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“And Addie’s father wanted nothing to do with her?” He laid the words out gently, watching. Would she talk to him? Share her story? Or block him out? He wouldn’t blame her if she did, not after he’d ranted and raved.
She didn’t look up this time. Eyes down, he saw a tear slip and fall, onto her hand. And then another.
Help her, Lord. Help her to see I’m not the enemy. That I seek her forgiveness and understanding and maybe more… Help her to trust me. Please.
“You should go.” Soft words in a small voice.
He got up, but he didn’t go. He changed seats and sat down beside her, close enough to feel her breath, but not touching. “What happened, Josie?” That, just that, an invitation to trust. Would she take it?
She shouldn’t after what he’d said and done, but he wanted her to. He longed for her to. She breathed softly, then lifted one pretty, tanned shoulder. “I trusted the wrong man, Jacob. After years of being so careful and prim and proper in a city where that’s not exactly easy, I believed a man who carried date-rape drugs in his pocket. A foolish mistake from a woman who had promised her family nothing would go wrong in New Orleans. And there I was, hating myself all over again, but pregnant this time. All I wanted, Jacob—” she turned and faced him now, twin tear tracks running down her pretty cheeks “—was for my child to have the best possible start I could give her. A loving family, parents who cherished her and a normal future. So when I signed those papers in good faith, I expected the same in return. To discover it was all built on lies made me angry. So angry. Not at you.”
She paused, looking away, gathering her thoughts. “But at the callousness of going after a child by lying. Waving money around. Deceiving me. Addie’s conception was caused by deceit. I couldn’t bear to think that her life revolved around that, too. And so I had you checked out.”
His heart twisted in pain, hearing her words, imagining being alone, betrayed and a single mother.
“I promised myself I’d never let that happen again.”
“Josie, I—”
She stood and crossed through the kitchen to the door. “Time’s up, Jacob. It’s time for both of us to move on to the lives God has laid out for us. My concerns have been put to rest, and I wish you nothing but goodness, all of your days.” She pulled the door open. “Goodbye.”
She left him no choice. He wasn’t there to browbeat her, but to empathize. He’d done that and now… He paused at the door, willing her to look up. Just once.
She didn’t. Chin down, she made no eye contact. He longed to tip that chin up. To promise her things would be okay. Could be okay.
But a tiny thought niggled within, a reminder that actions spoke louder than words. He touched her shoulder softly, gently. “God bless you, Josie.”
He left, and when the soft click of the door separated them, he trudged to his car.
So much hurt. So much heartbreak. A ridiculous amount, in fact. To have two people, bound by love of a child, caring for one another, and driven apart by anger.
A glimmer of his dream returned, but he’d thrown mean, harsh words at an innocent woman. Why would she want to care? And would winning her for Addie’s sake be enough?
He knew it wouldn’t. He wanted Josie Gallagher’s love for his sake. The amazingly wonderful kid was pure bonus.
He went home to the empty apartment, sat down and didn’t dwell.
He acted.
He opened his laptop to scout out real estate opportunities. He messaged his recruiter about the local job he’d passed on.
She messaged back quickly that it was gone, but she’d check for other possibilities.
Never mind, he decided as he messaged a local Realtor. There were other jobs. Maybe not perfect, but he realized now how he’d nearly turned his back on practically perfect, and it had nothing to do with work and everything to do with faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these was love.
That paraphrased line from Corinthians became his new mantra.
He made a list of properties for sale in Grace Haven, and remembered to check their proximity to cows or the amount of acreage needed to have a cow. He had no idea how to take care of a cow, but he could learn. If it gave him the chance to win Josie’s heart, he could learn just about anything.
