“That’s the point, isn’t it? We’re going to get to know each other as we spend the rest of our—”

“That’s not what I mean. There are things I haven’t told you.”

He took her by the arm and pulled her into his house. “Melissa, nothing you could tell me would change the way I feel. Do you understand?”

“You don’t know.”

“All right. Tell me, then. See if it changes anything.”

“I can’t,” she said.

He moved around her to the door, blocking her way. “Come in and sit down and tell me why you’re so upset.”

She retreated to his couch and they sat, side by side, as she told him about her first pregnancy and about placing David for adoption.. Shawn grabbed a box of tissues and set it beside her, and she couldn’t stop the tears.

When she was finished, Shawn said, “So all of this came up because it’s David’s birthday today, right?”

“I don’t know,” Melissa said, shaking her head.

“Listen to me,” Shawn said. “What you did took a lot of courage. It was a selfless thing. You made such a good decision. That little boy has life because you didn’t think of yourself, you thought of him. Melissa, that doesn’t make me love you less. It makes me love you more.”

“Really?” she said.

He handed the ring back tenderly. “Really.”

They were married in a small ceremony with the pastor officiating and Courtney as flower girl. Members of their Bible study and some of the people from the Explorers Class were present. Melissa decided to invite her family, and she was pleased that everything stayed cordial.

There was a slow, steady drizzle of rain all day, with low-hanging clouds and a chill in the air. It was a dreary, awful day as far as the weather was concerned. But to Melissa, it was the beginning of something good. A few dark clouds couldn’t take away her joy.

After the ceremony and small reception, Shawn and Melissa drove to Brian’s house and Melissa walked Courtney to the door.

“I want to go with you,” Courtney said. “I don’t want to stay here.”

“I know, sweetie. It’s only for a few days.”

The curtain fluttered and Melissa saw Azure. Brian opened the door a few seconds later.

“You excited to stay with us for a few days?” he said to Courtney.

“Yeah,” Courtney said, pushing past him into the house.

Brian looked at the driveway and lifted his head toward Shawn, who waved. Melissa handed Courtney’s suitcase to him and turned to leave.

“Hey,” Brian said.

She stopped and turned, raising a hand to block the rain, which was falling harder now. “What?”

“Congratulations.”

She studied his face and concluded that he actually meant what he had said. And that shocked her.

She smiled at him. “Thanks.”

PART 3

CHAPTER 16