Cherished (39 page)

Brian and Kelli embraced, and the crowd whistled and cheered again. Their music played over the speakers as they left the stage and people began leaving. They took more pictures and heard more stories, but Kelli still couldn't wait to get him alone. They needed to talk.

T
HAT MOMENT CAME HOURS LATER AS
K
ELLI AND
B
RIAN
stole away to an all-night diner. They placed their order, handed the menus to the server, and stared at one another across a small booth.

“Brian,” she began, “what were you thinking, asking me to marry you like that? It's not like we'd been seeing one another. For all I knew, you were dating Monica.”

“Monica?” Brian looked hurt, frustrated. “I told her months ago that I couldn't pursue a relationship with her . . . because of you.”

“Well, how would I know that? You weren't pursuing a relationship with me either.”

Brian sighed. “I went about things the wrong way—obviously. After spending so much time together on this album, I knew, Kelli. I knew I wanted to spend my life with you. But I thought if I pursued you outright, if I told you I'd fallen in love with you all over again, you'd turn and run. So I asked God to pursue you for me.”

“What?”

“Well, deep down, I kind of thought you might be falling for me again too. But I thought you'd be afraid to trust me, given what I did. So I prayed for God to knit our hearts together again. And I don't know . . . when ‘Cherished' came together the way it did, I got excited about this idea of surprising you with the song and a proposal in front of everyone—which I
thought
was from God.” He sighed again. “I made such a fool of myself.”

Kelli reached for his hand across the table. “Your prayer was answered, though.”

“Which one?”

“For God to pursue me for you and knit our hearts together. Even though we haven't talked much the last couple of months, I couldn't stop thinking about you.” She stared into his eyes, wondering how much of her heart to reveal. She decided to trust him with it. “It became clear to me that . . . I'd fallen in love with you again.”

Emotion filled Brian's eyes. “When you didn't say it onstage, I thought . . .”

“I don't know why I couldn't say it. Part of me was still holding back, I guess. But I do, Brian. I love you. I wonder if I ever really stopped.”

He grabbed her other hand, and they lingered that way a few moments. “So what now?” he asked finally. He glanced at his coat pocket with a sheepish look. “I've still got this ring.”

Kelli smiled. “I'm excited, actually. I'm looking forward to enjoying our friendship again, enjoying
you
again . . . allowing our love to grow.” She squeezed his hand. “I think we'll know what to do about that ring in God's time.”

Brian looked at her. “I felt so low on that stage. I wanted to be celebrating our engagement tonight.” He paused. “But I feel like we're celebrating something just as special—our love. And that's a gift I thought we'd never have again. I'm thankful, Kel.”

“Me too.”

He got the sheepish look again. “God's time?”

“God's time.”

He sighed. “But I've never been crazy about those ‘wait on God' verses.”

thirty-five

K
ELLI AND
B
RIAN STOOD ON THE FRONT STEP LOOKING
down the street, an April breeze whipping through the trees. Kelli rubbed her arms against the slight chill. “Didn't he say they were leaving an hour ago? What could be taking so long?”

Brian shrugged. “Traffic, maybe?”

“On a Sunday afternoon?”

The front door opened, and Stephanie stepped out. “They're not here yet?”

Kelli and Brian shook their heads.

“Wait, I see something.” Kelli took a few steps down the front walk to get a better view. “It's them!”

As they got closer to the house, Stephanie chuckled. “Cedric driving that big SUV is so funny to me. I'm still shocked he gave up the convertible.” She opened the door and yelled inside, “They're here!”

Lindell, Francine London, and Cyd's parents, Bruce and Claudia, showed their excited faces.

Cedric parked in the driveway and got out. “I think we saw each and every one of you this morning. Why didn't anyone tell us you were headed over here?”

“It's called a surprise, silly,” Stephanie said.

Cedric had a big smile. “You got me. Momma, you said you were on your way back to Little Rock.”

Francine hugged him. “We wanted to capture this moment. The three of you coming home for the first time. Now help your family out of the car.”

“Oh.” Cedric pulled the door handle, where Cyd was comfortably ensconced in the back, her head leaning over the car seat in the middle.

“Let me help you, babe,” Cedric said. When Cyd was slow to move, he added with a smile, “He'll be okay without you for a minute.”

Cyd turned and took Cedric's hand. Kelli was amused when Cyd's face showed surprise. Was she just now noticing them?

Cyd waved for the video camera in Lindell's hands as she stepped out, then turned to her parents. “Mom and Dad, you were with us at the hospital a little while ago. How'd you beat us over here?”

“Cedric must've been like Bruce when you were born,” Claudia said. “I think he drove five miles an hour on the trip home from the hospital, worried something might happen to you.”

“Scariest ride of my life.” Cedric was on a knee in the back, trying to unhook the infant seat. “This little guy's whole life is in my hands.”

“Wait till you're ready to give
him
the keys,” Bruce said. “You'll be a nervous wreck.”

“I'm on day three, Dad,” Cedric said. “I can't see anywhere beyond that.”

Everyone gathered around the car to get a fresh look at the baby as Cedric lifted the seat out.

“Look at him,” Stephanie said. “He's squinting at the sun. Is that the cutest thing or what?”

Lindell moved closer to film the baby's face. “Welcome home, Chase Kyle London. Wave at the camera.”

“Cover him up better, babe,” Cyd said. “It's a little windy out here.”

Cedric pulled the blanket up more as they moved into the house. Reese jumped on him, then tried to jump on the infant seat to get a gander at this bundle claiming all the attention.

“Uh-oh,” Cedric said. “How do we get Reese to calm down around the baby?”

“We didn't think it through yet,” Cyd said. “For now, she needs to go in the kitchen.” She bent down and rubbed her fur. “Sorry, little sweetie.”

“Come on, Reese,” Kelli said. She gated the dog and joined the others in the family room.

Cyd had taken Chase out of his seat, and he was nestled against her in the overstuffed chair. She let out a huge happy sigh, looking at Cedric, who sat on the floor beside her. “I think it's finally sinking in. I'm a mom. You're a dad. We have a baby.”

Cedric looked overwhelmed. “A healthy baby. I'll never forget the moment he came into the world. I didn't think it would affect me like that. A baby's birth—the whole process, really—is an absolute miracle.”

Kelli and Brian glanced at one another on the love seat. Without a word, they knew what was on each other's mind.

Francine was beaming, standing over the baby. “And I think it's finally sinking in that I'm a grandma, after all these years!”

“Tell me about it,” Claudia said. “Now we've got someone to spoil to our hearts' content.”

“Ma,” Cyd said, “you already bought more clothes than this boy could possibly wear, more toys than he'll ever have time to play with—”

“Cyd.” Cedric patted her knee. “Don't even try to fight it. They've waited this long. Let them have at it.”

“Now that's the spirit, son.” Francine brought her hands together in a big clap. “And by the way, I haven't unloaded my trunk yet. I need one of you boys to go get those gifts. Might take two of you.”

Cedric shook his head.

Kelli's phone dinged, letting her know she had a text. She got her phone from the coffee table, read the message, and smiled. “Heather says she's coming Wednesday. She can't wait to see the baby.”

“Mm-hmm,” Stephanie said. “That's not all she can't wait to see.”

“That's probably true,” Kelli said, sitting back down. “Last time she visited, I hardly got any time with her—and she was staying here with us. Seems like the move only made her and Logan grow closer.”

“I miss her,” Cyd said. “Tell her we're thrilled she's coming.”

Kelli typed out a response, then looked up again. “Cyd, can I hold the baby? I didn't get a chance at the hospital.”

“Of course. Here.”

Cedric lifted him gingerly from his mother's arms. He stretched his little body, as if wondering why the interruption. “Come on, little man. Let's go see your Aunt Kel.”

Kelli grinned as he placed the baby in her arms. “Everything is so tiny. I can see why you were nervous, Cedric. You feel like something will break.” She traced his little eyebrows, handled his little fingers. “It's definitely a miracle”—she spoke almost to herself— “the way God forms all these parts.”

Brian moved closer to get a better look. “He's beautiful.” He put his arm around Kelli and spoke in a low tone. “It's not easy, is it?”

Hearing him say it brought tears to her eyes. “No. It isn't.” She looked to see if anyone else was listening, but they were all engaged in their own conversations. She looked at Brian. “I wonder if ours was a boy or a girl.”

“Don't do that to yourself, Kel.”

“I'm not. I was just . . . wondering.” She thought a moment. “I guess the baby's always in my mind, though, because that's the song people want to hear.”

“Still amazes me. That song has brought healing to a lot of people.”

Kelli had been going on the road with Brian, mostly to churches that invited them. During the concert, they always took the time to share their story, and the grace and mercy of God. They each had a box of letters and printed e-mails that people had sent, sharing their own stories.

Chase yawned and opened his eyes.

“He's so precious,” Kelli said. She held him in her lap so she could look directly at him. Never had her heart been so moved. “I pray God blesses us with a whole house full of children,” she said.

“That would be—” He looked at her. “Wait. What did you say?”

“I said I pray God blesses us—”

“I know what you said. I mean, what are you saying? You said
us
—as in, together?”

Kelli smiled. “What I'm saying is I couldn't be more sure . . . that is, if you're still sure.”

He shook his head as if shaking loose cobwebs. “Kelli, I'm not assuming I understand anything here. Are you telling me you're ready to say yes to my proposal? You'll marry me?”

“Still got the ring?”

“Kel, humor me. I just need to hear one word. I'll even get back on my knees.”

“Oh, don't do that.”

Brian knelt before the love seat, and suddenly everyone stopped talking. Lindell grabbed the video camera.

Brian took a breath. “Kelli London, will you marry me?”

Kelli looked into his eyes, those beautiful brown eyes. “Yes, Brian. I'll marry you.”

He gazed into her eyes, and she knew he was choking back emotion.

“Kelli, I promise you,” he said, “I will love and cherish you for the rest of my days.”

Cheers rang throughout the room.

“Hey, Brian,” Cedric said, “don't know if you know this, but the vows usually come later, at the ceremony.” He walked over to him. “Congrats, man. You've got a special girl there.”

Brian stood and hugged him. “Don't I know it.”

Lindell stopped filming and hugged him too. “I couldn't be happier for you two.” He looked down at Kelli. “But that was brutal, sis, making him wait all this time.”

“You leave my baby girl alone,” Francine said. “It's a woman's prerogative to take as long as she needs. They've got the rest of their lives to enjoy one another.” She looked over at Kelli, eyes dancing. “That being said, I was wondering what was taking you so long, sweetheart.”

Kelli laughed, gently stroking the baby's thin hair. “So I'm the bad guy, huh?”

“Not at all,” Brian said, sitting next to her again. “God did a lot over these months. For one thing, I didn't think it was possible to love you this much more.”

“Aww.” Stephanie smiled from the sofa. “And can I mention that neither of you lovebirds has thanked me?”

Kelli looked her way. “For?”