CHAPTER NINETEEN
Emily Knows Best
Rain tapped softly against the windows as Luke and Emily settled onto the couch after dinner.
A bowl of buttery popcorn rested between them while an old western played quietly on television.
Neither of them was paying much attention.
Luke couldn’t stop thinking about Ryan.
Emily noticed.
“You’ve been quiet all evening.”
Luke sighed.
“I know.”
“You’ve been thinking about your brother.”
He nodded.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Emily muted the television.
“You don’t have to know.”
Luke looked at her.
“I want things to be better.”
“I know.”
“But I don’t know if I can ever trust him again.”
Emily leaned back against the couch.
“Trust isn’t something you decide.”
Luke listened.
“It’s something someone earns.”
He nodded slowly.
“So don’t force it.”
Luke stared out the living room window.
“I keep remembering everything that happened.”
Emily reached over and rested her hand on his.
“And you’re also remembering the good times.”
Luke smiled faintly.
“We used to fish every Saturday morning.”
“You’ve told me.”
“He always caught more than I did.”
Emily laughed.
“He’ll probably remind you of that.”
“I’m sure he will.”
For the first time that evening, Luke smiled.
The movie ended, but neither of them moved.
Instead, Emily curled up against Luke.
“You know what your problem is?”
Luke laughed.
“I have several.”
“You try to carry everything by yourself.”
“I don’t mean to.”
“I know.”
She looked up at him.
“But you have me.”
Luke kissed the top of her head.
“I know.”
“You don’t have to figure this out alone.”
“I forget that sometimes.”
Emily smiled.
“I’ll remind you.”
The next afternoon, Luke met Ryan for lunch again.
This time there wasn’t nearly as much tension.
Ryan smiled as Luke sat down.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
Luke shrugged.
“I said I would.”
Ryan nodded appreciatively.
“I’ve missed having someone to eat lunch with.”
Luke looked at him.
“You’ve been pretty lonely, haven’t you?”
Ryan stared into his coffee.
“Yeah.”
Luke didn’t say anything for a moment.
Finally he spoke.
“You know… you’re coming to Mom’s this Sunday.”
Ryan looked nervous.
“I’m terrified.”
Luke laughed.
“So am I.”
Ryan smiled.
“Think Mom’s going to hug me?”
Luke chuckled.
“I’d be more worried if she didn’t.”
The two brothers laughed together.
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t forced.
It was genuine.
And for the first time in years, it sounded natural.
That evening, Luke told Emily about lunch.
“So?”
She asked.
“He’s scared.”
Emily nodded.
“Good.”
Luke looked confused.
“Good?”
“It means he understands what he lost.”
Luke thought about that.
“I hadn’t looked at it that way.”
Emily smiled.
“Sometimes people don’t change until they realize what life looks like without the people they love.”
Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“You always know exactly what to say.”
She grinned.
“I have my moments.”
Luke smiled.
“You have more than moments.”
Outside, the rain finally stopped.
A ray of evening sunshine broke through the clouds and stretched across the backyard.
Luke watched it for a moment.
Maybe healing wasn’t about forgetting the storm.
Maybe it was about believing the sun would eventually come back.
And with Emily beside him…
He finally believed it would.