“I’m hoping Dad left the second clue in an envelope identical to the first one. He may have placed it inside an album cover or between records or on the base of a shelf. Perhaps even behind the bookcase. There’s a chance, though, that the clue could be more subtle than an envelope.”
“What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t always write out the treasure hunt clues. Sometimes the clue is an item.”
“Explain.”
“On one of the last birthday hunts I completed before going away to college, he sent me to a botanical garden. There were several sculptures there. One of them was a father fishing with his daughter. Which reminded me of all the times I’d fished with my dad. I found the next clue waiting for me at our favorite fishing spot.”
“If this clue is like that, do you think you’ll recognize it when you see it?”
“I hope so, though I admit I haven’talwaysrecognized the object Dad intended as a clue. Once, he sent me to a wing of an art museum, and I failed to comprehend that a painting of a milkshake was supposed to point me to the diner where he and I sometimes stopped for milkshakes after school.”
He did not look amused.
“We need to pay close attention to details,” she plunged on. “Basically, if you notice anything at all—a newspaper clipping, an album with a corner cut off, a sticker—speak up.”
They went to work while the musty scent of a furnace that hadn’t been active in months rose around them.
She placed the coffee table on its side and ran her fingertips around every corner and crevice. She searched the underside of the rug. Nothing there. She scooted over to the bookcase and began making her way through records.
The nearness of his strong body grew more and more impossible to ignore. Over the past several days she’d become . . . aware of him as a man, despite the fact that she hadn’t been aware of anyone inthat kind of wayin years.
He stepped behind her, not touching her at all. The skin of her back flushed with heat.
She was his employer!
Yet her body had a rebellious mind of its own.
It was unseemly to notice the physical attributes of a man she was genuinely trying to assist in his new lease on life. Not to mention, it was a betrayal of Chase.
Chase had been perfect for her in every way. Kind, creative, devoted to animals. He’d loved music and dreamt of bringing the gospel to unreached people groups. So chill, so altruistic.
Luke had scoffed at the idea that Chase was her once-in-a-lifetime love because he couldn’t fathom what she and Chase had shared. Her relationship with Chase had been singular. Irreplaceable. Chase was the husband and life partner who’d never had the chance to be either of those things, yet he would always be both of those things in her mind.
Luke had accused her of refusing to go on dates with other men because she was scared. That wasn’t it. She’d thrown herself at God when Chase died, and God had caught and carried her. At first, He’d carried her through flames and smoke and pain. Later, He’d carried her to meadows filled with clear air and hope.
God had shown her He was all she needed. Naturally, He’d removed feelings of desire from her life because romance was no longer what He had for her.
Besides, how could anyone stir her the way Chase had? How could anyone be as supportive and self-sacrificing as Chase? They couldn’t.
Luke was nothing like Chase.
Luke had an unapologetically bad-boy vibe. He was hardened and cynical. To be fair, he also had several sterling qualities. He worked hard. He was ferociously smart with computers. He adhered to a code of honor. That he was beside her today, attempting to fulfill his promise to her dad, proved it.
Chase had taken part in peace demonstrations.
Luke could probably kill someone with his bare hands.
The woman who’d been drawn to Chase should not be drawn to Luke. Really, since God had called her to singleness, she shouldn’t be drawn to anyone. But,please Lord, definitely not to Luke.
Surely this ... consciousness of him ... was a passing whim. He had the appeal of a destination like Morocco. You’d see pictures of Morocco, and it was so different from anywhere you’d ever been or planned to go that you’d feel a tug of fascination. But then reality would set in and you’d realize, no, no. You didn’t want to go to Morocco. When the time came to put down a deposit for your trip, you’d put your money down for a European vacation. Because, of course, Europe was the place you’d always wanted to visit.
Time would sort this out. She made a mental note to ask the Lord to keep her thoughts toward Luke honorable and to show her how to rehabilitate him.Thatmust remain her focus.
“The day we met ...” Luke said.
She jumped at the sudden sound of his deep voice.
