He slid a look at her as a question wove through his mind. “Do you believe in God?” The moment the words came out, he wanted them back.
Especially when she turned toward him, a curious expression on her face. But her eyes didn’t look condescending. Nor shocked. She looked like she was really contemplating her answer.
“I...” She hesitated, then gave a single nod. “Yes. I do believe in God.”
She’d technically answered the question but told him nothing.
He dipped his chin. “And...?”
She gave him a wry smile. “And ... my parents took us to church. We prayed at meals. Prayed at bedtime. My sisters are all strong in their faith.”
It seemed she wanted him to ask the obvious question, so he did. “And why don’t you believe?”
She kept her focus ahead. “I do believe in God.” Then she cut her gaze to him. “As I just said.” The corners of her mouth twitched, but then she let out a long breath as she stared at the ground ahead. “I’ve tried, I really have. It’s just that ... I don’tfeelHim the way my sisters do.”
When she looked over at him, her eyes begged for understanding.“They talk about Him like He really hears. Like He cares what they say and responds to them. I still ask Him for help when something goes wrong, but ... I don’t know if He doesn’t care or if I’m not good at listening. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard an answer.”
He knew exactly what she meant. Neither the Flagstones who took him in after his parents died nor Gloria’s family had been religious. But he’d known a few people through the years—like the headmaster at school—who prayed like God really answered them.
He’d tried it once. That day the week before Christmas when he was fifteen, he came home to the Flagstones’ home and found it empty. Boarded up, with not even a note saying where they’d gone.
He’d been fighting tears, with no notion what to do or who to ask. He sat down on the outside stairs and prayed the way Headmaster Lawton did. Asking the Almighty to show him what he should do next.
God hadn’t answered.
So, Grant had picked himself up—as he always had to do—and went back to school. Headmaster Lawton let him stay for the Christmas holiday, and after a few inquiries, found that the Flagstones had moved to Springfield. They’d not felt it necessary to inform the school, though thankfully they’d already paid the remaining tuition for the spring term.
They hadn’t taken the time to send Grant a note either. Not even a simple missive with their new address. They must not have wanted him to know where to find them. They must have wanted to be rid of the orphan boy they’d reluctantly taken in five years before.
He’d spent every moment of those next few months eitherstudying or working odd jobs. Anything he could do to earn enough for the next year’s tuition. If he wasn’t allowed to stay at school, he’d have nowhere else to go.
And so went the next three years. By the end, he’d met and begun courting Gloria. They were both young. Too young.
She should have found someone far better than him. Her parents certainly felt so. But once they realized their daughter would accept no other outcome, Mr. Sistaire took Grant into his business. Grant had worked harder during those days than any other time in his life. Hewouldprove himself to his future father-in-law.
After he and Gloria were married, her father made him a junior solicitor, with the promise of eventually becoming a partner in the firm.
That all changed the night Gloria came home ill from the party.
“Grant?”
Faith’s voice tugged at him, pulling him from the downward swirl of memories. He forced himself to turn to her, his mind grappling for what had last been said.
Her sisters’ faith. Right.
He swallowed to bring moisture back into his mouth. He couldn’t let Faith become cynical and bitter like he was. She was everything good. Everything he couldn’t be.
“Faith.” Her blue eyes searched his, and he pressed on. “What your sisters have is real. It can be real for you too. I don’t know how to find it, but I think if your heart is open . . . if you ask Him, God will be there. He’ll answer you. It might not be in ways you expect, but it will be Him answering.”
What madness was he spewing? He didn’t even believethose words—at least they hadn’t proven true in his own life. But Faith needed something to cling to. Maybe God would come through for her if she asked Him. She was good enough. Surely.
Her eyes glistened, and she nodded. “Thank you.” Then she glanced behind her. “Should we turn back?”
Part of him didn’t want to. He’d be happy walking with her the rest of the day, even if she asked hard questions of him. But White Horse and Steps Right would wonder about them. He certainly didn’t want them thinking the worst.
As they turned toward the waterfall, Faith must have wanted to lighten the conversation. She sighed, and her voice took on a lighter tone. “I love rivers. The first time I sawyouwas beside a river.” She raised a brow as she slid a look at him.
Was she teasing? That was a good sign. Maybe her worries had eased.
