Returning Home by Karen Whiddon

Author:Karen Whiddon [Karen Whiddon]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780821762493
Google: 42-JAAAACAAJ
Amazon: B0081T8LO4
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2012-05-07T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“Hope?” Exactly as he had so long ago, Jeff pulled up beside her. “Get in the truck. Please?”

This time, she would not be so foolish. This time she would not endure blistered feet and aching limbs. She had nothing left to prove, nothing to lose. Avoiding his eyes, she climbed into Jeff’s truck.

Letting the engine idle, he waited for her to speak, something she had no intention of doing. Folding her arms across her chest, Hope stared out the window and wished he would take her back to his sister’s house.

In a blaze of light, the sun rose over the horizon. As if on cue, a chorus of birds began to chirp their various songs, competing with the crickets.

“The fish are hitting the surface over there.” With a soft voice, Jeff touched her arm. “Let’s fish.” Without turning, she nodded, a jerky motion but the best she could manage.

Putting the truck in drive, he continued in the same bland, conversational tone, “You know, sometimes I wonder who needs healing worse, me or you.”

Hope had no ready answer. She stared blindly out the window, calling herself a fool. Jeff was right. These last few days she’d found herself wondering the same thing.

He couldn’t imagine what had made him say that, even if it was the truth. His words had wounded her, if wounding an already shattered soul was possible. If only he could remember ...

Climbing out again, he cast a sideways glance at her. She sat still, shoulders rigid, keeping her face averted from him. Why had his sister thought Hope could help him? She couldn’t even help herself. It just wasn’t possible that Charlene had known how badly hurt Hope still was. It was unusual that she hadn’t managed to get over it, even after ten years.

She must have loved him deeply. He must have hurt her equally deeply—but how? What in the name of heaven had he done to her?

This time, he went to the back of the truck and retrieved his poles and tackle box, taking care to stay away from her door. If she wanted to join him, she would. If not, he’d let her sit in the truck and try to compose herself.

The early morning breeze felt good against his skin. Jeff breathed deeply, glad that he had somehow remembered enough to come here and do this. Intuitively, he knew he hadn’t come here to fish lately.

He hadn’t come here since Hope had left. Stunned, he froze in the act of baiting his hook. This time, there had been no flash, no blinding sense of revelation. This time, the memory had crept up on him. At last he remembered the argument, Hope’s fury, her hurt. Now, too, he remembered the graduation ceremony itself, a time for celebration soured by an aching heart.

He had never believed it would end. There was too much love between them. But Hope had refused to take his calls, avoiding him the entire two weeks prior to the ceremony. He’d hung

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