Read Online Waiting For Rachel: A Christian Romance (Those Karlsson Boys) by Kimberly Rae Jordan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberly Rae Jordan
Ads: Link
have asked you that. I don’t want you to use your friendship with Rachel to spy for me. I won’t ask again.”
Serena laid a hand on his arm. “I know this is difficult for you, but if you truly feel in your heart that she’s the one, you have to trust God to work in her. I really don’t feel she’s rejecting you because she has no feelings for you. I think there’s something else that’s stopping her from pursuing a relationship. And I’m not sure it’s just you. I think she’d be a hard catch for any man.”
Damian mulled over her words as he headed back to the church. “It’s hard to wait when I’m so ready to take our relationship beyond just friendship.”
“I know,” Serena said with a sigh. “But don’t push God’s timing. In His time, things will work out.”
*****
Rachel turned the car onto the main road and headed for the apartment block where Mari lived.
“He likes you,” Mari said, her voice soft.
Rachel thought about denying it, but knew it would be a lie. “Yeah, he does.”
“And you like him.”
She cast a quick glance at Mari. “Not as much as he likes me.”
“Really?” Mari didn’t sound as if she believed Rachel.
“No, actually I like him a lot too.” Rachel sighed after she made her confession.
“So why aren’t you guys together?” Mari asked. “You make a great couple.”
“You could tell all that from just a couple hours of being with us?” Rachel asked, a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
Mari laughed softly. “Anyone around you could tell that. The way he looks at you. The way you look at him even when you’re not trying to and you hope no one else sees. I just wonder why you wouldn’t pursue a relationship with such a great guy.”
Rachel’s hands clenched the wheel. “There’s a lot he doesn’t know about me.”
“Stuff that would make him not like you?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t take that chance. I’m sure there’s another woman out there who would be a better wife for him.” It hurt to say the words, even though they were true, even though she’d said them before.
“But he wants you.”
Rachel couldn’t argue with Mari there. Maybe Damian did deserve to know why she was blowing him off. But how did she tell him? Accept his next date invitation and drop the bomb over dessert?
The hope that had flared to life at the news that he was adopted had dimmed a bit over the past hour. Even if he were willing to adopt, wouldn’t he be better off with a woman who didn’t have a past? And what if he accepted her past now, but then later decided it wasn’t what he wanted? Men she’d loved had left her for lesser reasons.
“I’m don’t mean to poke my nose where I don’t belong, Rachel, I just hate seeing two wonderful people hurting. I won’t interfere again.”
“That’s okay, Mari. I don’t mind you asking about it. You didn’t ask me anything I haven’t asked myself a hundred times.” Rachel stared at the traffic light, waiting for it to turn green. She felt as if red lights filled her life at the moment. “Most of the time I just ignore it, but all of a sudden Damian has kind of stepped things up. The pressure is increasing, and I’m not sure I can resist. And I do need to resist. I can’t go into a relationship with Damian without telling him everything. Right now that’s just too hard.” Rachel steered the car to the curb in front of Mari’s building and stopped. “I’ll be by to pick you up shortly after six, okay?”
“Sounds good. I look forward to it.”
Rachel watched Mari walk with a bounce in her step to the front door of the apartment. Had she ever been that young and full of life? Feeling much older than thirty-two, Rachel sighed as she turned the car around and headed for home.
*****
Three hours later she was back at Mari’s apartment. She’d spent the afternoon writing a couple of emails and had taken a quick nap. Rachel felt refreshed in body, but her mind and heart were still in turmoil.
Serena laid a hand on his arm. “I know this is difficult for you, but if you truly feel in your heart that she’s the one, you have to trust God to work in her. I really don’t feel she’s rejecting you because she has no feelings for you. I think there’s something else that’s stopping her from pursuing a relationship. And I’m not sure it’s just you. I think she’d be a hard catch for any man.”
Damian mulled over her words as he headed back to the church. “It’s hard to wait when I’m so ready to take our relationship beyond just friendship.”
“I know,” Serena said with a sigh. “But don’t push God’s timing. In His time, things will work out.”
*****
Rachel turned the car onto the main road and headed for the apartment block where Mari lived.
“He likes you,” Mari said, her voice soft.
Rachel thought about denying it, but knew it would be a lie. “Yeah, he does.”
“And you like him.”
She cast a quick glance at Mari. “Not as much as he likes me.”
“Really?” Mari didn’t sound as if she believed Rachel.
“No, actually I like him a lot too.” Rachel sighed after she made her confession.
“So why aren’t you guys together?” Mari asked. “You make a great couple.”
“You could tell all that from just a couple hours of being with us?” Rachel asked, a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
Mari laughed softly. “Anyone around you could tell that. The way he looks at you. The way you look at him even when you’re not trying to and you hope no one else sees. I just wonder why you wouldn’t pursue a relationship with such a great guy.”
Rachel’s hands clenched the wheel. “There’s a lot he doesn’t know about me.”
“Stuff that would make him not like you?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t take that chance. I’m sure there’s another woman out there who would be a better wife for him.” It hurt to say the words, even though they were true, even though she’d said them before.
“But he wants you.”
Rachel couldn’t argue with Mari there. Maybe Damian did deserve to know why she was blowing him off. But how did she tell him? Accept his next date invitation and drop the bomb over dessert?
The hope that had flared to life at the news that he was adopted had dimmed a bit over the past hour. Even if he were willing to adopt, wouldn’t he be better off with a woman who didn’t have a past? And what if he accepted her past now, but then later decided it wasn’t what he wanted? Men she’d loved had left her for lesser reasons.
“I’m don’t mean to poke my nose where I don’t belong, Rachel, I just hate seeing two wonderful people hurting. I won’t interfere again.”
“That’s okay, Mari. I don’t mind you asking about it. You didn’t ask me anything I haven’t asked myself a hundred times.” Rachel stared at the traffic light, waiting for it to turn green. She felt as if red lights filled her life at the moment. “Most of the time I just ignore it, but all of a sudden Damian has kind of stepped things up. The pressure is increasing, and I’m not sure I can resist. And I do need to resist. I can’t go into a relationship with Damian without telling him everything. Right now that’s just too hard.” Rachel steered the car to the curb in front of Mari’s building and stopped. “I’ll be by to pick you up shortly after six, okay?”
“Sounds good. I look forward to it.”
Rachel watched Mari walk with a bounce in her step to the front door of the apartment. Had she ever been that young and full of life? Feeling much older than thirty-two, Rachel sighed as she turned the car around and headed for home.
*****
Three hours later she was back at Mari’s apartment. She’d spent the afternoon writing a couple of emails and had taken a quick nap. Rachel felt refreshed in body, but her mind and heart were still in turmoil.
Similar Books
