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“It hurt too much,” she whispered.
Her mother stroked her hair. “Love is hard. Loving others is hard. I understand your reasons, but Dan…” She sighed. “Poor Dan.”
Moisture spilled from Sarah’s eyes. “He can’t love me anymore.”
Her mother drew back, studying her with compassion. “God has placed within you such passion, which can be a double-edged sword at times, can’t it?”
She nodded. How easy it was to live in emotions.
“Part of that is the capacity to love richly and deeply, which is a wonderful trait.” Her mother’s arm tightened around Sarah’s shoulders. “But remember, God has also given you strength and the ability to think clearly. Sar, I know you’ll make the right decision, and whatever happens, you will face it with courage and grace.”
Sarah swiped at the wetness on her cheeks. “I’ll try.”
Her mother hugged her. “I’m always here if you want to talk. Do you want to talk?”
Sarah shook her head. “I think I know what I have to do.”
Her mum gently patted her cheek, then moved toward the door. “Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes.”
“Okay. Thanks, Mum.” Sarah exhaled, blew her nose, and moved back to her laptop, the screensaver displaying a photograph of her parents.Thanks, God, for Mum and Dad.
She opened up the updated résumé and application letter she’d sent off three days ago and reread them again. Nope. They both seemed clean of errors. She bit her lip. If she got the job…
On Monday, her father had received a phone call after which he’d looked at her curiously. “That was Mr. Phillips from the local Christian Community School. The music teacher is on maternity leave, and the replacement teacher suddenly had to move to Tasmania to care for her mother, and he was wondering if I knew of anyone who could fill in for the next two terms on such short notice.” He’d smiled. “What do you think I should say?”
Sarah had stared at him. Was this some of God’s direction? Hadn’t she prayed about that only the previous day? If so, it must mean Dan was out of the equation.
Fighting back the roar of emotion, she’d nodded stiffly. “I guess it can’t hurt to send my résumé in.”
Her father had smiled gently at her. “And we keep trusting God, that He’ll work everything else out, in His timing.”
Sarah had exhaled. Yep, she’d sorely needed that reminder. No more living in sorrow. “We trust God.”
The last few days had been a rush of résumé updating, applications and interviews, and catching up with more family and friends, leaving little time or emotional capacity for much else until now.
She flicked over to her emails again, and bit her lip as her mother’s words sang in the back of her head:courage and grace. Maybe she should read them.
Be brave.
Sarah finally clicked and opened the messages. The more she read, the more her heart twisted.
Tomorrow was Dan’s birthday.
Chapter 29
Dan got to church late and settled into a seat near the back, behind Brent Karlsson’s parents. Last night’s tough game meant his body needed all the rest he could get, and he didn’t mind missing the mandatory meet and greet time at the start. The songs were good reminders of his time in Muskoka, recalling the need to trust God and praise Him regardless of the circumstance. That was important, especially when he spotted a redhead near the front. His heart thudded. She’d come back for his birthday?
But no. The woman had moved, her profile revealing a stranger. The sharp shock of disappointment stayed with him through the rest of the announcements until John’s guest-preaching sermon helped remind him of what he was here for. Later, after Boyd, Patrik, and other friends had come up and done the happy birthday congratulatory thing, Ange found him.
Her face was troubled as she held a small package in her hand. “Dan, I know the past two weeks have been tough, but John and I want you to know we’re praying for you, and for Sarah.” She gave him a sad smile. “I don’t know if you’ve heard from her?”
He shook his head no, and her shoulders slumped.
“Sarah gave me this to give you for your birthday. Happy birthday, Dan.”
He unwrapped the blue tissue paper to discover a CD and USB flash drive. The CD’s cover was a picture of the two of them months ago at Niagara Falls, the obvious joy on their faces and the way Sarah fitted in his arms as they grinned at the camera causing a fresh stab of pain. He blinked, willed the burn away, then looked up.
“She put in a lot of hard work to make that for you. I know it may be hard to listen to now, but…” Ange bit her lip.
