Arizona Pastor Read Online Free PDF Page A

shining in a dark room. Her optimism had been contagious and had had a way of making the worst of situations all better. She’d been like a comforting balm of aloe on a burn. He’d never forget her.
    And he’d never forget what he’d done.
    Wade jumped up from the pew. He shouldn’t have agreed to counsel that young couple. He should have told them… Clenching his jaw, he shook his head. Turning forty must have played a few tricks on him. A younger Wade never would have taken a job that included counseling couples, especially young, excited, we’ll-conquer-the-world-together couples.
    That’s because it’s time to deal with this.
    Wade shook the thought away. His sister had said something of that nature the last time he’d visited her. But she didn’t understand. She hadn’t been there when the accident had happened. She hadn’t been the one speeding. God had forgiven him, and to a degree, he had forgiven himself, but he could never forget. Never wanted to forget.
    Not forget. Truly forgive and move forward.
    Wade scooped his keys out of his front pocket. Fatigue was jumbling his thoughts, messing with his emotions. He had been sure this move, one he’d prayed would be his last, would take his mind off the past pain. Maybe he was just tired. The day had been long and exhausting. He needed to head home and get some rest before preaching in the morning. He walked out the front door, then turned and twisted the knob. Locked. Just like my heart.

Chapter 4
    K risty looked at the alarm clock. Between guilt-ridden thoughts and prayers of mercy, she’d barely slept a moment. After forcing herself out of bed, she staggered to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She wiped it dry, then looked at her blotchy, puffy-eyed reflection. She’d hoped someone would call and say the news had been a joke, a high school prank, but the only text she’d received was one from Mel, saying she was spending the night with her dad and Leah. Again.
    While Kristy brushed her teeth, she thought of Leah’s knowing, pitying expression when Mel had told Kristy about the pregnancy. Jealousy swelled within her. Leah had known everything. Mel had confided in her stepmom, but not Kristy. In Mel’s eyes, Leah was understanding and compassionate. Ha. Leah had no idea what being a teen mom was like. She and Tim had both had their degrees and bought a house before they’d got married and had their first son. Sure Tim had already had Mel, and he’d been a good enough dad to her, but he hadn’t been the one who’d stayed up all night when she’d had a stomach bug, then had taken college exams the next day. He hadn’t been the one who’d begged friends to babysit when professors hadn’t allowed a baby in their classes.
    Kristy put on a T-shirt and a pair of shorts, then plodded into the kitchen and poured a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice. The front door opened as she sat down. “I’m home, Mom” echoed down the hall, and Kristy closed her eyes and asked God to give her the right words to say.
    Mel walked into the kitchen and offered a sheepish grin. She tapped the corner of her eye. “Rough night, huh?”
    â€œJust a bit,” Kristy responded through clenched teeth. Mel opened the cabinet. “I’m hungry, but I’m so nauseous. Nothing sounds good.” She took a sleeve of crackers from the box and sat down across from Kristy. “Leah tried to give me some eggs and sausage.” She crinkled her nose. “But the smell was killing me. Had to get out of there.”
    Kristy glanced at her bowl of sweetened corn flakes. She wasn’t the least bit surprised Leah fed Tim a perfect hot breakfast each morning. “How long have you known about the pregnancy?”
    â€œNo beating around the bush, huh?”
    Kristy shook her head. She had no desire to play games. Joel and Mel had thrown a curveball