with something.
Relieved not to have disturbed him, I clasped my hands and
closed my eyes to see the darkness in my soul. All I remembered were the events
of that fateful day.
Tears stung the backs of my eyes and then spilled out,
unhindered, warming my cheeks and dripping onto my hands. With every drop that
fell, guilt and regret shredded my insides.
I opened my mouth to pray, but the words froze inside my
throat. After all this time, I still found it difficult to put into words what
I’d done. Every time I came here, words failed me, and I ended up praying
without them, asking silently for the forgiveness I could never give myself.
A lot could happen in four years. People forget and move on,
start over. Yet I found it hard to unglue myself from the past. How could I
move on with the guilt weighing me down?
Did I even deserve a new start?
Blinding grief ripped through my chest and stomach as I
returned to that morning. The one that had shattered me in every way possible,
erased any chance of me ever living a normal life again.
“Are you all right?”
I wiped the tears from my face and looked up into eyes that
sparkled in the dim lighting. They belonged to someone who smelled of fresh
linen and vanilla. The man who, a few minutes ago, had been lighting a candle.
“I’m fine. Thank you.” My cheeks flushed.
I quickly picked up my things and headed for the opposite
end of the pew, down the aisle, and back out the door into the morning
sunshine. Pausing on the steps, I steadied myself.
“You didn’t look okay back there.”
I wheeled around and met the most vivid emerald eyes. I used
to think my ex, Chris, had the most gorgeous eyes. They were the same shade of
green. But this man’s were captivating, electric.
My gaze slid to his full and well-shaped lips, the strong,
square chin with a hint of a dimple in the center. A current raced through me,
almost knocking me over.
Attempting nonchalance, I leaned against the brick wall and
sucked in a breath. “I’m fine. I appreciate your concern.”
His lips stretched into a dimpled smile, and to my horror,
he wiped a remnant tear from my cheek. “People who are fine don’t shed these.”
He paused. “Unless they’re happy, of course. But I don’t think you are.”
Goose pimples prickled my arms, and I looked away. “I have
to go.” Unburdening my problems on a stranger wasn’t in my plans. Not even if
the stranger was a handsome one. Why would I tell him what I preferred to keep
hidden, forgotten?
He gazed at his watch and then back up at me. “Look, you
clearly need someone to talk to. So do I. I know I’m a stranger, but I’m a nice
stranger. I promise. How about a quick coffee?”
I tightened my grip on the strap of my grocery bag. I wanted
to walk away from this man. I knew I had to return to the shelter with the jam,
but...
“Okay.” The word surprised both me and the stranger. Neither
of us had expected me to accept his offer. But something about him made it
impossible for me to walk away.
Chapter Two
The Coffee Dash was his café of choice.
I breathed in the aroma of coffee and chocolate as we walked
past the cash register, positioned next to a display case filled with brownies,
cupcakes, and cookies on one side and sandwiches on the other. The handsome
stranger caught the eye of just about every woman in the café. In a way, it
made me feel special to be the woman by his side. Even if I had no idea who he
was.
“Table at the back, please,” he said to a bulbous-nosed
waitress who wouldn’t stop gawking at him. How rude. If I were his girlfriend,
I’d have been offended.
The waitress ignored a couple beckoning for her at another
table and led us to a booth in the back. She handed me a menu, but her gaze
stayed fixed on my companion’s face. When she went to give him his own menu,
she dropped it. Her hands were actually shaking.
The man picked up the laminated menu and handed it back to
her. “I don’t need this, thank
Relieved not to have disturbed him, I clasped my hands and
closed my eyes to see the darkness in my soul. All I remembered were the events
of that fateful day.
Tears stung the backs of my eyes and then spilled out,
unhindered, warming my cheeks and dripping onto my hands. With every drop that
fell, guilt and regret shredded my insides.
I opened my mouth to pray, but the words froze inside my
throat. After all this time, I still found it difficult to put into words what
I’d done. Every time I came here, words failed me, and I ended up praying
without them, asking silently for the forgiveness I could never give myself.
A lot could happen in four years. People forget and move on,
start over. Yet I found it hard to unglue myself from the past. How could I
move on with the guilt weighing me down?
Did I even deserve a new start?
Blinding grief ripped through my chest and stomach as I
returned to that morning. The one that had shattered me in every way possible,
erased any chance of me ever living a normal life again.
“Are you all right?”
I wiped the tears from my face and looked up into eyes that
sparkled in the dim lighting. They belonged to someone who smelled of fresh
linen and vanilla. The man who, a few minutes ago, had been lighting a candle.
“I’m fine. Thank you.” My cheeks flushed.
I quickly picked up my things and headed for the opposite
end of the pew, down the aisle, and back out the door into the morning
sunshine. Pausing on the steps, I steadied myself.
“You didn’t look okay back there.”
I wheeled around and met the most vivid emerald eyes. I used
to think my ex, Chris, had the most gorgeous eyes. They were the same shade of
green. But this man’s were captivating, electric.
My gaze slid to his full and well-shaped lips, the strong,
square chin with a hint of a dimple in the center. A current raced through me,
almost knocking me over.
Attempting nonchalance, I leaned against the brick wall and
sucked in a breath. “I’m fine. I appreciate your concern.”
His lips stretched into a dimpled smile, and to my horror,
he wiped a remnant tear from my cheek. “People who are fine don’t shed these.”
He paused. “Unless they’re happy, of course. But I don’t think you are.”
Goose pimples prickled my arms, and I looked away. “I have
to go.” Unburdening my problems on a stranger wasn’t in my plans. Not even if
the stranger was a handsome one. Why would I tell him what I preferred to keep
hidden, forgotten?
He gazed at his watch and then back up at me. “Look, you
clearly need someone to talk to. So do I. I know I’m a stranger, but I’m a nice
stranger. I promise. How about a quick coffee?”
I tightened my grip on the strap of my grocery bag. I wanted
to walk away from this man. I knew I had to return to the shelter with the jam,
but...
“Okay.” The word surprised both me and the stranger. Neither
of us had expected me to accept his offer. But something about him made it
impossible for me to walk away.
Chapter Two
The Coffee Dash was his café of choice.
I breathed in the aroma of coffee and chocolate as we walked
past the cash register, positioned next to a display case filled with brownies,
cupcakes, and cookies on one side and sandwiches on the other. The handsome
stranger caught the eye of just about every woman in the café. In a way, it
made me feel special to be the woman by his side. Even if I had no idea who he
was.
“Table at the back, please,” he said to a bulbous-nosed
waitress who wouldn’t stop gawking at him. How rude. If I were his girlfriend,
I’d have been offended.
The waitress ignored a couple beckoning for her at another
table and led us to a booth in the back. She handed me a menu, but her gaze
stayed fixed on my companion’s face. When she went to give him his own menu,
she dropped it. Her hands were actually shaking.
The man picked up the laminated menu and handed it back to
her. “I don’t need this, thank
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