“It’ll probably come to that at some point.” Ashley’s dad chuckled.
“Yeah.” Brooke put her arm around Peter. “Then the Olympics.”
“For now, though”—Cole looked at the families—“it’s just us. Best sand castle competition ever.”
The setting sun, in part, dictated the time limit. Landon leaned close to Ashley seconds before the starter went off. “This is us, baby. It’s our year.”
Ashley nodded. “I can feel it.”
Cole gave the countdown. “Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one!” He raised his fist. “Start your castles!”
Ashley loved her family, every wonderful crazy person in the mix. The groups dashed to the supply pile and found what they needed to start building. The way Ashley saw it, her family had the edge. They had the most kids and they had Cole. Who had been planning the Blake Family Castle Idea since May.
The idea was a secret, of course. But now that the time had come, there was no more hiding. They were about to build Aslan, the lion from Narnia. Cole huddled the family together. “I didn’t know about the seashells.” He couldn’t have been more serious. “I think we just won.”
“Why?” Devin’s expression went blank.
“Because.” The answer was clearly obvious to Cole.
Ashley looked from one boy to the other and Janessa did the same thing.
“Okay.” Landon looked at the setting sun. “Tell us about the seashells! Time’s a-ticking.”
Cole lowered his voice. “We’ll use them for the mane.”
“That’s it.” Amy clapped her hands. “You’re right. We just won!”
Ashley smiled to herself as they got busy. She was in charge of building a short castle-type wall around the spot where Aslan would sit. Landon and Janessa would dig the mote around the outside of the wall.
And Cole, Amy and Devin would work on the lion.
“Plus”—Cole was now working furiously, building a smooth platform for Aslan—“we have two artists in our family.” He grinned. “Mom . . . and Amy.”
Ashley caught the way his compliment hit Amy. The look on her face as she basked in her cousin’s praise was priceless. Ashley shared a quick glance with Landon. He smiled.
He had seen Amy’s reaction, too.
The whole family worked so hard and so fast that the hour flew by. As the minutes ticked down, Cole gave warnings. Finally time was up. They were all out of breath, talking and celebrating and covered in sand.
Ashley put her arms around Landon’s waist as they surveyed their work. Landon chuckled. “It’s actually pretty amazing.”
“It is.” Ashley grinned. Aslan looked very much like a lion, and sure enough, the seashells made his mane look beyond majestic.
“Of course”—Landon kissed the side of her head—“Cole’s right. It isn’t really fair that we have two artists on our team.”
“True.” She gave him a sheepish look.
Each team took a turn revealing what they had created. In the event it wasn’t obvious—which for some was the case.
Luke and Reagan’s family had made the White House. Though Tommy admitted that he got confused and tried to do the Lincoln Memorial halfway through.
“Our team was definitely a little unclear.” Luke laughed. “But it looks good. Whatever it is.”
Kari and Ryan and their kids had created an all-sand football stadium. “It’s supposed to be Clear Creek High.” Kari took a bow. “We think we nailed it.”
The Kensington Palace replica was done by Brooke and Peter and their girls. “Because it’s supposed to be a castle.” Hayley clapped and high-fived her older sister. “Right, Maddie?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Maddie linked arms with her and waited.
Dayne and Katy’s family had made a theater, complete with rows of seats—each topped with a seashell.
“Very nice.” Cole nodded. “When it comes time to judge, don’t forget the little touches.” He winked at Landon. “The details all matter. Speaking of which . . .” He motioned to Ashley. “Mom . . . tell them about ours.”
Ashley took a quick breath. “Ours is Aslan of Narnia.”
“Are you serious? The eyes look like they’re real.” Brooke put her hands on her hips. “Ash, how can we compete with you?”
“The eyes weren’t mine.” Ashley beamed at her niece. “They were Amy’s.”
“Way to go, Amy.” Tommy clapped for her.
“And don’t forget the seashell mane.” Cole stepped back so everyone could see it. “Papa, it’s your turn.”
Ashley turned to her dad and Elaine. They were down the beach a little bit, and Ashley and the others didn’t see their creation right away. But now that they all walked closer, Ashley knew what it was before her dad said a word.
“It’s the Baxter house.” He put his arm around Elaine’s shoulders. “The place where it all began. The house that will always be home.”
“Talk about details.” Ashley stared at the house. She stooped down and looked more closely. “Seashell shutters. That’s brilliant.”
Somehow her dad and Elaine had even managed to capture the front porch and the basketball hoop in the driveway.
For a long time, the adult kids stood around, staring at the design. Tears filled Ashley’s eyes and when she looked up from the sand house she saw she wasn’t the only one.
“How can you look at that and not see a million memories?” Kari folded her arms. “Dad, Elaine . . . it’s beautiful.”
“It was his idea.” Elaine smiled. “I thought it was a good one. Especially today.”
Elaine was very deep and this was a perfect example. She might never have lived in the house, the one Ashley and Landon called home now. But Ashley’s mother had lived there. And since she had started the Fourth of July picnic tradition, it was only right that her memory carry on.
Even in a sand castle.
“And instead of a moat it has a pond and a stream.” Devin cheered, both arms in the air. “That’s amazing, Papa! Way to go, both of you.”
Cole gave Devin a look. “It’s a competition.” He lifted his hands and let them fall again. “Probably don’t sway the votes to another team.”
Everyone laughed and Cole handed out scoring sheets along with a quick refresher on the intricate voting system. The whole group walked around choosing a first and second place.
“No comparing notes,” Cole directed. “This is serious stuff!” Even he chuckled at his words.
Ashley loved that he could poke fun at himself. He came by his competitive nature honestly. But at least he knew when to back off. Ashley couldn’t always say that for herself.
Voting was simple for Ashley. She wrote her name, made her picks and handed her sheet to Cole. She was also careful to take pictures of each of the sand creations. The only way any of them would remember exactly what they’d done here today.
Landon made his selection quickly, too. Same with Kari and Ryan. The four of them walked up the hill to the nearest picnic table while the others were still deciding.
Landon and Ryan sat on top of the table while Ashley and Kari used towels to brush the sand off their arms. Kari was still laughing. “We might just be the most fun family on earth.”
“Absolutely.” Ashley dropped her towel near a pile from earlier in the day. Then she sat on the bench and leaned back against Landon’s legs.
Kari did the same, resting on Ryan’s knees. Only then did she turn to Ashley. “So whatever happened with that guy you met at the memorial? Brady, right?”
Ashley had kept Landon up on the latest, but she and Kari hadn’t talked about it since the day she found Jenna and learned Brady had been injured fighting a fire. Ashley looked over her shoulder and grinned up at Landon. “It’s all good news, right?”
“It’s a miracle.” Landon shook his head. “I mean really. I have to admit, I thought maybe Ashley had gone off the deep end on this one.” He sighed. “But wait till you hear.”
“Yeah, I wonder
ed, too.” Ryan leaned forward. Both he and Kari were listening intently.
Near the water the rest of the family was finishing up their selections. Some of them were headed up the hill already. Ashley needed to make the story quick. “So you know how I went to Columbus and talked to Jenna in person?”
“Naturally.” Kari nodded. “Like any sane person would do.”
“Yes. Right.” She laughed at herself. The whole story was pretty crazy. “Well, so, Brady was still in a coma and Jenna could hardly wait to go see him.”
“She left work?” Ryan looked confused. “I thought she was a teacher.”
“School was getting out the next week.” Ashley’s tone grew more excited. “So she moves to Oklahoma City for the summer because she knows someone who lives there.”
“She moved?” Kari’s eyes grew wide. “I can’t believe it.”
“Right, and then Jenna stays by Brady’s bedside in the hospital until he’s well enough to be transferred to a rehabilitation center.” Ashley looked back at Landon and he pulled her gently up to sit next to him.
“Sounds familiar, right?” Landon looked at the others and back at Ashley. “I wouldn’t have survived if you hadn’t been sitting there all those days, Ash.”
She felt sick at the memory. Landon had been fighting a house fire when he found a little boy, overcome by the smoke. Landon had saved the boy’s life, but in the process nearly lost his own.
Ashley let the memory linger for a few seconds before she continued the story. She looked from Ryan to Kari. “So then he gets to rehab and it doesn’t seem like he’ll be able to walk again. Because his legs are a mess and his spine’s fractured.”
Ashley felt Landon shudder beside her. He took a deep breath. “Such a tough job, fighting fires.”
“Absolutely.” Ryan put his hands on Kari’s shoulders. “You’re all heroes.”
“It’s true.” Ashley kissed Landon’s cheek. “So get this . . . Brady learns to walk. But only because of Jenna. Because she won’t let him give up.” She finished the story with the news Jenna had shared with her this week. “And now they’re dating!”
“They are?” Kari stood up. “I can’t believe this.”
“Not because of Jenna.” Landon reached for Ashley’s hand. “Because my wife won’t take no for an answer.”
Dayne and Katy had come up the hill. Katy looked pensive as she stood next to Dayne. “Sitting at a hospital bedside while someone you love fights for his life. A little close to home.” She looked at her husband. “Right?”
“Definitely.” Dayne looked at Ashley. His memory was there for all of them. The time Dayne’s car had been run off the road by paparazzi. The day he almost died. Dayne drew a deep breath. “Anyway . . . back to you, Ash. Talking about that firefighter you’re helping?”
Ashley smiled. “Yes.” There were no secrets in a family like theirs.
Cole was running up the grassy embankment, and behind him the rest of the family followed. “The votes are in!” He jumped onto the center of a picnic table. “I’m about to go from sixth to first place.”
“You mean last place?” Maddie was clearly teasing. “Come on, Cole. Someone has to be last.”
“Besides, there’s always next year.” Ashley’s dad raised his brow. “Losing is a part of life. Even when it’s all in fun.”
Everyone agreed.
“Okay, here goes!” Cole looked to the bottom of the sheet of paper. “In sixth place we have Uncle Luke and Aunt Reagan’s family.”
“Yay for the half White House, half Lincoln Memorial!” Tommy started giggling and in a few seconds he was doubled over laughing. “Still . . . sixth place isn’t bad. And first place for originality!”
Ashley savored everything about the moment. Her family was hilarious. And yes, this was the best Fourth of July picnic yet.
As the laughter quieted, Cole found his announcer voice again. “And in fifth place, Uncle Ryan and Aunt Kari’s family with the Clear Creek Football Stadium!”
A round of applause showed the appreciation. Landon leaned over to Ryan. “Don’t tell the team.”
Ryan grinned. “Don’t worry!”
Jessie, their oldest, shrugged. She looped her arms around her brother and sister. “It was the best sandy football field on the lake. That’s for sure!”
More laughter and then Cole revealed fourth place going to Dayne and Katy and their kids, and third place to his own family’s creation. “Aslan of Narnia!”
Ashley was proud of Cole. He had dreamed about this contest for weeks and worked on figuring out a scoring system. She would’ve guessed they finished first by the enthusiastic way he ran up the hill with the results. But evidently he had taken the message to heart. This was about the family having fun.
Not about winning.
Besides—as her dad had said earlier—losing was part of life.
Second place went to Brooke and Peter’s family, and the sand replica of Kensington Palace. Hayley jumped around and hugged Maddie, then her mother. She was one of the happiest people any of them knew. She might as well have won the Olympic medal for sand castle building.
“Which means, first place goes to . . .” Cole did a faux drumroll on his knees. “Papa and Grandma Elaine for the Baxter house.”
Ashley smiled, her heart full. Was there ever any question?
A round of high fives and congratulations came from the others. Ashley watched her dad hug Elaine and kiss her. The two of them had married several years after Ashley’s mother died. Elaine was a very special woman, for sure. In fact, not long ago for a school project Cole had met with Ashley’s dad so he could tell the love story between him and Ashley’s mom. Cole’s Grandma Elizabeth. Elaine was not only supportive of the project, she encouraged it.
It was evident today that nothing about that project had harmed her dad and Elaine in the least. Ashley was glad. She loved seeing her dad so happy.
“Let’s take a look once more at all the sand castles.” Ashley’s dad led the way down the grassy bank, Elaine at his side. “Before the sun goes down.”
Just then a couple of ski boats sped by not far from the shore. They weren’t doing anything dangerous, really. But Ashley watched as the boats kicked up a wake and then zipped off across the lake.
“The wild ones come out on the Fourth.” Landon shaded his eyes from the setting sun.
Before anyone could say anything else, a series of waves reached the shore and washed up against the winning creation.
Cole ran toward it. “Wait!” He was a few feet away when the house, weak from the wave, melted into a pile of mushy sand.
For a few seconds all anyone could do was stare. Then Cole glanced back at his papa. “All that work . . .”
Ashley looked at her dad, but he was smiling, his eyes deep with nostalgia. “Isn’t that just how it is, though? You build something here on earth thinking it’ll last forever.” He drew a slow breath. “When really it’s the people who last. The souls of people. Their faith and their God. That’s what endures.”
“True.” Ashley walked up to the collapsed house and took one of the seashells. She studied it for a few seconds. “All of that and something else.” She smiled at her dad and held up the shell. “The memories.”
Kari joined her and took a seashell from the pile, and then Ashley’s other siblings did the same thing. Because whether it was a sand castle or Kensington Palace, their dad was right. Time would take the things they treasured here on earth.
Even, one day, the Baxter house.
Which was why, at the end of a day like this, Ashley was grateful. Not only that her family enjoyed celebrating the Fourth of July this way, but that each of them loved Jesus. Because one far-off day on the shores of heaven, the sand castle contest could involve the entire family.
Not just the ones here today.
20
T his summer was easily the most beautiful of Brady’s life, and yet he had the worst feeling. The sense that life with Jenna wasn’t just b
eginning.
It was ending.
Brady tried not to think about it, tried not to read into some of her comments or expressions. She had read every letter he had ever written to her, and they’d talked about them. Each one seemed to draw the two of them closer.
In fact, their good times were better than Brady ever imagined they might be. But so far Jenna hadn’t wanted to discuss what they were going to do next, after summer. Sometimes at night he’d lie awake remembering every wonderful thing that had happened since she’d walked back into his life, and then the fear would hit.
Summer was almost over.
School had a start date, first full week of August for teachers. When that day arrived, Jenna would be there. Not in Oklahoma City with him.
That much was certain.
Columbus was a thousand miles away. A thirteen-hour drive on a good day.
That wasn’t all.
Lately she’d been mentioning her faith more often. It was becoming the religious elephant in the room. Eleven years ago they were the same, raised with their parents’ faith but certain God had forgotten them. He had taken away the people they cared about most, and He hadn’t answered any of their prayers since.
Back then they agreed on every point.
Now, though, Jenna spoke like someone who definitely believed in God. She talked about wanting to know God’s will and several times she had referenced her certainty that God had great plans for His people.
Whatever that meant. Because how could God’s great plans include what happened at the Murrah Building?
Brady gripped the wheel of his pickup. He was five minutes from the place where Jenna was staying. Today they were doing something new. Riding bikes together. Kyrie thought it would help his recovery to use his upper leg muscles. A bike ride through the park had been Jenna’s idea.
When he didn’t think about her increasing penchant for faith or the fact that summer was fading, Brady put his concerns out of his mind. Their chemistry was crazy amazing, and even though Jenna seemed careful not to spend time at his apartment, she clearly felt as much for him as he felt for her.
Brady pulled up in front of Allison’s house and hurried out of his pickup. Not because he was late. Because it felt so good to be able to move. To order his legs to take a stretch of sidewalk at a fast clip—the way he had done all his life—and for his body to follow through.