Page 282 of Conveniently Wed
“Are you upset? You’ve hardly said a word since back there.”
She understood he meant when she had leapt into his arms. Likely wondered if she minded being kissed. She didn’t. But her insides were too twisted to think how she felt about that.
“I feel like I have to rethink who I am and what I want. All this time I thought all I needed was a permanent place of my own. But now I realize I can’t find the peace and security I desire unless I can trust. Not just man-made promises, but God’s promises. I’ve been trying to find my security in this place rather than in God. I find it unsettling.”
“Perhaps you are judging yourself too harshly. Has anything truly changed except you understand yourself better? Home and family are still important. God has given you those.”
“I remember so many broken promises.” The words ached from her, bleeding from a deep wound.
“Do you mean your pa’s broken promises? Has God failed to keep any of His?”
She blinked. “Of course not. Oh, I’m so confused.”
“Don’t measure God and everyone else by the actions of one man.”
“That would be foolish, wouldn’t it?” She tried to smile, but it felt like a grimace.
“It would be a big mistake.” His smile was gentle. His eyes full of summer blue. “Do you trust me?”
She was mesmerized by the gentle demand in his gaze. “I do. I want to.” She gave a little laugh. “I just threw myself into your arms, so I guess I do.”
He took the mug from her and set it on the ground then took her hands and pressed them between his own. He searched her gaze, his look bringing calmness to her turbulent insides.
“Stella, I can’t promise I would never let you down or fail you in some way, but if I do, believe me when I say—it would never be intentional or with a desire to hurt you.”
She drank in his promise, knowing she could trust it.
A movement behind him diverted her attention. She blinked. A woman walked toward them. “Bruce.”
He turned. “Where did she come from?”
“I don’t know.” They both rose as the woman drew closer.
She broke into a run. “Have you seen a little boy?” She stopped in front of them. She had black hair with mink-colored highlights and impossibly blue eyes. Stella thought she looked a little like Eve.
“Only my son, and he’s safely in bed.”
The young woman looked frantically from side to side, turned full circle. “I’ve looked everywhere, but I can’t find him.”
The woman’s fear wove through Stella, and she moved closer to Bruce.
He pulled her to his side. “Perhaps if you tell us who you are looking for…”
“My…my brother.” The poor woman was so distraught she could hardly get the words out. “He’s four. His name is Louie. I can’t find him.”
Stella knew the woman struggled to keep her composure. Stella wondered if she could manage to do so if Blossom was missing.
“We’ll help you find him.” Bruce was calm, reassuring. “Where did you come from?”
The woman made a vague motion toward the river.
“Are there others there?”
“No, we’re alone.”
“How is that possible?” Stella knew her voice rang with surprise.
The woman fixed her blue eyes on Stella. “We got separated from the others.”
