Free Hometown Proposal by Merrillee Whren Page B

didn’t say anything for a moment. She was probably comparing him to his father and thinking he didn’t measure up. “My dad was definitely someone to look up to, but he didn’t take credit for himself. He gave God the credit.”
    â€œA good thing to do.”
    â€œBefore my father’s death, I didn’t have much use for God. You were aware of that.”
    Elise nodded, sorrow in her eyes. “You made that pretty clear.”
    Seth sighed. “Yeah. I thought my parents and their religion were old-fashioned. Who needed God?”
    â€œSo you’re saying you changed your mind when your father died?”
    â€œHis death made me think about my own life. I startedattending church with my mother, because it was important to her. I wanted to do whatever I could to help her with her grief. And in the process, and much to my surprise, I became a believer.”
    â€œI’m glad to hear that.” She stood and turned toward the window, refusing to look at him. “Now tell me about Olivia.”
    Seth sensed Elise’s withdrawal as she gazed out the window. “Is everything all right?”
    â€œYes. Just get on with your story.”
    â€œPlease sit down again.”
    Turning to look at him, she shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œI’m listening.” She sat, her posture tense again.
    â€œWhen I became a Christian, I realized I’d lived a very self-centered life.” Seth tried to gauge Elise’s reaction to his statement, but she appeared unmoved. He wasn’t sure what to make of her lack of response. “I knew I had to try to make amends. To forgive those who had wronged me and seek forgiveness from the people I’d treated badly in return. Especially you and Sophie. I needed to let her know that I’d forgiven her for her deception. I also wanted to find out if I really was a father. I’d refused to even consider the idea before, but once I let go of my anger, I realized there was a real chance that I was Olivia’s father. I tried to contact both of you.”
    â€œSo that’s why you’ve been calling me?”
    â€œYes.” But you wouldn’t talk to me. He wanted to say that, but right now those words would probably only alienate her further.
    Tears welled in her eyes as she waved her hand toward him. “I’m sorry I wouldn’t talk to you before. Can you forgive me?”
    â€œDo you think we can forgive each other?”
    Elise didn’t say anything for what seemed like forever. She blinked back the tears and released a heavy sigh, then nodded.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œSo that’s how you came to have Olivia.”
    â€œNot quite. That’s just how I started looking for her.”
    â€œWas Sophie still in Key West?”
    Seth shook his head. “She wasn’t there, and no one I talked to seemed to know where she’d gone.”
    â€œSo what did you do then?”
    â€œA couple of people suggested she might have gone back to Atlanta, where she’d lived before.”
    â€œWas she there?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHow did you find her?”
    â€œI didn’t.”
    â€œThen how—”
    â€œHow did I get Olivia?”
    Elise nodded.
    Seth took a deep breath. “I received a call saying Sophie intended to give Olivia up for adoption.”
    â€œWhy?” Shock sounded in Elise’s voice.
    â€œI’m not sure.” Seth stared at his cast, breaking eye contact with Elise. He didn’t want to see her reaction to what he was about to say. She didn’t think much of him. She’d made that quite clear when she ended their relationship. His own guilt over the situation didn’t help. Would the rest of the story change her mind or only confirm what she already believed about him?
    â€œWhat did the caller say?”
    â€œThe woman only mentioned the adoption and that I was listed as the father on