Marry Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

out. I believe it worked out the way it was supposed to.”
    â€œMore chess playing from God? He’s been rather busy lately.”
    Seth grumbled something which sounded suspiciously like “God forgive her” as he closed the dishwasher, but when she pinned him with a look, all she saw was an innocent smile.
    Okay, now she understood. The whole family was sneaky and evil, even the ones who weren’t blood-related.
    Julia picked up a pretty flowered dishtowel to dry her hands. “Well, I should be going. Gotta herd some brides.”
    â€œGood luck.”
    â€œThanks. I’ll need it.”
    â€œCan I offer a small insight of my own?” he called out as she turned to leave.
    Pausing, Julia glanced over her shoulder. “I suppose.”
    â€œI don’t think you’re half as tough as you pretend to be,” He leaned back against the counter. “In fact, I think you’re genuinely a nice person. You turned your whole life upside down to help Sarah.”
    â€œI kind of had my life jerked out from under me when I lost my job. It wasn’t like I had much to do back home. The soap operas and talk shows were starting to get annoying.”
    â€œYou can’t fool me, Julia Richardson. You put on a good act, but I think deep down you’re actually a sweetheart.”
    Julia gave him her best evil eye. “If you ever tell anyone else, I’ll have to kill you. I have a reputation to consider, you know.”
    Then the most amazing thing happened. He winked at her. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
    ****
    Seth knew he’d gotten a glimpse of the softer side of Julia Richardson. An intriguing side, which hinted at depths beyond sarcasm and prickliness. He still couldn’t believe how easily she’d decoded his reasons for escaping the house he and Beth had shared. Not many people took the time to ask why he’d moved into the tiny apartment above the garage. Fewer still had the courage to ask about his wife and listen without showing pity or horror.
    Which didn’t explain why he’d ended up flirting with her. Had he winked at her? That had to stop, because no matter how perceptive she was, he couldn’t forget her cynicism carried over to every aspect of her life, especially the faith part. It wasn’t exactly unusual. In fact, it was pretty common for people to deny God, but coming from Julia it cut deeper.
    Exactly why, he didn’t want to examine.
    Fighting back a groan of frustration, Seth went to visit with his dad. His father’s presence was always soothing, even if the conversation was halting. Once Grace returned from her shopping, Seth went back to the garage apartment to grab his keys. As he scooped them up off the dresser, his eyes fell on the framed picture of Beth. Sometimes when he looked at the photo the grief seemed to swallow him whole. Other days it was a dull ache. Lately, he’d even been able to manage a smile as he recalled a sweet memory.
    Today, the grief seemed fresher, and it tore a new hole in his gut.
    He touched the frame. “Miss you, BG,” he whispered, using the pet name he’d given her on their wedding night. The name he’d never tired of saying, Beth Graham.
    Taking a deep breath, he turned and walked away. He had things to do. A church to run. People to save. Literally.
    Seth got in the car and headed to the hospital. There were several people he needed to see. Hospital visits were one of his favorite duties as a minister. Some people might find it depressing, especially if the person in question was dying, but more often than not the visits turned out to be the sweetest and most uplifting time of his day.
    Because when they — or a loved one — were ill, people allowed God to enter. On most other occasions people could pretend they had control of their lives. Illness had a way of reminding them life was not so easily managed. Many found God in those times, others