“Morning, Maria.”
“What can I do for you?”
I consider. Is this a mistake? But I shove those thoughts aside. “I need a Bible.”
“Of course.” She moves out from around the counter, and I follow her toward a large display near the middle of the store.
After surveying the different covers, I choose a leather-bound Bible with a cross imprinted on the front, handing it to Maria. She takes it back toward the front and rings me up.
“Do you want this gift wrapped?”
“Nah. A bag is fine.” Tessa has never been great at receiving gifts, so if I wrap it, it’ll just make her uncomfortable.
“You’ve got it.” She sticks it into a bag. “Thirty-nine, ninety-five.”
I hand her my card, and she runs it, then hands it back to me.
“That was some storm last night, right? Did you end up staying with Anastasia?”
“No. I stayed on the boat.”
“Really?”
I nod. “I was monitoring the weather, and it wasn’t supposed to get bad enough that it would have been unsafe. Just slightly uncomfortable.” I force a smile. It was dangerous, though, because I nearly lost someone who matters more to me than she probably should, considering the circumstances.
“Well, I’m glad you’re okay.” She offers me the receipt and bag. “Anything else?”
“Nope, that’s it.”
She grins. “You headed to Anastasia’s next?”
“I am, need something?”
“Just let her know I’m looking forward to tonight! It’s girls’ night, and I am in desperate need of it.” She laughs. “It’s been a rough month.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Her dad has been battling early-onset dementia, and Maria spends nearly all of her spare time with him.
“Thanks. It’ll all be okay. God is good, and I know He can make something beautiful out of this. Even if I can’t see it.”
“Amen to that.” I smile, then push the door open. “Thanks again, Maria.”
“Anytime, Zane. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Will do. See ya.” I push out onto the street and head toward Anastasia’s coffee shop so I can pick up two cups of coffee and some breakfast for Tessa. She was still asleep when Weston showed up this morning and took my place, granting me the opportunity to slip out for a run and get her a Bible.
What if she never reads it? What if it’s a waste?
I shut those thoughts down the moment they cross into my mind. She will read it. And offering someone the Word of God is never a waste. She’d been getting close to God before she left, which means the seed is there.
I just need to help her find it again.
With a smile on my face, I breeze into the coffee shop. It’s relatively empty this morning, which is not super unusual for mid-morning on Saturday around here since most people are out on the water, even given the cooler temperatures this time of year.
“Morning,” I greet Pastor Reeves and his wife, Helen, as they sit at a small, round table near the entrance.
“Morning, Zane. How are things?” Pastor Reeves stands and offers me a hug.
“Not too bad. I’m alive and can’t complain,” I reply, then embrace his wife when she stands as well.
