Page 109 of Forever After All

His lighthearted grin had the tension in her shoulders easing before he spoke. “When I said you scared me yesterday, that was an understatement. I spent most of the night shaking in my boots.”

“Your boots were by the door,” she pointed out.

“It rattled me, and that prompted a little talk with the Man Upstairs.”

Jess’s eyes widened. He’d prayed for her?

“Anyway, amongst the many thanks that you were okay, I decided to let the Lord handle the things I can’t. I’ve been holding back, but not anymore.”

The air in the small cabin thickened. “Really?”

“Really. I haven’t always been good, but I want to do everything I can to make things right. I’ll need the Lord for that. And you, if you’ll keep me in line.”

Jess lunged at him, wrapping her uninjured arm around his neck and pressing her body against his. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all week.”

Linc’s arm pressed against her back. “It wouldn’t take much. It’s been a week for bad news.”

Linc’s phone chimed in his pocket, and they jumped apart like they’d just been caught doing something they shouldn’t. He checked the screen and held up a finger.

“Hello.”

She watched him pacing around the small room, hoping it was news about Ava and the baby. Or at least good news about the storm headed their way.

“I’m sorry. I’m out on a ride, and I won’t be back for a few days. I’ll let Asa know and send him out there.”

Asa? Who would call Linc when they needed the police?

“Everything okay?” she asked as he ended the call.

“You know Mrs. Grant?”

“The elderly lady from church?”

“Yeah. She has a leaky pipe.”

Jess narrowed her eyes. “And she called you?”

“Is that so hard to believe? Mrs. Grant loves me.”

Jess chuckled. “I’m sure she does. I just didn’t know you were a handyman for the elderly on the side.”

“I only do it for her. We go way back.”

Jess crossed her arms as much as she could. “Please tell me a story.”

Linc rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s a long one.”

Jess waved her arm in the air. “I’ve got all night. It’s not like we’re going anywhere.”

Linc gestured to the small table and chairs in the corner, and Jess took a seat.

“You’re making me think this isn’t the funny story I was expecting.”

“It isn’t. At least it isn’t if I start at the beginning.” He sat and planted his boots shoulder-width apart. “You know I was in prison for a while.”

Oh, this wasthatstory. “Um, yeah.”

“My attorney was Mrs. Grant’s grandson. He was in the process of moving out of town, so he asked me to look after Mrs. Grant.”

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