting and met his eyes. "Bu

st, shutting them out, burying herself in all the wrong places. She was his little sister. He used

I failed her," he whi

y. "The person who hurt her failed

a moment, something inside him settled. She had a way of anch

ache l

the framed ultrasound picture on

pty p

heir first pregnancy. It ha

later, it sat like a trophy of broken dr

softly, "what if this

sed. "T

rds catching

ed through his, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Then we keep trust

has a plan. I just... I thought

ed smile. "We're both waiti

May to come home. A chil

g his hand, "we're here. Togeth

in the next room. No guarantee of a mir

o count fo

*

stove, flipping pancakes while gospel music played softly from the speaker. He always made

earing her robe,

said, wrapping her arms

sleep," he

shoulder. "These b

ed them with the grac

e him smile for the first time

ir plates. After breakfast, Cassandra headed to the garden. Tending to her flowers

le open in his lap, eyes s

e Lord; be strong, and le

wice. Then a

sed hi

May, even when she pushes away. Help me hold Cassandra together when I

ke a soft answer. Not loud. No

*

ssandra stood at the sink

home tomorrow?" Cassa

om?" he

lmo

nked. "S

ere outside. Said he'll be in town

hands. "He's al

he said. "Son of a meg

he pulpit." Gray smiled faintly. "He's real. Grounde

er head. "Maybe hi

. "You think God's sen

"sometimes God uses people to ch

of getting through to people without p

but Gray had run o

her," he said. "An

her head on his

ile, hands warm from the dish

*

sat at his desk, typi

brot

up at the airport if you want. Cassandra's alre

thing I should

about

I know. But maybe God will use you to reach her in ways I ca

iting. Maybe the w

and

r

aned back, letting

were out of

h like a lifeline-because sometimes that

lieved... even if