CHAPTER THIRTY
When Cole found out that Annie hadn’t been staying at the main house, he made the decision to spend the night at his parents’ place. He’d walked Annie to her home, then he’d headed to see his parents.
The decision might not have made sense to the others because the last time he was in Serenity, he’d stayed there. However, he’d had two very good reasons for his decision this time. One, he didn’t want Annie to be worried about missing out on something if he was at the mansion and she wasn’t.
The second reason was that he wanted to see his parents. He needed to tell them about Annie and just how important she’d become to him. They had an inkling after the afternoon they’d all spent at the rink on New Years Day, but he needed to tell them how much he loved her and how he envisioned their future.
Cole had spoken to Duncan briefly before he’d left the main house to ask for his permission to give his parents more details about Annie and her family. Though he’d thought Duncan might balk, the man had given him permission with the understanding that for the time being, it went no further than his parents.
Something told Cole that he’d acquiesced so easily because he’d done a background check on everyone in the Halverson family.
Over the past several weeks, Cole had come to understand Duncan much better, and he knew that the man’s decisions regarding security were based on Duncan’s love for his family. Understanding that made it a little easier to accept the man’s heavy-handed approach to security, especially because it meant the woman Cole loved would also be safe.
His parents had been shocked to find him on their doorstep, but after being assured that there was nothing wrong, they’d welcomed him with open arms.
Because it was late already, they didn’t talk too long. Just long enough for Cole to tell them more about Annie and how serious he was about her.
For the second time that night, they were shocked, but they’d both said that they really liked her and felt she’d be a good fit within the family—enormous wealth, notwithstanding.
The next morning, Cole had a quick breakfast with them, then drove over to the estate.
Annie was in the breakfast room with everyone else when he arrived. She greeted him with a smile as she got to her feet.
He took her in his arms for a quick kiss before accepting a cup of coffee from Elizabeth.
“What are your plans for today?” Duncan asked from his place at the head of the table.
Cole glanced at Annie, then said, “I believe we’re going to church this morning.”
“Can I come with you?” Benji asked.
“Of course,” Cole said. “I know you want to see Amelia.”
Cole chuckled as Benji’s cheeks flushed. “I like going to church, not just to see Amelia, you know.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Cole told him.
“Are Dawn and Andrew going with you?” Duncan asked.
“Yes,” Annie said. “Andrew doesn’t always go, but Dawn said he’d be accompanying us this morning, too.”
“Good. I’d rather both be with you for the next little while.”
With that settled, they finished their breakfast, then prepared to leave. Cole was a bit surprised when Annie invited Angela and Kiara along, but less surprised when they declined. They’d probably met enough new people for a while.
They had to wait for Dawn and Andrew to bring their car around. Jude had insisted that he and Annie take one of the secure SUVs, so Cole left his rental and drove the vehicle Jude gave him the keys to.
Once at the church, Cole was greeted with enthusiasm by his family, who were all surprised by his presence.
“Why didn’t you let us know you were coming?” Jay asked after giving him a hug.
“It was kind of a last minute thing,” Cole said. “And I was coming mainly for Annie.”
Jay chuckled. “Passed over for your love. I get it.”
“We’re happy to have you here, regardless,” Gareth said as he clapped him on the back.
“I would have gotten the gym for this afternoon if I’d known you were going to be here.”
“I should have let you know,” Cole agreed. “Then Annie and I could have reenacted our first meeting.”
“And hopefully you’d still save me from an errant ball,” Annie said with a grin.
“Oh, I definitely would. I’m a pro, after all.”
Jay rolled his eyes. “Pro baller, maybe. Pro flirter, not a chance.”
Cole laughed. “I was good enough to get Annie.”
When Wilder and Lexi approached them, Lexi greeted Annie warmly, as did Charli and Rori a few minutes later. Annie had mentioned that she’d been attending the women’s Bible study, which Charli and Rori had been helping to lead.
These connections went beyond the friendship she had with him, and he was glad for that. It meant he wouldn’t have to hope that his family would like her, though in his opinion, there was no reason why they shouldn’t.
As the time for the service neared, the group migrated from the foyer into the sanctuary. A few people stopped Cole to greet him, and some congratulated him on the team’s latest win.
He hadn’t been to the church much since becoming famous, and he was glad for the people who treated him like the teen they’d known all those years earlier. Not fawning over him because he’d gained wealth and fame since then.
Cole settled into the pew, resting his arm behind Annie. They were getting plenty of curious looks.
“Hey, bro. Squish over.”
Cole grinned up at his best friend, then he and Annie shifted further down the pew so Aiden and Skylar had room to join them.
“Didn’t know you were coming to town,” Aiden said.
“Last minute decision,” Cole told him. “I wanted to see Annie.”
“Ah, I see how it is,” Aiden said with a wink at Annie. “Coming for the lovely lady, but not for the best friend.”
Before Cole could retort, the worship leader welcomed them to the service.
When they stood to sing, Cole realized he didn’t know many of the songs anymore. Some were familiar, but others were completely new to him.
Annie, however, seemed to know them all, which made sense since she’d been attending the church for the past couple of years.
Even all these years later, Pastor Kennedy was still going strong as he climbed the steps to take his place behind the podium.
His warm smile was welcoming as he gazed out at the congregation. Back as a teen, Cole never would have imagined that one day, Pastor Kennedy’s son would marry Cole’s sister, Janessa. Essentially, making them all family.
Although Jay and Will’s close friendship prior to their wedding had kind of already done that.
After opening in a prayer that seemed full of emotion, Pastor Kennedy braced both hands on the pulpit and stayed with his head bent for several long moments.
When he looked up again, his face held a wealth of sadness. “I had a sermon prepared for today, but over the past week, my heart was burdened in another direction.”
Straightening, he walked to the side of the podium, one hand in his pocket, the other gripping the edge of the podium.
“As many of you know, Alice and I have ministered at shelters and even at the prison over the years. Often, people tell us how blessed those people must be to have us there befriending them. And while I do hope that God uses us as a conduit of His blessing in those places, the blessings don’t just flow one way.
“Over the years, we’ve seen people freed from addiction. Freed from abusive situations. Freed from the grip of homelessness and crime. Many prisoners and people struggling with addiction have turned their lives over to God, and we’ve seen God work powerfully in their lives.”
Pastor Kennedy paused and cleared his throat. “Over the past few months, I had the opportunity to speak with a young man named Ryan. He came from a very, very rough background. Rejected by the people who should have loved and cherished him, he ended up on the streets, struggling to survive in a harsh world.
“Over the months, sometimes he’d be at the shelter, and sometimes he wouldn’t. I spoke to him several times about God and His love. He seemed interested and would ask questions, but something always held him back from committing his life to God. Just recently, I discovered that he felt that he’d done things that God couldn’t possibly forgive. That he was so filled with shame that drugs and alcohol were the only ways he could cope.
“Alice and I offered to get him into a program and some counseling, and on our last visit, he told us that he’d consider it in the new year.”
Pastor Kennedy’s voice broke, and he rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Earlier this week, the shelter contacted me to let me know that Ryan had lost his life. The voices that had told him that he wasn’t worth anything… that he wasn’t worthy of any love, let alone God’s love… finally won.”
Cole felt Annie’s hand tighten around his, and he looked down to see emotion on her face.
“We live in a hurting world. And for some, that hurt starts at a very young age. Whether it’s living in an abusive family or being a kid bullied at school, the hurt seems to only compound over the years for some.
“But the world is not without hope.” Pastor Kennedy picked up his Bible and held it in the air. “And as Christians, it is our responsibility to spread that hope to those who feel hopeless.”
He opened his Bible as a verse appeared on the overhead screens at the front of the sanctuary.
“One of the verses that led me into the work I do at the shelters and the prison is found in Isaiah 61:1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound. ”
Another verse appeared on the screen.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.
That was a verse that Cole was well-acquainted with. He’d memorized it as a teen.
“God wants to give us a future and a hope, but how will people know that if there’s no one to tell them? How will people know how much God loves them—so much that He gave His only son to die for our sins—if we don’t tell them? How will they witness the love of God if we don’t show them?
“You don’t need to be sent as a missionary or ordained as a pastor to bring change into the world. Even if your ability to reach others is limited and you can only touch the life of one person, that is amazing. The Bible talks about the shepherd who left his flock to go find the one lost sheep. One lost sheep. It was that important to the shepherd.
“Each of you is important to God. You are loved by God. Even if you doubt the love of those around you, be secure in His. And then share that love with someone else.”
Pastor Kennedy paused again, his gaze falling to his open Bible. “And if you are here today feeling without hope, do not give up. Do not give up on yourself. Most importantly, don’t give up on God.”
He placed his Bible on the podium, then spread his arms wide. “God loves you, and He loves this hurting world. Share His love with that world. Be a conduit of hope and love to those around you.”
As he listened to Pastor Kennedy continue to preach and share verses, Cole felt a weight settle on his chest. He had the opportunity to reach lots of people… lots of young people… but he’d never used the platform God had given him to spread a message of hope and God’s love.
“I want to ask those of you who are here today to commit yourselves to spreading God’s love and giving people hope. Before I close in prayer, I’d like to ask you to bow your heads. If you’re here today and need prayer for guidance on how to share God’s love with the world, you can raise your hand where you sit. Or if you’d like to, you can come to the front and pray with one of the deacons.”
As the piano played, Cole got to his feet. He meant to release Annie’s hand, not wanting to pull her forward with him, but she kept a hold of him and followed him past Aiden and Skylar into the aisle.
Tears spilled over the pastor’s cheeks as Cole approached the front. Pastor Kennedy’s emotional response to seeing him come forward just showed how much the man cared for everyone.
Cole went down on one knee in front of the steps and felt Annie kneel beside him. He knew she was already involved in helping at a women’s shelter, but he hoped that she’d be willing to join in him a bigger ministry of sharing the love of God.
“I’m here, son.” Glancing to the side, Cole saw that his dad had joined him, and then he felt hands on his shoulders and, without looking, he knew they belonged to his brothers.
“I want to have an impact for God,” Cole said. “I want to use the platform He’s given me to share His hope and love with the world.”
“Heavenly Father, You’ve heard Cole’s desire, and You know his heart,” his dad prayed. “Lead him to the people you would have him minister to. And we pray for Annie too as she stands at his side, that together, they will be able to offer Your hope to those without hope.”
Surrounded by his family—biological and church—Cole felt a peace settle over him. Suddenly, the uncertainty of the future didn’t weigh him down. Whatever he did, he knew that it would be with the focus of sharing His faith in a way he never had before.
After the pastor closed in prayer, Cole got to his feet, then helped Annie to hers. They were immediately encircled by family and Pastor Kennedy came down off the stage to shake his hand.
Cole kept his arm around Annie, wanting to keep her close because whether she realized it or not, she’d played a role in him reaching this point. He wanted to be a man worthy of her, worthy of leading her spiritually, because he knew with certainty that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
After the service ended, they lingered in the sanctuary, surrounded by Cole’s family members, who seemed eager to catch up with him and spend more time with Annie.
“Cole,” Pastor Kennedy said, approaching them again. “If you’re serious about using your platform for ministry, I’d love to talk with you about some possibilities.”
“I am serious,” Cole affirmed, squeezing Annie’s hand. “Very serious.”
“Why don’t you give me a call when you have some free time?” the pastor suggested. “Alice and I have some connections with sports ministry organizations that might interest you.”
“I’d like that,” Cole said, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “I’ll call you when I get back to LA.”
As they made their way toward the exit, Dawn and Andrew maintaining a discreet distance, Annie leaned into him. “I’m proud of you,” she whispered.
“For what?” he asked, glancing down at her.
“For listening to God nudging your heart. For being willing to make a public declaration in front of everyone.”
Cole smiled, warmth spreading through his chest. “It felt right. Like something I should have done a long time ago.”
Outside in the church parking lot, Benji caught up with them, Amelia at his side. The young girl’s cheeks were flushed pink, either from the cool air or from Benji’s presence—possibly both.
“Can we get lunch together?” Benji asked hopefully. “Amelia’s parents said it would be okay if we had dinner together as long as you two were with us.”
Cole looked at Annie, who nodded with a smile. “Sounds perfect. How about The Steakhouse at the resort? I hear it’s great. I would have suggested Zane’s restaurant, but I think they don’t open until later in the day.”
“We’ll just run and let Amelia’s mom and dad know where we’re going,” Benji said. “Then we’ll meet you at the car.”
As they walked to the SUV, Cole noticed Dawn conferring with Andrew, likely discussing security arrangements for their lunch plans. Annie had mentioned how she’d gradually grown accustomed to having security personnel nearby, but Cole was still adjusting to it.
“What are you thinking about?” Annie asked as they reached the vehicle.
Cole opened her door before answering. “Just processing everything from the service. And thinking about us.”
Once they were both seated inside, he turned to her before starting the engine. “Annie, I want you to know that what happened in there wasn’t just a momentary emotion. I’ve been feeling this pull for a while now—to do more with what I’ve been given.”
She rested her hand on his. “I believe you. And I want to support you however I can.”
“That means everything to me.” He hesitated, then added, “I’ve been thinking about my contract that is ending after this season. About what comes next.”
“And what are you thinking?” she asked, her eyes searching his.
“I’m thinking that whatever I do, I want you with me. Whether that means continuing to play or moving into something else entirely.” Cole’s voice softened as he looked into her eyes. “I want to build a life with you, Annie.”
Annie’s breath caught. “Cole…”
He leaned forward to kiss her gently, then pulled back when he saw Benji and Amelia approaching the car.
Benji yanked open the back door, Amelia sliding in beside him. “We’re all set!” he announced, oblivious to the moment he’d interrupted.
Cole gave Annie’s hand a gentle squeeze before starting the engine. The conversation wasn’t over—just paused.
The drive to the resort was filled with animated conversation. Benji regaled them with stories about his school’s basketball team while Amelia listened attentively. Cole caught Annie’s smile in his peripheral vision and felt a sense of rightness settle over him.
At the restaurant, they were seated quickly, with Dawn and Andrew taking a table nearby that allowed them to monitor the surroundings while giving the group privacy. The Steakhouse was elegant without being stuffy, with large windows giving them a stunning view of the mountains.
“This is really nice,” Amelia said softly, looking around with wide eyes.
Annie smiled at the girl. “It is. I’ve only been here once before.”
As their meal progressed, Cole found himself watching Annie interact with Benji and Amelia. She had a natural way with them, drawing out the shy Amelia and tempering Benji’s enthusiasm with gentle guidance. It stirred something in him—a vision of their future together that felt increasingly tangible.
When Annie excused herself to go to the restroom, Benji leaned across the table. “Are you going to marry Annie?” he asked bluntly.
Cole nearly choked on his water. “That’s, uh—”
“Because I think you should,” Benji continued, undeterred. “She smiles differently when you’re around.”
“Does she?” Cole felt warmth spread through his chest. “Well, I care about her very much. But these things take time, you know?”
“Not too much time,” Benji advised, with the wisdom of a teenager who’d seen too many romantic movies. “When you know, you know.”
“And Mom and Aunt Lexi think she’s great, too. They’d definitely approve.” Amelia chimed in.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Having his family’s approval was great, but he’d be pursuing a future with Annie even if they didn’t approve.
When Annie returned, she noticed the three of them smiling conspiratorially. “What did I miss?”
“Just basketball talk,” Cole said smoothly, catching Benji’s wink.
After lunch, they dropped Amelia off at Charli and Blake’s house before heading back to the estate. Benji immediately disappeared to call his friends, while Annie led Cole through to another part of the mansion he’d yet to see… a large solarium that was filled with an abundance of plants and comfortable furniture.
So far, they hadn’t run into any of the others, which was just fine with Cole. He wanted to spend the time alone with Annie, further discussing what had happened at the service and what that might mean for his career and for them.
Benji’s words echoed in Cole’s mind. When you know, you know. And he did know. Annie was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and he was quite certain that Annie felt the same way.
As they settled on one of the couches, he smiled at her. The love that glowed in her eyes when she smiled in return warmed Cole right to his bones.
“So,” he began. “How do you see us in the future?”
Her smile faltered a bit. “What do you mean?”
“Do you see our relationship heading somewhere permanent?” he asked. “Is that something you’d want?”
Her brows lifted, widening her beautiful eyes. “Well, yes. That’s definitely what I want, if that’s what you want. Why are you asking me that?”
“Just want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
Annie’s smile was beaming as she leaned against his arm with a laugh. “We’re on the same page, but you’re going to have to talk to my dad to see if he is.”
“Oh, I think I’m growing on him.”
“You are,” she agreed. “I’m not too worried.”
It wasn’t a proposal just yet, because he needed to talk to Duncan and buy a ring. But there was no doubt in his mind that the moment wasn’t too far in the future.