Between Sundays (23 page)

A
s he walked down the stairs of her apartment and headed for his truck, Aaron felt Gods presence stronger than at any time since his night at the beach. Hed done what hed come to do. Megan had the tickets, and now she and Cory could have a weekend like nothing theyd ever had before. And in a few weeks, Aaron would tell her what his comment meant, how God had used her to open his eyes to all of life. Real life.

He stepped into his truck, but before he turned the key, he opened Corys envelope. Hed learned his lesson about lying to kids, or anyone else. The rest of his life he wanted to live out the change in his heart. This was one small way he could make that start. Inside the envelope were two others, both with his name written across the front. Aaron narrowed his eyes, confused. The writing was cursive, definitely not Corys. Third in the package was a piece of folded paper. He opened it and a wallet-sized photo fell on his lap. Before he picked it up, he read the words on the page.

Dear Aaron, I figered you needed proof. So here it is. Tell me if you believe me now. Love, Cory.

A strange sensation came over him, and without drawing a breath, he picked up the photo from his lap and turned it over. He stared at it, not believing his eyes. It couldnt beit couldntSlowly, certainly, the bottom fell away and he began to freefall. This wasnt happening.

The people in the photograph were he and Amy Briggs.

His Amy.

His heartbeat doubled and a layer of sweat broke out across his forehead. Amy Briggs was Corys mother? Hed talked about her with Megan, but never once had either of them mentioned her name. Megan had always been intentionally vague, rarely even calling Aaron by his first name. There wouldve been no reason to ask about Corys last name. Until now, Aaron hadnt even thought about the fact that the boy didnt share Megans name. The whole foster kid thing was too new to him. If Amy was Corys mother, then

But the truth wasthe truth was as clear as the picture in front of him. Cory was his son! His very own! He drew a sharp breath and wondered if he might explode from the shockthe shattering realization and the joy bursting inside him. Cory was his son? He looked at the photo again. Cory was his son! Amy had been pregnant with Aarons child, just like shed told him all those years ago. So, Cory had to be his son.

His emotions shifted. What had he put the boy through? All these months Cory had stood by his story, that he was Aarons son. Period. And the whole timefor years in Megans casenobody had believed him. Aaron Hill, the father of a foster kid? A kid whose mother never even mentioned the idea? He and Megan both chalked it up to the boys overactive imagination and his deep desire for a dad.

Aaron groaned out loud. His heart broke for the boy who wanted his dad so badly he would never, ever give up. What must he have been thinking when Aaron made so light of his insistence? And all those recent times when hed thought about Amy, how hed never given her a proper goodbye and how hed turned his back when shed come to him, pregnant

And then another reality hit him, devastating him.

Amy was dead.

The girl he still thought about, the one he figured was married and living a wonderful life with some other guy, had in reality raised Cory by herself in a poverty-stricken environment, and then shed died of pneumonia two years ago. The blow tore at him, stirring fresh debris into the gutters and alleyways of his heart. Amy had lived poor and alone, working at a diner while he signed his contract for millions of dollars and moved on without her. He hung his head and pictured her, the girl hed loved so much back in his early college days. His Amy was gone. Shed died without his ever making things right.

He remembered the envelopes, the ones with his name written in cursive. His stomach churned as he sat up straighter and picked up the first of the two. There was no time to waste. The boy in the third-floor apartment was his son, and he didnt want another ten minutes to pass without going back up and making things right. He opened the envelope and held the paper tenderly, as if it still contained a little piece of Amy.

Dear Aaron,

He stopped and closed his eyes. Her voice, her face, all of it was there in front of him again. Amywhy didnt I see it?

There were no answers; there might never be. He opened his eyes and started over again.

What? Aarons heart skidded into a strange rhythm. Bill had contacted Amy? Threatened her? Heat filled his face and pulsed through his body. He reached for the buttons on his phone, but then stopped himself. He would deal with Bill, but not yet. From this day on Cory would come first.

He drew a jagged breath and found his place again.

This time Aaron set the letter down on his lap. Tears blurred his eyes, and he blinked so he could see again. Thats exactly what had happened. Directed and fed by his agent, Aarons world had gone crazy and hed allowed every minute of it. He lifted the letter and kept reading.

The air left his lungs and he let his head fall back against the seat. So that was why she moved to San Francisco, the reason she and Megan wound up at the same diner. Amy had moved here because she was following him, waiting for him. He pressed his fists to his eyes and swallowed a series of sobs. How could he have missed out on this, on her?

With all his remaining strength, he picked up the other envelope and opened it. Cory was waiting. He needed to get through this so that he would have all the information available when he went for the first time to his boy, his son. He studied the letter, and the date. It was written first, before the one talking about Corys birth. He began to read.

Aaron had to stop. He was furious and sick to his stomach. Amy had been raped? Was she serious? And where had he been, out to dinner with Bill Bond? Believing suddenly that everyoneeven Amywas hanging around to share in his money and power and fame? He clenched his fists. Amy had been attacked, and he hadnt so much as been a crying shoulder for her.

Aaron willed himself to draw a breath, and he realized how amazing the timing was. Because if hed gotten this news before his talk with God, it mightve sent him over the edge. It was difficult enough now. He didnt want to read another word, but he lifted the paper, anyway.

His hands shook as he folded both letters and placed them carefully back in their envelopes. He knew without a doubt that Amy had kept her promise. She was that type of girl, no matter what lies Bill Bond had told about her. If he was right, then she had died loving him, waiting for him. The truth was bigger than all his other poor choices combined. Aaron trembled as he gripped the steering wheel. His breaths came shallow and fast, and he felt a layer of sweat bead up across his forehead. How could he be such a creep, believing Bill Bond over his precious Amy? Had the glare of fame and fortune been that blinding? The truth was unbearable, and he grew sick to his stomach.

But thengradually, a greater truth dawned on him.

He didnt have to carry this sort of pain anymore. First, because Amy was safe now. In heaven with Jesus. And second, because he could ask God to take away his guilt.

Lord, I messed up so bad. I didnt watch my little boy grow up, and I lost the chance to tell his mother how much I loved her, how wrong I was. No matter what my agent said. Forgive me, Godplease forgive me. I cant bear the guilt otherwise.

It took a while, but an otherworldly peace came over him. A peace that was not without deep sadness. An urgency built in him, then, and he grabbed the small photograph, rushed out of his truck and back upstairs to the sparse apartment Megan shared with Cory. He knocked on the door and when Megan answered it, he launched into an explanation.

Hes telling the truth

She searched his face, trembling. He told me. Is itis it really possible?

Look at this. He handed the photo to Megan. Amy was my first love. I wasI was going to marry her. He couldve cried, but his excitement had the upper hand. Whats his last name?

Briggs. Megans words were fast and anxious. She was as blown away by the turn of events as Aaron was. Cory Briggs.

The reality was still sinking in. Hes my son, Meganhe really is. There would be much to talk about later, notes to compare. But for now all that mattered wasCory!

The boy came running up to the door. His smile held none of the drama and intensity both Aaron and Megan were feeling. He simply looked into Aarons eyes. Do you believe me now?

Something amazing and marvelous was happening in Aarons heart. He stepped past Megan, touching her hand without looking at her. Then he dropped to his knees for the second time that week, and he held out his arms. Cory Happy tears choked his voice, but he didnt care.

The boy hesitated for only a second, then he ran the few steps that separated them and landed hard in an embrace that was eight years coming. So Cory sounded small, still not quite sure. Youre my dad, right?

Yes. Aaron held him to his chest, stroking his small back and rocking him. Something inside him told him to be careful. Tests would be needed before he could know for sure. But he and Megan would take care of that right away. Not that he needed tests. They would be merely a formality. Cory really did look just like him, something he hadnt seen before today.

Aaron squeezed his eyes shut. Im sorry He pressed his sons face to his heart and managed the most precious words hed ever said. Im your dad, Cory. I never knew until today.

They hugged for a long time, and Aaron stayed and tucked him in when it was bedtime. Aaron rubbed Corys back for a minute or two. Hed missed so much, but tonight was the first of many times when he would be with his son before he went to sleep.

He and Megan would work out details of a paternity test in the morning. Aaron would look into it. When he left, he hugged Megan and his feelings for her came back in a rush. Can I ask you something?

Anything.

Did Amyas long as you knew her, did she have someone special, a boyfriend? The question made things somewhat awkward between them, but Aaron needed to know.

No one. Megans answer was quick and heartfelt. She never even dated. Said she didnt have time because Cory needed her.

Aaron reacted physically to the news, hunching slightly and struggling for his next breath. Everything Amy had told him in the letters was true. She had waited for him until her dying day. Aaron took Megans hand and held it for a beat. I have a lot to think through.

Her eyes danced. I cant believe it.

Me neither. There was something else he was only now realizing. Megan wanted to adopt Cory. Shed told him so. But now that Aaron had found him, he couldnt possibly let him go. The fairytale ending was obvious, but so far, Megan hadnt wanted to think of him that way, as someone shed date. They had much to work through.

For now, it was enough that they parted with smiles and promises to talk tomorrow. He walked slowly back to his car, playing over the nights events. They were so far beyond unbelievable, even he couldnt quite grasp his new reality. But the sad truth about Amy was what stayed with him most as he drove home. He would always regret the decisions he made surrounding his breakup with Amy. And he needed to have a much overdue conversation with his agent. But there was something he could do now, while there was still time. He glanced at the photo once more. He might not have gotten the chance to tell Amy he was sorry.