“But Mom, you’ve forgotten the other problem with Landon and me talking again.”
“What’s that?”
“He still doesn’t know what caused my blindness.”
“So he’ll ask, and you’ll tell him,” Eden said, as though that were all there was to it. But surely she knew it wasn’t that easy.
“And then he’ll blame himself.”
“Honey, God has his reasons for everything that happens in life. And He had a reason for what happened on that day. That’s what you’ll have to tell Landon.”
“Then pray that he doesn’t blame himself? And pray just as hard that he doesn’t blame me for not telling him?”
“He told you he loved you,” her mother reminded. “Do you honestly think those feelings are gone?”
“Until yesterday we hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in eight years. That’s hardly what people do if they love each other.” She finished her coffee, placed the empty mug on the top of the rail.
“He left because you chose Pete.”
“And it’s like you said, everything happens for a reason.”
Her mother was silent for a moment, then whispered. “Georgiana?”
“Yes?”
“I think you’re right. And if everything does happen for a reason, then I have to believe that Landon’s return to Claremont right after you came home happened for a reason.”
Georgiana wasn’t expecting that. “Things change in eight years. People change in eight years.”
“I saw it in his eyes last night, Georgiana. He still cares about you. To what extent, I don’t know, but he definitely still cares.”
Georgiana wished she could’ve seen Landon’s eyes, and she decided to ask the question she was dying to have answered. “Mom, about Landon.”
“What about him?”
“What does he look like now? I mean, has he changed since high school, or does he still look the same?” She’d wondered ever since she heard that rich baritone yesterday afternoon, because in her mind she pictured the same gorgeous boy she’d known way back then. But time might have changed his appearance, and though it wouldn’t change the way she felt about him, she was more curious than she cared to admit.
“Oh, he still looks the same as he did back then,” her mother said.
“Does he?”
“Well, I mean, for the most part,” Eden continued, and Georgiana could hear the smile in her tone. “He’s broader, more muscled up, I guess you’d say.”
“More muscled up?” That would be hard to accomplish, since he was at peak shape back in high school, the best running back Claremont ever had as far as she knew. Wide shoulders, lean waist and powerful thighs that he used skillfully whenever he needed another few yards to make a first down. Or a touchdown. Landon had made his share of touchdowns during his career at Claremont High. Two more than Pete. Georgiana knew because Pete often complained about the fact and spouted the three plays where he could have scored if his line had only done their job, which would have put him over Landon’s record.
“His hair is short too, army style,” her mother continued. “That’s the biggest difference, I guess, and he looks more like a man now, not a boy.”
Georgiana nodded, wishing she could have seen the man her mother described. She’d never seen Landon with short hair. He’d always kept it long and wavy. Having his hair away from his face probably drew more attention to the chiseled jaw and the gold in his eyes. Landon was the only person she’d ever seen with eyes that were truly amber, like honey in sunshine.
“Same deep dimples,” her mother said, still describing the guy that was slowly but surely controlling Georgiana’s every thought. “They should outlaw those Cutter dimples. All three of them have those dimples, and even women as old as me notice. Landon, John and even that young Casey.”
That made Georgiana laugh. “So you’re saying Landon’s still a decent body double for Matthew McConaughey?”
“I’d forgotten how you used to say that about him,” her mother said with a laugh, “but yes, he looks like him.”
Georgiana nodded, thought about the gorgeous guy who’d been her best friend.
The barn grew quiet, with both of them evidently reflecting on how things could have been so different.
“Georgiana,” her mother finally said.
“Yes?”
“You should try again.”
She knew exactly what her mother was talking about, but still asked, “Try what?”
“Giving someone the chance to be there for you, to build you up instead of bring you down.”
“I did, Mom. Pete and I tried marriage counseling.”
“You tried marriage counseling.”
“He came off and on,” Georgiana said, then couldn’t stop herself from adding, “It was hard for him to deal with it all.”
“It was harder for you.”
Georgiana couldn’t argue with that. It was harder for her, no doubt. She was the one whose world had been upended, first with the move to Tampa and then with the loss of her sight and then finally with the abandonment of her husband. A triple whammy for sure.
“Honey, I know this hurts, but it needs to be said. Pete left that marriage before you ever went to that counselor. The minute you lost your sight, I’d say. There wasn’t anything left to save. I know that you feel like you don’t have anything to offer to another person, but you do. And it’s time for you to trust again, to trust someone not to break your heart.”
There was no point in being anything but honest. “I don’t think I can.”
“I’ve prayed for you to learn to trust again. And I honestly think God answered my prayers with Landon’s return home.”
“Mom,” Georgiana started, then decided to go ahead and tell her mother one part of the story she didn’t know. “When he came to see me that night at the hospital, I told him not to come back, that I didn’t want him in my life.”
Her mother cleared her throat. “Well, now, it looks like he didn’t listen.”
“What do you mean?” Georgiana asked, then she heard what her mother must have already seen. A horse’s steady gallop in the distance growing louder by the second. “I’m not even dressed to see anyone yet. I can’t see him now. I thought he said something about seeing Abi at her riding lessons. Surely he knows that’d be later in the day.” When Eden offered no response, Georgiana prompted, “Mom?”
“I’m going to head inside and check on Abi,” she said, then added in a whisper, “He’s the answer to my prayer, Georgiana. Let him help you.”
“Wait,” Georgiana pleaded, but her mother’s footsteps steadily left the barn.
God, please, stay with me now. Help me, Lord. Keep me strong.
She reached out for Fallon, but the horse had obviously moved to the paddock, probably because she heard the other horse approaching. “Fallon? Come here, girl.” She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and hoped her horse cooperated. She didn’t want to simply stand here and wait for Landon to enter the barn. She needed to be busy, needed to be doing something. “Fallon?”
But Fallon