Beyond the Storm: Quilts of Love Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

made mistakes. He’s been a guest speaker at our men’s Bible study more than once, so it’s pretty common knowledge that he used to be a bit of a player. Ran around on Karen and ended up fathering a child with the kid he hired to clean the stereo shop after school. Was quite a scandal.”
    “Ouch. No wonder she’s mad.”
    “I know this sounds nuts, but Dave’s a real good guy. He was another one with a rough childhood. Those things can be a generational coil. Old Dave started going to church and cleaned up his act, but Abby doesn’t trust him anymore.”
    “Can’t blame her.”
    “You ever hear the saying about not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and waiting for the other guy to die?”
    Justin smiled and shook his head. “Can’t say that I have.”
    “That’s why Abigail can be a tad edgy sometimes. Dave has tried to mend the fence more than once, but she suffered because of him. Now, she wants him to suffer.”
    “She’s good at what she does,” Justin said sardonically.
    “Maybe, but I don’t think it gives her joy or peace, because she’s regularly in tears after a good sermon on forgiveness, when she manages to show up at church. Give her a chance. She’s been a great friend to Jen over the years. She’s an amazing woman, and the good Lord isn’t done with her yet, I’m sure. Worked her way through beauty college. Built her business all by herself. Even bought the building and at only twenty-eight, that’s an accomplishment. She’s funny and creative and sharp as a whip. But there’s something else. When you meet her, you’ll notice it. She draws people to her. Even complete strangers. She’s a little like a flame that way. And the rest of us? Moths.”
    “Just so I don’t end up on the grill of her rig.” Justin climbed in his truck, slammed the door, and left Danny standing in the parking lot laughing.

 
     
     
3
     
    10:00 a.m.
     
    O h, thank heavens you’re here!” Abigail rushed to greet Jen Strohacker as she entered the salon.
    Jen smiled in confusion as she waddled back to Abigail’s chair for some high and low lights and a good cut. Once the baby came, she’d told Abigail, the Lord only knew when she’d find time to get back. “Is my hair that bad?”
    Abigail laughed. “No, no. I just have some stuff going on with the booster club’s food cart, and I need to pick your brain about something.”
    “Oh. Sure. Shoot.” Jen grabbed the arms of the chair and, with some awkward maneuvers, lowered herself into the seat.
    “Do you know somebody named Justin Girard?”
    “Justin? Oh, yeah. He’s probably Danny’s closest friend.”
    “Danny? Our Danny?
Your
Danny?”
    Jen laughed at the sour expression on Abigail’s face. “You’ve met?”
    “The food cart guy? No. And, I’m thinking I don’t want to.”
    “Oh, then you’re missing out. He’s a great guy.” Jen was as easy-going as she was beautiful. She owned Tantastic, a tanning shop about a mile away in the strip mall, and they shared a lot of the same clients. Abigail set to work, digging Jen’s hair colors out of her cabinet. “So, he’s not one of those contractors who takes the money but doesn’t finish the job, huh?”
    Jen blew a raspberry. “Justin? No. He’s put a lot of work into that thing. And to think, he donated all of his labor—”
    Abigail froze. “He . . .
donated
it?”
    “You didn’t know that?”
    “No!” Her eyes slid closed and she groaned. “I took my permit frustrations out on him.
Ohhh
, I am such a loser.”
    Jen grinned. “He’ll forgive you.”
    Abigail snorted. “So how come you know this guy so well and I’ve never met him?”
    “I’m surprised you don’t know him. He goes to first service at our church.”
    Abigail colored. No wonder she hadn’t met him. She never went to first service and rarely went to second. “Oh. So, where’d he come from?”
    “Well,
hmm
. He’s originally from the East Coast, but he’s got some family out here.