Free Loving Promises by Gail Gaymer Martin Page B

He’s a boy, and boys are different. Boys need more direction.”
    She nodded and tried to ease around him, but he didn’t move.
    “Look at Kristin. She’s a girl and you’re all she needs.”
    “I wouldn’t say that, but I’m all she’s got.” She shifted her gaze out the window again. “I don’t know anything about sports. Michael probably should join Little League or something.”
    “That would help.” He searched her eyes. “You really don’t want to marry again?”
    Surprised, she shook her head.
    “For me, it’s different,” he said. “I’ve never been married, but you were once, and from what you’ve said, I think it was satisfying.” He eyed her. “Or am I wrong?”
    “No, it was good…most of the time.” She faltered over her response, jarred by the truth, but she had promised God for better or worse. “I look at it this way. A man can only add complications to my life.” She paused before she admitted the rest. “Complications and fear. I don’t want to find myself facing another tragedy that’ll throw our lives out of balance again. It took too long to feel alive. I don’t think I’m willing to face it again.”
    “What makes you think you’d have to face a tragedy?”
    She glanced through the window. “Look at your dad. Look at you. You’re on the brink of a sadness that will change your lives forever. I’m not willing to deal with it again.”
    Dale drew back and shoved his hands into his pockets without speaking. “Love’s not worth the risk?”
    “You tell me. I don’t see you taking a chance.”
    A sudden look of surprise shot across his face. “I guess you got me there.”
    She found her chance to escape and walked to the refrigerator, noticing Kristin’s drawing already attached to the door. She opened it and slid in a dish of leftovers. When she turned back, Dale was watching her.
    “Michael’s seven?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Last April. Kristin will be five at the end of the month.”
    “Five’s pretty important. I suppose she wants a party.” He turned on the tap and swished a plate beneath the water.
    “I don’t know for sure, but we’ll do something.” She carried another stack of dishes to the sink and rinsed them under the tap while Dale added them to the dishwasher.
    “I just read in the paper about the Grand Haven Sand Sculpture Contest at the end of June.” He turned toward her, still clutching a plate while water dripped to the floor. “Maybe you could take her to the beach to see the sculptures. Michael might enjoy that, too.”
    “Thanks for the idea,” she said, setting another container into the refrigerator. Bev noted he didn’t offer to go, but he did make the suggestion. “I’ll leave it up to Kristin. She can decide.”
    He turned off the water and wiped his hands on a towel, then ambled toward her and put his arm around her shoulder. “Good idea. Kids need to learn to make decisions. Then when she’s an adult, she can make wise choices. Know what I mean?”
    When she looked up, Dale’s gaze penetrated hers. He lifted a finger and ran it along the line of her lips. She caught her breath and turned away. She needed to get a grip on herself. Friendship wasn’t supposed to feel like this.

Chapter Seven
    B ev curled up on the sofa, her eyes aimed at the television while her mind was somewhere else. The house was quiet. The kids had gone to the park with a friend’s parent, and Bev had opted to stay home. Sometimes she needed a few minutes to herself.
    Today her thinking weighed heavy. Since her serious talk with Dale about being friends, she’d enjoyed his company. He was only around on the weekends, but she found it a wonderful diversion from her usual Saturday of house-cleaning and kid-entertaining.
    But since the Memorial Day picnic a week ago, she’d had second thoughts. How could a comfortable friendship agitate her so? Bev let the sensation roll over her again. She’d gone from tolerating Dale to liking him, and