platter.
“Oh, that’s great, Allie,” Nora said. “I’ll take the melon outside along with this pan of brownies.”
“Save some for me. I’ll be out as soon as I wash my hands.”
With a broad smile, Nora lifted the platter. “You got it.”
Walking the short distance to the sink, Allie turned on the water, pumped a squirt of soap into her palms, and make quick work of the task. She reached for the apple-printed dishtowel, dried off her hands, and hung it back up. As she stepped around the corner, she met Jack on his way in.
“Beware, Paul’s still out there,” He opened the fridge, blocking her path.
“Oh, Paul doesn’t bother me. He’s harmless.”
“Not if he takes you out on the dance floor.” Chuckling, Jack shut the refrigerator door, a cola in his hand.
He popped the tab on the can, while Allie stood but an arm’s length away. A myriad of emotions coursed through her.
“How’d you get that scar on your cheek?” He took a swig.
“Oh, um…” Surprised that he noticed, she resisted the urge to bring her hand up and hide the mar. Truth to tell, she’d expected someone to ask about it. It was inevitable. When people began to get acquainted, they became curious. Even so, she'd assumed it would be Nora to inquire, not Jack.
Lifting her chin, she chose to be as direct as he. “My husband purposely flayed my cheek.”
Now it was his turn at surprise. His brown eyes widened and he held the cola in his mouth before swallowing it down with a gulp. “Nice guy Did you divorce him?”
“No.”
“No?” Interest and….and something else entered Jack’s dark gaze. “Did you have him arrested then?”
Allie shook her head. Knowing that God was answering one of her most heartfelt prayers humbled her. This is what she had come here for! Oh, Lord, please keep everyone out of the kitchen so I can tell Jack what You’ve done for me …
She wetted her lips. “I didn’t do anything. Erich threatened to take my son away from me if I told authorities or divorced him.” At last, she fingered her scar. “But God used this incident to protect me over the years that followed. I think it frightened Erich to know he was capable of such a violent act, and he never touched me again.” She smiled. She’d given this testimony many times in the past years. Nothing new. “Meanwhile, the Lord got a hold of my heart and I began to attend church, read my Bible, and grow as a Christian.”
Jack narrowed his gaze, as if deciphering the information.
“When I left here, I wasn’t a solid believer and I was an emotional wreck. But I finished college and got a good job. I met and married Erich because he was charming and his family had a lot of money. Money meant security to me. I never even thought to ask about Erich’s religious background. By then, I had put God in a box like—” She searched her mind for the right analogy. “—like you might pack away textbooks you never thought you’d use again. It was only when the physical abuse started that I―”
“Hey, Allie, you coming out?”
Hearing Nora’s voice, she glanced toward the patio doors. “I’ll be right there.” She looked back at Jack. “I’m so glad I had the chance to share this with you.” She reached out and gave his wrist an affectionate squeeze.
He stiffened beneath her touch.
Pulling her hand away, Allie stepped around him and walked out of the kitchen. Jack’s reaction was his business. For herself, she felt suddenly unfettered and free, and she knew at once that she’d accomplished what she’d set out to do.
Now her prayer was that God would use her words to reach Jack’s heart.
* * *
Jack stood in the middle of the kitchen, holding his can of cola and feeling like he’d just been in a fistfight―and lost.
So Allie didn’t have it so good either. He would have never guessed. She seemed so perfect, her life so together. Up until this very moment, he’d hated her for it.
He forced himself to inhale and exhale
“Oh, that’s great, Allie,” Nora said. “I’ll take the melon outside along with this pan of brownies.”
“Save some for me. I’ll be out as soon as I wash my hands.”
With a broad smile, Nora lifted the platter. “You got it.”
Walking the short distance to the sink, Allie turned on the water, pumped a squirt of soap into her palms, and make quick work of the task. She reached for the apple-printed dishtowel, dried off her hands, and hung it back up. As she stepped around the corner, she met Jack on his way in.
“Beware, Paul’s still out there,” He opened the fridge, blocking her path.
“Oh, Paul doesn’t bother me. He’s harmless.”
“Not if he takes you out on the dance floor.” Chuckling, Jack shut the refrigerator door, a cola in his hand.
He popped the tab on the can, while Allie stood but an arm’s length away. A myriad of emotions coursed through her.
“How’d you get that scar on your cheek?” He took a swig.
“Oh, um…” Surprised that he noticed, she resisted the urge to bring her hand up and hide the mar. Truth to tell, she’d expected someone to ask about it. It was inevitable. When people began to get acquainted, they became curious. Even so, she'd assumed it would be Nora to inquire, not Jack.
Lifting her chin, she chose to be as direct as he. “My husband purposely flayed my cheek.”
Now it was his turn at surprise. His brown eyes widened and he held the cola in his mouth before swallowing it down with a gulp. “Nice guy Did you divorce him?”
“No.”
“No?” Interest and….and something else entered Jack’s dark gaze. “Did you have him arrested then?”
Allie shook her head. Knowing that God was answering one of her most heartfelt prayers humbled her. This is what she had come here for! Oh, Lord, please keep everyone out of the kitchen so I can tell Jack what You’ve done for me …
She wetted her lips. “I didn’t do anything. Erich threatened to take my son away from me if I told authorities or divorced him.” At last, she fingered her scar. “But God used this incident to protect me over the years that followed. I think it frightened Erich to know he was capable of such a violent act, and he never touched me again.” She smiled. She’d given this testimony many times in the past years. Nothing new. “Meanwhile, the Lord got a hold of my heart and I began to attend church, read my Bible, and grow as a Christian.”
Jack narrowed his gaze, as if deciphering the information.
“When I left here, I wasn’t a solid believer and I was an emotional wreck. But I finished college and got a good job. I met and married Erich because he was charming and his family had a lot of money. Money meant security to me. I never even thought to ask about Erich’s religious background. By then, I had put God in a box like—” She searched her mind for the right analogy. “—like you might pack away textbooks you never thought you’d use again. It was only when the physical abuse started that I―”
“Hey, Allie, you coming out?”
Hearing Nora’s voice, she glanced toward the patio doors. “I’ll be right there.” She looked back at Jack. “I’m so glad I had the chance to share this with you.” She reached out and gave his wrist an affectionate squeeze.
He stiffened beneath her touch.
Pulling her hand away, Allie stepped around him and walked out of the kitchen. Jack’s reaction was his business. For herself, she felt suddenly unfettered and free, and she knew at once that she’d accomplished what she’d set out to do.
Now her prayer was that God would use her words to reach Jack’s heart.
* * *
Jack stood in the middle of the kitchen, holding his can of cola and feeling like he’d just been in a fistfight―and lost.
So Allie didn’t have it so good either. He would have never guessed. She seemed so perfect, her life so together. Up until this very moment, he’d hated her for it.
He forced himself to inhale and exhale
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