Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files 3 / Military Romance) by Kennedy Layne Read Free Book Online

managed to look enthused anytime Liv glanced her way. Another round of hugs commenced, this time including Eric and Cam.
    “Liv, I am so proud of you,” Elle said, truly delighted for Liv. What Elle had told Cam wasn’t a lie. Some women actually preferred life on the streets, as it was within their comfort zone. It was the majority that just needed a chance to get out from under the uncertainty and hand-to-mouth existence. Sometimes all it took was someone believing in them to give the confidence they needed to actually reach out for hope. “Molly, how did your interview go today?”
    “I interviewed for a secretarial position at a trucking operation,” Molly replied with a shrug. “They said they’d be in touch.”
    “Do you feel the interview went well?” Cam finally sat down in his chair and leaned forward, with his elbows on the table. “Did they ask anything that I didn’t cover?”
    Elle hid a smile behind the mug of her now lukewarm coffee. Cam prided himself of instructing the girls in certain things, such as interviews, finance, and cooking. His eager expression for details was amusing as Liv and Molly delved into the particulars. Knowing this was the perfect time to excuse herself, Elle did so and walked back to the counter. Eric reached behind him and refilled her cup without even offering cream or sugar. Not that she took it sweet.
    “I’m going to go check on Rachel,” Elle murmured, keeping her voice low so as to not interrupt the conversation at the table. She nodded her head toward the door, which led to the stairway. “Cam said that Rachel has the back room?”
    “Yeah. We’re packed, especially with the amount of snow we’re supposed to get over the next few days.” Eric turned slightly to replace the carafe back on its burner. When he finally faced her, she could tell that he wasn’t as cheerful as he let on. Those were definitely stress lines around his eyes, not laugh lines. Elle wasn’t sure what to say, as they usually didn’t talk about personal stuff. Each of them avoided that like the plague. She was glad when he kept speaking, thus preventing her from saying anything. “A couple of new girls came in last night. We couldn’t refuse them, but I know they just wanted a place to crash because they hadn’t paid up on their rent. Within the next week they’ll be gone.”
    Elle was relieved when he’d stayed on the topic of Reformation. The housing was a specific type of shelter that aided women in getting back on their feet. They weren’t a homeless shelter and they weren’t there to be taken advantage of. Unfortunately it happened, and when it did, space was scarce. There were only eight rooms, yet Cam and Eric did their best to weed through the ones that weren’t serious in turning their lives around. Liv, Molly, Teresa, Sue, and Angela all had different back stories, but each of them was committed in reforming their existence. With the additional two women from last night, that left one more room. Elle needed to see how steadfast Rachel was in achieving something more than daily survival.
    “You can only go by what they tell you, Eric. Look at it this way—the next time they come seeking help, you can refer them to the homeless shelter down the street. Reformation has a strike out policy, which I’m sure Cam lectured them on.”
    “He did,” Eric conceded, nodding his head. “It didn’t deter them at all, but maybe I’m mistaken and they’ll see how good Liv is doing.”
    “Faith, Eric. They just need a little bit of faith.” Elle didn’t need to say anything else as they both knew that with just a little renewed faith, a person’s outlook could change on a dime. An uncomfortable silence descended when he didn’t reply. Yep, it was time to go. “Would you please pour me another cup? I’ll take one up to Rachel.”
    Elle silently left the kitchen when she was armed with both mugs. She ignored the feeling of being watched as she walked through the doorway