Page 20 of A Secret Promise

Jeremiah 29:12-13.

He had read the next verses on a whim while waiting for the ferry to dock. But now he knew it was God who had made him read those words. Because God had also known those words were what Rule would need right now.

"Do you want to pray about it?"

His daughter's face lit up with hope. "I...I want to, but I don't know how."

"I've never prayed much either," he admitted, "but I don't think there are any rules to it. And I certainly don't think God would be a good God if he'd laugh at us. Right?"

A smile slowly broke over his daughter's lips. "Right."

"So...you want to give it a try?"

Riley nodded. "Should we close our eyes?"

"If you want..." His voice trailed off since his daughter had already closed her eyes.

"Dear God..."

So far, so good. Right, God?

"Please make my mom go away—-"

"Riley."

"I'm just kidding, Dad."

Rule fought to keep his face impassive at Riley's pious tone.

"Dear God," Riley said again. "Please help Dad and I survive Mom's visit without wanting to—-"

"You know what? I'll pray instead."

"But—-"

"Dear God."

His daughter stopped protesting as soon as he spoke the words.

"I'm sorry that we're new to this. I hope and pray we'll get better as the days go by. But right now, we just want to ask for your help. We want to do the right thing. For everyone. Amen."

"Amen," Riley echoed.

A few moments of silence passed.

"Dad?"

Rule was about to restart the engine when heard his daughter speak.

"That felt good, didn't it?"

The wonder in her voice made his chest tighten.

Because he realized he felt the same thing.

"Yes," Rule said gruffly. "It did."

And somehow, even though nothing had been resolved, and things had even become worse, it was just like that morning again.

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