Michael Evans stumbled into the jasmine clearing by the lake, halfway blind with the shock of the news that Jasmine had given him a mere quarter of an hour ago. It had taken him that long to run out of the house and drive to the edge of the woods before hiking out to this particular spot. He hadn't even known that this was where he was going until he found himself there. He fell onto the log, raking his hands through his dark curls.
He and Jasmine had only been married two months. He was not ready for this sort of a step, not ready at all.
He closed his eyes and tilted his face up to the bright sun, groaning aloud, "God…"
Whether it was a prayer or a curse, he couldn't tell right now, and he didn't particularly care to try and figure out which one it was. He had much bigger things on his mind, and he needed to do some serious thinking.
Pregnant. His wife was going to have a baby, his baby.
He groaned again, dropping his head down into his hands.
In his pocket, his cell phone rang. He snatched it out and looked at the picture that served as caller ID. Jasmine. Of course she would call. She had to be worried; after all, he had just bolted from the house like it was on fire.
In the picture – taken on their wedding day – she looked so happy. His beautiful wife, she was smiling there, had smiled throughout that whole day. But he knew that if he could see her right now, she wouldn't be smiling. She would be upset, maybe even crying. He knew that he hadn't given her the reaction that she had been hoping for.
The idea of a baby had set her off-kilter too, he knew, and she had been looking to him for reassurance, security, and leadership as the head of their apparently growing family. And he had just run from her, from their child.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket as the call was transferred to voicemail. He couldn't face her right now, not even over the phone. Not until he got this straightened out for himself.
As he put the device back in his pocket, his hand brushed the picture that Jasmine had handed him before he'd fled the house. He took it out and stared at it, sighing. He could barely believe what he was looking at.
Right now, the baby just looked like a blob of salt and pepper in the black and white picture, barely distinguishable from the rest of the gray and white fuzziness. But it was still there. Still had a heartbeat. Still growing. Still his.
He ran his hand over the stubble on his chin, looking out across the lake.
A baby. A little person who was going to end up looking to him for love, care, guidance… everything.
And yet, even while this little kid scared him out of his mind, he felt this surge of emotion that was stronger than the fear. Love.
Still clasping the picture in his hands, he bowed his head, praying, peace flooding him as he spoke, "Father, give me the strength to be everything that You're calling me to be. Show me the way to lead my wife and child. Please lead me to lead them with strong hands, to stand up when they can't. I don't want to leave them hungry for love, chasing things that I could give them. I'll show them I'm willing to fight and give them the best of my life so we can call this our home. Lead me, Father, 'cause I can't do this alone. I need You and me to do this together."
Mike raised his head and stood from the log. He started back towards his car, pulling his cell phone back out of his pocket. He needed to make things right with Jasmine.
Here it is, the final story in the You and Me Trilogy. The trilogy itself was inspired by the Sanctus Real song, "Lead Me," especially this story. Please review! Thanks so much!:)