Page 92 of Prodigal Son

“Get some sleep.” She rose from the bed and gathered his wet clothes off the floor.

“Destiny?”

“Yes?”

“Promise you’ll be here when I wake up.”

Surprised by his sweet request, she smiled. “I promise.”

Destiny quietly shut the door and laughed at the rumble of her brother’s snores filling the house. He was passed out on the small settee in the den, his belly rising and falling with each heavy snore.

She went to the kitchen and paused when she found Gracie weeping at the table. “Grace?”

The woman looked up, a startled expression on her face, and quickly blotted her eyes. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“What’s wrong?” Destiny set the damp clothes on a chair and went to her side.

“Nothing’s the matter. I’m being ridiculous and over emotional.”

She shifted into a seat beside her. “You’re upset. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Gracie sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I’m upset with myself. I’m acting foolish when I know better.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” Her face screwed into a stubborn scowl. “It’s all Dane’s fault. He’s angry with me because I…”

“You what?”

“He doesn’t’ understand how it is for us. We can’t choose who we end up with.”

Destiny frowned, disliking the sound of that. “Because you’re a woman?”

“Because I’m…Amish. There are rules.”

“And Dane is not Amish.”

“Correct. He’s also much younger than me.”

There couldn’t be that much of an age difference. Gracie barely looked old enough to drink. “Are you attracted to him?”

“No,” she scoffed. “He’s incredibly annoying and always filling my head with rubbish. He’s pushy and bullheaded and nothing like the males I’m used to.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing.”

“It’s not. And my feelings are irrelevant. I’m saving myself for my true mate.”

Destiny’s brows drew together at her strange terminology. “Do you know who he is?”

“I’ll know when God tells me.”

Oh, boy. She masked any judgement and respected that Gracie had a very strong faith. “Well, you could always save yourself and date other people in the meantime. Just don’t…go all the way.”

Gracie’s eyes met hers. “Like you and Cain?”

Destiny flushed. “Well, I…We…I don’t think your brother’s saving himself.”

She chuckled. “No. He’s rather a spendthrift in that department.”

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