The sounds of his family around him filled Luke’s soul. This night was just what he needed. No one was like the Baxters, which was always how it had been. It was why he and Reagan came here so often. They wanted their kids to know the love of this group of people, too.
Luke thought again about the many people that would need his legal help in the months to come. None of it felt overwhelming. Not with the support of his family. Whatever case he took on, he would not fight it alone. He would have his dad in the back of the courtroom . . . his family behind him all the way and God at his side.
What more could he ask for?
24
It was early February, the spring semester well under way. Finally the media circus surrounding Wendell’s lawsuit and Bible study club had waned. Sure, he was still contacted to do interviews for magazines or newspapers.
But the tone of the articles was different now. TRAILBLAZER STANDS BY HIS FAITH, a recent headline read. Or HAMILTON WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF HAMILTON HIGH. Wendell had smiled at that one. In the most recent story, a reporter referred to him as a champion for his students.
Wendell looked at a stack of articles on his office desk. He didn’t pay much heed to what reporters said about him. Not then and not now. It was nice to be off the public’s most-hated list, but all of it was temporary.
Like Judge Wells said, he was always just one lawsuit away from losing the right to talk about Jesus here at Hamilton. Wendell stood and walked to the window. No matter what happened, no one could take away his faith. And no one could take away the faith of the students here.
The ones whose lives had been changed.
Wendell smiled. God was with them all. Wendell could feel the Spirit deep within him. And because of that, he would never be reliant on happy circumstances or held captive by difficult ones.
This world was not his home.
A wave of anticipation came over him. Heaven was waiting for him, but he hoped not for a very long time. Especially in light of what this day held. The day he’d been looking forward to for what felt like a lifetime.
Wendell put his hand in his pocket and felt the small velvet box.
Today was the day.
Inside was the most beautiful diamond ring Wendell had ever seen. It was the same one Alicia had remarked about more than a year ago, when they were at the mall. She hadn’t meant her comment to serve as a hint, still Wendell had made a note to himself. A note he remembered.
It had taken him most of the last month to find the ring again.
He checked the clock on his wall. Just a few more minutes. He sucked in a quick breath. Lord, please let her say yes. I can’t imagine my life without her. My kids and I . . . we need her.
Alicia was teaching here again. The last transfer she ever wanted, she had told him. Wendell’s joy knew no bounds as he headed to work each day knowing she was here. Knowing they’d be together.
Which was how it had been since the trial.
Alicia joined them at the house for dinner most nights, and the kids had come to love her dearly. It was Jordy who had pulled him aside after Christmas. He and Cami had made their dating relationship official by then. Cami and her sisters had moved back home. Jordy spent time there, too, now, and he and Cami’s dad were finding a friendship.
“Dad, you’re moving pretty slow here.” Jordy had grinned at him. “I thought you’d get her a ring for Christmas.”
Marrying Alicia was all Wendell could think about, but he hadn’t talked to the kids yet. After Jordy’s comment, Wendell waited a few days and then held a family meeting before bedtime.
“I’m thinking . . . about asking Alicia to marry me.” He told the four of them. Before he could ask them what they thought about the idea, Leah and Alexandria were in his arms.
“Oh, Daddy, please ask her . . . please!” Alexandria hugged his neck so hard Wendell could barely breathe. “Everything’s better when she’s here.”
“Yeah.” Darrell danced around and pumped his fists in the air. “We love her, Dad!”
When the merriment settled down a bit, Leah cuddled up next to Wendell and lifted her sweet eyes to his. “If we can’t have Mom, then we want Alicia.” She smiled. “I think Mom would want that, too.”
From a few feet away, Jordy grinned and shrugged. “What did I tell you?”
Wendell loved Alicia more every day. Just last night after dinner when the kids were in bed, Alicia sat beside him on the sofa and shared the most intimate thoughts of her heart. The way she often did.
The conversation this time was about belief in God. “With faith, I never had any reason to fear for my job and walk around terrified of Jack Renton,” Alicia told him. “The Bible says not to worry about those who can kill the body. Because nothing can ever kill the soul.”
Wendell listened, amazed. One of the reasons he had been drawn to Alicia in the first place was that she needed him. She felt safe with him. That would always be true. But this new Alicia, the one with a belief in God as strong as his own . . . this was a woman he was falling more in love with every day.
He glanced at his office door just as Alicia appeared. Her smile lit up his heart. Here I go, Lord . . . give me the words.
Classes were out for the day, and the Raise the Bar club meeting had already wrapped up. An unusually warm couple days had melted the snow on the ground so Wendell could ask her the way he had planned.
In the place on campus that belonged to them.
He joined her in the hall and gave her a quick hug. Which was all he’d done since she’d been back in his life. She needed to know he valued her friendship, her character, her faith. The way she loved his children.
And so every time he longed to kiss her, Wendell had waited.
“Hey.” He smiled into her eyes. “How was your day?”
Alicia took a deep breath and looked at the wall, the one with Hamilton’s quote. “This is where I belong.” She turned to him. “You’ll never know how thankful I am that you made this move happen.”
He slipped his hand in his pocket again and felt the box. “You’ll never know how thankful I am that you’re here.”
They talked about her third-period English class as they walked across campus. Wendell could barely concentrate, barely respond. All he could think about was the ring and the question. It felt like every minute of the past two years had led up to this moment.
“We’re going to the baseball field, right?” Her eyes sparkled.
“Right.” He realized he hadn’t told her where they were going. He had just asked her to meet him at his office after school so they could talk. He grinned at her. “Where else?”
Her coat hung unbuttoned. It was warm enough that neither of them really needed more than a sweater. Perfect weather, Wendell thought. He glanced at the blue sky overhead. Thanks, God. You’ve got every detail here. Now, please . . . just let her say yes.
They reached the bleachers and Wendell led her to a spot somewhere in the middle. He turned and faced her and without saying a word he took her hands in his.
“Wendell . . .” Her eyes looked surprised. “Your fingers are freezing!”
He chuckled. “You’re right.” Alicia would understand why soon enough.
“So . . .” She searched his eyes. Her easy expression told him she had no idea what was coming. “We’re here.” Her smile had never looked more beautiful. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Alicia . . . I’ve loved you for a very long time now.” He ran his thumbs softly over her knuckles. “I loved you before you left and I loved you every day while you were gone.”
“Me, too.” Happy tears filled her eyes. “I used to dream I was still teaching here. That we could still see each other.” Her smile faded. “I’d wake up and have to feel . . . the hurt of losing you all over again.”
Wendell nodded. He let her words hang in the air between them for a few seconds. Then he felt his smile fill his face. “Those days are behind us. And now . . . every night when you’re at our dinner table, I find myself thinking just one thing.”
Understanding started to dawn in her expression. She waited, almost as if she were holding her breath.