Page 5 of Be Courageous

Grace’s astute gaze slid over her as she approached her twin. Anyone looking at them would have a very hard time telling them apart. They both wore their hair long, falling midway down their backs, but where Grace parted hers on the right, Faith’s part was on the left. Grace was left-handed; Faith right-handed. She used to be fuller figured, having just given birth to her third baby, but she’d lost most of her baby weight from nursing Mary Mae, and the last five pounds had fallen off her after sending Fitz away.

“You’re losing weight.” The candid observation was typical of Grace, who rarely minced her words.

“I guess so. I haven’t eaten dinner yet. Want to join me?”

“Sure.”

Faith led the way out of the office before flipping off the lights. As they crossed through the dark barn, Otis, the old bay gelding they’d grown up with, nickered at them while the three therapy horses dozed in silence. The house’s porch light provided the only illumination, shining through the barn’s double doors, currently wide open to let in the fresh fall air.

Faith sensed Grace’s sidelong glances.

“What’s going on with you and Fitz? I thought he would be here.”

Sorrow pooled in Faith’s chest, slowing her to a stop. “We’re on a break for Grayson’s sake.”

“What?” Grace’s voice rose nearly an octave. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”

“Because I didn’t want to bother you. You’re a busy teacher with two kids at home.”

Grace grabbed her arm, stopping her forward progress. “But why? I thought you got along great.”

“We did.” Faith drew a deep beath. “Grayson’s counselor told me my son’s anger stems from me moving on too quickly. So, I’m giving him time.” Just talking about it made Faith’s throat tighten.

Grace, who knew better than anyone what Faith’s sacrifice was costing her, pulled her into a familiar and supportive embrace, smelling of nutmeg as she always did.I’m so lucky,Faith reminded herself. Because of Grace, she’d never been truly alone in the world. Not even when Jerry had died.

“I’m sure he’ll wait for you,” Grace murmured in her ear.

Remembering the way Fitz had walked off her porch and driven away without a single backward glance, Faith wasn’t so sure. “I don’t know.” She let her arms fall and stepped back. “I’m afraid he’s going to pull away for good. He didn’t want me telling you this because he doesn’t want anyone pitying him, but he lost his entire family, a wife and three kids, to the mob—retaliation for putting their boss in jail.”

“Oh my gosh.” Grace gaped at her, horrified.

“It took a lot of courage for him to risk his heart again, and then I trampled it by pushing him away.”

“I’ll pray for you both,” Grace promised. “I’m sure God means for you to be together.”

Faith managed a smile. How it gladdened her heart to hear Grace confess to praying at all. Not that long ago, after losing a baby and a husband, she’d been sure God had forgotten her. Discovering love again in the form of Amos McLeod and gaining two adopted sons, she’d realized God had been loving her all along.

“You’re right.” Shaking off her gloom, Faith continued forward and shut the barn doors with Grace’s help.

Thank God Grace had come by tonight, reminding her that He had watched over her all her life. He wouldn’t stop now.

CHAPTER2

TWO WEEKS AFTER CHRISTMAS

Grayson hustled toward the head of the driveway at eight fifteen in the morning with the ham-and-cheese sandwich his mother had made tucked into a brown paper bag inside his backpack. It was the first week in January, misty from the cold snap that swept in suddenly. Grayson shuddered in his sweatshirt, wishing he’d put on a jacket like his mom had told him to. But doing exactly the opposite made him feel independent.

“Hurry,” she called off the front porch after him. “You’re late!”

He didn’t acknowledge her, just walked a little faster. Then, hearing the distinct roar of the bus, he broke into a hobble—not that he was eager to get to school. He hated his new middle school, which was full of kids who treated him like he’d come from another planet. Only Cameron, who lived right down the road, had befriended him.

Grayson was still fifty yards from the road when heard the bus slow down at the head of his driveway. Brakes screeched. Red lights flared, rosy pink in the mist. He picked up his pace, confident the bus driver could see him running toward her with his backpack jiggling. But, apparently, she did not because, instead of coming to a stop, the bus picked up speed again.

“Hey! Wait!” Grayson’s shout went unheeded as the bus roared away.

He reached the head of the driveway breathing fast. Seeing nothing in either direction but asphalt, ditches, and trees, he uttered a curse word, which made him feel like a grownup. But then he turned helplessly around and started back home, only to stop in his tracks as he pictured his mother’s dismay.

She would have to take him to school, but not untilafterOlivia’s bus came and the babysitter showed up. With her first patient arriving at nine o’clock, that didn’t leave her enough time to drive to his middle school and back again. That meant the babysitter would have to do it. Grayson cringed at the thought. Grownups did not have babysitters.

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