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Authors: Gail Gaymer Martin
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‘Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.’” She lifted her gaze to Dale’s before continuing. “‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.’”
She lowered the Bible. “God’s promises are sure. Instead of fighting the life he gave us, the Lord’s asking us to make the most of it, to help each other and to show love not anger. He has promised that He’ll be with us. His promise is a sure thing.”
He reached toward her, his hand open, and she slipped the Bible into it. He stared at the page in silence, perhaps rereading the Scripture she’d read aloud. Sheknew the Bible held so many other messages, but with her own lack of Bible study, she didn’t know where they were. She thought of Job and Jonah, men whose lives fell apart but their faith kept them strong. They never stopped praying or gave up hope.
“Thanks,” Dale said finally. He placed the Bible on the lamp table beside him. “Maybe I’d better start reading this.”
Bev’s spirit calmed as if a fresh breeze had drifted over her. “I’m glad. God is forgiving and His love endures forever. It’s just difficult for us to believe that a love can be that strong.”
“My dad and mom have a love like that,” Dale said. “I admire them. I’d never find a relationship like theirs. Never.”
Bev drew back while a comment bounced in her head. It wasn’t the time to say it, but if he treated children as he did and snapped people’s heads off at a touchy topic, he was correct. Who needed that?
Then another idea crossed her mind. If Dale felt that way, could that be why he’d never married? She had so many more questions to ask, but not today. She didn’t want to thwart what the Holy Spirit had accomplished in their short time together. Even one step forward lifted Bev’s heart.
“The coffee,” Dale said, rising. “I forgot about it.”
The scent drifted to meet Bev, too. “I really should go.” She rose and took a step toward the doorway.
Dale moved to her side and captured her arms. “Why hurry?” His eyes searched hers, leaving her addled.
“It’s almost dark. My mom will wonder where I am.”
“I have a telephone,” he said.
He stood so close she could smell the subtle fragrance of his aftershave. Her hands became clammy, and she felt out of her element. Standing together in his apartment seemed too intimate, too personal.
She drew back to explain, but instead he drew her into his arms and pressed his cheek against her hair. “Thank you,” he murmured. “I’m glad you came.”
“You’re welcome.” She forced herself out of his embrace, wanting to stay there, but sensing his attention was like a whirlpool. If she didn’t fight the pull, she’d be lost.
She stepped away, but he captured her hand. “I haven’t asked you my questions yet. Remember?”
Bev lifted her arm to check her watch and saw her hands tremble. “Next time.”
A tender smile drifted across his face. “Next weekend. Dad said you’re coming over for Memorial Day.”
He hadn’t released her left hand, and she felt him squeeze her fingers. Her small hand seemed lost in his larger one.
“I’ll see you then with my questions ready,” he said.
“Great.” She’d hoped to sound casual, but she was far from it. Bev slid her hand from his grasp, but the pressure of his touch remained, just as Dale always stayed in her thoughts long after he’d vanished from her sight.
Chapter Six
“D ale, why don’t you play ball with Michael?” Dotty asked.
Dale’s back stiffened as he heard his mother’s voice, and he focused on the back of his parents’ yard. Michael ambled across the grass, looking bored. The boy tossed a ball into the air, catching it some of the time. Better than throwing it at his sister, Dale figured.
“You don’t have to,” Bev said, as if she could read his mind.
Bev’s eyes reflected the hurt she felt when he ignored her children. He
She lowered the Bible. “God’s promises are sure. Instead of fighting the life he gave us, the Lord’s asking us to make the most of it, to help each other and to show love not anger. He has promised that He’ll be with us. His promise is a sure thing.”
He reached toward her, his hand open, and she slipped the Bible into it. He stared at the page in silence, perhaps rereading the Scripture she’d read aloud. Sheknew the Bible held so many other messages, but with her own lack of Bible study, she didn’t know where they were. She thought of Job and Jonah, men whose lives fell apart but their faith kept them strong. They never stopped praying or gave up hope.
“Thanks,” Dale said finally. He placed the Bible on the lamp table beside him. “Maybe I’d better start reading this.”
Bev’s spirit calmed as if a fresh breeze had drifted over her. “I’m glad. God is forgiving and His love endures forever. It’s just difficult for us to believe that a love can be that strong.”
“My dad and mom have a love like that,” Dale said. “I admire them. I’d never find a relationship like theirs. Never.”
Bev drew back while a comment bounced in her head. It wasn’t the time to say it, but if he treated children as he did and snapped people’s heads off at a touchy topic, he was correct. Who needed that?
Then another idea crossed her mind. If Dale felt that way, could that be why he’d never married? She had so many more questions to ask, but not today. She didn’t want to thwart what the Holy Spirit had accomplished in their short time together. Even one step forward lifted Bev’s heart.
“The coffee,” Dale said, rising. “I forgot about it.”
The scent drifted to meet Bev, too. “I really should go.” She rose and took a step toward the doorway.
Dale moved to her side and captured her arms. “Why hurry?” His eyes searched hers, leaving her addled.
“It’s almost dark. My mom will wonder where I am.”
“I have a telephone,” he said.
He stood so close she could smell the subtle fragrance of his aftershave. Her hands became clammy, and she felt out of her element. Standing together in his apartment seemed too intimate, too personal.
She drew back to explain, but instead he drew her into his arms and pressed his cheek against her hair. “Thank you,” he murmured. “I’m glad you came.”
“You’re welcome.” She forced herself out of his embrace, wanting to stay there, but sensing his attention was like a whirlpool. If she didn’t fight the pull, she’d be lost.
She stepped away, but he captured her hand. “I haven’t asked you my questions yet. Remember?”
Bev lifted her arm to check her watch and saw her hands tremble. “Next time.”
A tender smile drifted across his face. “Next weekend. Dad said you’re coming over for Memorial Day.”
He hadn’t released her left hand, and she felt him squeeze her fingers. Her small hand seemed lost in his larger one.
“I’ll see you then with my questions ready,” he said.
“Great.” She’d hoped to sound casual, but she was far from it. Bev slid her hand from his grasp, but the pressure of his touch remained, just as Dale always stayed in her thoughts long after he’d vanished from her sight.
Chapter Six
“D ale, why don’t you play ball with Michael?” Dotty asked.
Dale’s back stiffened as he heard his mother’s voice, and he focused on the back of his parents’ yard. Michael ambled across the grass, looking bored. The boy tossed a ball into the air, catching it some of the time. Better than throwing it at his sister, Dale figured.
“You don’t have to,” Bev said, as if she could read his mind.
Bev’s eyes reflected the hurt she felt when he ignored her children. He
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