Free Before the Dawn (Truly Yours Digital Editions) by Erica Vetsch Page B

fell ill. When the doctors told me I would never see again, I thought it meant saying good-bye to my dreams of teaching.” He chuckled. “I never did become the college history professor I wanted to be, but now, looking back, I wouldn’t exchange my students at the academy for any cap and gown. God took my dreams and, through a refining fire, made them into something that would glorify Him.”
    Hot bile rose in David’s throat. How much better would it have been if God had seen fit to merely take his life instead of taking his sight? Refining fire. He swallowed, hard. “I think we’re finished here for the day.” He stalked out of the room and up the stairs, and only when he reached his room and closed the door did he realize he hadn’t counted the steps across the foyer or up the staircase.
    ❧
    Karen tipped her head back and blinked to stem the tears blurring her vision. She’d been silly to hang so much hope on the meeting between David and Rex. They had so much in common, and yet David hadn’t let Rex past the walls.
    She took a firm grip on her emotions and entered the parlor. “Rex”—she sat opposite him—“I’m sorry the interview didn’t go well.”
    He placed his cup on the table at his elbow. A patient smile played around his lips. “I thought it went very well.”
    “He stormed out like his coattails were on fire. Didn’t you hear his door slam?” She smoothed her skirts, then crumpled them again by crunching her hands into the fabric.
    “He’s dealing with a lot of emotions right now. Anger, bitterness, fear. Overwhelming fear.” Rex steepled his fingers under his chin.
    “That breaks my heart. David has always been so confident, so sure of himself and his abilities. He had his life planned out, and up until now, his life has gone as he planned.”
    “That probably makes the situation harder for him to swallow. He’s afraid he won’t be man enough to face his new circumstances.”
    “He won’t even try, and I can’t seem to make him.”
    Rex inclined his head. “My dear, I hope you’ll forgive the familiarity, but I fear you are as much the problem as the solution here.”
    “What?”
    “If I were in David’s shoes, I’d be scared stiff myself. According to your housekeeper, you are a strikingly beautiful woman. I’d venture to say you didn’t lack for suitors before David claimed you as his fiancée.”
    Heat tingled in Karen’s cheeks, but she didn’t interrupt. She would need to speak to Mrs. Webber about chattering too much while serving guests their tea.
    “I can imagine David feels in his heart that he is no longer worthy of such a bride. You told me he tried to break the engagement and that only under pretext of a lawsuit did he go through with the ceremony. I suspect it was less the lawsuit than the fact that he couldn’t bear the thought of your walking out of his life that made him marry you. I would suspect he is terrified you will wake up one day and realize you’ve made a mistake, that you regret marrying him.”
    “I would never.” She spoke through stiff lips and clenched teeth, her hands fisted in her lap. “I love David, blind or not, though he’s testing my patience to the limit.”
    Rex laughed, putting his hands up in surrender. “I believe you. I’m just trying to help you understand things from David’s perspective. I think, in time, he’ll come to trust that your love for him hasn’t changed. It’s the time before that will be difficult. You’re going to need all your patience and wisdom to withstand the coming storm. I speak from experience, both as a man who was blinded as an adult and as a teacher who has encountered many a troubled student. Things are likely to get worse before they get better.”
    Karen rubbed her temples. “I can’t imagine their getting worse. I barely know myself anymore. My feelings are all jumbled up. On the one hand I want to cry and comfort him and help him heal, and on the other I want to throw something