Page 86 of Forever After All

Linc stared down into the dark coffee and swallowed the thickness in his throat. He knew there was a God. There had to be. His hang-up was on the forgiveness part. If Linc couldn’t see anything that could make up for his sins, it didn’t exist. If there wasn’t atonement, there wasn’t a way to erase it. “You’re right.”

“Of course I’m right, dummy. You miss one hundred percent of the chances you don’t take. You’re sitting around like you can’t leave the pity party and fix it.”

Linc looked up at his boss. “I can’t fix it. I hurt a lot of people. You know that. I can’t just give them back what I took.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”

“No, I don’t. You don’t know what it’s like to have a massive list of sins.”

“Oh, I don’t? If you believe that, you’re even stupider than I thought.”

Linc huffed. “You and I aren’t the same.”

“We’re not the same, but the Lord can look at us like we’re the same. As soon as you get your head out of your behind.”

Linc huffed a long exhale. The old man didn’t understand. They weren’t even in the same league. “If you say so.”

“I do. I’ve got a few wise years on you. Just clean your ears out and listen this time.”

“I’ve been listening to you this whole time! You told me to go to church, and I go.”

“But you’re not listening.”

“I have been. I just don’t get all of it. I didn’t finish high school. Cut me a break. The Bible is big and confusing. You can’t expect me to understand it.”

“No, but I expect you to get the basics. You don’t need to know every how and why. A lot of it takes a level of faith that you haven’t accepted.”

“I have faith,” Linc said.

“You havesomefaith. So far, it’s not enough. Maybe if you keep spending time with Jess you’ll get it. It’s black and white for her–just like she likes it. If she can get it, you can too.”

Linc worked his jaw from side to side. He trusted Mr. Chambers, and he trusted Jess. Why couldn’t he trust God?

“I’ll work on it. Just–”

“Don’t give up on you. I know. Been holding on for years. I’d like to see you come around before I kick the bucket.”

“You’re not–”

“I’m not dying any more than you are. But we all have an expiration date. It’d do you well to remember that you don’t have forever to come around.”

Linc propped his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. “I haven’t had enough sleep for this conversation.”

“Go rest. The work will be here waiting on you tomorrow.”

Linc looked up at Mr. Chambers. “With all due respect, Jess is still working, and she’ll just have more to do if I leave now.”

“Then go. Just remember what I said.”

Linc stood and headed for the kitchen to leave his cup. “I always do.”

Chapter25

Jess

Jess walked into the church stifling a yawn. A full twelve hours of sleep hadn’t been enough to catch up, and she prayed her morning caffeine boost would kick in soon. Falling asleep during the church service was the last thing she needed.

The first thing she needed was to set things right with Linc. They’d avoided each other for a whole day, and she didn’t want to miss her friend anymore.

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