Chapter 44
Summer opened her eyes groggily as she heard a car door close. It took her a minute to realize they were at a gas station. Benjamin stood at the pump, his back to her, and she took a moment to thank God for the way he had taken care of her and Max on this trip. He hadn’t left their side once at the hospital yesterday, and though he’d woken them early this morning so they could start the long drive home, the moment they were in the car, he’d handed Summer one of his rolled-up sweatshirts to use as a pillow and told her to go back to sleep. Which she had apparently done.
She sat up straighter and turned to check on Max in the back seat. His eyes were closed, and his head lolled against the side of his car seat. Another of Benjamin’s sweatshirts was draped over him like a blanket.
Summer watched her nephew sleep for a moment, her heart welling again with the knowledge that Judah hadn’t found anything wrong with him.
After a moment, she pulled out her phone to check the time. It was almost one p.m. Which would explain why her stomach was rumbling. She wondered vaguely where they were, but she didn’t see any signs to indicate their location.
Benjamin finished pumping the gas, then slid silently back into the car, his face lighting with a giant smile that made her heart pirouette a few times.
“You’re awake.”
“Yeah. Sorry I dozed off.”
He laughed. “You didn’t doze off. You full-on passed out. But I’m glad. You needed some sleep.”
“Where are we?” A sleepy Max voice came from the back seat.
Benjamin turned to look at the boy over his shoulder. “At a gas station. Are you hungry?”
“Yes,” Summer answered before Max could.
“Good.” Benjamin turned to her with a grin. “I was starting to think that if y’all didn’t wake up soon, I’d have to snack on the steering wheel.”
Max giggled. “The steering wheel isn’t food.”
“That’s what you think.” Benjamin pretended to take a bite out of it.
Summer could only shake her head. It was good to see him back to his goofball self after how worried he’d been ever since they’d learned about TJ’s cause of death.
Ever since he learned you and Max might be in danger, a little voice in her head insisted. Instead of pushing it away, Summer savored the knowledge.
“Should we find a restaurant or get some food here for the road?” Benjamin asked.
“How far do we have to go yet?” Summer scanned their surroundings for any familiar landmarks but found none.
“Maybe four hours? A little more?” Benjamin’s hand hovered over the door handle.
“Let’s get some food here and eat on the way.” After the past couple of exhausting days, she wouldn’t mind getting home to her own bed—their own bed.
They headed into the gas station and grabbed a few sandwiches, some drinks, and a treat for each of them. While Benjamin paid, Summer scanned a rack of tourist brochures near the door. Someday maybe the three of them could take a vacation just for fun. The thought filled her with an unfamiliar kind of hope, and she reached for a brochure for a cave. If they were only four hours from home, this might be a good place to visit. She flipped it over to read the details, frowning as her eyes fell on the address. This place was in Illinois. She put the brochure back and selected one for a botanical garden. But it was also in Illinois. The next one she grabbed was in Wisconsin.
“Ready?” Benjamin and Max strode over, carrying their purchases.
“Why are all of these brochures for places in Illinois and Wisconsin?” she asked as she stepped out the door Benjamin held open for her.
“Are they? Strange.” But Benjamin did a terrible job of hiding his sly grin.
“What’s going on?” Summer demanded, grabbing Max’s hand and rushing to keep up with Benjamin as he scurried to the car.
“What’s going on is we’re eating lunch on the road so that we can get to our destination sooner. It was your idea, if you recall.” He opened her car door and gestured her in, then handed her the bag of food.
He closed the door and started to buckle Max into the back seat.
“What destination?” Summer asked.
“Our destination.”
“Which is . . .” Summer craned her neck to pin him with her gaze, but he snapped Max’s buckle and ducked out of the back seat.
The moment he got into the driver’s seat, she repeated, “What destination?”
Grinning at her, Benjamin started the car, then said, “Should we pray before we eat?”
“Benjamin!”
But he had already closed his eyes and bowed his head.
With an exasperated sigh, she did the same.
“Dear Lord,” Benjamin began, his voice full of a lightness and joy that made Summer smile in spite of herself. “We come before you in humble thanksgiving that you have given us safety on this trip and good news. Please bless the results of the genetic tests as you know is best. And please bless our time together on the rest of this trip.” He paused, then added in a tone brimming with mischief. “And please help Summer not to be mad when she finds out. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Summer opened her eyes, spluttering. “When she finds out what?”
“Can I have my food, Aunt Sunny?” Max interrupted.
Summer pulled out his sandwich and drink and passed them back to him, never taking her eyes off of Benjamin, who was grinning at the road.
“Where are we?” she demanded.
Grin never faltering, Benjamin nodded out the window.
Summer spun her head in time to read a sign that said, Chicago 30 miles.
“Chicago . . .” Summer stared at the sign until they were past it. “That’s not on the way home.”
“Nope.” Benjamin’s grin grew.
“Then why are we going there?”
“We’re not. Can I have my sandwich, please?” he asked innocently.
She opened her window and held his food up to it. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
He chortled. “Wow, you really want to know, huh?”
“I really want to know.”
“Okay, okay. Put the food back inside, and I’ll tell you.”
“Tell me first.”
Benjamin looked at her, his eyes dancing. “You promise you won’t throw it out the window, even if you don’t like the answer?”
She considered. “I make no such promise.”
He snorted. “Fine. You win. We’re going to Hope Springs. Wisconsin.”
“What?” The answer was so unexpected that Summer was startled into lowering his food to her lap. He snatched for it and eagerly opened his sandwich.
“When Grace heard we were going to Cleveland, she invited us. She wants to meet you.”
“She already knows me,” Summer pointed out. His sister Grace had been Summer’s youth leader at vacation Bible school for years when they were kids.
“Not as my wife.” Benjamin set his sandwich on his lap and reached to squeeze her hand. Summer almost gave in. But then the impossibility of it all hit her.
“But I’m supposed to work tomorrow. And the next day.”
“Abigail is taking your shifts. She cleared it with Ruth.”
“But Max has school.”
“I emailed his teacher.” Benjamin looked smug.
“But Mama—”
“Dad’s going to keep checking in on her. And before you ask, Chloe is covering for me at the restaurant.”
“But—” Summer stammered, trying to think of what else he hadn’t considered. “But we don’t have enough clothes packed.” There, let him argue with that one.
“I packed extra for everyone.”
Summer stared at him. “You did not.”
He nodded. “I most certainly did. Now are you done arguing?”
“But,” Summer said weakly.
“Sorry.” Benjamin shook his head. “You’ve used up your quota of buts for the day.”
From the back seat, Max giggled and repeated, “Buts.”
Benjamin laughed, then turned to Summer, his expression suddenly earnest. “It will be fun. I promise. The town is beautiful. And Max will love the lake. And Grace has a cabin that’s just sitting empty, so we’ll be doing her a favor.”
Summer bit her lip, but not hard enough to keep a smile from escaping. “In that case, I guess we’ll have to go.”
Benjamin smiled and lifted her hand to his lips. “I guess we will.”
Summer settled back in her seat and opened her own sandwich, her eyes eagerly devouring the new scenery around them. The drive brought them alongside Lake Michigan, and Summer couldn’t believe how big it was, stretching mile after mile, its waters rolling endlessly against the shore. In places trees blocked the view, and Summer marveled at those too, their leaves dotted with the hues of autumn.
They spent the drive talking and laughing, and Summer could almost feel the cares of the last two months sliding off of her.
As the sun began to set, Benjamin held up a finger. “Get ready.”
Summer glanced at him. “For what?” The lake had disappeared from sight a while ago, and all she saw on either side of the car was trees.
“Almost . . .” The car crested a hill, passing a sign that said, Welcome to Hope Springs, and then Benjamin pointed out the window. “And . . . now!”
“Wow,” Summer gasped as Max yelled, “Oh boy!”
Below them, the waves of Lake Michigan danced in the overflow of gold and pink that spilled from the sky into the water. Gulls swooped low, skimming the surface and then wheeling back into the sky.
“Look at all the boats!” Max exclaimed.
Summer’s eyes went to the marina at the bottom of another hill to their left. Colorful masts bobbed up and down along the docks, while beyond them waves sprayed against a barrier of rocks.
Benjamin slowed as they came into a little town, passing a fudge shop and a bakery and an antique store.
“It feels like home,” she said. “Only with a lake instead of mountains.”
“So this was a good idea?” Benjamin prompted.
Summer laughed. “So far, yes.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear.” Benjamin squeezed her hand. A few miles outside of town, he slowed and turned into a driveway lined by trees.
“The Heather House Inn,” Summer read the sign. “Named after your mama?”
Benjamin nodded.
“That’s sweet.” Summer tried to imagine wanting to name anything after her own mama, but then pushed away the image. She wasn’t going to let even the thought of Mama ruin this trip.
Benjamin pulled the car up in front of a large Victorian-style home with tall windows, a wraparound porch, and even a tower.
“I feel like I just stepped into a fairy tale.” Summer hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but Benjamin smiled at her.
“Good. Because you deserve to feel like a princess. Wait right there.” He opened his door and sprang out, running around to her side and bowing low as he opened her door. He held out a hand to her, as if he were a footman. “My princess.”
“You’re ridiculous.” But Summer set her hand in his and let him help her out of the vehicle.
The moment she was out, he drew her close and brought his lips to hers. Summer sank into the kiss, wondering how he knew it was exactly what she wanted.
“It looks like the newlyweds are here,” a light, laughing voice called.
Summer giggled and pulled back from Benjamin. In five weeks of being married, she had never felt like a newlywed, but at this moment, she really did.
She looked toward the house to find Grace rushing down the porch steps, followed by a man with dark hair and a big smile.
“Who is that?” Max asked, and Summer looked down in surprise to find the boy standing next to her.
“How did you get out of your car seat?” She hadn’t seen Benjamin duck inside to unbuckle him.
“You and Benji were too busy kissing, so I did it myself,” Max announced, as if it were something he did every day.
Before Summer could respond, she was tackled in a giant hug that almost knocked the breath out of her.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Grace squeezed her tight.
“Don’t break my wife,” Benjamin warned his sister.
“Your wife.” Grace seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time. “I’m so happy for you two.” She relinquished her hold on Summer and tackled Benjamin next.
“Hey, sis.” He lifted Grace off the ground, making her squeal.
The dark-haired man laughed. “Don’t break my wife either.” He held out a hand to Summer as Benjamin put Grace down. “I’m Levi.”
Summer nodded as she shook his hand. “I figured. Benjamin mentions you all the time.” She lowered her voice in a poor imitation of Benjamin’s. “Did I tell you that my brother-in-law used to play for the Titans?”
“Hey.” Benjamin nudged her. “You weren’t supposed to tell him that.”
“That’s okay.” Levi winked at her and whispered as if revealing a secret, “He talks about you all the time too.”
“Oh.” Summer couldn’t think of anything else to say as a wave of warmth went through her. Did Benjamin really talk about her to his brother-in-law? What did he say?
“Guilty as charged.” Benjamin moved closer to wrap an arm around her.
Grace smiled as she squatted in front of Max. “And you must be Max. Do you like dinosaurs?”
Max’s eyes widened as he nodded. “They’re my favorite animal.”
“That’s good to hear.” Grace straightened. “Because I put you in the dinosaur cabin. It has all kinds of dinosaur books and toys.”
An unexpected prickle of tears came to Summer’s eyes as Max yelled, “Oh boy!”
She would never be able to repay this family for all they had done for Max. And for her.
“Come on.” Grace grinned and held out a hand to the boy, who eagerly accepted. “Let’s go get y’all settled.”