Free A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury Page A

the Bible seriously. He quickly found what he was looking for.
    “Here it is. In Jeremiah. God was reassuring the people through the prophet Jeremiah that if they turned their hearts toward him, he would be faithful with them for all times.”
    Jade nodded, still not sure what this had to do with her.
    “I want to read you something from Jeremiah twenty-nine.” He put his finger on the section of text, and Jade saw it was already highlighted. “ ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the L ORD , ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ”
    Tanner passed the Bible to Jade. “Here, read it again.”
    Jade read it to herself and then looked at him. “What does it mean?”
    He angled his head back thoughtfully and considered her question. As he did, a feeling, a hot sensation spread across her cheeks, and again their differences seemed glaringly obvious. “I uh … well … we didn’t read the Bible much.”
    There was nothing condescending in Tanner’s expression,but Jade had the sense he could see into her soul, as if he knew her heart long before she was willing to frame her thoughts with words. She hung her head slightly. “Okay, never … We, well, we weren’t exactly church-goers.” She hesitated. “I talk to God sometimes, though. When there’s no one else to talk to.”
    Tanner’s eyes lit up. “Good. That’s all this is, really. God’s way of talking back to us.” He pointed to the verse in Jeremiah again. “So what you see there is a promise that applies to anyone who puts their trust in the Lord, just like it applied to God’s people back then. Because that’s how God feels about those who love him.” Tanner ran his finger under the words again. “I know the plans I have for you … plans to give you hope and a future.”
    It sounded nice, Jade had to admit. But had she ever put her trust in the Lord? She didn’t think so, but she wasn’t willing to discuss it with Tanner. Not now. She tried to imagine how different her life might be if the Bible verse were true. Almighty God? A plan for her life? She didn’t think so, but it was comforting to think about. “Thanks, Tanner.”
    “Do you believe it?”
    She shrugged. “Hasn’t happened so far.”
    Tanner’s shoulders dropped. “That’s why it’s so important that you accept him as your.” Something in his eyes withdrew. “Never mind … I’m not trying to confuse you, Jade. But you’ve got to believe God loves you. Your life’s just beginning. Don’t you see?”
    “I see that our sandwiches are wilting.”
    He eyed the partially eaten subs and smiled. “I get the point. Topic closed.”
    They finished eating and watched the movie—a comedy Jade had seen twice before. But watching it with Tanner made every line new, and she laughed until she could barely breathe.When it was over, they sat facing each other on his rented sofa.
    “I have an idea.” Tanner laid his arm across the back of the sofa so that it was nearly touching Jade’s shoulder.
    “I’m listening.”
    “Come with me Sunday to Portland. I’ve been so busy I haven’t called my mother in days. I promised I’d see her this weekend—” he leaned closer and his eyes clouded with doubt, as though he was sure she’d say no before he finished asking—“we could go to church in the morning and spend the afternoon with my mom. Have dinner at her house, something like that.”
    Panic coursed through Jade’s veins. She’d barely known Tanner’s mother back when they were children. Even though she hung out at his house, his mother rarely made herself available or went out of her way to be kind to Jade. “Do you think she’d want me to come?”
    Tanner moved closer so that his arm rested against her, and there was a flicker of something deeply intimate in his eyes. Once more he drew nearer to her, then—as though he’d changed his mind—he stood and leaned casually against the wall. He looked