Page 117 of To Believe In You
Focusing on the sensible course of action helped calm her. Or was it the tie to her grandparents?
What would they advise to cure this haunting anxiety?
Prayer, first and foremost. She let out a long exhale and closed her eyes. As she asked God for peace, an image of The Captain’s Vista rose in her mind. The solid old house, the ocean view, and the solitude might shelter her.
She opened her eyes, and the picture evaporated, but the desire to go only grew.
Psalm 23 talked about God providing rest in green pastures and near quiet waters. The Captain’s Vista had always been such a place for her. If she could find restoration anywhere, she’d find it there.
33
When Matt arrived at Gannon’s, he checked his phone. Since he and Lina had texted a couple of times yesterday, he’d tried her this morning.
How are you feeling?
The message remained unanswered. Lina had probably had a late night, and he hoped she was resting. No Awestruck or Key of Hope tasks were important enough to deserve her attention the day after being held hostage in her own home.
Although, no one had bothered to check in with him to ensure he was up for work.
He was, mostly because Tim’s sunny mood had rubbed off on him. Pain in his ribs and unfinished business with Lina had kept him awake on and off, but he didn’t want to miss Gannon’s and John’s reactions when the manager shared about the decision he’d made last night. Especially not when the alternative was to sit alone and replay the events of the day before.
He entered the passcode on the pad by the Vaughns’ door and let himself inside, as he’d been instructed to do when he’d rejoined the band. Movement to his right signaled someone’s approach, and his hopes rose. Perhaps Lina had been waiting for him?
Instead, Adeline offered a sympathetic smile. “How are you holding up?”
Emotionally? He’d had troubled dreams, but the details had faded from memory shortly after he’d woken. The gun hadn’t been loaded, no one had been seriously injured, and with Shane facing charges, hopefully the danger was behind them. “I’m fine.”
Adeline wrung her hands. “Next time I’m worried about someone, I should probably send a professional out. I didn’t mean to put you in danger. I was worried, but not that worried, you know? I’m really glad you’re both okay.”
Matt signaled her to stop. “I got there at exactly the right moment, which tells me that ultimately, God sent me, not you.”
Adeline chewed her lip, looking like she might come back with another regret.
He redirected. “How’s Lina?”
She sucked a breath through a cringe. “Hard to say. She requested a week off and left early this morning for her grandma’s old house.”
“She went to Maine?”
“Ah …” Adeline lifted her shoulders helplessly. “She called it a retreat. I assumed it was in driving distance.”
Lina didn’t have local family. She’d described several of her grandparents’ properties, but The Captain’s Vista, which Lina had painted so fondly, would make the most likely location.
“You think she’s okay?” Adeline asked. “Maybe I should’ve tried to talk her out of it, but she was in a hurry. Not really looking for feedback.”
He could imagine. He’d seen Lina on a mission or two in the last couple of months.
She’d seemed confident—almost to the point of arrogance—when she’d waltzed through the yard of Visser Landscaping, won the standoff with Pete, and offered Matt a job.
She’d also gone toe-to-toe with Tim when he’d first brought Matt to Key of Hope. Despite Tim’s position with the band and Matt’s presence, she’d articulated her objections to entrusting Matt with the teaching job.
Yet, the bluster had a soft underbelly.
Lina’s tenderness had sent her running to comfort the little girl who’d been picked on at the play. Shane’s calls had flustered her, and she’d shrunk with embarrassment as she related the details of his betrayal. Stories of her grandparents brought her comfort, and her parents’ disregard chipped away at her self-worth.
She tried so hard to do things right, but her efforts hadn’t netted her the meaningful connections she’d longed for.
Matt carried some blame in that area.
