Free Hometown Proposal by Merrillee Whren

voice, not his description of Seth’s car wrapped around a tree. “Dad was glad he came back to find you.”
    â€œMe, too.” Seth closed his eyes, his voice sounding tired again.
    â€œAre you sure you’re up for company?” Elise’s gaze traveled to Seth’s face.
    â€œYeah. Please stay.” Opening his eyes, Seth tried to sit up. “We haven’t had a chance to talk yet.”
    â€œBut you seem tired.”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    Before Elise could say another word, a nurse, sporting a colorful smock, bustled into the room and looked at Elise and Juliane. “You’ll need to leave the room for a few minutes. As soon as I’m done, you can come right back.”
    â€œAre you here again?” Seth grinned. “You just can’t live without me.”
    â€œI know.” The nurse chuckled. “I have to keep checking those vital signs. We don’t want you expiring on us.”
    Elise took in their exchange. Nothing much had changed about Seth. Even lying in a hospital bed, he was charming the women. Clearly the end of their relationship hadn’t left him too broken up. He certainly hadn’t forgotten how to flirt. Well, she wouldn’t worry about it. She’d listen to what he had to say, and that would be the end of it. He might be here intown, but she was determined to lead her own life, and he could lead his.
    â€œOkay.” Without glancing his way, Elise motioned to Juliane and headed for the door. “Elise?”
    She turned as she reached the door. “Yes?”
    â€œYou’re coming back, right?”
    â€œAs long as the nurse says it’s okay.”
    The nurse smiled. “Absolutely. You can come back in as soon as I’m done.”
    With Juliane close behind, Elise stepped into the hall and leaned against the wall.
    Joining her, Juliane touched her arm. “Are you okay?”
    â€œI’m good. If you want to go, you can.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    Elise nodded. “I can deal with it.”
    â€œOkay, but you want me to call you on your cell in a little while in case you need an excuse to leave?”
    Elise chuckled. “No, I can make my own excuse.”
    â€œYou’re sounding a little more in control.”
    â€œNot me so much, but I’m trying to let God be in control.”
    â€œGood thinking. I’ll see you later.” Juliane gave Elise a hug. “You can fill me in when you get home. I’m going to stop and see Lukas on the way. I’ve got some wedding stuff to run by him.”
    â€œDoes he really care?”
    Juliane gave Elise an impish grin. “Probably not, but I want him to feel like he’s involved.”
    â€œHave fun.” Elise motioned for Juliane to go. “Talk to you later.
    While Elise waited, questions buzzed through her mind. How would God use this reunion with Seth? What was God trying to teach her?
    She couldn’t help thinking about Juliane’s relationship with Lukas. They had known each other in college, but Lukas’s alcohol addiction at the time had led to behavior Juliane had found very hard to forgive. It had taken time for him to prove to her that he’d changed, but eventually they’d let go of the past and had fallen in love. Now this accident was making her face the stuff about Seth she’d conveniently pushed to the dark recesses of her mind.
    These unforeseen circumstances had changed everything and forced her to face Seth and the past. Had he changed, as well? It seemed unlikely, but how could she be sure? Talking things out was the only way to know.
    Could she face Seth alone? She’d leaned on Juliane earlier, but now she had to stand on her own. What was Seth going to tell her? Was she ready to hear his story?
    Â 
    When Elise reentered the room, Seth breathed a sigh of relief. She’d actually stayed, and Juliane wasn’t with her. That would give him a better opportunity to explain