Read Online Everyday Blessings by Jillian Hart - Free Book Online Page A

tidied up, evidence of Ava was everywhere. A right-footed yellow sneaker—who knew what happened to its mate?—was sitting lonesome and haphazardly beneath the coffee table. A stack of books, listing to the north, had been shoved onto one of the end tables—Ava’s books for her pre-marriage counseling program at the church. Why was she alone tonight? “Because my sister is off with her fiancé having dinner with his parents.”
    â€œFiancé? Then I suppose that means she’ll be getting married.”
    â€œYes, in April, and leaving me. I can’t believe my luck. I’m finally getting free of her.”
    William heard the warmth in her words, and the truth behind them. It was tough facing a change, no matter how good it was. “And what about your fiancé?”
    â€œMy what? ” There was humor in her words, a lightness that reminded him of the gentle light of a summer’s dawn. “I thought we established that I was single—”
    â€œI still can’t wrap my mind around it. It can’t be true.”
    â€œIt’s true, because I’m dull. I’ve been passedover by every appropriate man at my church’s single’s groups.”
    Passed over? He doubted that. “You don’t sound unhappy about that.”
    â€œAs my sister would say, at our age, most of the good men have already been snatched up and married off. And who wants the leftovers? They’ve been leftover for some very good reasons. Besides, I’ve watched my twin date and that’s been enough for me. I don’t have to experience them myself to learn from her disasters.”
    It was her tone that made him smile and brightened him up inside. It had been a long time since he’d enjoyed talking to anyone so much, and he had to know more. “Disasters?”
    â€œThere was the guy she dated before she met Brice, her fiancé. On the third date he behaved inappropriately and in her attempt to escape him she accidentally slammed his hand in the car door and broke three fingers. That’s only one of more examples of dating gone wrong. I wisely try to stay as far away from those situations as I can.”
    â€œSmart move.” It hit him like a blow to his chest that he was laughing. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d truly laughed. The odd rumble of it vibrated through him and as the first drops of rain drove at the window, the storm didn’t feel as ominous. “I have a fair share of dating gone wrong, as you put it. I stay out of the game.”
    â€œMe, too. The entire ballpark. Why try when you know you’re going to strike out? My older sister Katherine is getting married next month—if she doesn’t postpone the wedding because of Jonas—and she said she was lucky enough to find the real thing, but it took her well over a decade of looking. That idea totally exhausts me. I lack the strength and the will. I’m happier sitting at home watching a storm move in, or reading a book, or watching a movie on the classic movie channel.”
    Okay, he was going to ignore that she said that. He’d been watching the storm move in. He spent evenings between a classic work of literature or a classic movie. Best not to read anything into the fact that they liked the same things. “So, how did your twin find a fiancé and you didn’t?”
    â€œWe don’t do everything together. Well, we did when we were little and all the way through high school. But every year that we get older, we spend more time apart.”
    He heard the warmth in her voice, and although her tone was light and cheerful, he knew what she didn’t say. “It’s hard to know she’s leaving you behind.”
    â€œNot behind.”
    There was love in her voice—the real thing, like a light that never dimmed, like the light he searched for with his camera’s lens. Well, beforehe’d put his work down for good. It