Loving Promises by Gail Gaymer Martin Read Free Book Online Page B

kids you have no life of your own.”
    Bev saw it coming again.
    “No husband. You’re too young to be alone.” She lowered her eyes. “It’s not just me, Bev. Dotty would like to see you and Dale get together. She so wants to know he’s happily married before—”
    “Mom, we’ve already talked about this. I find Dale an intriguing man. I like many things about him, but he’s not crazy about kids, and he has no interest in marriage. Anyway, he’s just not my type.”
    “What is your type?” her mother asked.
    Bev gazed at her while the question rolled around in her head. She closed her eyes, almost ashamed that she no longer saw Jesse’s face. The vision she saw was Dale and his haunting eyes.

Chapter Five
    D ale opened the passenger door for Bev. “You look amazing,” he said, admiring her knit top the color of new grass. She wore a flowery print skirt that reminded him of a spring meadow.
    Meadows and new grass. He cringed, hearing himself blathering poetry. When he’d seen her at her front door, he’d been startled to find himself nervous as a teenager on his first date. And this wasn’t a date.
    Bev thanked him and climbed into his car. He closed the passenger door and rounded the trunk to the driver’s side, slid in and turned the key in the ignition. When he shifted to look out the rear window, Bev’s golden hair brushed against her shoulders and glinted in the setting sun. She really was beautiful.
    Dale backed out of the driveway, and once on the highway, he pulled his thoughts from her to the question that had niggled at him since he’d spoken with her at the grill. “Did you have a chance to talk with your mother?”
    “Actually, she spoke to me first,” Bev said.
    “About caring for my mom?”
    “Uh-huh. She’s praying about it. She always asks God for guidance.”
    Since his mother’s illness, Dale had never asked God’s help for anything. “Do you ask God for direction?”
    “I do, but I don’t always listen. I would handle things much better if I did.”
    Though he smiled at her response, he felt envy. He’d lost the impetus to pray, and he’d harbored so much anger at the Lord he’d become stubborn, though he knew it was a sin. “My folks pray. We grew up saying bedtime prayers and blessings at the table. I don’t anymore.”
    Bev’s head swiveled toward him. “Why not?”
    “Long story. Let’s not go there tonight.”
    Her puzzled expression turned to disappointment, and he knew changing the subject was a must. “I’m amazed your mother brought up the topic first. The coincidence seems uncanny.”
    “It’s not uncanny, Dale. That’s how the Lord works. He sets wheels in motion so that our free will spots a need and we respond. It’s what people do. Christians give the credit to God.”
    Dale gave the credit to Millie and her soft heart.
    “Her praying about it sounds hopeful.”
    Bev nodded, and Dale realized that his earlier admission had undone the easy conversation they’d been sharing. He wanted to kick himself.
    “I’m sorry you don’t believe in prayer,” Bev said.
    His mind went blank. What could he say? “After being kicked around by God a few times, I just gave up.”
    “It’s not God that kicks us, Dale. It’s the evil in the world. The Lord’s willing to take our hand if we ask. I’ve had a few kicks myself, but that’s another story.”
    He wanted to know the story, but the look on her face told him to tread lightly. “Maybe I’ve been rash,” he said to appease her.
    “I’d say so. You need to open your heart.”
    “If he had one,” Dale could almost hear her saying. He reached across the distance and brushed her hand. “Thanks for putting up with me. I won’t deny I have things to learn, and you’re a good teacher.” He gave her fingers a squeeze, loving the feeling of her slender hand beneath his.
    “It’s nice to hear you say that. We all have things to learn.”
    His chest tightened, seeing her tender smile.
    Ian’s