Free Where Two Hearts Meet by Carrie Turansky

decisions, not just feelings.
    Did she have that kind of love for Tyler? Her heart ached as she considered that question.
    What should I do, Lord?
    * * * *
    Monday morning Allison hurried in the back door of Sweet Something and hung up her coat.
    Tessa glanced up from arranging hot scones on a delicate blue china plate. “Good morning.”
    The question in her sister’s eyes sent a ripple of uneasiness through Allison. She knew Tessa wanted to ask if she’d heard from Tyler, but she didn’t want to talk about it. Her calls to the hospitals had turned up nothing. On Sunday, she’d left messages with his brother and his mother, but neither of them had called back yet. She’d made up her mind. If she didn’t hear from him by the end of the day, she would contact the police.
    Kayla breezed into the kitchen carrying a tray of dishes. When she saw Allison, embarrassment flashed in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Allison, Tyler just called a couple minutes ago. I told him you weren’t in yet.”
    Allison’s heart leaped. “Did he leave a message?”
    Kayla set the tray by the sink. “He asked you to call, and he left a number.”
    “You’re sure he didn’t say anything else?” Tessa asked, her brows in a skeptical arch. “Like where he’s been for the past three days?”
    “Tessa, please.” Allison turned to Kayla. “Where’s the number?”
    “Out front by the phone.” Kayla led the way back through the teashop. When they reached the antique desk they used as a hostess podium, she pointed to the pad of paper next to the phone.
    Allison’s heart hammered. The number began with an area code she didn’t recognize. She thanked Kayla as she grabbed the phone and quickly punched it in.
    After two rings a mechanical voice answered. “I’m sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and dial again.”
    She immediately tried a second time but got the same message. She blew out a frustrated breath and called Kayla over. “That number’s not working. Are you sure he didn’t say anything else?”
    Kayla thought for a few seconds. “No, he sounded kind of stressed or something.” She bit her lip and looked at Allison with an apologetic expression. “It was kind of noisy when he called. Maybe I got the number wrong. I’m sorry.”
    “It’s all right.” She sent Kayla back to work and stared out the front window. At least Tyler had finally tried to reach her. But what would he think when she didn’t return his call? She closed her eyes, praying for guidance. The verses she’d read in Tyler’s Bible ran through her mind again. Love is patient, love is kind . . . It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs . . . It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
    Conviction flooded her heart. She’d allowed doubt and fear to fill her thoughts. She had held onto Tyler’s record of wrongs even though he’d asked forgiveness and shown her in so many ways that he was walking on a new path of faith.
    If she truly loved him, she needed to forgive him once and for all and believe the best about him, even though she was unsure of the future.
    She would need a supernatural infusion of faith and courage to love Tyler like that, with no strings and no guarantees. Assurance washed over her. If she was willing, God would help her. He’d promised to pour out His love in and through her so she would have a never-ending supply.
    If love was her goal, she couldn’t go wrong. This was her answer.
    Later that afternoon, she noticed a stack of letters and a small package the mailman had left on the front desk. She sorted through the pile and pulled out the package. Reading the return address in the top comer, she smiled. It was from her friend, Haley Tannehill in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
    Tearing off the tape, she recalled how she’d first met Haley and two other young, single friends, Monica and Angel, at the National Restaurateurs’ Convention in Dallas almost two years