“How were things at the gallery?” They made their way to the path.
“Amazing.” Ashley’s pace was slow and easy. “I sold three paintings this week.”
For years Ashley had displayed her artwork at a gallery an hour south in downtown Bloomington, where she and her family lived. But her reach had expanded. Now she was selling paintings at a gallery in Indianapolis, too. “Congratulations.” Reagan smiled. “I’m not surprised. You’re so talented, Ash.”
“Thanks.” Ashley stared at the river. Not many people were out on the three-mile canal loop this afternoon. “So… tomorrow.”
“I know.” Reagan lifted her eyes. The sky was crystal blue, the faintest breeze stirring the trees that lined the walk. “I haven’t been back since my mother moved.”
“When did she leave New York? Not long after 9/11, right?”
“A few years.” Reagan nodded to a bench up ahead. “Want to sit? The sun feels good.”
“Sure.” Ashley took the spot beside her and they looked at the water. “Such a pretty area… here in the middle of the city.”
“I love it.” Reagan came here often. She would bring lunch to Luke at his nearby law office and then walk for an hour. “My mother moved to Florida the year after Luke and I married. So, yeah. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back.”
“Me, too.” Ashley crossed her arms. “Every time we think about taking the trip, something else comes up. Or we make other plans.”
Reagan understood. “I can’t believe I’ll be standing at Ground Zero tomorrow.”
“Your mom never remarried?” Ashley faced Reagan. “Is she… lonely?”
“She’s not.” Reagan pictured her mother’s sweet face, and she felt the corners of her lips lift. “She helps out at a local children’s home. And Tuesdays she attends a singles Bible study. Fifteen people her age without spouses. That keeps her busy.”
“I can’t imagine… what she went through that day.” Ashley narrowed her eyes and looked off. “Your dad goes to work, ordinary day, and without warning he’s trapped in the worst terrorist attack to hit the United States.”
“His view from the eighty-ninth floor of the World Trade Center was breathtaking.” Reagan could still remember the time she and Luke visited him there, mere months before 9/11. “Life felt untouchable up there. He had no idea what was coming.”
Ashley sighed. “Landon talked to Jalen’s parents. Sometimes they visit Manhattan on the anniversary.” She sat a little straighter. “Not this year.”
Reagan remembered the sadness of Jalen’s death, too. Landon and Jalen were both firefighters, best friends from college. “How many days was Landon at Ground Zero looking for him?”
“Too long.” Clouds had covered the sun. Ashley stood. “I hate thinking about it. Let’s walk again.”
For a few minutes they moved along the path without saying anything, lost in the memories of that long-ago time. “Tommy’s definitely joining us. Not sure if I told you.”
“You did.” Ashley smiled. “I wish Cole could come. He has eighteen credits this semester. Too busy to get away.” They enjoyed this, talking about their kids.
“Tommy’s asking about his grandfather.” Reagan stared straight ahead. “They’re a lot alike. I see that the older Tommy gets.”
Ashley nodded. “The trip will be good for him. Good for us all.” She took a deep breath. “Even if it’s draining.”
They kept on and at the end of the walkway they stopped at Quills for coffee. The air was cooler, ushering in the thunderstorms forecast for that night. “The weather…” Ashley sipped her latte. “It’s like life. You never know when the blue skies are going to disappear.”
“True.” Reagan had once heard a speaker refer to the journey of life, and how only God could get them through the lightning and wind. Let the Lord drive, the man had said. He knows how to get His people safely home.
Ashley pointed to a family of ducks. “Aww.” She walked to the water’s edge and Reagan followed her. “Look at them. Not a care in the world.”
Reagan watched the ducks swim off. “How’s Amy?”
A smile started in Ashley’s eyes. “Every day is a miracle.” She breathed deep. “When I think how things could be. I’m just… thankful. No other words.”
Several years ago Amy had come to live with Ashley after a terrible car accident took the lives of Ashley’s sister Erin, her husband and their other children. Only young Amy had survived the crash, and since then she had lived with Ashley and Landon and their family. Amy was fourteen now. Reagan sighed. “Her mannerisms, the things she says remind me so much of Erin.”
“Me, too. Like Erin left fingerprints on her little girl’s heart.” Ashley’s eyes welled up. “Amy misses her mother every day. But she’s doing so well. She really is.”
They walked back to the path and when they reached the parking lot, Reagan turned to Ashley. “I’m so glad you and Landon are going with us. No one else… no one gets what we all went through.”
Ashley hugged her. “You and Luke… the two of you were apart for an entire year after 9/11.”
“We’d be apart still if it wasn’t for you.” Reagan hadn’t talked about this since she and Luke married. But the truth remained. “You chased him down… and brought the two of us back together.”
They talked a few more minutes about their families. How Ashley’s dad—John Baxter—was doing well and how each of their kids was faring in school this year. “I’m glad they’re staying home.” Ashley looked at Reagan. “Remembering 9/11 won’t be easy.”
“But it’s part of our journey.” Reagan took hold of Ashley’s hands and gave them a slight squeeze. “A part where God was definitely driving.”
“Yes.” Ashley stepped back and checked the time on her phone. “I better go. See you tomorrow!”
Reagan climbed into her car and thought about all she still had to do, all that the next few days would bring. Tommy was taking his girlfriend to the doctor this afternoon, so he’d been distracted. Not focused on the trip to New York. At least he was no longer talking about joining the military instead of attending college. There would be time for that after getting his degree, if Tommy thought it best.
For now, Tommy had the grades to do anything with his life. He could be a doctor or a lawyer. Anything he wanted, really.
Before she started the car, Reagan stared at the tallest buildings in Indianapolis. The ones right across the canal. Her eyes found the offices on the top floors. Lights shone from the windows and Reagan could picture life on the other side of them.
People in their offices, talking and working on computers, making a dent in the day’s workload and planning ways to hit the goals and demands of their jobs. All with the prettiest views of the city. Just like life had been that Tuesday in New York City. Not for a minute did anyone up there that morning think they had so little time to live.
Her father wouldn’t have thought that, either.