Duncan stopped. He was standing beside the
old historic log home that was just down the street from Lacy’s shop. It had
the huge cascading Bridal Bush in full bloom that his mother loved. And as Lacy
moved toward him he suddenly had an image of her as a bride. His bride. He shut
that down immediately. It wasn’t something that could ever be. Wasn’t something
he could ever deserve?
Lacy marched right up to him, her eyes alive
with a fire he’d not seen there before. “Oh Duncan, I can’t let you walk away
like this. For the last couple of days I’ve heard more whispers and talk about
you than I care to hear. But maybe that was a good thing because it’s becoming
clear to me that you are carrying a burden that you aren’t meant to carry.”
Duncan’s heart was slamming against his ribs
as he studied Lacy, wanting so much to pull her into his arms and be free from
the guilt and sorrow that blanketed him, suffocated him. But no, he shook his
head. He’d prayed for answers, for help and God hadn’t sent it. He’d prayed for
Missy to forgive him but—
“No,” Lacy broke into his thoughts. “Don’t
shake your head. Please listen to me, Duncan.” She stepped up close, obviously not
caring that they were on the street and everyone could see them. She placed her hands against his cheeks
and her beautiful brown eyes shimmered with more gentle kindness than he’d felt
in so long. “My heart breaks for Missy Taylor and that she lost her husband,”
she said, as if reading his mind. “But the truth is, she is hurting, grieving
and she and others—including you—are blaming you for something that isn’t your
fault. You have to let it go. God will heal her wounds with time."
Duncan’s throat tightened with emotion so
strong he couldn’t help himself, he pulled Lacy into his arms and laid his head
against her sweet, cupcake scented hair. Felt her heart beating in time with
his. Closing his eyes he tried to process all that she’d said. And suddenly he
realized that maybe God had been listening to his prayers—that
maybe in the darkness of his guilt God had sent help, a ray of hope… God had
sent Lacy, this beautiful, shaft of sunlight into his world when he’d most
needed someone to believe in him.
But could he believe what she was telling
him? Could he let go of the guilt eating at him?
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