Read Online A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885) by Nancy Toback, Candice Miller Speare - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nancy Toback, Candice Miller Speare
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just hadn’t seen the real Michael?
“There is no ‘us.’ It’s over.” She walked toward the screen door, but he jumped in front of her and held it open.
Outside she headed for the grill manned by the pastor. Ma stood next to him chatting. Michael hovered near the back door and began to chat with a local family, much to her relief. Allie studiously avoided meeting his gaze.
Pastor began to put burgers on the grill. “I’m not an expert, but your mother asked me to do this.”
Allie shrugged. “You’ll be fine. Thank you for doing it.” She was relieved. She wouldn’t have to man the grill. The way she felt today, she’d probably burn the burgers to a crisp.
She glanced around, not wanting to admit to herself she was looking for Derrick. She finally spied him with Shannon, nose to nose in conversation, partially hidden by a tree. Her legs felt frozen, and she couldn’t tear her gaze from the picture in front of her.
Shannon’s long hair hung free, blowing in the breeze. Her light skin and hair looked striking next to Derrick’s dark hair and tanned complexion. How humiliating to feel jealousy over a man who meant nothing to her! Her cheeks heated. A good thing God allowed people’s thoughts to stay private—but what was in her heart? Pining over Derrick Owens, a total stranger?
Ma joined her. “Honey, you look like you’ve been sucking lemons. What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong?” Allie snapped.
“Allie,” Pastor John said. “How about we sit and talk?”
Allie dropped onto the bench and held back a sigh. Everybody knew that a “talk” with pastor meant a serious sermon. Why couldn’t she keep her feelings to herself?
“Your mother was telling me about your financial situation.”
Allie shot her mom a withering look. Great. On top of everything else, now everyone would know the Vahns were headed for bankruptcy.
The pastor smiled and touched her arm. “I know it’s hard to share things like this, but we need each other. We can agree with you in prayer that God intervene and do a miracle.”
“Seems we’ve been a little short of those lately,” Allie blurted before she could stop herself.
Ma opened her mouth to speak, but Pastor continued. “I understand why you would say that. I don’t have any pat answers for you. I wish I did. However, God is still in the miracle business. He still answers prayers.”
And there in a nutshell was Allie’s biggest issue. If God still answered prayers, why were things so difficult for her? For Ma and Danny?
But for her mother’s sake, Allie agreed. They bowed their heads, and she tried to listen, but her thoughts were too loud. She wanted to believe. She wanted to return to the strength of faith she’d had several years ago, but her relationship with the Lord had been eroded by her experiences. Michael’s faithlessness. Luke’s deception. Luke’s and Cindy’s deaths. Logically she understood the Lord wasn’t a puppet master. People made their own choices. Things happened based on those choices. But she still felt let down, and she’d grown cold in her faith. So why would God respond to her prayers now?
Eight
After the picnic Allie was cleaning the kitchen with Shannon. Through the window over the sink, she saw Derrick and Danny helping Ma roll the grill to the old shed in the backyard. Odd. . .he looked so familiar, like he belonged.
“Michael didn’t stay long,” Shannon said.
“That’s because I told him under no uncertain terms that our relationship was over. Completely over.”
Shannon snorted. “You’ve done that already.”
“And already and already and already,” Allie said. “He seems to think dating another woman behind my back was just fine as long as it led him back to me.”
“He’s justifying himself.” Shannon loaded the last glass in the dishwasher. “Like if his bad actions led to a good result, it’s okay.”
“Yeah.” Leave it to Shannon to analyze the situation. “And it’s not just
“There is no ‘us.’ It’s over.” She walked toward the screen door, but he jumped in front of her and held it open.
Outside she headed for the grill manned by the pastor. Ma stood next to him chatting. Michael hovered near the back door and began to chat with a local family, much to her relief. Allie studiously avoided meeting his gaze.
Pastor began to put burgers on the grill. “I’m not an expert, but your mother asked me to do this.”
Allie shrugged. “You’ll be fine. Thank you for doing it.” She was relieved. She wouldn’t have to man the grill. The way she felt today, she’d probably burn the burgers to a crisp.
She glanced around, not wanting to admit to herself she was looking for Derrick. She finally spied him with Shannon, nose to nose in conversation, partially hidden by a tree. Her legs felt frozen, and she couldn’t tear her gaze from the picture in front of her.
Shannon’s long hair hung free, blowing in the breeze. Her light skin and hair looked striking next to Derrick’s dark hair and tanned complexion. How humiliating to feel jealousy over a man who meant nothing to her! Her cheeks heated. A good thing God allowed people’s thoughts to stay private—but what was in her heart? Pining over Derrick Owens, a total stranger?
Ma joined her. “Honey, you look like you’ve been sucking lemons. What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong?” Allie snapped.
“Allie,” Pastor John said. “How about we sit and talk?”
Allie dropped onto the bench and held back a sigh. Everybody knew that a “talk” with pastor meant a serious sermon. Why couldn’t she keep her feelings to herself?
“Your mother was telling me about your financial situation.”
Allie shot her mom a withering look. Great. On top of everything else, now everyone would know the Vahns were headed for bankruptcy.
The pastor smiled and touched her arm. “I know it’s hard to share things like this, but we need each other. We can agree with you in prayer that God intervene and do a miracle.”
“Seems we’ve been a little short of those lately,” Allie blurted before she could stop herself.
Ma opened her mouth to speak, but Pastor continued. “I understand why you would say that. I don’t have any pat answers for you. I wish I did. However, God is still in the miracle business. He still answers prayers.”
And there in a nutshell was Allie’s biggest issue. If God still answered prayers, why were things so difficult for her? For Ma and Danny?
But for her mother’s sake, Allie agreed. They bowed their heads, and she tried to listen, but her thoughts were too loud. She wanted to believe. She wanted to return to the strength of faith she’d had several years ago, but her relationship with the Lord had been eroded by her experiences. Michael’s faithlessness. Luke’s deception. Luke’s and Cindy’s deaths. Logically she understood the Lord wasn’t a puppet master. People made their own choices. Things happened based on those choices. But she still felt let down, and she’d grown cold in her faith. So why would God respond to her prayers now?
Eight
After the picnic Allie was cleaning the kitchen with Shannon. Through the window over the sink, she saw Derrick and Danny helping Ma roll the grill to the old shed in the backyard. Odd. . .he looked so familiar, like he belonged.
“Michael didn’t stay long,” Shannon said.
“That’s because I told him under no uncertain terms that our relationship was over. Completely over.”
Shannon snorted. “You’ve done that already.”
“And already and already and already,” Allie said. “He seems to think dating another woman behind my back was just fine as long as it led him back to me.”
“He’s justifying himself.” Shannon loaded the last glass in the dishwasher. “Like if his bad actions led to a good result, it’s okay.”
“Yeah.” Leave it to Shannon to analyze the situation. “And it’s not just
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