“Yes. After you told me about the letter he sent Jack Hatcher, I remembered what happened with me. I called Muriel and went over to their house. Sam looked at the letter and said, ‘Yep. I wrote it. But only Papa knew our paths would cross someday.’”
Mike smiled slightly. “That sounds like Sam.”
“He’d forgotten about it. Muriel says he writes lots of letters, but doesn’t keep any copies.”
“So I’ve learned.”
Peg touched Mike’s knee. “But this isn’t about Sam Miller. It’s about us. I’m the one who walled off my heart, who abandoned you, who forgot something a lot more important than our anniversary—the vows we made on our wedding day. I put out the fire of my love, and I’ve been wrong, terribly wrong.”
Mike saw tears in Peg’s eyes as she continued, “We agreed to walk together through life no matter what. Now, I want to remove everything that would be a wedge between us and build the right kind of marriage for us and our child. Will you forgive me?”
“Of course.”
“No.” Peg shook her head. “That’s too quick. I want you to know how deeply, terribly sorry I am for being so selfish. I haven’t supported you in the way I promised when we married or the way God wanted me to. I said I loved you, but I’ve been rotten.”
Mike slid off the rock onto the grass beside her. He took her in his arms, brought her close, and kissed the top of her head.
“I don’t feel worthy to say I forgive you,” he said.
“But do you?”
Mike took a deep breath. “Yes.”
“Think about it. Are you sure?”
Mike held her tightly and spoke softly into her ear.
“With all my heart.”
Fifteen
STARING AT THE BLUE SKY, MIKE LAY STILL SO HE WOULDN’T wake Peg. Her secret burden lifted, she’d rested her head on Mike’s chest and dozed. The old quilt cushioned them from the scratchy grass. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Mike could hear Judge crashing through the grass off to the left.
Reeling from Peg’s revelation, Mike couldn’t take a nap. He couldn’t believe he’d been so oblivious to the mortal danger threatening his marriage. He’d always considered himself an astute judge of people but failed miserably at discerning what his own wife was considering.
God, using Sam Miller, intervened.
Before falling asleep, Peg let him read the letter from Sam. It was a simple message of warning and encouragement but had done the job. Peg could be tough to convince, and the power of a few words scrawled on a sheet of notebook paper was stunning. That the lawncare man took the time to write a letter to a total stranger was unfathomable. Mike cared about people, but Sam Miller took the concept of loving your neighbor to another stratosphere.
Peg’s nose twitched. Mike kept his breathing regular so his chest rose and fell in rhythm. Peg moved her head slightly and snuggled closer to his chin.
“I love you,” she said.
Mike stroked her hair. “I love you, too,” he managed.
“How long have I been dozing?”
“Not long.”
Judge suddenly appeared over Mike’s face and licked his nose.
“That’s a wet alarm clock,” Mike said, pushing the dog away.
Peg looked up. “Remind me not to kiss that spot until you wash your face.”
They sat up. The breeze across the top of the mountain had picked up while they rested. It felt clean and fresh. Peg stretched her hands in the air then threw her arms around Mike’s neck and gave him a long kiss on the lips.
“You were holding back,” she said when their lips parted. “Do I need to ask you to forgive me again? I’ll do it five times a day until you’re convinced I mean it.”
“I know you meant it. It’s just going to take time for me to adjust to how close I came to losing you.”
Peg took his hand and placed it on her abdomen. “Any time doubts come to your mind, think about the child inside me, and remember that I’m committed to you—completely.”
Mike looked into her eyes. There was an honest clarity present that gave no room for deceit.
“Even if I’m not perfect?” he asked.
“You’re perfect for me.”
Peg stood and brushed a few pieces of dried grass from her shirt.
“I’m ready to go,” she announced. “We have lots to talk about on the way down.”
“What else?” Mike asked apprehensively.
“Redecorating the house. We need to get a nursery ready and make the whole house safe for a baby. Now, I can really put my heart into it.”
They held opposite ends of the blanket and shook it before folding it up. Judge came running over, and Mike poured water into the plastic dish for the dog to drink.