Divine Encounters

Epilogue

The month of May – The following year

Amaya adjusted her side of the bed and closed her eyes. "I love this adjustable bed. Everybody should have one."

Chalk laughed and used the remote to dim the overhead light. "The one for the house in Spring should be ready in a couple of weeks. Hopefully."

"I'll believe that when I lie on it," Amaya remarked, shaking her head. She was referencing the fact that the first one the manufacturer sent was defective and they had been waiting almost six weeks for a replacement. "I'm praying they'll get it right at some point."

The couple had wasted no time tying the knot. Their late August wedding was small, immediate family and close friends only, and private. Pastor Arum did the honors and then the wedding party enjoyed a surf and turf dinner prepared on site by the finest caterer in town. Early the next morning, Mr. and Mrs. Chalk Divine took off for Bozcaada, Turkey. They spent ten amazing days enjoying the small, Mediterranean island and falling deeper in love.

For the moment, they were living in the house Chalk owned in Memorial during the week and spending weekends in what they now called the "Spring house" so they were close to the church. Short term, it worked for them. Someone had abandoned an almost completed, new home construction in the 610 loop and the Divines were taking over the project. The area was a good halfway mark between Chalk's work and BTC, but they had no expectation it would be ready anytime soon. So, they were making the best of it.

"Yaaay!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands as Chalk moved to the end of the bed and took her foot in his hand. She groaned as he skillfully massaged and caressed the tiredness away.

"Remember, Adolf is on vacation, so I have to do rounds in the morning."

"Ugh... so, I'll just drive to Spring because Nika and I have a 10:00 meeting scheduled. This living out of two homes is starting to get old. Which reminds me, were you able to follow up with Aaron Arum?"

"Yes, I was," he said, switching to her other foot. "Sorry, I thought I'd told you that. September was the very best he could do to get started on the changes we want. Seeing as that's only a little more than three months away, it's not too bad. The only reason we weren't pushed to the end of the year is because he knows you. Brother Arum was very nice about it, though, and is gonna call me Monday to arrange a day to come and give us a quote. But our slot is secured."

"Thank you, honey," she replied, her eyes closed and her voice now husky with sleep.

"Amaya, I think maybe you should just wait for me to get off work. Perhaps you can reschedule your meeting. I really don't want you making that drive alone anymore."

She opened her eyes and smiled adoringly at her husband. "I'm seven months pregnant, Chalk, not disabled."

He started rubbing her calves. "Wow," he said, shaking his head and grinning broadly.

"What?" Amaya asked, matching his grin with her own.

"Every time you say you're pregnant out loud, I feel like I'm in a dream. I can't get over how richly God has blessed me... Anyway, back to our conversation; I know you're able to drive yourself, but I'd just be a lot more comfortable if you'd wait for me."

"How about I get Cameron to come get me? Then I can still make my meeting and perhaps get a little work done with Nika. She's preoccupied with her and Saber's wedding plans and that's all well and good, but we're falling behind."

Chalk laughed out loud. "That's fine if Cameron picks you up, but do you think he can tear himself away from Saffron long enough to drive out here? I mean those two..."

"Are just like we were," Amaya interjected, with a chuckle. "They're so cute together and who would have guessed they had so much in common? The two of them practically live in that studio. Between her putting her spoken word dialogues to music and helping him manage the slew of new artists he's working with, they are always there."

"Mmhmm. All I know is he keeps her out of trouble and for that I am grateful. I've never seen my sister like this," he added with a smile.

"And the best part is, he hasn't had an asthma attack in nine months."

"Absolutely. I know that doctor you hooked him up with has been instrumental in getting him well, but I also think stress was a big part of the problem. Now Cameron's got Saffron, lord help him," he added and cracked up.

Chalk turned off the light and slid into bed next to his wife. Since he could no longer take her in his arms, he turned toward her and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask if you needed anything before I lay down." Amaya took his hand and interlocked their fingers. "Thank you, sweetheart, but I have everything I need," she replied with a long sigh.

Chalk, not sure how to interpret that sigh, asked, "Are you sure? Is everything alright?"

"Divine," she murmured just before dozing off, "simply divine."