She would have trusted Him. And His love for her—
Oh.
His love. For her.
She leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes.Is that it, Lord?She waited, and the confirmation rang through her heart and soul.
This was what Mary had been trying to get through her thick skull. Eliza was afraid, yes. But not just of failure. Or being alone.
She was afraid of love.
No... she was afraid of notdeservinglove. God’s love. And then ... Devin’s.
She stood and tried to catch her breath.
She’d thought all these years that thesomething missingwas something she hadn’t found yet. Something she needed to search for, or research, or study.
But it was right in front of her the entire time.
Taking deep breaths, she worked to calm her heart. She’dlove nothing more than to run to Mary and tell her the epiphany she’d just had. But it was getting late.
Eliza plopped back in the chair and picked up her pen.
No. These words shouldn’t be written in a letter to Devin. She needed to tell him face-to-face.
But she wrote them down anyway, just for herself.
I am loved by God.
Wholly. Completely. Unconditionally.
She couldn’t help but laugh with the joy bubbling out of her. And in that moment...
Her heart cracked open wide.
God.Loved. Her.
And He gave her Devin. Her best friend. Her constant support.
Her beloved.
Shelovedhim. And now she knew God had given him to her to share life and faith with.
Laughter bubbled out of her again. No wonder she extracted that promise from him all those years ago! She must have known in her soul that without Devin, she wasn’t who God intended her to be. He completed her. She completed him. God made them to love each other.
Thank You, Lord. ThankYou for helping me finally see.
She. Loved. Devin.
FRIDAY, AUGUST4, 1916•PITTSBURGH
The loud banging at the front door had Devin rubbing at his eyes as he threw on his bathrobe and rushed to answer it. He peered out the small window in the top of the door.
There stood the same man who’d summoned him to Mills Manor when Mr. Mills had passed.
He opened the door. “Good morning.” His voice croaked, and he ran a hand through his hair.
“Good morning, Mr. Schmitt. Mrs. Mills requests that you take breakfast with her this morning, if that is amenable to you.”
