Broken Things (Faded Photograph Series) by Andrea Boeshaar Page B

at least one young lady that he knew of who lived on this block and attended the youth group. What if she saw? She would think all pastors were phonies who imposed rules on others but didn’t follow them themselves. It’d destroy her faith.
    He shoved his hands into his pockets and gazed across the tiny porch. “Sometimes it’s no fun being a youth pastor, you know that?”
    A mischievous spark lit Marilee’s eyes. “I wouldn’t let you kiss me,” she whispered, “even if you tried. So there.”
    Logan laughed and suddenly the tension evaporated. “You’re good for me. You keep me on track.”
    “I’m glad you finally noticed.” She gaze a dramatic toss of her head.
    “Oh, I noticed.”
    “That’s news to me.”
    Marilee’s soft laughter floated on the autumn breeze. Embarrassment warmed Logan’s face. But he figured he deserved the jab for dragging his feet in this relationship.
    “G’night, Logan. See you tomorrow.”
    “Night.” He gave her a parting smile, wishing he could give her more.
    Marilee entered the house and smiled before closing the door behind her. Hearing the lock turn, he strode back to his car.
    What was wrong with him? If he had any sense he’d ask Marilee to be his wife before she got bored and some other guy caught her eye.
    But would she? Would she ever leave him?
    Part of Logan didn’t think so, but the other part, his most inward and guarded part, still wondered.
    * * *
    “Listen, ol’ lady, this is what I want you to say. I want you to say that I’m the best CNA that ever took care of you.”
    “What’s a CNA?” Cynthia eyed the man who had made her last nine hours a waking nightmare. Her requests for pain medication went unanswered. She’d defecated and needed her under things changed, but he refused. Worse, he wouldn’t allow another nurse to care for her, and he had slapped her twice when she’d screamed for help. Now the flesh around her left eye felt bruised and swollen.
    “CNA―certified nursing assistant. That’d be me. Now when my supervisor comes in this morning, that’s what I want you to say. Got it?”
    Cynthia clamped her mouth shut. She would do no such thing.
    “Can you go all day with no pain meds?” the man with slick, black hair sneered. “I’m real good at changin’ doctors’ orders.”
    “All right, I’ll do it. I’ll say anything you want,” Cynthia lied, feeling the perspiration trickle off her brow. The pain slicing through her bones felt so intense, she could barely breathe. Even so, she refused to say a single good word about this…this CNA, or anyone else is this rotten place. When someone, anyone but the nursing staff, came by, Cynthia planned to holler for all she was worth. But for now, she’d hold her tongue.
    The attendant smiled. “See, I knew I’d whip you into shape. You ain’t gunna give us no problems no more.” He wrinkled his nose at the pungent order filling the room. “Now I’ll just get that lazy Katrina in here to clean you up…”
    * * *
    Allie figured her biological clock had sprung a spring when she’d awakened at three in the morning and couldn’t fall back to sleep. For some odd reason, she felt anxious to get to work today. Even so, she made a miniature pot of coffee and lingered over her daily Bible reading before finally preparing a light breakfast and readying herself for the day.
    Scanning her wardrobe, she decided on comfort, so she chose a knit navy dress with a red, white, and yellow paisley print. To complete the outfit, she pulled on a red blazer in case she’d require a more professional image.
    As she headed for her office at Arbor Springs, she couldn’t believe that the clock on her rental car glowed 6:00. She yawned. It was going to be a long day. But on the plus side, this could work out for the best. She might be able to leave early and run some errands. Besides, she thought, pulling into a parking slip at the healthcare facility, she hadn’t introduced herself to the third