Never Too Late

Chapter Forty Seven

Johan sat at the table with his family for breakfast, silently picking at his food. His heart was heavy, and his eyes were vacant of emotion as his family ate. His father had dragged him out of his room earlier so he could join them but he didn't feel hungry.

"Johan, you've got to eat up. I might not know what you're going through but know we're here for you." His father voiced with concern.

Johan didn't respond and continued staring at his food with disinterest. His mother looked at him sadly then over at Luke after noticing he also seemed to be in a bad mood and was staring at his food blankly.

"Hey Johan, Luke, Dad said we're going to get ice cream later, isn't that great!" Rachel chimed, knowing that her brothers loved ice cream.

Luke shrugged but Johan remained silent, neither of them seeming interested. Rachel shared a concerned look with her parents, unsure of what to do as she was worried about them.

"In a few weeks, you two are going to be on your way to college. I know you both will do well, and I bet it'll be exciting!" Their mother said, hoping to lift their mood, but Johan grew noticeably sadder, and Luke sulked.

"Can I be excused?" Luke asked already taking his plate from the table.

"Sure," His mother answered as she watched him silently, wondering what had made him so upset.

"Can I go back to my room? I'm tired." Johan inquired as he slumped in his seat. She gave him the go-ahead, and he slipped out of his seat and headed up the stairs immediately.

"I'm going to my room too," Rachel said with a sigh of resignation after realizing there wasn't much she could do.

When she and Johan were gone, only Luke and his parents were left downstairs.

"Luke, is everything okay?" Jacob asked but Luked remained silent as he cleaned his dishes.

Looking over at his wife, she took the silent cue to go upstairs and check on Johan while he figured out what was happening with Luke.

"Luke what happened?" Jacob asked, deciding to be direct this time.

"Nothing," Luke said, drying the dishes, but his expression showed his sadness, and his voice was heavy with hurt.

"Doesn't sound like nothing to me," Jacob said crossing his arms. He knew Luke had his moods, but he knew this wasn't one of them.

"Will you just let it go!" Luke snapped angrily but Jacob was not shaken.

Silence stretched between them for what seemed like forever, with his father unmoving until Luke finally gave in.

"I got rejected," he murdered in a low voice, almost inaudible.

"What?" Jacob said surprised. His bad mood was all because he was turned down?

"I really love her but she likes someone else," Luke continued, his eyes glossing over as if he was still in the very moment she told him.

"I see, but you can't let that get you down. Just because she didn't choose you doesn't mean there isn't someone else out there." Jacob spoke honestly, hoping it would soothe his son's wounded heart.

"You don't understand!" Luke said throwing the hand towel he was using down. "She's not just another girl, I've always liked her and she's the one I want to spend my life with!"

Jacob saw that Luke's face was flushed and his fists were balled as he passionately and heartbrokenly expressed his feelings. He thought of how deeply he loved his wife and knew how infatuated he was with her before he asked her out so he understood Luke's pain.

"Luke, if she really means that much to you it might not be over," he encouraged him. "Tell her how you feel."

"I already did that," Luke said miserably.

"You might've but if you know her well, remind her of the moments you've shared and memories you two have built together." His dad smiled. "Remind her that you've been there for her and always will be. That's something you both have and no one else does."

"You're right," Luke agreed as confidence ignited on his face. "Whoever this guy she likes is, he doesn't know her as I do. If I show her how much I care she'll know I'm serious about her!"

"That's the spirit!" Jacob said triumphantly.

Luke smiled to himself, hope renewing in his heart. He would remind her of everything they shared and she would see that he was the one for her.

***
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Rachel asked from the driveway as Johan stood by the door tiredly.

"No, I'm good," he responded and she sighed.

Earlier, his mom had sat with him, talking about grief and trying to get him to talk about his feelings, but he didn't know what to tell her. Now his family was going for ice cream, an obvious attempt at cheering him up, but he chose to stay behind.

"I'll bring a tub of your favorite, Rocky road, back for you," his mother said, smiling warmly at him, but her eyes shone with worry.

"Thanks," Johan responded before sitting on the doorstep and watching them get in the car and drive away.

He sat there for a while, thinking of how tired and drained he felt although he hadn't been doing anything all day. The sun seemed too bright, the air too warm and his neighborhood too calm. Retreating back inside, he sat in the silence of the house, wondering why his heart felt so heavy.

Rising to his feet, he decided to return to his room when a knock echoed from the front door. Sighing and going up to it miserably, he opened it slightly and peered outside. To his surprise, he was looking directly at Ericka, whom he hadn't seen since the night of the fair.

Opening the door wider, he gazed at her, dressed in all blue and looking as beautiful as ever.

"Hey Johan, it's been a while," she spoke softly.

"Yeah, it has been." He replied with reserve.

Their eyes locked silently, neither of them had forgotten his confession on the night of the fair but neither brought it up.

"Luke isn't here," Johan said quietly.

"I know, I'm here to see you," Ericka admitted with a soft colour in her cheeks.

Johan stared at her, confused, before shaking his head.

"I'm sorry but I'd rather be alone right now." He stold her, suspecting she was only there to offer sympathy.

"No, you shouldn't be alone," She insisted, grasping his hands in hers. His were bigger, rougher, while hers were small and gentle, but they fit together like two molded pieces of a puzzle.

Looking up at her, her eyes shone with affection and warmth, that same look she always gave and his heart thundered in his chest.

"I won't let you be alone," her words rang like a bell in his ears and it was as if he was doused with a bucket of cold water. The gears in his head finally turned, and he realized that what he was seeing in her eyes wasn't feelings for his brother but for him.

He was stunned speechless momentarily before an overwhelming happiness overtook his body.

"Stay with me, then," he said breathlessly overflowing with jubilation.