Page 73 of Faking the Shot

He tugged her closer. “You know I never meant for any of that to happen.”

“I know. It’s an unfortunate effect. So I’d like to do something to make up for it.”

“Like what?” Diana asked. “Make a movie?”

“That would take too long. Something that’s a lot easier.”

“What about donating money to a women’s refuge?”

“I do that already.”

She did?

“I guess I’m just wanting something that will touch my heart a little bit more than just my bank balance.”

“You mean you want to meet with women who have been affected by this issue?”

“I don’t know if they’d want to meet with me, or how to go about doing any of that in a sensitive way that actually puts a spotlight on the right thing and not just Ainsley Beckett Ainsley Becketting.”

He smiled. He liked this self-deprecation she showed.

Diana studied Ainsley. “Are you serious about wanting to help women?”

“I wouldn’t be saying this unless I was.”

Diana nodded. “Then maybe you should join me and my pastor’s wife for our final visit this year to a local women’s place next week.”

“What is it?”

“Here we go,” Chris muttered.

“Uh-uh. Don’t you go doing that,” Diana said, not looking at her husband. “You said you understood, and I’m taking you at your word.”

“But you can’t take Ainsley there. She’ll be recognized.”

“And if she is, well, is that such a bad thing? Those poor women will feel seen by someone whoisseen.”

“But they might think that she’s there for a role.”

“Please.” Diana rolled her eyes. “Can you see Abigail at a strip joint?”

“A what?” Zac asked.

Diana smiled at Ainsley, whose mouth had fallen open. “If you really want to connect with broken women, then I invite you to join me and Pastor Glenda for our monthly visit to the local strip joint.”

Zac coughed. “Are you serious?”

“You better tell him what you do there, hon, before he starts getting wild ideas.”

“Hey—”

“It’s okay, Zac. It’s part of our ministry to the community,” Diana said. “All we do is take baskets of nice toiletries and things to the ladies, and we take a meal, and we pray for anyone who wants it.”

“Are you for real?” Ainsley asked.

He turned to her, unable to read her expression. Diana and Chris also seemed unsure.

“That sounds amazing!” Ainsley said.

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