“Someday, you’ll find out that you chose the wrong thing to believe in. When the law finally fails you, I want you to know that Jesus will be waiting with open arms to receive you back into his fold,” Stephen had told him a few days ago.
A grimace crossed Adam’s face. He didn’t understand why his brother, Annie, and his foster parents refused to get it into their heads that the God thing wasn’t for him any longer.
He had spent the first fourteen years of his life believing solely in God and His mercies. But watching his parents bleed out on that train changed something inside him.
That he found something else to believe in other than God should have been accepted by them by now. He hated it when they acted religiously around him.
So far, the law had worked for him. Every case he had handled had been solved and all the criminals were in jail. The law had done that for him and not God. Therefore, he was satisfied with his life.
Angrily, he had replied to Stephen, “I don’t force my beliefs down your throat. So, don’t force your God down mine.”
Stephen had smiled sweetly. “Point of correction, Adam.Our God.He’sour God,not just mine.”
Adam had hissed fiercely and with fury in his steps walked out of the kitchen. He had avoided his brother since that encounter a few days ago, knowing Stephen would want to continue where he left off.
“Stubborn mule just like me,” he muttered.
Determined not to let the memory of arguing with his brother ruin his mood, he set it aside and continued on his journey to the orphanage.
Thankfully, even though Olivia was even more of a religious devotee than every Christian he knew, she had never for once tried to force God down his throat.
It amazed him she hadn’t once asked him if he was a Christian. Most likely she assumed that since he was surrounded by Christians and his late parents had been preachers, it meant he was a believer, too.
He hoped he could sustain that assumption in her because he was certain that if she found out the truth, she would, just like the others, try to convert him. And he would hate that because it would mean he would start avoiding her.
He didn’t want that. He enjoyed her company, and she made him feel things that made him happy on the inside.
Adam heard the noise at the orphanage before he reached the place. He tethered his horse, pushed open the wooden gate, and stood in surprise to see the children running around with sticks in between their legs.
But what mostly caught his attention was Olivia at the forefront of what appeared to be a horserace. Two other women were also a part of the race, eliciting laughter in all of them.
Mrs. Harrison was seated on the steps with a woman who appeared around her age, and they both clapped their hands at the fun-filled event going on.
If not that two of the children saw him and shouted his name, Adam almost closed the gate before being seen.
The laughter came to an end when the children ran to greet him. As usual, as the children surrounded him, he hugged some, patted and ruffled their hair, and lifted the small ones.
For the first time since he started visiting the orphanage, a tight knot formed in his chest. He wondered what it would feel like having a child of his own.
When he was younger and encircled by a loving family, he had wanted one of his own. But over the years, dedication to his job had made him reconsider. Having a family had been the last thing on his mind. However, he was having a rethink.
It’s Olivia. She’s doing this to me.
Adam moved forward, suddenly shy to meet Olivia. He exchanged greetings with the other teacher and the cleaner and moved forward to greet the cook and the matron before turning to Olivia.
His warm eyes searched her features. Her flushed face and twinkling blue eyes sent pleasure flowing through him. He liked seeing her like this, all relaxed and happy.
“I’m glad to see you’re having a good time.”
She laughed. “Indeed, I am. The children challenged us to a horserace.”
“Who won?”
Olivia pulled a face and Adam laughed. His gaze shifted to the children who were still running around the compound with the other adults.
He returned his gaze to Olivia. “I don’t mean to disturb you. I only came to inform you I’ve found out where Micah Peterson lives. I intend to head there now, but I’ll stop at the bank first to see Gabe Winters.”
Her eyes sparkled with joy. “That’s wonderful. Let me wash my hands and I’ll come with you.”
