“I bet.” Micah frantically searched for something to say, some way to make a connection so that when the man walked out the door—it wasn’t goodbye forever.
“So, what are you doing in a diner on Christmas Eve?” he asked Micah. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave as his warm gaze rested comfortably on Micah’s face.
“I’m in town spending Christmas with some friends,” Micah said. “It was such a nice night, freshly fallen snow, I decided to take a walk.”
“That’s my favorite time to go for walks, too,” the young man smiled. “Right after it snows. I love the winter. Cuddling up by the fire after being outside, sipping hot chocolate and watching romantic movies.” He ducked his head and looked a bit embarrassed.So cute.“Guess that doesn’t sound too manly, huh,” he chuckled softly and raised his pretty eyes.
Micah swallowed thickly. “I don’t know,” he murmured. “It sounds like the perfect evening to me.” He realized they hadn’t been introduced and it shocked him how scared he was at the thought of the man leaving without even knowing his name. He started to thrust out his hand. “By the way, I’m-”
“Sweetheart, did you get a hold of them?”
Micah’s world trembled and quaked when the pretty young woman seemed to materialize out of thin air—a toddler in her arms. His hand drew back and wilted against his thigh as his heart plummeted from his chest to the pit of his stomach.
The young man stood up, his smile stretching as he leaned over and kissed her. “Yes.” He nodded at Micah. “This very nice gentleman let me use his phone.”
“Oh, thank you so much,” the woman offered with gratitude as she adjusted her small child on her hip.
“It…it was no problem,” Micah murmured. “I was glad to help.” He felt sick to his stomach.
“Forgive me,” the man said. “This is my wife, Alison, and our baby girl, Elizabeth.” He paused and shook his head, smiling. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.” he held out his hand. “I’m Ben.”
Micah wanted to disappear, but he maintained his composure and shook Ben’s hand. “Micah.”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Micah,” Alisonthe wifetold him.
Micah nodded. “And you.”
“Thank you, again,” Ben said, grasping Micah’s hand between both his palms. “God bless you, and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.”
“Merry Christmas,” Micah offered. “Drive safely.”
“Absolutely.” Ben grinned, his lovely eyes touching Micah’s face one last time before he and his family exited the diner—leaving Micah sitting alone…and feeling the absolutefool.
He sniffed and dragged his hand down his face as he twisted the stool back toward the counter. His throat hurt as it knotted tighter and tighter, causing a sting in his eyes. He blinked when his vision began to blur.
Seriously? Did you really think that’s what it was?
For that fleeting moment, hehadbelieved.
His throat worked, and he stared fiercely at the countertop, his hands slowly flexing.Thiswas why he didn’t pray for things. His dull eyes crawled heavenward. “That was mean,” he whispered bitterly. “Is that why you coaxed me in here—to play a cruel twisted joke on me? I wasn’t suffering enough—you had to trick me intobelieving, so you could rip it away?” his jaw tightened, and eyes burned. “You arenotfunny.”
Expect a miracle.
Micah snatched his cell off the counter and stuffed it in his pocket.
Nice motto, Nick, but it doesn’t work in the real world.
It stung to the core of his being how much he’dwantedit to work tonight. That brief “hopeful” encounter brought to light justhowalone and lonely he truly was—when in that fleeting instant he’d feltlovewithin his grasp and desired it to the depths of his soul.
He’d beenready…so ready. “Thanks for nothing,” he muttered at God, shaken by the rasp in his voice and ache in his heart.
“Sir…?”
Micah flinched, unaware the waitress had returned. She looked at him cautiously. Could he blame her? Surely, she’d overheard him talking to himself and muttering at God. “Hi…” he mumbled. “Could I get a cup of coffee?”
She relaxed and smiled. “Of course.” She filled a cup and placed it before him.
He glanced at the name sewn into her uniform.Faith.Micah mentally shook his head. God just wouldn’t let up tonight. Micah poured cream in his coffee and stirred slowly, his eyes vacant as he struggled to erase the encounter with Ben from his memory.
