Here in the Not Yet

Here in the Not YetDavid Spaughwww.davidspaugh.com Copyright © 2023 David SpaughAll rights reservedThe characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.ISBN-13: 9798374364569Cover art and design by Design Unlikely, an affiliate of Story Unlikely - www.designunlikely.comPrinted in the United States of AmericaCopyright Registration: TXu 2-359-574 This story is dedicated to my wife and children as we all return to Eden. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for providing a way back to You through your Son. Brayden, Isabel, and Nolan; be who God created each of you to be. Take up the mantle as Elisha was to Elijah, and make disciples of all nations. Contents Title PageCopyrightDedicationChapter 1 - BenChapter 2 – ScarsChapter 3 – CarrieChapter 4 – The WoodsChapter 5 - Racing ThoughtsChapter 6 – AriseChapter 7 – RedemptionChapter 8 – JasonChapter 9 – DawnChapter 10 – Man of TomorrowChapter 11 – HomeAcknowledgement Chapter 1 - BenRainwater spilled from the overhang canopy and splattered the Jeep’s windshield as Ben pulled out of Luke’s Corner Gas parking lot. It was Ben’s turn to man the wheel for the last leg of the trek to Falls Lake State Park with his father. A weather announcement flashed through static on the radio.“Flash flood and thunderstorm warnings are in effect until 8:00 p.m. tonight, as the last remnants of Tropical Storm Theodore pummel the region’s northern areas.”“I haven’t seen flooding like this since I bounced you on my lap in Oshkosh overalls.” Mr. Knight said after sipping his coffee, “Proper timing for our father-son cabin weekend, wouldn’t you say?”“Impeccable timing,” Ben replied drolly. “Murphy’s law as usual.”Ben’s father chuckled. Mr. Knight was shorter than his son, Ben, but he remained as stocky as a moose and built like a boxer from the 1930s, even into his late fifties. His once thick, dark hair was now salt and pepper, thinning, but his scruffy beard was full. A pouch of Captain Black pipe tobacco bulged out the top pocket of his faded, red-checkered flannel. The scent of his Brut aftershave coupled with two freshly filled thermoses of silky brown coffee reminded Ben of road trips when he was young, when his parents were still together. Those good times then smelled and felt a lot like this. As it was then, despite the storm, Ben felt secure and comforted next to his father.“We’ll make the best of it,” Mr. Knight said.“Always do,” Ben replied.“Won’t be long now 'til we’re in the wild, toasting cold ones, roasting a few hot dogs, and watching a crackling fire under the stars, without the rain, preferably.”Ben smiled.“This trip is long overdue. Despite the weather, I’m glad we’re sticking to the plan. Can’t wait to kick back and relax like we used to and get away from it all.” Ben said.“Made a lot of good memories up here, haven’t we?” Mr. Knight said. “Shame we waited this long to come back.”“Yeah, feels nice knowing the hiatus is behind us now. Hopefully, this will be the first of a new annual tradition, father and son, just us guys from now on.”“Hopefully, father, son, and grandson before too long.”Ben coughed on his coffee.His father laughed. “You all right, son?”“About that…” Ben lowered the volume on the radio. The sound of raindrops pelting the roof and windshield became more pronounced than before.“Did I steal your thunder on that one, by chance?” Mr. Knight said in a curious and convincing tone.Ben shrugged his shoulders. “That’s a good way to put it.”“Whoa!” Mr. Knight stared at Ben and cracked a grin. “Really?”“All signs point that way. I was going to pick a better time to tell you. But I suppose this is as good a time as any.” Ben couldn’t fight his smile.“That’s incredible!” Mr. Knight love tapped his son’s knee. “My boy is going to be a father!”“I almost didn’t come on this trip because Carrie wasn’t feeling well, but she insisted we go,” Ben replied. “She said she would be fine. She didn’t want me to worry, because this is a good thing. A good kind of sickness, if there is such a thing.”“The best kind of sickness,” his father said as his eyes took on a glossy sheen. “I… I am so happy for you, son. You’ll be a great one.”“You taught me how.”Ben accelerated the windshield wipers as the rain intensified and pinged the Jeep’s roof.“I wish we were in a better financial position, you know? I hear people say that there’s never a good time for these things, kids and all, and you can never be fully prepared, but money has been pretty tight as of late. I’m nervous about being promoted from husband to father. I haven’t mastered the whole husband title yet. Hard to imagine my role getting any bigger.”Ben’s father nodded. “Yeah, I know the feeling. I can’t tell you how many nights I stayed up late, wondering if I could put food on the table for you kids.” Mr. Knight’s voice dripped with melancholy. It was the voice of yesterday, of mistakes, but, more importantly, a voice of wisdom. “But you know what? We never went hungry. We always got through it somehow. It wasn’t easy, but we got through the occasional ruts with a lot of faith and a lot of grit. You will, too.”“I’m getting laid off soon.”“Oh.” Mr. Knight said as he stared at the dash.“I haven’t told Carrie yet. I was planning to, but the day I found out was when she presented me with a gift.”“A gift?”“Pregnancy test—rolled up in a new BatDad t-shirt.”“That’s a thoughtful and clever way to tell you, I’ll say.”“Yeah, it was about the only thing that turned my bad day into something good. But then there was the