Free Heart's Design: A Contemporary Christian Romance by Joann Durgin Page A

law school this fall. You know how much I love lawyers.” Try as he might, he couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his tone.
    “No, but I know how much you despise one lawyer. You don’t hate them in general, like a species. That’s like saying you don’t like a certain minority, and the Seth Barnes I know would never say something like that. Be careful, honey. Hate is a very strong word. It’s not to be bandied about without forethought.”
    “Yes, my beef is with one lawyer, but I don’t think I could ever date a woman who pursues a career where she’d knowingly and purposely suck the life and livelihood out of someone in a courtroom.”
    The line between Beverly’s brows deepened. “Who’s talking about dating? And that’s a grossly unfair judgment now, isn’t it? There are all kinds of lawyers and you’re making assumptions. Caroline might want to be a public defender and help people who can’t afford one of those fancy, high-priced lawyers. Don’t forget your daddy had an attorney, too, all those years ago, and he was a good man. Your father wasn’t convicted, so his attorney did his job by getting the acquittal.” Beverly shook her head. “I wished you’d listen to yourself.”
    Beverly busied herself wiping down the counter but the disapproval in her tone came through loud and clear. She was disappointed in him, and that sent an arrow of guilt into Seth’s heart. She’d been his moral compass since his dad was preoccupied with his mom these days. Mom hadn’t been the same since the trial. Hard to believe it’d been almost fifteen years ago.
    Even though he knew Beverly was right, he couldn’t seem to stem his anger from that trial. Why was the subject coming up again in his mind today, two days in a row? Well, he’d brought it up with his casual but cutting comment about lawyers. Maybe it was a subconscious thing. Still, Beverly Landon was a prayer warrior like none other, and he was aware enough to understand God wanted him to address his anger issue. He’d felt her prayers carrying him through and moving him forward when he was back home or wherever his work had led him. Uplifting and encouraging him. If nothing else, Beverly’s wise counsel was godly and she always had his best interests at heart.
    Finished with her cleaning, at least for the moment, Beverly wrapped her arms over her middle and leaned back against the counter, facing him. A scripture verse was coming. He could always tell, but he loved them. Loved her .
    “‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.’ Think on that verse.”
    “Thanks, Bev. I will.” He caught her glance. “I mean it. I needed to hear it.”
    Walking to the table, she removed his plate. “Want your coffee warmed?”
    “No. The breakfast was great, as always.”
    “You’re welcome. Honey, you’re one of the finest young Christian men I know, but you’ve got to find a way to get over your anger. All your good works and being a good person won’t take away that anger. I don’t want to watch while it festers in your soul because I can tell you from experience that anger like that will affect every one of your relationships—in a negative way—for the rest of your life.”
    He snapped his gaze to Beverly. And, for the second day in a row, the mention—no matter how vague—of her ex-husband had been broached. “You made a good, stable life for Liesel with Randy, and he’s the only father she’s ever known. You raised a beautiful daughter, but tell me something. How were you able to forgive the man who’d wronged you? How’d you get past the anger?” That was the crux of the matter for him. He’d forgive anyone anything, but he couldn’t forgive the man he blamed for trying to destroy his family. In one way, the man had accomplished his goal, in another…not so much. But it didn’t change the facts.
    God, forgive me