Page 27 of Muskoka Miracle (Muskoka Shores #7)

F or a redhead with freckle-prone fair skin, spending time on a boat in the sun was not Sarah’s usual way to spend a summer’s day.

But there was a world of difference between the bite of the sun here in Muskoka and the burn she’d experienced at home.

And being out on the water, even with all the other pleasure craft enjoying the lake, was relaxing.

Being with Dan and Sam was comfortable too.

Sam was as relaxed and easygoing as Dan, and it was fun listening to them talk and tease. It was good for Dan to just relax.

She placed a hand on her bare stomach, where Sam had prayed before.

She was glad she’d been wearing her t-shirt before.

How amazing to think he’d thought to do that.

And the heat that had flowed… She hadn’t been joking.

Maybe he really did have a healing ministry.

She glanced at her white stomach, criss-crossed with silvery scars, legacy of the accident that had stolen Stephen’s life on that New Year’s Eve five and half years ago.

Life. So uncertain. Not guaranteed. But still God-ordained. She pressed a hand to her abdomen. “Life.”

She wasn’t a ‘name it and claim it’ Christian, but still, faith was found in those words. Jesus didn’t focus on the problem. He asked the question: do you want to be healed? So, “Yes, I want to be healed. I want—no, I receive Your life.”

Her fingers tingled again, her skin burning as it had before, but not from the sun. God was able to do miracles. He’d done it in Muskoka before.

A reel of other miracles scrolled through her mind. Finding hope. Emotional healing. Dan. Returning to songwriting. Rejoining Heartsong. All had come about from her time here.

Her heart swelled, as a new kind of confidence dared her to have courage once again. Because looking at God’s faithfulness and what He’d done in the past built confidence for the future.

And not just for a baby, but that Dan’s career, hers—Tisha was so excited when she’d confirmed she’d do the tour—and even Dan’s camp, might be trusted to God’s capable hands and get sorted. It was like that old, tired saying that still held truth: let go and let God.

She snickered, remembering a similar situation several years ago. Would she ever learn?

“What’s so funny, Princess?” Dan shifted closer to where she lay, legs stretched out on the padded bench seat, trying to get what meagre tan her skin allowed.

“Oh, I’m just enjoying the day.”

“You? Enjoying fishing? Amazing.”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“Too late,” Sam called. “I heard.”

“He’s got big ears.” Dan grinned.

“But a good heart.”

“I heard that too. Love you, Sar!”

“Love you too, Sam.” She traced a hand down Dan’s bare chest. “And I love you most of all.”

He leaned down, bracing his arms either side and kissed her. And kept kissing her, more deeply still, as his fingers moved to her bikini strap. And she was suddenly very aware that as much as she loved Sam, she’d really prefer him to be elsewhere.

“Looks like that’s my cue.” Sam’s call was quickly followed by a splash.

She sat up. “Where?” A squint in the distance revealed he was swimming to the floating platform.

“Don’t think about him right now,” Dan murmured, his lips at her throat. “I’d much rather you think about me.”

“Except if you keep doing that”—she gasped as his mouth found her ear lobe—“and he returns then you’ll be thinking about him too.”

“You’re worth the risk.”

She laughed, and indulged him for a while, as he moved to kiss her stomach’s scars, just as he had when he’d seen them for the first time on their wedding night.

Then, when his caresses grew a little too much for her to feel comfortable in public, pushed him away.

Her eyelids were heavy, as was his breathing.

“I think we should return to the cottage soon.”

“And kick my brother out. He does have his own home to return to.”

And she kissed him again, her smile a promise for the future.

The weeks passed with a wedding—Anna’s, which Sarah attended but not Dan, to not overshadow the bride—then a quick trip to celebrate their third wedding anniversary in a revisit of their honeymoon on Prince Edward Island, this time without her family joining them partway through.

Then it was back to relaxing in Muskoka as some more of those ambiguous questions over their lives were gradually sorted.

Dan told his online Bible study friends about their news, and on that same day got his contract for another year, with the option to discuss another year after that.

His agent assured that the handy eye-popping sum being offered for Dan to play would’ve been less if he’d signed for two years straight up.

She glanced across the living room at where Dan was flicking through his phone, probably reading another fishing article online.

She didn’t dare say it aloud, but she liked the idea of Dan finishing hockey.

There was so much potential for injury. Several of the other guys in the Original Six Bible study were also eyeing retirement.

Some, like Brent Karlsson, seemed fit and able to play forever, but the toll of injuries, and concussions, and the challenges of careers and raising a family, meant retirement wasn’t too far from other people’s minds.

The sending of flowers, well wishes and “praying for yous” that came through the members of Dan’s Bible study group and their wives—good women, like Bree Vaughan, and fellow Aussie Holly Karlsson—buoyed Sarah’s hopes, especially when her cycle started again.

Part of her was tempted to think that strange moment of Sam’s prayer hadn’t worked, while another part refused to believe that.

She had definitely sensed something in that moment, that hadn’t been faked.

And even the very fact that Sam of all people was the one who would offer to do something so out of his comfort zone suggested God was in it.

So if God was in it then, then God was in it now.

And even though plans were now underway for her to join the Heartsong tour in October, she still felt this sense of expectancy, like hope.

She felt a bit like the swimming platform that floated in Lake Muskoka, tethered to God’s depths while the waves of life rocked her, but she remained buoyed by others’ prayers.

Just because their prayers were unanswered at the moment didn’t mean they would stay that way.

Which led her to another realization. Dan had said he was happy for her to share their news on the podcast, but there was a world of difference between sharing when they were in the midst of not seeing an answer, as opposed to sharing when she was pregnant.

So it only made sense to share sooner rather than later.

She sat up from her slouch on the sofa opposite him, and moved to join him on his couch. “Hey Dan, do you remember saying yes to me sharing on the podcast?”

He winced. “Yes.”

“Judging from that face, you’re super keen for me to do it. I don’t have to though.”

“I think we both know you do.”

She nodded. “Did you want to talk about it with me?”

“Does it make me lose good husband points if I say no?”

“You’re got so many points you can afford to lose a few.”

He laughed. “Wow.”

“Just keeping it real.”

“You’re a card.”

“You’re a dish.”

He kissed her nose. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

It was that love which brought her back to the city to her mini-studio to finally record this podcast. Dan had to sign his contract and do a photo opp then some other team things, but he’d agreed to speak with her briefly on the show.

He dropped her off at the apartment, and she nodded to Davis, the concierge.

“Mrs. Walton, welcome back.”

“It’s good to see you, Davis,” she said. “How is Doreen?”

“She’s not loving this weather, but apart from that can’t complain. How was Muskoka?”

She sighed. “So beautiful. We’re only here for a short visit then we’ll return.”

“No trip to Australia this year?”

She smiled. “I’m going in October, for another tour. I can’t wait!”

His eyes brightened. “Will you be playing here?”

“Not this time, but if you want, I can reserve a ticket for you and Doreen in New York.”

“New York.” Davis smacked his lips. “Tell me the date and I’ll mark my diary.”

She did, and he did, and she put a note in her phone to organize two tickets for them, then rode the elevator up to their floor.

A few moments later, she was in their apartment’s foyer, looking at the wedding photograph taken by Alexa, which portrayed Dan looking intently into her eyes as he kissed her hand. Such a romantic goose-bump inducing photo.

She blew a kiss at the photograph of Dan, switched on the kettle for that very necessary cup of hot tea, then moved to the second bedroom where her mini studio was set up.

Hmm. Maybe once Dan finished hockey they could move to a place with more room in the suburbs.

While it was just the two of them it made sense to live near his training facility, but Sam was right.

The end of Dan’s playing career actually meant the start of new adventures.

Like where they lived. Would they even have to live in Ontario?

Maybe they could live in Australia! She wondered what he’d think about that.

But it would be nice to be nearer her family, to see more of her parents, Bek, Joe and the girls.

To feel warm and not have to endure another Canadian winter. Snow was pretty, but it was cold.

She opened some windows, allowing for some of the musty air to move around. Imagine living somewhere with fresh air, not city-scented. Muskoka was good for that, too.

“Thank You God for Muskoka.” They’d return soon, then Dan had a skills camp, and they’d make the most of summer before he’d need to return for skills training, and she’d need to prep for her Heartsong tour.