That could be weeks though. Could she keep them away that long?
What if Mr. Oppenheim decided to not give them any more funding? They’d have a difficult time finding people to work for free, that was for sure.
But the fire she’d seen on Joshua’s face when she told him she was walking up to Julian’s to see the flowers hadn’t been pleasant. She tried not to get upset with him. She could understand, to an extent. He was jealous. That was all.
But he had nothing to fear. She’d simply have to make sure she let him know that this evening.
Joshua had gone straight to her house, and she’d promised she would soon follow.
So she gathered up all of her things and made sure everything else was locked up tight. With a wave to Zach, Luke, and Tom, she climbed on Misty and turned her toward home.
As soon as she walked in the door, she went straight back to Dad’s room. She should just forget about all the other stuff and look forward to spending a quiet evening with the two men she loved. All this worrying was getting her nowhere.
But when she rounded the corner into Dad’s room, he and Josh both wore frowns. “What’s going on?”
Joshua’s arms were crossed over his chest. “I don’t think you should visit Julian unaccompanied anymore.”
“I agree.” Dad waved her over. “Please come sit. I have something to tell you.”
Blinking several times, she took a breath and did as he asked. “All right. What is it?”
“When Julian was here the other night he pulled a rock out that he wanted me to examine. And two blue ribbons fell out of his pocket.”
“And?” Why were the two men she loved most so paranoid?
“What is a grown man doing with ribbons?”
She looked between her father and Joshua. “He uses all manner of things to tie flowers to stakes. I’ve seen some old ribbons in his garden, twine, rope, torn shirts, all sorts of things.”
“But sweetheart, they were blue.” Dad sighed.
“What are you getting at?” She narrowed her eyes.
Joshua and her father shared a glance. “The ribbons Mary wore the day she disappeared were blue.”
He couldn’t be saying ... She stood up. “Isn’t that a bit far-fetched? Why would he carry around ribbons forten years?Isn’t it more logical that he had them in his pocket so that he could work in his garden? His mother had plenty of ribbon, I’m sure.”
Her father sighed. “They were faded blue. With white stripes.”
Joshua’s eyes were full of sadness. “Mary’s ribbons were blue with white stripes. To match the dress she wore that day.”
Dad cleared his throat. “I understand that you want to be nice to him, Anna. And I wanted to reach out to him as well, but I agree with Joshua—based on what he’s told me has happened out at the dig—I think Julian Walker is becoming obsessed with you.”
She snapped her gaze back and forth between the two. Sothe ribbons were similar to Mary’s. That had nothing to do withher. “Really? Both of you? Can’t you see that Julian simply needs a friend?” She shook her head. “You know, I talked about him when I was a kid. Because he was odd. And his father was mean. But Mary taught me to believe the best in people. I always wished I had her courage to do that. Once she was gone, I vowed that I would be more like her. She showed love to everyone.”
Her dad looked at her with such a sober countenance. “Yes, but what does that kind of love look like? Mary was a child. All of ten years old. Completely untainted by the world and all the horrors it contains.”
How could she respond? The two men she loved were questioning her judgment. They thought Julian was a threat. It was absurd. “But don’t you think that love can change a person? I believe that Mary had a wonderful impact on Julian. Just like his mother had. He was different before his mother left. Don’t you remember?”
“Isn’t it dangerous to believe and rely on love changing a person here on this earth?” Dad shook his head. “The only love that can truly change anything or anyone is God’s love. His is supernatural. Our love here on earth fails. It falters. It isn’t enough. We shouldn’t love someone based on the idea that they will change. That’s wrong thinking.” He leaned back against the pillows. “I didn’t love your mother so that I could change her. She wasn’t perfect by any means, but she was wonderful. Just as she was. We prayed together that the good Lord would mold us, prune our hearts and lives. It had to be of Him. Not of ourselves.”
Joshua leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “Is there something you wish you could change in me? That you’re hoping your love can cure?”
“Of course not.” She winced. Well, maybe the whole fact that he’d shared about their fight with a beautiful woman.No. This wasn’t about that. Why were they ganging up on her? “I know you have flaws. As do I. I’m thinking that we love and forgive. Give second chances. Give those who haven’t been loved unconditionally a sense of what God’s love is.”
“That’s an awfully tall order, Anna.” Her father leaned his head back on his pillows. “How many times do you forgive?”
“Jesus said seventy times seven.” She lifted her chin. “What has Julian done that needs to be forgiven? Have you two convicted him of some heinous crime?”
