Page 62 of Love in the Storm

“I can’t shed my past like a second skin. It doesn’t go away.”

“Really? Because my past is dead. It can’t hurt me anymore. I became a new person. If I hadn’t put my new self together, I would have stayed broken.”

“How did you do it?” Lyric asked.

“I only had to take the first step. The Lord carried me after that.”

Lyric sighed. “I don’t know what the first step is. I guess finding a place to stay would be a good one.”

“Maybe the first step is something smaller. Don’t worry. You won’t be on the street on Friday.”

Lyric checked her watch. “I’ve gotta go. My shift starts in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll ask around about a place for you today,” Kendra said.

“Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She might not have everything, but having a friend like Kendra was something she wouldn’t take for granted.

Maybe Kendra had the right idea. Lyric could ask around while she was working today. She saw lots of people at the thrift store. One of them might know something about a place to rent.

21

ASA

Asa watched the barista pour coffee into a cup behind the counter at Sticky Sweets. Coffee made him think of Lyric, and thinking of Lyric made him think about how he’d fumbled over his words like a pre-teen this morning at Deano’s.

He hadn’t even been able to string an intelligent sentence together, and he’d been sweating a little extra under his Kevlar vest.

There was also the little tidbit about her getting evicted that he’d overheard. Was she really being evicted? He could run back by Deano’s later and ask Kendra, but what good would knowing be if he couldn’t help?

“Dude, are you even listening?” Dawson said as he bumped Asa’s shoulder.

“No.” That was one of his problems lately.Listening when he shouldn’t and not listening when he should.

“Ugh. Now I have to start the story over.”

The line cleared in front of them, and they told the young girl their orders, then stepped out of line to wait for their food.

Dawson crossed his arms. “As I was saying, Beau thinks I’d look stupid with a mustache, but Mom says I’d be cute.”

“Your mom always thinks you’re cute.”

Dawson shot Asa a glare. “Are you saying I’mnotalways cute?”

“No comment.” Asa scanned the customers in the bakery. Why was he always looking for Lyric? He didn’t need another opportunity to make a fool of himself, but he missed her. It was messed up, but he hadn’t figured out how to handle the situation with Lyric. Never talking to her again didn’t sit right with him for a number of reasons.

First, he hadn’t gotten a chance to say all the things he wanted to say. They’d been rushed out of the cabin, and he still didn’t have all the answers.

Second, he missed her. He wanted that special connection back, and he wasn’t convinced it was just part of being stranded together. Lyric wasn’t some ordinary woman. If she’d talk to him, could they start over?

He still hadn’t figured out how her criminal record would fit into his life. If she wanted a relationshipwith him, Jacob was part of the deal. Could Asa trust that she wouldn’t relapse? There wouldn’t be an answer to that question. Could he live with that? Subject his son to the possibility?

“Earth to Asa,” Dawson said.

“What?”

“Your order is ready.”

---