Free Tracie Peterson by Tidings of Peace Page B

said very gently. She put her hand on his arm and squeezed it ever so gently. “If God had been through with you, you wouldn’t be here.”
    David looked hard at the woman for a moment. She firmly believed what she’d just said. Kenny had believed it, too, and frequently had said as much. Could they possibly be right? Could there even be the remotest chance that God could forgive David and wipe away his sins?
    “I don’t know what to believe,” David finally said, looking away.
    “I know,” Ruth said, patting his arm before turning to go. “Just know that I’m here for you. We all are. Flowers on a grave make us feel better, but we can honor Kenny most by helping each other. Just remember that.”
    He watched her walk back down the path to the front gate. He wanted to stay behind and think of what she’d said, but at the same time he wanted to run after her. He wanted to run to her, calling her name—calling her Mother.

“Hurry up, Helen, or you’re going to be late,” Rachel called up the stairs. She knew her sister had an affinity for waiting until the last minute to make herself ready for any given event.
    “I’m coming!” Helen yelled back down. “I’m trying to fix my hair.”
    “Angels don’t need to worry about their hair,” Rachel replied in an exasperated tone.
    She glanced over to where David stood by the door. He had agreed to go with them to the Christmas play at church. Secretly she was glad for a number of reasons. Folks at church had been hounding them since David’s arrival to bring him around for introductions. Then there was the whole situation of folks wanting to honor a war hero and feel like they were doing their part for the war effort. Besides this, however, Rachel wanted so much to pick up the conversation where her mother had left off. She wanted to help David in whatever way would bring him to real happiness, and she was finally ready to show him how she felt about him.
    “Would you and David like to walk on up to the church?” Ruth asked, seeming to understand her daughter’s need.
    Rachel looked to David hopefully. “Would that be all right? Or would the weather be too hard on your arm?”
    “I wouldn’t want you to get too cold,” David offered. He opened the door and frowned. “Besides, it’s raining again.”
    “I suppose we can wait for everyone in the car,” Rachel replied. “Helen may well take another half hour at this rate.”
    “Well, she’d best not, or we’ll never get there on time,” Ruth stated. “You two go ahead to the car. I’ll rally up Grandpa and Marion and together we’ll drag Helen along, if necessary.” She smiled good-naturedly.
    Rachel buttoned her coat and secured her black felt hat. “I’m taking an extra blanket for the car,” she commented, reaching back into the closet for an old wool blanket. She led the way to the Model A Ford and let David open the back door.
    Sliding to the middle, Rachel waited until David climbed in to spread the blanket across their laps. “We need to talk,” she said without giving herself time to rethink the moment.
    David closed the door and, in the soft glow of porch and street lights, offered Rachel a surprised look at her nearness. “We do?” he said in a tone that suggested she’d unnerved him.
    “Yes,” she replied, shifting in the seat. “I have to say a few things before the others come.” He nodded very slowly but said nothing. “I know Mom talked to you about the letters, but I wanted to talk to you also. You see, I know all about you, and in spite of your past and the trouble you’ve had, I care about you.”
    “I know,” David barely whispered.
    “No, I don’t think you do,” Rachel replied. This caused him to raise his head and meet her eyes. “I’ve fallen in love with you, David.” Her voice softened and some of the boldness faded. “I don’t know how you feel about that, but it’s the truth.”
    He reached up to touch her cheek, his eyes filled with wonder.