Page 89 of Upon an April Night

“Thanks.” Her eyes flicked to his bare chest and back. “You too.”

His thumb slid back and forth against her skin. He had to stop touching her. This was insane and wrong, but it felt so good.

A sudden splash of water hit them. “Dréa’s on her way over,” Shannon said under her breath.

Duncan dropped his hand and floated backward away from them. He didn’t make eye contact with Jamie. He had crossed a line, but he wasn’t sure how to break their connection.

He swam to the dock and pulled himself up as Dréa joined him. “Are you coming in?” he asked.

“No, thanks.”

He wrapped his arms around her, and she shrieked. “Duncan! You’re getting me all wet!”

He angled her toward the water, threatening to drop her in. “Are you sure? It’s a nice day for a swim.”

“Let go of me!” She wasn’t happy at all, so he did as she asked.

She gave him a look of disapproval before marching across the yard, mumbling about having to change her clothes.

Duncan let out a deep breath, grabbed his towel, and walked up the dock. He glanced toward the water once more before going after Dréa, and he wished he hadn’t. Jamie coming out of the water, dripping wet, was a sight he wouldn’t be able to get out of his mind for the rest of the day. Especially with that cute little belly—that belly that was carrying their baby. And that only put the memory of how they’d made that baby back into his mind again.

He was in trouble, and in his desperation, he did the only thing he knew could truly make a difference. Instead of following Dréa across the lawn, he took a detour to the waterfront at the far edge of Aunt Pauline’s property. He dropped onto the bench there, squeezed his eyes closed, and finally talked to God.

I need your help, God. You know my thoughts are in the gutter right now. I don’t want to be unfaithful to Dréa, but I can’t stop thinking about Jamie. Why can’t I shake her? I’ve tried and tried. Please forgive me for these sinful thoughts. Please help me get through this. Help me to think of her as only my friend, as the mother of my child. I want to be a faithful husband to Dréa, but right now, I just don’t know how I can be when I can’t get Jamie out of my head.

The more he prayed, the more he realized he should’ve gone to the Lord with all of this the moment it had happened. He wasn’t sure why he thought he could get past it on his own, but his guilt and shame over the whole incident had kept him from reaching out. But now, the words flowed freely from his mind as he cried out to God.

Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me for sleeping with Jamie. For giving in to lust for one night of pleasure. I wanted her, and I took her when I knew better. I know I’ve sinned against you, as David did. And I know I’ve wasted a lot of time trying to figure all this out on my own, but I’m here now, God. Show me what to do. Because I can’t get through this without You.

He opened his eyes and gazed out across the glistening water.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me.

Chapter 35

With the sun sinking low in the sky, Jamie and Max sat on one of the benches by the bonfire. It had been a good day, but her mind couldn’t stop going back to the way Duncan had touched her in the water. At that moment, she wished they were the only two people in that lake. But she couldn’t read too much into it, because it would only lead to disappointment.

She looked around the yard at the family milling about, talking, and laughing. Shannon and Micah passed by the fire, walking hand-in-hand across the yard, then out onto the dock together. Jamie watched them sit down together, Shannon between Micah’s legs, letting their feet dip into the lake. Jamie’s heart ached at the sight. She wanted that kind of love, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever have it. She could only pray that God would bless her like that one day.

“Want to play cornhole?” Max asked.

She wrinkled her sunburned nose. “You go ahead. I’m kind of tired from all the swimming.”

Max went to play the game with some of the cousins and left her alone. She kept watching her friends on the dock until they stood and walked to the end. If only she’d brought her camera along. It was a moment she wished she could capture for them. The pink glow of the sunset off the water, their perfect silhouettes with hands held between them.

Someone sat down beside her just as she saw Micah turn toward Shannon, take her hands in his, and get down on one knee.

Her hands shot to her mouth. “Oh my gosh!”

“What’s wrong?”

She turned to see Duncan beside her, not Max as she had thought it was.

“Look!” She pointed toward the dock.

They watched as Micah held out a ring box, and Shannon’s head bobbed up and down. Then Micah was on his feet, wrapping his new fiancée up in his arms, lifting and spinning her around.

Duncan and Jamie clapped, as did several of the others who had taken notice. Whistles and cheers filled the yard.

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