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“Feel better now?” he asked.
She smiled at him. “Actually I do. My skin can breathe now. I’m not saying I don’t feel self-conscious, but it feels right.” She met Micah’s gaze. “Thank you for encouraging me. It means a lot.”
“I have to admit I have an ulterior motive.”
Faith raised an eyebrow. “Really? Do tell.”
“I still want to take you out. On a date. Maybe tomorrow after we sing at the nine a.m. service we can go to the beach and then get lunch? Or go to brunch. Whatever you like. How about it?”
Micah felt as if a huge weight was sitting squarely on his chest as he waited for Faith’s response. He was thankful he’d been granted a little bit of privacy so he could pose the question. His brothers would probably laugh themselves silly if they had heard him ask Faith out. His nerves had gotten the best of him and he hadn’t asked her in his usual smooth as glass manner. Micah wasn’t sure what it was about Faith, but she made him feel a bit uncertain about his appeal.
It was hard for him to admit, even to himself, but he’d been coasting on his charm and good looks for years. Perhaps a woman like Faith required more than those things.
Lord, please let her say yes. Just give me a chance to show her who I am. I promise You I won’t let her down. I know she’s more precious than rubies.
“I think I’d like that.” Faith’s soft delivery took him by surprise. He had half expected her to say no as she’d done the other day.
“You would?” he blurted out.
The sound of her tinkling laughter sent a pang straight through him. “You sound so surprised.”
“Happily surprised,” he said with a grin.
“Micah! Get over here and settle this for us!” His brother Jason was beckoning him over to the far side of the yard. Clearly, there was a dispute about their game.
Micah eased himself out of his seat. He smirked at Faith. “Duty calls. Will you be all right over here? I think Bella is sitting over by the gazebo.”
“I’m fine, Micah. I’m going to watch the game from over here.”
With a smile and a feeling of satisfaction settling deep inside of him, Micah walked off toward the football game. He hadn’t felt this burst of happiness in quite some time and he knew it had everything to do with Faith. Although he hadn’t been looking to meet anyone, just when he least expected it, Faith had shown up.
In God’s time. It was something Micah was learning. God had His own special way of making wonderful things happen just when a person might not even know they needed it.
**
Faith sat in the lawn chair and basked in the warmth of the May sunshine. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so carefree. Although she did feel a bit nervous about her scars, none of the Donahue’s had even blinked when they looked at her. It made her realize that perhaps she and she alone had been her biggest stumbling block.
“Can I get you anything from inside? Lemonade? Ice tea?” Jude asked, stopping in front of her chair.
“No, I’m good, Mr. Donahue. I mean Jude,” she quickly corrected herself. There was a whole table of appetizers sitting on the picnic table and she’d helped herself to so much food she was beginning to wonder how she could possibly eat the main courses.
As Jude walked in through the screened-in porch door she heard him greeting someone with his normal effusiveness. Suddenly, she stiffened as Pamela’s voice rang out as clear as a bell.
“I thought I would stop by and surprise Rafferty since my event ended early,” Pamela said in a chirpy voice.
Faith turned to look up at the deck. She could see her cousin knowing Pamela couldn’t see her. Not yet at least.
“Nothing like a nice surprise from one’s sweetheart,” Jude said as he stepped inside.
Faith braced herself for coming face to face with her cousin. Something told her Pamela wouldn’t take too kindly to seeing Faith on her turf. Pamela was the possessive sort, and since Micah was Rafferty’s best friend, she imagined Pamela would consider the Donahue home her territory.
As silly as it was, Faith knew she wasn’t wrong. As kids Pamela had always drawn a line in the sand. Her dolls. Her house. Her dress up clothes.
Pamela stopped short as soon as she spotted Faith. Her jaw dropped. Her eyes glittered with anger. Faith shivered. The look on Pamela’s face left no doubt about her feelings toward Faith. She despised her. For the millionth time, Faith wondered why her cousin had such negative feelings toward her. Time after time she’d examined incidents from the past in order to come up with a single reason for her cousin’s enmity. She had always walked on egg shells with Pamela, never wanting to upset her cousin for fear of becoming the
object of her wrath. At this moment she knew there was no preventing what was about to happen.
“Pamela!” Rafferty came racing over and scooped Pamela up in his arms. He leaned down and pressed a kiss on her lips. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
