Michelle took a sip of her coffee letting the blonde roast warm her insides.
“So let me get this straight. You and Guy dated. Kissed even. And you never told anyone? Not Chloe, your mom, definitely not me, no one?”
“No one. You’re the first person I’ve told, JoJo.”
“Holy cow. I can’t believe it. So that’s why you frown every time you see him?”
She heaved a sigh, nodding. Among other things.
“Do you still like him?”
Her heart thudded. Of course, Jo would ask the one question she had been dodging. How could she like the man who ditched her when their relationship became complicated? When it was no longer about late-night meetings or stolen kisses.
When she needed him, he had bailed. Left. Without as much as a Dear John letter...or was that Jane? It didn’t matter. No one had known of his plans to go to college out of state. It had quickly become apparent she wasn’t a part of his future. So why should she want him in hers?
“Michelle,” Jo called out to her softly.
“No, I don’t still like him.” She cleared her throat. “I feel sorry for him and that’s about all.”
She looked at Jo and met her gaze head on. Daring, hoping, praying she only saw a resolute ‘no’ and not the whispered longing in her heart. Because even though Guy had broken her eighteen-year old heart, it still wanted to connect with his.
THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR interrupted Guy’s administrative duties. He looked up from the computer screen. “Come in.”
For once he was thankful for the interruption. He hated paperwork. Always had. If only, being Sheriff got him out of it. But the mayor and district attorney demanded all paperwork to be screened and verified by the sheriff and not a lower ranking officer. He sighed.
Holly opened the door and sent him a smile. “Mr. Carter is here to see you.”
“Thanks, Holly.”
He rose and came around his desk. Evan walked in, gripping his forearm crutches. No matter how bad his life was, at least Guy had all his limbs. He couldn’t even imagine how Evan dealt with missing a leg.
“Hey man, how’s it going?” Guy reached out and grasped Evan’s hand in the childhood handshake they had created.
“Good, good. Julie, my prosthetist, may have found a prosthetic that could work for me. It’s supposed to be hypoallergenic and they make it in a sterile environment specific for each person.”
“Word?” Guy sat on the edge of his desk. Relief flooded through him. If Evan could walk again life would be so much better for his friend.
What would make your life better? He blinked as an image of Michelle flashed through his mind.
Time to change his thoughts. “When will you be fitted for it?”
“It should be ready in a few weeks. So until then these babies are my friend.” Evan held up one of the crutches.
“I’m happy for you, man.”
“Thanks, G.”
He glanced at the clock again. “Wait, why aren’t you coaching?”
“Spring Break.”
“Oh.” Shouldn’t he know that?
“How are you? The girls?”
Guy groaned. “They hit me back to back with the stomach flu.” He laughed at the face Evan made. “Exactly how I felt. Poor Bekah upchucked all over my clothes.”
Evan joined in the laughter. “I can’t even imagine.” Laughter faded and his smile dimmed. “You’re a great dad.”
Guy looked away. He hadn’t always been. For a few months after Charlene died, he’d hated his girls. Hated them with a passion that shamed him. The memories still made him sick to his stomach.
Clearing his throat, he sat back down in his chair. “So what brings you downtown?”
Evan looked down and took a breath. He looked back up and stared right through him.
Guy’s stomach tightened and nausea rose. He knew what Evan was going to say. “Please don’t. We’re having a pleasant conversation. Do not ruin it by bringing Him up.”
“G,” his friend said softly, without censure. “You need His help. And if you won’t accept it, at least start with your friends, man. We’re meeting at Darryl’s place tonight at seven. Jo and I will be there, Chloe, Michelle, and of course, Darryl. You don’t have to believe what we say, but at least be around people who care for you.”
A lump of anger formed, threatening to burn his soul and ruin his friendship. The last time Evan had asked, had been the day they discovered his allergic reaction to the prosthetic material. Evan had been rushed to the hospital and the conversation effectively stalled. He didn’t want to hurt Evan’s feelings, but he was so tired of people bringing up God. “Look, I know you mean well, Ev—”
“Of course, you know I mean well. Tell me this, G. If the roles were reversed, can you honestly tell me you wouldn’t encourage me to turn back to God?”
His throat closed up. Life before Charlene seemed so vague, so surreal that he couldn’t even process what Evan had said.
“Don’t you remember how you felt when you and Charlene joined your church in Virginia? Don’t you remember calling me and telling me I needed to go on a regular basis?”
Guy squeezed his eyes shut. Charlene had loved their church. They had been welcomed with open arms. Supported when Charlene had been confined to bed rest. They had sent meals and company to see them through.
And after.
After, when Charlene was gone, and he had no idea what to do with the girls, they had been there. “I remember,” he cleared his throat, trying to hide the fact his voice was breaking under the pressure of difficult memories.
“Then you know why I’m asking you to join us. Hey, even Michelle joined us. She only came the first time to
