Nine

RULE'S CHEST CONSTRICTED with every good kind of emotion there was while he watched his daughter fuss over the table arrangements.

She had spent an endless amount of time picking out wildflowers and arranging them in a vase as their centerpiece. She had also hovered over his shoulder while reminding him again and again not to burn anything.

It had been years since he last saw his daughter this excited, but he knew now this wasn't just because of Vixen. Even though he wasn't ready to admit it out loud, Rule knew now that this was His power at work, and the reality of this still had him mentally reeling, every time he thought about it.

Was this how it would always feel when one finally accepted having a Heavenly Father whose love and mercy were immeasurable?

Father and daughter looked at each other when they heard their doorbell ring.

You open it, Riley mouthed.

His daughter's nervousness turned out to be contagious, and Rule felt strangely stiff as he went ahead and opened the door.

"Hi."

Vixen's green eyes were sparkling as their gazes met, but it was her smile that took his breath away.

This...

This smile was what started it all, and memories of their time together flashed in his mind.

They had only been in each other's lives for a few months, but Rule knew now that the number of days mattered not when things weren't according to God's plan.

He had done everything he could to keep his family together, but he had still failed.

He had tried his best to keep his distance from Vixen, but he had ended up seeing her everywhere instead.

Everything that he once questioned and feared now made sense.

Jeremiah 29:11.

Because this time, Rule knew the truth.

And that was why—-

Everything suddenly felt right, and it was as if he hadn't been nervous at all.

Even though there were still so many things he and Vixen had yet to talk about, and so much of his past that he intended to share with her—-

She took a step towards him just as he reached for her.

His hands cupped her face just as her gaze lifted to his.

Her eyes closed as he lowered his head.

His lips brushed over hers.

Gently.

Tenderly.

Lovingly.

And this, too, felt absolutely right.