Page 28 of Ten Kisses

Then Isabel crossed his mind.

Guilt pierced through Salem, causing a tangible feeling that made him put his fist to his chest as he headed inside. He closed the door behind him. He didn't know what to do with these feelings.

Salem had prayed earnestly years ago, and he received multiple supernatural confirmations that Isabel Love should have his heart. He honestly believed he had confirmation from God that he should wait for her for as long as it took. He knew Isabel wasn't thinking about him, but he was patient and he was certain he had the right marching orders. The confirmation from God had been so real that Salem had settled it in his heart years ago.

All this time, he had felt at peace about waiting for Isabel.

He still did.

Or did he?

This was the first time he had ever doubted his feelings. The patience for Isabel was leaving. His heart felt tugged to Molly Kennedy. He definitely felt drawn to her physically, but now his heart was leaning in as well.

He hated to see her leave tonight. Any other night, he wouldn't have cared that she didn't want to eat at his brother's, but tonight he was sad when she left. He missed her. He wanted her to come back.

He thought of the kiss. He felt elated for a second and then he felt angry at the thought of anyone else kissing Molly. He wondered how she interacted with other guys. He thought of the chef. He cringed at the idea of her kissing anyone else.

Salem was so affected emotionally that he sat in a chair. He hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

Salem prayed out loud.

"God, please help. I'm confused right now, and I ask you to bring me some clarity. I know you told me to wait for Isabel. I felt it, and I know it. I knew it. Now I'm not so… I’m getting tired of being patient for her, Father, and I'm being tempted. I'm so tempted. You know my temptations with Molly. Help me with that, please. If I'm to wait for Isabel, you might want to help me get Molly out of my life. Obviously, I should do that if you want me to be with Isabel."

Salem stopped praying because he felt sick at the thought of Molly being out of his life.

"Do you want her out of my life? Can you please tell me what to do? Can you please make the feelings about Molly go away if I'm supposed to keep waiting for Isabel? Help me withstand this, please."

Salem had a feeling as he finished his prayer that he should go to the Bible.

He had one in the drawer and he opened it randomly to John chapter 6. He wasn't usually a big fan of opening the Bible randomly, but in this case, he was desperately seeking a sign. He read whatever his eye fell on first, which was the passage about Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes and feeding the multitudes. Salem read the whole passage, past the part where they picked up the baskets of leftovers.

He reasoned within himself that this was a sign that he should be with Molly. After all, she created food for a job, and the passage was about food. Then he thought about how Isabel was in Africa, ministering to people there, feeding the hungry.

"What does it mean?" Salem asked out loud. "Is it Molly with the chocolate?"

He stared upward, smiling at himself and knowing it was a silly question, but still hoping God would speak to him anyway. If he hadn't experienced supernatural signs and wonders about Isabel, he would never be so torn. He desperately wished God would change His mind about Isabel and show him some sort of actual sign (that wasn't just reading about food in the Bible).

He figured he was pressing the issue of Molly because he was so very physically attracted to her. He squinted and rubbed his eyebrows at the thought of her beauty. She was precious to him. Exquisite.

Salem sighed.

He knew God knew his heart.

His prayer was over without any closing statement. He simply stood and put his Bible back into the drawer. He spent five minutes cleaning his shop before grabbing the chocolates and heading to his brother's house.

***

"What's this?" Addie said when Salem came inside. She was eight months pregnant, and she was a small-framed woman, so she looked a bit like she was about to pop.

"Chocolate," he answered.

"More? Thank you. I had a bite of it already and it's amazing. You don't want it?"

"Molly said she would bring me some more tomorrow."

"Thank you. And tell her thank you. Is there enough in there for me to break it up into chips and make some cookies?"

"Yeah, there's plenty in here, and she was talking about this being made for baking, so it'll probably be good in cookies."

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