Detour: Destination Abiding Love by JoAnn Carter Page A

the park, pre-concert talks, open rehearsals, ensembles, you name it.”
    “Sounds busy.” Cole bit into his cheese steak. Juice ran out of the back of the sandwich.
    “Is that any good?”
    He grinned. “Sure, you want a bite?” He held out the sandwich to her.
    “No thanks, I’ll stick to my salad. I don’t think my stomach could handle more than that right now.” She pushed the lettuce around the plate with her fork. “Thanks again for coming with me. Your friendship and support means a lot.”
    “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” His honest gaze bore into hers.
    The people at the tables surrounding them vanished as he reached out and placed his hands over hers.
    “When you are ready to come back to Daviston, call me. No, don’t wait that long. Call me anytime you want. I’d love to hear your voice. I’m...” He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Going to miss you.”
    A lump grew in her throat. She wanted to lean into the warmth of his hand as it brushed against her cheek, yet she wouldn’t—couldn’t—let herself. And I’ll miss you.
    She pasted on a smile and tried to lighten the suddenly heavy atmosphere. “Well, at least your mother will be happy now.”
    He sat back, the intimate mood broken. “Nah, she’s not happy unless she’s unhappy about something.”
    As thankful as she was to be here, Sierra knew this wasn’t going to be a fun farewell. She put her fork down and glanced at her watch. “I’m not so good at saying good-bye.”
    “Then don’t.” Cole pushed his plate over to the side and reached for her hand. “Good-bye is final, but our friendship is not.”
    She blinked back the silly tears that threatened to spill, but it was too late. One spilled over and rolled down her cheek. She grinned and rolled her eyes to try to hide her embarrassment. “Sorry, you know us females.”
    Cole wiped the tear away with the pad of his thumb. “If I didn’t know how much you would regret not pursuing this opportunity, I would do everything within my power to have you stay at Daviston.”
    She looked deep into his eyes and saw nothing but sincerity and something nameless within their depts. “I don’t know what to say other than…thank you.”
     
    
     
    Cole stepped into his apartment above the store just as his phone started to ring. He picked it up. “Hello.”
    “Cole, where have you been?” Clara asked. “I’ve been worried sick. You weren’t answering your cell. I’ve been trying for hours.”
    Cole sat in his worn leather wingback chair and rested his head against the back. “Sorry about that. I’m fine. I just had my phone turned off for a while.”
    “Why?”
    “I was having some time with the Lord.”
    A heavy silence descended over the line. “Oh...I didn’t know you had gotten so religious.”
    He cleared his throat. He had been going to church for how many years and just now someone alluded to his faith? How pathetic was that? Even sadder was the fact that he knew she had planned to sing in church, yet he now wondered whether she was going for worship, or as a social obligation. He knew how that felt, since he had lived that way for years. “Did you need something?” He cringed as he asked.
    The car ride back home had been amazing. He started out feeling depressed and lonely, but the more he poured his heart out to the Lord, the more peace he felt. He didn’t know how things would turn out with Sierra, but he resolved, with the help of the Holy Spirit, not to get caught up in the merry-go-round and neglect his relationship with the Lord. Sierra had reminded him of the joy he could have in God, and he didn’t want to forget that important lesson. Yet here he was, just seconds home, and the pressure to “do” started already.
    “I want to go out to dinner with you and talk over some of the plans I’ve been thinking about for your father’s campaign.”
    He appreciated the help she had been giving his dad, but he didn’t