Picket Fence Promises. Kathryn Springer

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      My strength. My fortress. I wasn’t in this alone. The thought bloomed inside of me. Esther was right. He was the one I needed to run to. And Alex was wrong. He thought I was backed into a corner, but actually I’d taken refuge in the one who’d created me. Ha.

      Chapter Six

      “You don’t look like you slept much.”

      I shot Elise what I thought was an evil look, but I must have failed because she laughed instead of fleeing for her life. “I watched one of those home-shopping channels until three in the morning. I think I may have ordered something, although I can’t remember what.”

      Elise settled into one of the chairs by the window and shrugged out of her coat. “Are you okay?”

      “No.”

      “Is he still in town?”

      “He’s at Charity’s. At least he was last night when I dropped him off. He wanted to have dinner with me, I told him no because I was cutting hair at the Golden Oaks. He met Esther and John, and Esther told me that being a Christian is like bungee jumping—thanks so much for warning me about that—and unless Charity’s bird perched on Alex’s poster bed last night and recited the Ten Commandments, he’s probably lurking around somewhere, ready to pounce on my unsuspecting self. Oh, and Heather called and he answered the phone…”

      “Okay, stop right there. My brain can’t take your version of shorthand. Heather talked to him?”

      “Sort of. He pretended he was my voice mail. It wasn’t a real conversation. He said he has me cornered. I went back home and decided I’m never going to let him see my apartment.”

      “I like your apartment. It’s unique, like you.”

      Best friends. Their loyalty is deep but strange.

      “I don’t think I’m going to get out of dinner, unless he has to arm wrestle Jim Briggs, then there’s a chance. Alex could probably beat the farmers but Jim has arms like wooden posts, have you noticed that?”

      “Why would he arm wrestle Jim Briggs? Never mind. How long is he staying? And why is he here?”

      “Answer to both questions—no idea.” I glanced at my appointment book and saw Jill Cabott’s name scrawled between the black lines. Jill always ran a few minutes late. “I’m not even sure how he found me. He said he wanted to tell me how he’s doing.”

      “So he came in person. From California.”

      “I guess.” Seeing Elise’s expression, I shrugged. “It doesn’t make sense to me, either.”

      “Does he want a relationship with you?”

      Elise’s words may have been soft but they hit hard. “No!”

      “You sound pretty sure.”

      “He didn’t ever want a relationship with me.”

      Elise frowned. “But you told me that you left him.”

      “I did.”

      “So, doesn’t that mean you were the one who didn’t want a relationship?”

      “I can’t have this conversation without coffee.”

      Elise smiled. “I’m just trying to understand.”

      “Get in line.”

      In the ten minutes of privacy we had before my appointments started, I filled her in on what happened at Sally’s and how Candy threatened to confiscate his luggage and that Jim Briggs wanted me to be careful. By the time I finished, the normally unflappable Elise Penny was looking a bit dazed. I was glad—I’d hate to be the only one.

      “So people aren’t falling all over him?”

      “Maybe if they’re armed with pitchforks.”

      “He’s not going to make the marquee then.” Elise looked disappointed.

      “Maybe he will…only it’ll say Go Home Alex Scott.”

      “You’re handling all this pretty well.”

      I was? “I am?”

      “You aren’t falling apart. You aren’t packing your suitcase. You aren’t eating handfuls of Tootsie Roll.”

      I’ve learned to dispose of the wrappers. But she was right. “God reminded me of something last night. I don’t have to run away anymore. Now I can run to.”

      Elise didn’t flinch or look surprised when I mentioned God. She was getting to know Him better, too. I came across a verse recently that said something about God-chosen lives and what splendid friends they make. Elise was that kind of friend. So were Annie and Esther and John.

      There was a flash of color outside the window and the door swung open. “Good morning, ladies.”

      Alex. And he looked like he got a decent night’s sleep, too. And he looked like he’d been…running? He was wearing black sweatpants and a gray T-shirt and tennis shoes that would have cost me a month’s rent. His hair was messy and his face flushed with color. And he still looked gorgeous. Honestly, could he be any more annoying?

      “You remember my friend, Elise?”

      Alex nodded and smiled. “Hi, Elise.”

      The day before, I’d been so shocked when I’d seen him that I couldn’t even remember introducing him to Elise and Annie but now I watched him carefully to see his reaction. Usually when men see Elise for the first time, they get a little tongue-tied. Elise is truly beautiful. If God hadn’t planted her in Prichett, Elise could have been as famous as Alex.

      The first time СКАЧАТЬ