Hometown Promise Read Online Free PDF Page A

eat.”
    “I work the concession stand at the high school basketball games on Friday nights when they have a home game. And this Friday is a home game.”
    “How about letting me work the concession stand with you? If it’s anything like my high school years, the boosters are always looking for more help. We can talk afterward.”
    Juliane shrugged. “Let me check first.”
    “Should I call you, or do you want to call me?”
    “I’ll call you.” She hurriedly got into her car and closed the door, not waiting for him to respond.
    Feeling shut out, he stood at the curb and shoved his hands into his coat pockets. The car lights came on, the engine roared to life and she drove away. He watched as her car made the turn at the town square and disappeared.
    “She’s often in a hurry. Sometimes, I wish she’d slow down and enjoy life. She’s too driven.”
    Lukas turned at the sound of the female voice. Val stood a few feet away. He took a step toward her. “So I see.”
    “Eric got waylaid. He ran into a guy from work as we were leaving.” Val looked back at the coffee shop, then returned her gaze to Lukas. “I hope you didn’t mind that I asked you to work with Juliane on the banquet. I realized later that you might think I was a little pushy.”
    Lukas chuckled. “No problem. I’m glad to get involved.”
    “Then you don’t mind working with Juliane?”
    “No. Why?”
    Shrugging, Val let her gaze slide away and grimaced. “I noticed after I made the suggestion that there was some hesitation, especially from Juliane.”
    “Then…shouldn’t you be asking her the questions?”
    “Probably, but I thought you might know why she hesitated. Do you?”
    Talk about being put on the spot. Christians were supposed to tell the truth, but that was the last thing Lukas wanted to do right now. The temptation to lie lurked in his mind. Could he give Val a reason without going into detail?
    Lukas took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I have an idea.”
    “And what’s that?”
    “Um…” He couldn’t believe he had to explain things already. He thought he’d have a chance for people to get to know him—the new man in Christ—first, before he had to tell them about the old one. “Probably because I lived on the wild side when Juliane knew me during college. I’m sure it was a shock for her to see me in church.”
    “Oh.” Val just stared at him.
    Now what did he say? What was she thinking? What would these people say when they found out the details of his past? He doubted Juliane would keep it from them. Before he could say more, Eric strode toward them.
    He put an arm around Val’s shoulders, his breath visible in the cold air. “Sorry about that, hon. We’d better get home.”
    Val smiled at her husband. “Sure.” Then she turned to Lukas. “See you in church on Sunday.”
    “I’ll be there.” Lukas started toward his car.
    Just ahead of him, Val and Eric walked arm in arm. While he watched them, loneliness crept into his soul. Would he ever find a love like theirs? What kind of a woman would be willing to take a chance on him, a man who was trying to live down his past?
    The clock on the top of the courthouse in the squarebegan to chime. He looked up. The clock’s illuminated face read ten o’clock. It was past time to check on his grandfather.
    As Lukas drove along the quiet streets, he replayed the evening in his mind. What pushed him to seek out Juliane when she could bring him down with a word or two? He tried to convince himself that he only wanted to show her how he’d changed, but he couldn’t deny his attraction to her.
    Although his ulterior motive to get her on his side didn’t give him a good feeling, he still wanted to cultivate her friendship. Was there any chance she’d accept his friendship? He wished he could remember what he’d done to make her so wary of him. Of course, there was every chance he’d be finding out soon. Val would surely ask Juliane about his past, and