Free Groom in Training by Gail Gaymer Martin

rose and walked to the edge of the bed. “Sometimes.”
    His mother’s head tilted.
    “Not very often?”
    This time she gave a full nod.
    Steph’s pulse kicked as she formed an idea. “I could drop by once in a while and read to you if you’d like?”
    Julia’s eyes sparkled. “Yeez.”
    “Wonderful. I love to read.”
    Nick’s eyes filled with gratitude, and he slipped his hand in hers and squeezed. “Thank you. That would be really nice.”
    Steph smiled, thinking she could stop after work Tuesday and find a book Julia might enjoy.
    “Bibo.”
    Nick’s head turned, and Steph leaned forward, trying to figure out what she wanted.
    Her veined hand shifted on the bed, and one finger pointed to the table.
    Nick followed her movement. “Bibo?”
    Steph knew, and gooseflesh rose up her arm. “She said Bible.”
    Nick’s head pivoted toward Steph. “She wants you to read her the Bible.” His eyes searched hers, a desperate look on his face.
    “I know.” Buzzing sounded in her ears. She sank back into the chair. God worked miracles. She’d heard that from Molly, and if she didn’t know better, this could be God guiding her steps. She waited for the dizziness to pass, then drew up her shoulders. She’d questioned reading the Bible before. Now this?
    Too strange. She struggled with the idea. God could do anything. That was logical, but what happened today wasn’t.
     
    “You have a call.”
    Steph lengthened her frame when she heard the intercom and checked on her dogs before picking up the receiver.
    Nick’s voice surprised her. “Sorry to call you at work.”
    “That’s okay. His voice held an edge of concern. His mother? “Is something wrong?”
    “Everything’s fine.”
    She tried to decipher what she’d heard. Since Memorial Day, she’d anticipated Nick walking out of her life, and frustration took over. Why had she been so open about her faith? But he hadn’t turned his back. She didn’t know what she would have done. The thought of him vanishing from her life had ripped her apart.
    “Your mother’s okay?”
    “She’s fine. I haven’t seen her since we were there.”
    She wanted to chastise him for not visiting. Wisdom stopped her. She’d promised to drop by, and she hadn’t, either. Too many things pressed on her mind. “I thought…when I heard your voice, I feared it was bad news.”
    “Nothing’s wrong, and thanks for worrying.” His voice sounded more like the Nick she knew so well. “I’m at a building supply, checking ideas to resolve the fence issue.”
    The fence. She had no problem with the fence until his brother appeared in her life. The whole issue irritated her. But Nick’s concern seemed so natural. “Any ideas?”
    “A couple, but I want to show you first.”
    Again the subject of cost wavered through her stomach. “Can you pick up brochures?”
    “I have some in my hand.”
    She pictured his tan hands with long fingers clutching the glossy pamphlets. Her fear lifted for the first time since Memorial Day. She’d wondered what her confession had done to their friendship, and if she looked in his eyes, she would know the truth. “How about dropping by here? I wanted you to see my day care and the shelter anyway.”
    “Works for me.”
    A flutter rippled in her chest. “We’re on Rochester Road near—”
    “I know where it is. See you in twenty minutes.”
    He must have checked out the building. Just like him. She peered at her watch and opened the back door, allowing the dogs to run into the yard. She stood a moment, feeling the chill of the cooler day and of her concern over seeing Nick again.
    Flowers had sprouted, though many were still waiting to shoot up from the ground. Planting wasn’t safe in Michigan until after Memorial Day, and even then, itwasn’t a sure thing. Since her confession, her own emotions lingered like shoots beneath the ground, waiting for the sunshine of Nick’s smile and the warmth of his acceptance.
    After the visit with his