Chapter 25 Evangeline
EVANGELINE
Evangeline looked around the Trinity Falls Community Center, unable to believe her eyes.
The month since Grayson’s Christmas proposal had flown past. They had gone on a few post-engagement dates that had been so much fun. And then there was the tiny courthouse wedding, with just a few friends present, as well as Rory, who held a happy, wiggly Leo in his arms.
Grayson had offered her a dazzling wedding with all the bells and whistles, but she had told him honestly that she would rather concentrate their efforts on the event they had planned for today.
“Almost time,” Ana said on her way past with a tray of mini ham and cheese croissants.
Evangeline smiled and made her way to her seat of honor, where Rory waited along with Grayson’s parents. His mom held Leo in her arms while his dad played peek-a-boo with the happy baby.
It turned out that once Grayson’s parents knew he wanted them around more, they changed their tune about visiting.
They’d only been back in Florida after the holidays for two weeks before they came right back for today.
And Evangeline suspected that they just might be spending a whole lot more time up north, now that they were getting to know their grandson.
The lights flickered and everyone rushed to their seats.
Captain Erik Anderson took the stage and Grayson followed him, his jaw tight, but his posture relaxed.
“Thanks so much for coming, everyone,” Captain Anderson said. “Today is a very special day for the Homecoming Heroes Center. We’ve been given a gift that will allow us to purchase land and build a house for returning veterans who need a place to stay.”
Applause filled the space, and Evangeline’s eyes went to Grayson.
Her handsome husband still looked relaxed, and there was joy in his eyes too, along with some sadness, which was understandable given the circumstances.
“I know there’s a beautiful dinner about to be served, so I’m going to hand things off to our generous donor, Grayson Ward,” the captain said. “And he’ll let you know how you can help.”
Everyone clapped as Grayson took the mic and stepped forward.
“Thank you so much for that introduction,” Grayson said with a smile. “Of course, you’re the man who built this community and brought us all together, and I can’t think of anything more important than that.”
He raised his hands to clap and the crowd applauded the captain again.
“As for myself, I’ve been an extraordinarily lucky man,” Grayson went on. “At times, I’ve thought I was too lucky.”
His voice dropped on that last sentence, and Evangeline saw a hint of the pain in his eyes that used to be there every day.
“But someone important recently told me that if I’ve been blessed, then it’s my job to spread it around,” he went on. “And I think she’s awfully wise.”
He looked over to Evangeline and winked, and she felt her whole face burning as the room full of people turned to her.
“My unit is here with us tonight,” he said, his eyes going to the table of honor.
As he introduced each of his men, Evangeline fought back tears. They were all looking up at him, nodding and smiling, their families beside them. And he was clearly so proud of every one of them.
“But there’s one person who isn’t here today,” Grayson went on. “And that’s Isaac Jones.”
The room went silent, and Evangeline sent all her strength to her husband. He knew it would be hard to talk about the young man whose memory haunted him, but it was important to Grayson that people knew who Isaac Jones was.
“He wasn’t with us for long,” Grayson went on. “But he put his whole heart into everything he did. Isaac could tell when we were down and he would recite one of those ridiculous limericks.”
A couple of the guys from the unit laughed lightly.
“And he always had a million questions,” Grayson said. “Right?”
“Oh yeah,” Calvin laughed.
“When I spoke with his mom, she agreed,” Grayson went on. “She always thought maybe he’d be a reporter or a talk show host.”
That earned more good-natured laughter.
“Isaac was curious about people because he cared about them,” Grayson continued, his tone more serious now. “And he always made everyone feel at home. That’s why our tribute to him will be a place where men and women can stay and talk and laugh and heal, and it’s going to be called Isaac’s House.”
There was a collective oh, and then nodding and murmuring.
Evangeline smiled, glad that the name for the place seemed to meet with everyone’s approval.
“Now if you want to help out,” Grayson said.
“You can sign up on the sheet in the back. We’ll be looking for anyone who would like to come by to cook a meal, or help with day-to-day tasks, or just to provide some company.
And we’re open to more specialized help too, Samantha from the center is going to coordinate with our volunteers. ”
Evangeline searched the crowd for her friend and saw Sam give a little wave and a smile to the crowd.
“And if you think of something that isn’t on that sheet, feel free to jot it down in the log on the page with the big question mark,” Grayson said.
“Isaac definitely would have been first in line to help, so we’re asking you to do that now for him.
Thank you all very much for being here tonight, and for remembering my friend. ”
His voice broke on the last word and he pressed his lips together, but his posture was tall and proud, and the whole room was on their feet applauding a moment later.
Evangeline watched, pride blooming in her chest as her husband descended from the stage, waved to the crowd, and then took his seat by her side.
He looked so confident, but when he took her hand in his she could feel his emotion by the way he squeezed her so tight.
The dinner went beautifully. Student volunteers from the community college did the serving and the crew of volunteers in the kitchen came out to eat with everyone else.
Afterward, a group from the high school orchestra played while guests danced and socialized.
Evangeline and Grayson slipped to the back, just to watch over the happy crowd for a few minutes.
“Excuse me,” a lady said softly as she approached them, her arm linked in the arm of a man with a white mustache.
“Hi there,” Grayson said with an encouraging smile. “Thanks for being here. I don’t think we’ve met.”
“I’m Nancy Jones,” the lady said. “And this is my husband, Lou.”
“You came,” Grayson said, his voice dropping as he moved toward the couple.
It was only then that Evangeline realized that they must be Isaac’s parents.
The two of them embraced Grayson, and she watched as they wept together.
“Thank you,” Mrs. Jones said, pulling back.
“He would have loved this,” her husband said, clearing his throat.
“Thank you for allowing me to do it,” Grayson told them. “I’ll never forgive myself for—”
“Don’t you dare say that,” Mr. Jones put in gruffly. “We know all about the bravery you showed that day. We know you did everything you could.”
“And you keep doing it,” Mrs. Jones said, turning to gesture at the crowded venue. “We’re very proud of you, Grayson.”
Grayson nodded to her, his jaw tight, as if he couldn’t speak.
“We’ll let you get back to your conversation,” her husband said. “But don’t be a stranger. Let us know how the project is progressing, and if you need any help.”
Grayson nodded and the two disappeared back into the crowd.
For a long time he just stood, looking after them.
Evangeline wondered what was going through his mind. Surely the conversation that sweet couple had been kind enough to have with Grayson should ease his heart and mind just a little.
“I’m not the most generous person here tonight,” he said softly after a moment.
Evangeline took his hand, and he squeezed hers back, letting her know that he was feeling quiet now, but he was as strong as always, as strong as she needed him to be.
When all the dinner and dessert was eaten, when the kids from the orchestra had packed up their instruments and their parents had picked them up, when Sam had taken the log back to the center, and all the guests were gone, Evangeline grabbed a broom and began sweeping up the massive floors while Rory and Ana bagged up the trash.
Grayson’s parents had taken Leo back to the house when he got fussy so that Grayson and Evangeline could stay.
Before too long, she had the whole floor looking just about like new, and Rory and Ana were carrying the trash bags to the dumpster out back. She was about to go find him when Grayson appeared in the doorway.
He’d been helping the kitchen volunteers clean up and carry their things out and he looked like a man at the end of a long but very good night.
“Hey,” he said, approaching her.
“Hey,” she echoed.
He looked so handsome with the sleeves of his white button-down rolled up and his hair ruffled from running his fingers through it.
“May I have this dance?” he asked, tapping a button on his phone.
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons started singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and he smiled at her so that it crinkled his blue eyes.
“Yes,” Evangeline said.
She was tired from a long, wonderful day, but when he took her in his arms she felt like she could dance with him all night.
“This was incredible,” she murmured to him as he held her close.
“Every moment of it was because of you,” he told her. “Don’t you ever forget that.”
Her chest felt like it might burst from joy, and she laid her cheek against his chest, memorizing the happy feeling, the scent of his cologne, and the steady beating of his beautiful heart.
When the song was over, they held each other still, soaking in the peace of the moment.
“Come on, lovebirds,” Ana’s voice called out as the door from the staircase opened. “Let’s go to the diner.”
Evangeline pulled back, and Grayson shook his head with a wry smile.
“What do you think?” he asked her. “Do you want to eat diner french fries with me?”
“Always,” she told him, taking his hand. “Do you want to eat diner french fries with me?”
“I’ll follow you anywhere, Evangeline,” he told her solemnly with such love in his eyes it made her feel breathless. “Always and forever.”
***
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