Page 40 of Meant for Me (Magnolia Bay #3)

twenty-three

T he storm continued—though the one in Linc’s head thundered much louder than the one outside his truck. He turned the radio down, the wipers on high. His chest heaved for each breath, like he was running instead of driving.

He couldn’t do this anymore.

“God, you have to show me where she is.”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles ached. Guilt nudged. He wasn’t really in a position to boss God around, was he? He stopped at the stop sign on Bayou Boulevard and tossed the truck into park. Rested his head on the steering wheel. “Please.”

Silence, save for the rain pelting the roof. Oh, what was the use? He was on his own. If God cared, He had a funny way of showing it. Maybe Linc had pushed Him away too. Like he’d done with Amelia. With Zoey.

Pastor Todd’s words echoed in his mind. Truth remains true whether we believe it or not.

Linc swallowed. He’d been in church enough times to know God never changed, and God couldn’t lie. If those facts were true—then, well, God had to care. The Bible said so.

Which meant there was still good being worked in all this, despite the evidence to the contrary. There was still something to hope for, fight toward.

Maybe even for his family.

Pray for God to help you believe it.

He squeezed his eyes shut. “Help me.” It was all he could utter. And yet somehow, in the deepest parts of his heart, a measure of that same peace washed over him. Cleansing. Like the rain streaking the windshield.

You did not choose me but I chose you…

Oh, how he wanted to believe that. Wanted to believe that not everyone walked away.

That someone picked him.

You did not choose me but I chose you…

The words seeped in, slow, deep. Taking root. His neck muscles slowly relaxed. Maybe he could believe it. After all, had not believing done anything besides shove away everyone he loved the most?

Okay, God. I believe. He swallowed. I believe what Your word says, even when I don’t feel it.

And then…he was feeling it. The peace spread. Along with it, a seed of hope, planted deep. He drew a clear breath, first one in a while. It was time for some changes, and that had to include being willing to believe all of these hard things. And being willing to tell the truth.

Then he tensed again. Wait. The truth.

He knew where Amelia was.

Linc shoved the truck into gear, peeled out. Nearly took out the bush on the corner, correcting just in time as his tires searched for purchase. He turned left and made the curve, back toward Village Green, but this time, the other end.

He parked in the lot, barely remembering to turn off his truck as he jumped back out into the rain. The trail was covered in wet leaves, downed branches as he jogged the path past the playground equipment and the gazebo.

To the lamppost.

Sure enough, a tiny figure sat hunched on the ground under the light, next to a backpack, arms wrapped around drawn-up legs. Linc’s chest nearly burst as he picked up the pace. “Amelia!”

She looked up but otherwise didn’t move.

He came to a stop next to her, lungs heaving.

She stared at him. “You sure are breathing hard for someone who works out so much.”

“I—oh.” All the things he planned to say when he found her fled. “Guess you’ll have to come with me to the gym, again. Motivate me.”

She looked away. “I doubt that.”

“Doubt you’ll come or doubt you’ll motivate me?”

She shrugged. “Both.”

He waited a beat, then dropped down beside her. Wanted to say something encouraging. Something hopeful.

Wanting desperately to not put his foot in his mouth.

“I think God told me where you were.” Well, that was one way to start.

“Not really sure why anyone cares I was gone.” Her eyes were red-rimmed, her cheeks pale. She shivered, and he wished he’d thrown a blanket in the duffel.

“I brought you snacks.” That he left in his truck. In said duffel.

She shot him a bewildered look, looking around at the obvious lack of snacks.

“They’re in the truck, sorry.” He ran a hand through his soggy hair. Messing this up, once again. But that was okay. They had time.

He had to believe that.

“It’s okay. I’m not hungry.” She rested her chin back on her jean-clad knees.

“Not just about that. I’m sorry about a lot.” He pulled his legs up, mirroring her position. “I haven’t been honest with you.”

“I know.”

“I should have told you what I’m pretty sure you overheard.”

She narrowed her eyes. “How’d you know I was eavesdropping?”

So they’d assumed right. “I didn’t at the time, but Zoey and I pieced it together.” He waited a beat. “Saw the window cracked in your room. The missing unicorn…”

“Frederick.”

“Right, Frederick.”

Her hair dripped water off her face, and she swiped it away with the back of her arm. “You can stop pretending now.”

“Pretending what?”

“That you want me around. You don’t want to ask Mom to give up her rights, so obviously you don’t want me.”

“I was afraid you thought that.” Linc brushed water off his eyes. “You broke a promise, you know.”

“Not to run away?”

“Yeah.”

“Felt like the deal was off when it was clear you didn’t want to keep me.” She scowled.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong. We do want to.” The inclusion of Zoey came naturally, but for a moment, he wondered if it was applicable. Would she forgive him? He had to find her next.

Had to step out in faith.

He cleared his throat, repeating the sentiment. “Zoey and I both want you.”

“Then why did you?—”

“I just didn’t want to go to court, put you through all that.” Linc shook his head. “That’s a totally different conversation.”

Hope hovered in Amelia’s eyes. “So you mean?—”

“We do want you? Yep.” He tapped her zipped backpack, where he knew the unicorn was tucked safe and dry. “Frederick too.”

Amelia winced. “So I?—”

“Ran away, broke your promise, and sat outside in a thunderstorm for nothing?” Linc nodded. “Yep.”

“Oops.”

He could stop now—maybe should stop now—on this high note. But it wasn’t the full truth, and if he’d learned anything tonight, it was that the truth mattered. “There is one more thing that you probably didn’t hear.”

“I know Mom is in jail.”

Ah. That took one item off the list. Still a doozy to go. “There’s something else.”

She hugged her knees. “What?”

He twisted his lips to the side, thinking through the best way to censor this news for a thirteen-year-old—one who didn’t need an even worse image of her mother than she already had. “There’s some confusion over who your father is.”

She stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“Meaning it was either me or another man.” He paused. “A man who died several years ago.”

Amelia grew quiet, tugged at a loose thread on the ripped knee of her pants. “Okay.”

That definitely hadn’t been Linc’s reaction, but hey. He wasn’t thirteen. He waited.

“But we don’t know for sure?” She frowned, tugged harder. The rip spread.

He nodded. “We don’t know for sure.”

“Can we find out?”

“If you want to, yes. There’s this thing called a paternity test that can match DNA, prove it one way or the other.” Man, that prospect hurt. But it needed to be Amelia’s choice. Linc knew in his heart who she was—his daughter.

Amelia needed to know it for herself.

She let go of the thread, looked over at him. Studied him. Then…“Nah.”

He nearly swallowed his tongue. “ Nah ?”

“Nah. I don’t need the test.” She shrugged a little. “I want you to be my dad either way.”

He was suddenly grateful for the rain, hiding the tears falling free. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I guess if you’re willing to come search for me in a thunderstorm, you must care more than I thought.”

She wasn’t the only one found in the storm tonight. Tears held his throat in a vise. He croaked out the only words he wanted to hear. “You promise?”

She looked up at the lamppost over their heads and grinned. Reached up and slapped her hand against it. “Promise.”

Oh, this kid. He struggled to his feet, maybe using the pole for support more than he should have as relief and adrenaline coursed through his veins. He reached around, grasped the other side of the post. “Looks like I want you to be my daughter either way too.”

“Guess we’re stuck with each other, then.”

“Yep.” Best news ever. “There might be some legal stuff to deal with down the road, but we’ll handle it as it comes.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “I’m in.”

Linc hesitated. “You know…we haven’t ever hugged before. Is this?—”

“Seems like a hugging moment to me.”

His heart lifted. “Was hoping you’d say that.”

Amelia’s skinny arms launched around him.

Linc held on tight, tears of gratitude burning his eyes. “Looks like you were meant for me, kid.”

They stood, hugging, under the light of the lamppost, until Linc thought his heart couldn’t grow any larger. Thank you . The prayer came naturally, and with it, the faith to believe for more.

For their entire family.

He stiffened. Now, if only he could find Zoey. Convince her he was a jerk, convince her he didn’t just need her, he wanted her. First part wouldn’t be hard, but the second. He swallowed, hugged Amelia tighter as the rain continued to pour.

Time to hope the sun would come out, just one more time. For them all.