Page 141 of Faking the Shot

God’s love. Without the noise, with everything filtered out except the most important things, she’d come to a fresh understanding of how much she needed God’s love. She’d thought she understood before, but there was nothing like clinging to God while the tempests raged. Yet despite her fears, God’s love remained, a sure and steady presence, a guard around her heart. She might have pushed Zac away, but he’d been right to break off things. She needed this time to focus on family, on God, on knowing who she was in Christ. Christ’s death on that cross had set her free from the past; so why did she keep writhing around instead of standing firm on what God had done? The patterns of the past didn’t have to define her future; God—the Holy Spirit within her—could help her stand strong and free. Instead, she’d let fear dictate her actions. Just like she’d done with Zac.

Zac. Her heart panged. So maybe there was another regret. She wished she had ended things better with Zac. But that was a thought she didn’t dare linger on as she knew her heart was only too quick to reel in the angst. Instead, she needed to pray blessings on him. That God would keep him safe. That God would bring along the right woman for him one day. That God would grant the desires of his heart.

“Lord, forgive me for not being careful with his heart. Forgive me for taking him for granted. Forgive me for not trusting You. I don’t know what You have for my life in the future, but You do. Help me to let that be enough. To let You be enough.” Her knees buckled, and she sank onto wet grass. “I’ve got nothing, God. I need You to be my everything.”

She must look like a wild woman crouched over in the wind that held traces of rain. But she didn’t care. It didn’t matter what she looked like. What mattered was that God looked at her heart, though it might be battered and bruised from the past few months, and was likely to ache with fresh bruises that still lay ahead. Man saw the outward appearance, but God saw her heart. He always had, and she needed it cleansed again. Both for now, and for whatever God had in the future. Where she’d stand on God’s promises that she’d been forgiven, that His presence was always with her, that He had good plans for her, just like He did for all who loved Him and were called according to His purposes.

“Lord, have Your way.”

CHAPTER27

Zac nodded to the secretary, who smiled as she led him to the door.

“He was so excited to think you might wish to have a meeting with him.”

“I’m grateful he could find time to fit me in.”

“For Zac Parotti? Always.” She opened the door. “Sir, here is your two o’clock.”

“Zac Parotti!” The mayor shook his hand. “Please, take a seat. What is it I can do for you today?”

“Thank you for agreeing to see me.”

“For you, any time.”

The secretary had been right. Zac placed the file on the desk between them. “A while ago you said to contact you if there was anything you could ever do. Well, there’s something I could really do with some help on.”

“What’s that?”

He had to be careful here to not bend the truth. “Remember when we met at the White Night back in November?”

The mayor nodded.

“I have a friend who is partnering with the White Night organization and has recently bought a house to be used as a shelter for women and children affected by domestic violence. But even though she’s had the property for the last few months, there’s some major planning approval holdups. So I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of who we can speak to in order to see that resolved more quickly.”

“Why the urgency?”

“Because her aunt is dying, and her aunt and mother were the ones whose own mother was killed because of domestic violence. And she would like to get this resolved before her aunt dies of cancer.”

The mayor’s face softened. “That is sad.” Then he looked at him more fully. “Hold on. This friend of yours. It’s not Ainsley Beckett by any chance?”

No more lies. “It is.”

“I thought you two had broken up.”

“We have.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

“Because it doesn’t change the fact that every day more women need help, and this is an important cause, with a deadline.” He winced at that last word.

“Why isn’t she here, pleading on her own behalf?”

“Because she’s with her aunt, who isdying.”

“Oh. I see.” The mayor glanced at him. “You know, I have to admit that I never really liked the sugary movies she’s always been in. They’re just a little too unrealistic, if you know what I mean. But then, when I heard about her plans to act in a movie about rescuing women from a brothel, I gotta admit my interest was piqued. See, I’d go watch that.”

Was now the time to admit that that wasn’t really what she’d planned to do? Or was that a step too far, and would kill any chance of the mayor helping to expedite matters? What could he say that was true? “I know that she really wants to get involved in productions that will make a difference in people’s lives.”

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