“I was drunk when I agreed to go. My father, the same man who is surely to blame for this misunderstanding, took advantage of my state and all but forced me out of the country. When I returned, I tried again to find Kenzie, but her father told me she had gone.”
“And you did nothing to find her? You, with all the money and resources in the world at your fingertips, you did nothing?” Micah asked.
Camri gave Arthur a questioning look. “He makes a good point, Mr. Morgan.”
“I was ... well, I was devastated at the loss,” Arthur answered in a hesitant voice. “When I returned, I was determined to forget my sorrow and move ahead with my life. I had no idea that Kenzie thought I no longer loved her.”
“Again, that would never have stopped me. I would have gone out of my way to woo her back—to convince her that we belonged together.” Micah shook his head. “I don’t believe you, Mr. Morgan.”
Camri got to her feet. “I want to speak to Kenzie. I expect you two to conduct yourselves in a gentlemanly manner and refrain from fisticuffs. Judith, would you mind staying here to help these two remember who they are?”
“Of course.” Judith smiled. “I’m sure we can just sit and talk about the weather or the rebuilding.”
Camri was equally certain they wouldn’t, but said nothing. She made her way to the room she shared with Kenzie and Judith and knocked on the door. She tried the handle, but it was locked.
“Kenzie, it’s Camri. Please let me in.”
She wasn’t sure if Kenzie had heard her and was about to knock again when the key scraped in the lock and the door opened.
Kenzie’s eyes were red from crying and her face blotchy and tearstained. “I don’t know what in the world God has in mind for me, but this seems to be a cruel joke.”
Camri shook her head. “Let’s sit and talk.”
“Is he still here?”
“Yes. Judith is sitting with him and Micah. She’ll keep them out of trouble. At least momentarily. Please tell me what’s going on. Mr. Morgan says he’s here because of the letter I had you write. I feel horrible for it and want to make things right if I can.”
“It’s not your fault.” Kenzie sat on her cot.
Camri lowered herself to her own cot opposite Kenzie. “If I hadn’t encouraged you to speak your mind in that letter, you might never have had to deal with him again.”
“Yes, but if what he’s saying is true, then he believes I’m the one who left him.” Kenzie wiped her face with a handkerchief. “Oh, Camri, I never in my life imagined something like this could happen. I truly never thought that his family would have deceived us both.”
“Do you believe that’s what happened?”
“Why should I not? If Arthur truly deserted me as I thought, then why would he come here now? He knows I have no great fortune to settle upon him like Judith. I’m still the same woman he left at the altar. There would be no reason to come here unless he really did love me.”
“I suppose that’s true. But, Kenzie, even if his family did deceive you both, what’s done is done. You have feelings for Micah now.”
“That’s what makes this so impossible.” Kenzie buried her face in her hands and cried in earnest.
Camri slipped from her cot to Kenzie’s and put her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “It’s all right. You aren’t to blame for any of this.”
Kenzie looked up. “But I’m so confused. I never wanted to hurt Arthur. I was prepared to spend the rest of my life with him. I honestly thought we could be happy together.”
“It isn’t your fault.”
“But that doesn’t change the facts. What has happened has ruined everything. I just want to disappear. I can’t bear the idea of hurting either Arthur or Micah. All the pain that I went through, I ... I can’t willingly do that to someone else.” She slumped against Camri. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Well, for now you should simply rest. I’ll send Arthur away and tell him to come back tomorrow. Or better still, I’ll find out where he’s staying, and when you’re ready, we’ll go to him.”
Kenzie said nothing, and Camri decided it was best not to press her.
“You rest now,” Camri said, getting up. She gave Kenzie’s shoulder a pat. “It’ll be all right. I promise you. We’ll sort through it, and above all, we’ll pray. None of this has taken God by surprise. He’ll have answers for us.”
Camri made her way from the room and rejoined the others. Micah looked furious while Mr. Morgan spoke with Judith. Camri had never known a greater predicament where the human heart was involved. This wouldn’t be easily resolved.
Stopping beside Arthur, she offered him a smile. “Kenzie is quite upset, as I’m sure you realize. I told her I would send you away. You can tell us where you’ll be, and when she’s up to it, we’ll come to see you.”
