CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX #2
She glanced up at him, her blue-green eyes thoughtful, and mouthed silently, "Even the bad things."
The comment hit him harder than it should have. He could hear the weight of her past in that simple statement.
Jude held her gaze for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Especially the bad things," he whispered back.
Angela stared at him for a long moment before a small smile turned up the corners of her mouth.
She turned back to her notes, writing something in the margin of her notebook. Jude wondered what thoughts were forming in her mind, what connections she was making between the scripture verses and her own difficult journey.
When the service ended, Angela closed her notebook and slipped it back into her Bible case.
"This was wonderful," she said. “I’ve been watching the livestreams from my old church in Briar Hollow, but it was nice to be here. The music. The preaching. All of it was a real blessing.”
“I hope that means you’ll come back again.”
She smiled at him as they got to their feet. “I would love to.”
“So, would you two like to join us for dinner?” Cooper asked.
“We’d love it if you would,” Melanie said, giving Angela a warm smile.
When Jude glanced down at Angela, she was looking at him with lifted brows.
“Would you like that?” he asked.
“Sure. That would be nice.”
“We can still go to the store afterward.”
“I’ll just text Kiara and let her know I won’t be back until later.”
Looking at Cooper and Melanie, he said, “Well, it looks like we’re coming to your house for Sunday dinner.”
“Wonderful!” Cooper’s smile broadened. “We’re just going to grab the kids from the children’s service, and we’ll meet you at the house.”
Cooper and Melanie went ahead of them up the aisle, while Jude and Angela followed more slowly. The foyer was full of people, so Jude held out his hand to Angela again.
She smiled at him as she took it, wrapping her smaller fingers around his in a firm grip. Keeping her close, he guided her through the clusters of people to the large doors that led out of the church.
The crisp February air hit them as they stepped outside, and Jude drew Angela closer to his side. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this kind of contentment following a service.
Not that he was discontent after the services. More that he didn’t really feel any sort of way.
Usually, he slipped in and out, exchanging brief greetings with Cooper and Melanie before heading back to the estate. Or sometimes, like that day, he’d go to their home for a meal following the service.
Today felt different, however. Richer somehow. He’d shared a spiritual and emotional connection with Angela that added a depth to their budding relationship that he knew would only strengthen the bond that was developing between them.
"So, Cooper and Melanie have children?" Angela asked as they walked toward his truck.
"Two. Alex is eight, and Chloe just turned five." Jude helped her into the passenger seat. "They're good kids. Energetic, but good."
"I'm looking forward to meeting them."
As Jude started the engine, he glanced over at Angela. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and her eyes were bright with anticipation. The sight made his chest tighten in that now-familiar way.
He'd never expected to find someone who fit so naturally into his life. Someone who shared not only his faith, but who also seemed to understand what was important to him without him having to explain it in great detail.
"Cooper and Melanie have been my friends for a few years now," Jude said as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"They were the only people I got close to at the church after my dad passed away. He was the one who’d brought me to that church, and after he died…
" He paused, searching for the right words.
"It felt like I'd lost my spiritual compass for a while.”
“I’m sure that must have been difficult.”
“It was,” he said as he pulled out of the parking lot onto the street. “I stopped coming for awhile, but eventually, I found my way back, and it was after that that I met Cooper. Having him, Melanie, and their kids become part of my life has been a real blessing.”
“I’m glad you have them,” Angela said, resting her hand on his arm for a moment. “I hope they like me.”
“Oh, they will,” Jude assured her. “I’ve already spoken to them about you.”
“Really?”
He smiled at her. “Yep. Cooper tried to encourage me to pursue you.”
Angela leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. “I guess I owe him a debt of gratitude.”
“So do I,” Jude said, his voice tight with emotion. “So do I.”
After a few moments of silence, Angela asked, ““Do you have a favorite verse?”
“Yep. It was my dad’s life verse, and it became mine. It’s the second part of First Corinthians ten, verse thirty-one. Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
“Oh, I know that one,” Angela said. “And I like it too.”
“Do you have a favorite verse?”
“Yes, I do. And interestingly enough, it’s one of the verses the pastor spoke on today,” Angela said.
“Philippians four verse thirteen. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I know that in its context it is about allowing God to give us strength to be content, regardless of the circumstances in our lives. For me, it’s that, but it’s also about leaning on His strength in other areas of my life.
Particularly when I face things that scare me or that I feel I can’t handle. ”
As soon as she said it, he understood completely why she would choose that verse. “You say it a lot to yourself, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I struggle with fear, especially when it comes to trying new or difficult things. That verse is what I cling to in order to face them.”
Jude tucked away the insight she’d given him, grateful that she’d opened up the way she had.
When they reached Cooper and Melanie’s house, the front door was flung open even before they reached it.
“Uncle Jude!” Alex yelled out as they walked up the sidewalk, hand-in-hand. “Daddy said you have a girlfriend now.”
Jude chuckled as they climbed the steps. “Yes. That’s true. This is Angela.”
Alex peered up at her, his gray eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So now you have a gun and a girlfriend. Cool!”
“Alexander Sullivan, let our guests in and close the door,” Melanie called from further inside the house. “You’re letting cold air in.”
Alex stepped back, and Jude let Angela precede him into the house. The boy closed the door behind them.
“Welcome,” Cooper said as he stepped into the hall from the kitchen. “You can hang your coats in the closet there.”
Jude helped Angela out of hers and hung it up before he did the same with his.
“This is our son, Alex,” Cooper said, reaching out to tousle the boy’s curls. “And this is Chloe, our daughter, who thinks she’s a princess.”
Chloe stepped out from behind her dad, showing that she was indeed dressed as a princess that day.
Angela smiled at her and gave a small curtsy. “It’s lovely to meet you both, Alex and Princess Chloe.”
Chloe beamed at Angela's acknowledgment of her royal status, twirling once to show off her sparkly blue dress.
"I'm a snow princess today," she announced proudly. "Like Elsa."
"The most beautiful snow princess I've ever seen," Angela replied, and Jude could tell by the genuine warmth in her voice that she meant it.
Cooper gestured toward the living room. "Make yourselves comfortable. Lunch is almost ready."
Jude guided Angela into the living room with a light touch on her back. The room was cozy and lived-in, with toys tucked into baskets and family photos covering most of the wall space. He watched Angela take it all in, her eyes lingering on the framed pictures of the Sullivans throughout the years.
"Uncle Jude, do you want to see my new LEGO set?" Alex asked, already bouncing on his toes with excitement.
Jude glanced at Angela, who nodded with an encouraging smile. "Sure, buddy. Let's see what you've built."
Alex grabbed Jude's hand and tugged him toward a corner of the living room where an elaborate LEGO construction covered a low table. Angela followed, settling onto a chair near Alex's creation, while Jude dropped down to one knee next to it.
"It's a space station," Alex explained, his words tumbling over each other in his enthusiasm. "And it has a docking bay for spaceships and a command center and everything. Look, this part moves!" He demonstrated by rotating a section of the structure.
"That's some impressive engineering, buddy," Jude said, genuinely admiring the boy's work.
He didn’t have much interaction with children in his day-to-day life. However, the time he spent with Alex and Chloe was a bright spot. They’d welcomed him without hesitation, having adopted him as an uncle.
And it seemed they were just as welcoming of Angela. Alex happily answered the questions she had about his masterpiece, and it warmed Jude’s heart.
It made him wonder if she’d ever thought about having children. He hadn’t given it a lot of thought himself. But now, watching her with Alex and Chloe, the image of her with a child of her own took root in his mind and wouldn’t leave.
"Do you want to see my princess room?" Chloe asked Angela, drawing Jude's attention back to the present moment.
"I would love to," Angela replied, reaching out to tuck a curl behind Chloe’s ear. "But maybe after lunch?"
"Okay!" Chloe clapped her hands together, then skipped over to where Jude knelt beside the LEGO creation. "Uncle Jude, will you come see my room too?"
"Of course, " he said as Melanie appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dishtowel.
"Lunch is ready, everyone. Kids, please wash your hands."
Alex groaned dramatically but trudged toward the hallway bathroom. Chloe followed, her princess dress swishing as she skipped after her brother.
“They’re so cute,” Angela said with a smile that lit up her eyes.
“That they are.” Jude got to his feet and held out his hand to her. Angela took it and allowed him to pull her to her feet. “And now we get to endure their parents’ curiosity.”
Melanie’s laugh told Jude she’d heard his comment. “You know us so well.”
With a grin at Angela, Jude led her from the living room into the dining room. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”
Angela laid her head against his shoulder. “I know.”
Those two words meant the world to Jude, and he prayed God would give him the strength to be worthy of her trust in him.