Part 14 (2/2)

”Happy,” Abigail finished for her. ”What happened?”

”I went through the darkest period in my life up to that point. And guess what? Instead of shopping and tanning, I was flat on my face, wis.h.i.+ng I was dead and crying out to G.o.d. And He came alongside me and nurtured me and educated me, and suddenly, I was grateful for my sorrow and my loss, because it was the one thing that brought me to Him. I won't kid you, Abby girl, it was h.e.l.l on earth, but I'd do it all again because I'd been so lost in my sin before my Savior found me. I'd been looking for stuff and people to fill me up, when the only thing that could ever truly satisfy me was a relations.h.i.+p with Jesus. Because this life with all its stuff and activity is going to go away. For me. For you. For Jen and her baby.”

The sounds of Guadalupe loading the dinner dishes into the dishwasher filtered down the stairs. Robbie cried. Rawhide barked. Then, it was still again.

”It's not about building our life here,” Selma continued. ”A lot of people think it is, and they are flat out wrong. It is about building your relations.h.i.+p with the living G.o.d. The G.o.d who sent His Son to suffer, even worse than you are suffering now, so that your sins could be forgiven and you could stand righteous before G.o.d one day. Now that's unfair. But He did it because he loves you so much. Can you believe that?”

Tears began to leak out of the corners of Abigail's eyes as she rolled to face Selma.

”Life is full of tests. We can pa.s.s or we can fail. It's up to us, how we react to the pain that comes our way. You can lie down and die, or with G.o.d's strength, you can get up and fight. You can blame G.o.d or you can join Him. You can reject or accept. When a curve ball comes your way, how are you going to handle it? On your own, or trusting Him to help? It's not easy to have faith, but then anything worth having never is. He never promised us that being a Christian would be easier than not. He just promised us He would never leave or forsake his children. And because He is always with us, we don't have to be afraid. Of anything. Including death.”

Selma swiped at a tear that rolled over Abigail's nose and hovered at its tip. ”I think it was Corrie ten Boom who once said, 'When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.' And so now,” Selma said, ”when everything seems a mess, I can rest. He's on the job. He'll take care of Jen and the baby. And Danny is exactly where he wanted to be. With his Father.”

In the quiet of early evening, Abigail closed her eyes and mulled everything Selma said, sorting, digesting, attempting to come to grips with it all.

And as she did, Selma began to softly snore at her side.

Justin stumbled out of the den and followed his nose to the kitchen where he discovered the aromatic pot roast. His eyes felt grainy and swollen and his throat sore. He'd been glad Abigail disappeared when she did. His meltdown hadn't been pretty. Thank G.o.d Bob Ray was as big a wuss as he was, when it came to the death of a friend, because they'd both bawled like babies. Justin still couldn't believe it was true. Danny.

Dead. It was stupid, but he felt almost betrayed. Danny had always been there for him. Danny was the go-to guy. For everything from advice about building materials and clients, to G.o.d and women and G.o.dly women. And it wasn't just the advice. It was the camaraderie. Danny was as much Justin's brother as his own brothers were. Danny had rescued him when he was homesick and lonely. He'd shared his friends and family and church. Now what?

Staying here in Rawston seemed impossible now.

Poking through the cupboards, Justin discovered a dinner plate and loaded it with the amazing-smelling stuff that simmered in the Crock-Pot. He was hungry as a bear. Slept the day away after his head and heart had nearly exploded from grief. He was sitting at the table finis.h.i.+ng his second cup when Abigail came in. Like an idiot, he sat up and tried to fix his hair. He wished he'd taken a shower before he'd come in here to eat, but his stomach had been too hollow.

”Hey.” Her smile was wan.

”Hey.” He responded. Clearly, she felt as rotten as he did.

”I just made a fresh pot of coffee. Want some?”

”Love it.” She sank into a chair and smiled. ”Good pot roast, huh?”

”Must be. I had thirds.” He set the mug before her and filled it with dark, hot coffee. ”Cream or sugar?”

”Black. Thanks.” She took a sip and smiled in satisfaction. ”Mm. And he makes good coffee? I'm tellin' ya, Mister. Keep this up and I'm gonna marry you by sundown.”

”I can do laundry, too,” he bragged. He put the coffee pot away and joined her at the table.

She pounded her fist on the satiny oak. ”That does it. Where's the parson?”

He chuckled and almost wished she was serious. ”We've probably been through more in two days than most engaged people go through in two years.”

”Weird, hmm? You can get to know a person pretty fast in a pressure cooker, huh? But interesting as it's been? I wouldn't recommend it.”

”Me neither.” He shrugged and before he could rein in his mouth, blurted, ”Although, I've known people for more time . . . that I've liked less.” He hoped she attributed the sudden redness in his cheeks to his newly steaming mug.

Lashes lowered, she blew across her coffee. ”Me, too.”

His pulse accelerated. If he was to stay in Rawston-big if-but if he did decide to stay, it would only be if she did. Getting to know her better might make it worthwhile. An hour whizzed by as they talked over their coffee. They mourned Danny. They grieved for Jen and the baby. They discussed their mutual survivor's guilt. They teared up. They shared a paper towel. And then another. They talked about Kaylee and Chaz's wedding.

Working up his courage, Justin looked at Abigail in the eye, loving the huge dimple that pushed a crevice into her right cheek and asked, ”Will you go with me?”

”You mean, like a date?”

”Yeah. Like that.”

”You sure? I can't promise I can dance the way I did when you first saw me, without Bob Ray trying to read me my rights.”

”I'll take my chances.” He angled a look at her over the top of his coffee mug.

”In that case? It's a date.”

3:00 a.m.

They were still talking when Heather came in with a fussy Robbie. Abigail glanced at the clock and couldn't believe it was already so late. Where had the time gone? Selma continued to sleep down in her bed, but after all the coffee with Justin just now, she'd never be able to doze off. And at the moment, she didn't want to. ”Hey, Heather,” Abigail said and smiled at her new friend with affection. ”Hiya, Robbie.”

Robbie smashed his face into his mother's neck and squealed. ”Say h.e.l.lo, stinker,” Heather urged.

”No!”

Abigail tickled his foot as she walked by. ”I was just going to see what flavors of ice cream Selma's got in her freezer this week. She is never, ever without. Anyone else want some?”

”I keem?” Robbie's head whipped around.

”Yep. Just for you,” Abigail said and moved to the freezer.

”I will if she has any chocolate chip mint,” Justin said.

”You're in luck,” Abigail called over her shoulder. ”She's also got some vanilla and some Moose Track stuff and some Marion Berry Swirl.” She unloaded it all, got out some bowls and spoons, a couple of toppings, some bananas, and soon they were having a good old-fas.h.i.+oned ice cream social.

3:30 a.m.

Abigail looked up as Elsa staggered into the room and yawned.

”Did somebody say ice cream?” she asked, staring at the mess on the table.

Justin pulled a chair out for her and slid an empty bowl in her direction. ”We wondered when you were going to show up.”

She grinned and loaded her bowl. ”My sweet tooth betrays me?”

Bob Ray stumbled through the doorway next, blinking and bleary-eyed. ”Anybody else feel like they're going insane?” he asked, dazedly.

Elsa took one look at his crazy bed-head and burst out laughing. ”You look insane.”

Heather glanced up and laughed.

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