A Father In The Making by Carolyne Aarsen

from the ceiling. The floor was a mass of soot and water stains covered with remnants of drywall. The door of the walk-in fridge that had held her flowers hung drunkenly on one hinge, melted containers and buckets scattered over what was left of her worktable and the floor.
    â€œYou don’t have to see this.” Nate spoke quietly beside her, his own expression shuttered. Mia wondered if he was reliving that moment when he ran into this very building when it was ablaze.
    â€œI had hoped I could salvage something,” she said, her voice small and weak. “Anything.”
    â€œDon’t think there’s much left here.”
    â€œAnd I’m not allowed to go upstairs.” Where all her important stuff was. Clothes, jewelry handed down to her from her grandmother. The fine china her parents had bought her as a wedding present.
    â€œThere’s probably not much left there, either,” Nate said quietly.
    Mia looked around again, thankful she had brought the children to Evangeline. She didn’t want them to see what had become of their home. Her store.
    How was she supposed to carry on? This store had been her salvation. It had taken her through those dark days when she was alone, pregnant with the twins and responsible for two young boys.
    A faint sob crawled up her throat. She fought it down, swallowing again and again.
    The kids need you. You have to stay strong.
    This time Other Mother was right. Mia pulled in a shaky breath, but then felt Nate’s hand on her shoulder. Why was this man always around at these difficult times? She was about to turn away when a breeze sifted through the building and a piece of paper floated down from a room above.
    One corner of it crumbled to ash as Mia, curious to see what it was, picked it up. She turned it over and her heart stuttered over its next beat.
    Nico and Josh grinned at her, each of them awkwardly holding a baby. The girls were crying, their faces scrunched up under the frilly brims of bonnets that had been a gift from Mia’s mother.
    Mia’s hand trembled as her fingers traced the children’s features. She had hoped to make a scrapbook of her children’s photos one day. Her friend, Renee, who owned a scrapbook supply store, was going to help her.
    And now...
    Mia clutched the picture as tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her children’s features.
    â€œIt’s all gone,” she said. “Everything I have.”
    The true devastation of the fire hit her right then. Her world had sharply tilted and she was doing everything she could to keep her feet underneath her. She faltered, reaching back to steady herself and then, once again, she felt Nate’s arms around her. She knew she should pull away. Stand on her own two feet. But she allowed herself to stay a moment longer in the strength of his embrace. Allowed herself the feeling of having someone hold her, support her. Be strong for her.
    But even as she leaned against him, a more practical and insistent voice took over.
    He’s leaving. He can’t supply your needs.
    It was that last comment that made Mia straighten. Made her look away as she drew in a wavering breath.
    When Al had left, Mia had sat on the floor of her bedroom, her Bible in her lap. She had prayed, read and prayed some more. It was in that moment that she came to the realization that the only one who could supply all her needs was her Savior, Jesus. No man could do that for her.
    Nate couldn’t do that for her.
    Then, just as she had centered herself spiritually and emotionally, she felt the gentle brush of Nate’s lips on her forehead.
    He was just consoling her, she told herself.
    Then why did that light touch make her heart race?
    She took a deep breath as she slowly pulled back from him, looking at the devastation surrounding her as if to imprint it into her mind. Remind her of what her priorities were.
    â€œWe should go.” And without a second glance at him, she turned