trusting. It doesn’t hold a grudge when somebody hurts you, and most of all, it endures. The Bible says that love is greater than even faith and hope. That sounds pretty big to me.”
“I wonder if I’ll ever find it. And if I do, I wonder if I’ll recognize it.”
“You have plenty of other things to do first,” Katie said. “You have school to finish and a career to plan. I think you even have to get your driver’s license first.”
Dawn burst out laughing. “I guess you’re right. I don’t have to settle on anyone right now.” She glanced toward Darcy, who was walking off with a good-looking, dark-haired man. “And you don’t have a thing to worry about. You’re the one Rob thinks about, talks about, probably dreams about.”
“I’d better be,” Katie said with a grin. “I know he’s the one I think about.”
* * * * *
Dawn fidgeted with the curtain at the living room window and peered out into the cold darkness. She’d been anticipating Brent’s arrival all day. He’d called around suppertime to say he was about an hour away. She glanced at the mantel clock and wondered why time seemed to be moving so slowly.
Behind her, the Christmas tree twinkled and glittered with decorations. A few packages lay underneath, including the one with the thick, cable-knit sweater she’d bought for Brent. The scent of bayberry and evergreen hung in the room, and Christmas music played softly from the CD player.
She was more nervous than she’d ever imagined she’d be. She hadn’t seen Brent since June when camp ended. They had stood together on a cabin porch, watching the rain pouring down, and he’d taken her in his arms and kissed her. She could still recall the soft feel of his lips on hers.
A bright beam of headlights swept across Dawn’s face, startling her. Out the window, she saw a car in her driveway. Her heart thudded in renewed anticipation—Brent Chandler had arrived.
Eleven
D AWN waited for Brent to ring the doorbell. She didn’t want to seem too anxious, after all. When she opened the door, the icy December air rushed inside, but she hardly felt it. Brent was dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. His blond hair spilled low on his forehead and his slow, easy grin warmed her. For a moment they stood looking at one another.
“Don’t I even get a hug?” Brent drawled.
She threw herself into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re here!” She pulled him into the coziness of the living room. “Are you all right? Did you have a good trip? Do you want a soda?”
“Whoa,” he said with a laugh. “One thing at a time. “Yes, yes, and not right now.” He held her at arm’s length. “You sure look pretty, Dawn.”
In spite of herself, she blushed. It was as if no time had passed since they’d last seen one another. At that moment, her parents, who’d stayed out of the way in the kitchen, came into the room. Dawn made a round of introductions.
“We’ve heard a lot about you,” her father said, making Dawn feel self-conscious. She didn’t want Brent thinking that all she’d done was babble about him.
“We’re glad to have you stay for a few days,” her mother added. “Your sister meant a great deal to Dawn, and we will always cherish her memory.”
“Thank you,” Brent murmured.
Dawn wished that they hadn’t mentioned Sandy, especially when she saw a look of sadness cross Brent’s face. “Let me show you where you’ll be staying,” Dawn said hastily.
“Can I help you bring your things in?” her dad asked.
“I’ll get them. There’s not much—a duffle bag and a big, wrapped box.” Brent winked at Dawn. “The box is for under your tree.”
Eventually, she was able to lead the way down to the basement to the rec room. Just off the rec room, her dad had transformed an area into a guest bedroom and bath. She pointed to a plate of cookies on a small table next to the bed. “I baked these myself, in case you get hungry in the middle of the night.”
He
“I wonder if I’ll ever find it. And if I do, I wonder if I’ll recognize it.”
“You have plenty of other things to do first,” Katie said. “You have school to finish and a career to plan. I think you even have to get your driver’s license first.”
Dawn burst out laughing. “I guess you’re right. I don’t have to settle on anyone right now.” She glanced toward Darcy, who was walking off with a good-looking, dark-haired man. “And you don’t have a thing to worry about. You’re the one Rob thinks about, talks about, probably dreams about.”
“I’d better be,” Katie said with a grin. “I know he’s the one I think about.”
* * * * *
Dawn fidgeted with the curtain at the living room window and peered out into the cold darkness. She’d been anticipating Brent’s arrival all day. He’d called around suppertime to say he was about an hour away. She glanced at the mantel clock and wondered why time seemed to be moving so slowly.
Behind her, the Christmas tree twinkled and glittered with decorations. A few packages lay underneath, including the one with the thick, cable-knit sweater she’d bought for Brent. The scent of bayberry and evergreen hung in the room, and Christmas music played softly from the CD player.
She was more nervous than she’d ever imagined she’d be. She hadn’t seen Brent since June when camp ended. They had stood together on a cabin porch, watching the rain pouring down, and he’d taken her in his arms and kissed her. She could still recall the soft feel of his lips on hers.
A bright beam of headlights swept across Dawn’s face, startling her. Out the window, she saw a car in her driveway. Her heart thudded in renewed anticipation—Brent Chandler had arrived.
Eleven
D AWN waited for Brent to ring the doorbell. She didn’t want to seem too anxious, after all. When she opened the door, the icy December air rushed inside, but she hardly felt it. Brent was dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. His blond hair spilled low on his forehead and his slow, easy grin warmed her. For a moment they stood looking at one another.
“Don’t I even get a hug?” Brent drawled.
She threw herself into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re here!” She pulled him into the coziness of the living room. “Are you all right? Did you have a good trip? Do you want a soda?”
“Whoa,” he said with a laugh. “One thing at a time. “Yes, yes, and not right now.” He held her at arm’s length. “You sure look pretty, Dawn.”
In spite of herself, she blushed. It was as if no time had passed since they’d last seen one another. At that moment, her parents, who’d stayed out of the way in the kitchen, came into the room. Dawn made a round of introductions.
“We’ve heard a lot about you,” her father said, making Dawn feel self-conscious. She didn’t want Brent thinking that all she’d done was babble about him.
“We’re glad to have you stay for a few days,” her mother added. “Your sister meant a great deal to Dawn, and we will always cherish her memory.”
“Thank you,” Brent murmured.
Dawn wished that they hadn’t mentioned Sandy, especially when she saw a look of sadness cross Brent’s face. “Let me show you where you’ll be staying,” Dawn said hastily.
“Can I help you bring your things in?” her dad asked.
“I’ll get them. There’s not much—a duffle bag and a big, wrapped box.” Brent winked at Dawn. “The box is for under your tree.”
Eventually, she was able to lead the way down to the basement to the rec room. Just off the rec room, her dad had transformed an area into a guest bedroom and bath. She pointed to a plate of cookies on a small table next to the bed. “I baked these myself, in case you get hungry in the middle of the night.”
He
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