Free Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 15 by Chautona Havig Page A

’ s going to be here so when I invite him back, he knows —”
    Chad ’ s laughter echoed through the window and out to Becca ’ s car. “ It was nice meeting you , Josh. I ’ m looking forward to seeing you at church .”
    Chad and Willow sank back onto the couch as they saw Becca nod and Josh slam the door shut for her. “ They ’ re going to hit it off beautifully, ” Chad murmured.
    “ Silly, they already did .”
    “ Did what? ” Josh ’ s sounded excited as he entered the door .
    “ You two seemed to hit it off… ” Chad commented.
    “ She ’ s amazing. I can ’ t believe we ’ ve gone to the same church all this time —”
    Willow ’ s quiet voice interrupted gently. “ From the way you ’ ve spoken about your life, I d idn’t think you were ready to meet anyone special before now .”
    “ You ’ re right. I wasn ’ t. I ’ m not sure I am now , but I can ’ t stand the idea of not getting to know her better .”
    With a sidelong glance at Chad, Willow picked up her carding paddles. “ So do you have to work tomorrow? ”
    “ No, I ’ m off again, why — Oh .”
    “ Well, if you find yourself looking for something to do, we ’ re going to try our hand at spinning tomorrow , and there ’ s lots of wool left to pull and separate… ”
    A huge grin split Josh ’ s face and the excitement in his voice made his lisp all the more pronounced. T hat ’ s so nice of you. Are you serious? ”
    “ She ’ s been showing up around ten .”
    “ I ’ ll be here. Thanks .”
     

     
     
    Moonlight flashed across their bed as clouds covered and then drifted away from the moon. Willow lay awake and unmoving knowing that she often woke Chad when she slipped downstairs for her trysts with the Lord. As carefully as she could, she turned on her side and tried resting quietly that way but still felt restless. Chad ’ s voice came sleepily in her ear.
    “ Go downstairs if you like. I ’ ll see you in the morning .”
    She turned to find his face centimeters away from hers. “ I ’ m sorry. I tried not to wake you up .”
    “ You didn ’ t. Nature calls. But I could tell you weren ’ t sleeping and I guessed why. Now go downstairs and commune with nature or whatever it is you do .”
    “ The Lord, goof, ” she commented as she slipped out from under the sheets. “I commune with the Lord.”
    Chad watched her jog down the stairs and listened as the screen door opened and then the soft “whap” as it shut behind her. “ Lord, she ’ s such a multi-faceted person. Every time I think I understand her, there ’ s something else to discover. I ’ m starting to think that she ’ s going to look at me in a few years and think, ‘ I married him. Why? ’ Don ’ t let that happen — please .”
    With a sigh, he slipped from the covers and shuffled toward the bathroom. “ Oh, and remind me to avoid coffee before bed? I really am tired of these late night trips .”

Chapter 1 10
     
     
    Josh arrived at nine thirty-five. Willow attempted to stifle snickers as he confessed that he ’ d driven to Brunswick and back before he decided that wasting gas was not worth the salve to his pride. “ Well, come in. I ’ ve got bread baking .”
    “ That ’ s what smells so good — hey, I have a question for you .”
    “ Shoot .”
    “ Do I have to confess to Chad that I showed flagrant disregard for the speed limit on my way here? ”
    Willow ’ s grin embarrassed him. “ Not unless he asks… ”
    “ I like you .”
    She shook her head. “ I think you have another female in mind .”
    “ I was thinking about her last night. I can ’ t believe I didn ’ t realize it , but I ’ ve seen her. She works in the kitchen on Sundays after church. I ’ ve seen her when I escort the kids to the dining hall for lunch .”
    “ Well, ” Willow said smiling. “ I think you should go out and take her for a walk. I ’ m stuck here , and apparently she ’ s here early .”
    Josh hurried from the