She bit her lip. No, no one else would defend Tanya with the same zeal she had concerning the case. Breathe, you got this. Grabbing her purse, she paused at the doorway. Now wasn’t the time to think about it. Tonight, she would hang out with her friends at Evan’s place and just relax. Plus, Tanya was coming. Hopefully, she would be comfortable and okay with the group.
Michelle had assured Tanya no one knew about her past and wouldn’t pass judgment. With any luck, the group would offer Tanya hope that life could and would get better. What about you? Did she feel like her life had gotten better? Michelle hadn’t really examined the reasons behind her decision, nor the emotions that followed before and after.
When she had the abortion, Michelle had cried for what seemed like months. Her friends thought it was all over the death of her parents. Once she left for college, Michelle had shoved her emotions down into the darkest place where it could never resurface. Who knew this case would bring back every emotion as if it had been waiting on a bookshelf the entire time.
And now Jo’s admonition to share with Guy echoed in her head repeatedly. She didn’t want to tell him. Goodness, she had no intention of telling anyone, but it had burst free from her when Tanya opened up to her. And Jo...Jo had a way with prying out information, like you would a bolted lock. Telling the father wouldn’t be the same.
Not. At. All.
She gasped. Guy was a father now. Would her secret impact him more than she could fathom? Anger was a natural assumption, but one she felt could be overcome. But now that he’d experienced the joy of fatherhood would he be able to forgive her? It no longer seemed like a realistic option.
“Just get through Bible study.” She turned the light off and headed for the foyer.
Tanya looked up from her desk. “Hey, boss. You ready?”
“Tanya, please don’t call me that tonight.” She shook her head. “It’s Michelle or Chelle.”
“I’ll try.”
She thought she saw Tanya’s eye twitch. “You ready?”
“Yes.”
A glance next door told her Chloe was already gone. “I just need to go home and change out of this suit and then we can head over.”
“Sounds good.”
Silence descended as she drove home, making her coupe feel terribly claustrophobic. She tapped out a rhythm on the steering wheel. “So, there will be food. We usually eat and then go over the study.”
“How many people will be there?”
“Well, there’s the five of us who originally started. Then Guy will be there, plus his secretary.”
“Who’s Guy?”
“The Sheriff.”
“Wait, what? Does he know...”
“No. He knows you’re my secretary and that I’m handling a case for you, but that’s it. He’ll respect client confidentiality.”
A glance at Tanya showed her face to be paler than usual. “Are you okay?”
“I...yes.” Tanya closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. “As long as what happens at Bible study stays at Bible study, I’ll be fine.”
She snorted. “Interesting phrase to associate with Bible study.”
“Hey, it works, right?”
“It does.” She patted Tanya’s arm. “You’ll be fine. Everyone in our group has problems, so you’ll fit right in.”
Tanya chuckled. “A group for the hurting.”
“A group trying to see how God fits in the grand scheme of things.”
“I get that,” Tanya spoke softly. “It’s hard to believe in good when we’re surrounded by bad.”
“That’s what gets me. All the bad that goes on. How can God be good? And how can He truly forgive?”
“I struggle with forgiveness.” Tanya said. “Is it even possible?” She turned in her seat, looking at Michelle. “Have you ever forgiven yourself?”
She sighed, making the turn onto her street. “How do you forgive yourself for something you still regret? If someone could answer that, then maybe I could answer your question.” And finally feel peace.
“Yeah, when you find the answer please share.”
“Definitely.”
EVAN’S DRIVEWAY HAD already filled with cars. Guy slowed and pulled up to the curb instead. He stared at the front door. Since he was grill master tonight, he had to go in. He actually wanted to go in, but tonight felt different. It was the first Bible study he was attending since he and Michelle had started dating.
Would it be awkward? Would their friends make it awkward?
You’re making it awkward. Just go in and be yourself.
He sighed. Easier said than done. Turning off the car, Guy opened the door before he could change his mind. If his girls had been with him, they’d be inside already. They loved hanging out with Michelle.
And he hadn’t figured out how he felt about that yet. He rubbed the back of his neck. Lord, please let this Bible study be relaxing and not bring on more stress. He pictured his mother’s face. And please let it take a while.
He knocked on the door. A few moments later, Evan opened it and welcomed him with a wide grin. “Hey, G Man. You will not believe the crowd tonight.”
“I noticed the cars outside. I didn’t realize I was late.”
“You’re not the only one. Chloe’s not here yet, either.”
He cocked his head. “Why not?”
“She’s dealing with some things. You know?”
How could he have forgotten? “You’re right. Is she going to show?”
“She better. You should see who Darryl’s been yacking it up all night with.”
He followed Evan to the kitchen. Holly stood there and gave a small wave. Michelle was talking to a woman he assumed to be her secretary. His gaze stopped at Darryl, who was talking to a woman...that wasn’t Chloe. He frowned. He’d never seen his friend so animated.
“Feels like the Twilight Zone up in here,” he murmured to Evan.
“No kidding. The woman with Michelle is her secretary, Tanya. The woman D’s talking to is a friend of Holly’s. I think she said her name is Jordan. Apparently, she’s a pediatrician who’s looking for a house down here.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, tonight is going
