chest began to throb. Though I knew Levi wouldn’t judge me, I didn’t want to dive headfirst into my miserable ex-marriage. Part of me wanted to pretend it didn’t happen; yet I knew I had two irreplaceable blessings through it. With a fortifying breath, I focused on Levi’s face.
“So, before we even start, I want you to know about me.”
The words surprised me, and I waited for him to continue, hoping I didn’t look as shocked as I felt.
“As you know, I’m a PK, pastor’s kid, but don’t let the tag line fool you.” He offered me a wry grin before continuing. “My track record is far from perfect, Abby. That’s why I’m so careful now.” His blue eyes searched mine for a moment before he continued. “When I was seventeen, I thought I was in love with this girl. She was a few years older than me, and after I graduated, we had planned on getting married, someday.”
The thought of Levi belonging to another woman shot pangs of jealousy straight through my gut. He doesn’t belong to you, Abby. I reminded myself, but the pain didn’t subside.
“Well, suffice it to say that I thought I knew better than God, or my parents, and when I graduated, I left my parents and moved in with Jaymie.”
He watched my face for a moment before continuing. “She died about six weeks later from complications with an ectopic pregnancy.”
Levi closed his eyes for a moment before leaning back in his chair and waiting for me to respond. All I could think of was how much it would hurt to lose a child.
“I can’t imagine how that would hurt… to lose a child, Levi.”
“Me either, Abby, because it wasn’t mine.”
“What?” I asked, completely confused.
“Oh, I thought it was. She had told me it was, but a few months after the funeral I was told the truth by her parents and the real father of the baby. Needless to say I felt like ten kinds of fool.” He shook his head and thumbed his nose. Sniffing, he turned his attention back to me. “It took me a while to not only forgive myself for being such an idiot, in many ways, but also to forgive Jaymie for betraying me and for lying. It’s not been an easy road for me, Abby, but God has pulled me closer to Him through it, and the ashes that once were my life now are filled with new promise.” His eyes searched mine, willing me to understand. And I did.
“How did you heal?” I asked, quietly.
“Time, prayer, and a lot of stubborn people telling me to get over my pride.” He chuckled a bit. “Two of them being Frank and Sam.”
The thought of Sam and Frank cornering Levi brought a smile to my face. Yeah, he’d get the gun with both barrels aimed at him with those two.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Levi. There is nothing worse than betrayal.”
Levi laughed without humor at my honest statement. “You’re absolutely correct.”
“My turn?” I asked quietly. But what did I have to be afraid of when Levi just laid out his whole past for me to see? With a determined spirit I began.
“I met Jack in college, we dated, and I thought the world of him. He was studying to get his Master’s in Theology at the time. After about six months, he asked me to marry him, and I accepted readily.” I took a deep breath and continued.
“Jack graduated and we married shortly after, but he got a job at a small university a few hours away. Education was really important to him, so he wanted me to stay on campus to finish up my undergrad, and I’d drive to be with him on the weekends. We did that for about a year when we found out Javan was on the way, and I barely graduated before he was born. Jack was fired from his job a few months later because of allegations against him from a female student.” I paused, watching Levi’s reaction. He closed his eyes for a moment as if feeling the betrayal for me.
“He said they were false, and they probably were. The female student had a track record for lying and trying to use manipulation to get her way. Either
“So, before we even start, I want you to know about me.”
The words surprised me, and I waited for him to continue, hoping I didn’t look as shocked as I felt.
“As you know, I’m a PK, pastor’s kid, but don’t let the tag line fool you.” He offered me a wry grin before continuing. “My track record is far from perfect, Abby. That’s why I’m so careful now.” His blue eyes searched mine for a moment before he continued. “When I was seventeen, I thought I was in love with this girl. She was a few years older than me, and after I graduated, we had planned on getting married, someday.”
The thought of Levi belonging to another woman shot pangs of jealousy straight through my gut. He doesn’t belong to you, Abby. I reminded myself, but the pain didn’t subside.
“Well, suffice it to say that I thought I knew better than God, or my parents, and when I graduated, I left my parents and moved in with Jaymie.”
He watched my face for a moment before continuing. “She died about six weeks later from complications with an ectopic pregnancy.”
Levi closed his eyes for a moment before leaning back in his chair and waiting for me to respond. All I could think of was how much it would hurt to lose a child.
“I can’t imagine how that would hurt… to lose a child, Levi.”
“Me either, Abby, because it wasn’t mine.”
“What?” I asked, completely confused.
“Oh, I thought it was. She had told me it was, but a few months after the funeral I was told the truth by her parents and the real father of the baby. Needless to say I felt like ten kinds of fool.” He shook his head and thumbed his nose. Sniffing, he turned his attention back to me. “It took me a while to not only forgive myself for being such an idiot, in many ways, but also to forgive Jaymie for betraying me and for lying. It’s not been an easy road for me, Abby, but God has pulled me closer to Him through it, and the ashes that once were my life now are filled with new promise.” His eyes searched mine, willing me to understand. And I did.
“How did you heal?” I asked, quietly.
“Time, prayer, and a lot of stubborn people telling me to get over my pride.” He chuckled a bit. “Two of them being Frank and Sam.”
The thought of Sam and Frank cornering Levi brought a smile to my face. Yeah, he’d get the gun with both barrels aimed at him with those two.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Levi. There is nothing worse than betrayal.”
Levi laughed without humor at my honest statement. “You’re absolutely correct.”
“My turn?” I asked quietly. But what did I have to be afraid of when Levi just laid out his whole past for me to see? With a determined spirit I began.
“I met Jack in college, we dated, and I thought the world of him. He was studying to get his Master’s in Theology at the time. After about six months, he asked me to marry him, and I accepted readily.” I took a deep breath and continued.
“Jack graduated and we married shortly after, but he got a job at a small university a few hours away. Education was really important to him, so he wanted me to stay on campus to finish up my undergrad, and I’d drive to be with him on the weekends. We did that for about a year when we found out Javan was on the way, and I barely graduated before he was born. Jack was fired from his job a few months later because of allegations against him from a female student.” I paused, watching Levi’s reaction. He closed his eyes for a moment as if feeling the betrayal for me.
“He said they were false, and they probably were. The female student had a track record for lying and trying to use manipulation to get her way. Either
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