The Best We've Been by Beth K Vogt

Author:Beth K Vogt [Vogt, Beth K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Family Life / Siblings, FICTION / Christian / Contemporary
ISBN: 9781496427335
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2020-05-05T00:00:00+00:00

20

THANKS TO THE EPISODE with Brian, neither Jillian nor Geoff was sleeping well. Winston? Winston was happy. While she was at Harper’s, Geoff had stopped putting him in his kennel at night. His new favorite place was beneath the blankets, his furry little body nestled right between the two of them.

When she woke up in the middle of the night on Tuesday, Geoff was already lying awake beside her, staring at the ceiling, arms tucked beneath his head. But when she asked him what he was thinking about, his answer was always the same.

“Nothing worth talking about.”

Jillian knew what kept him awake, of course. But she wanted him to talk to her. To tell her what he was thinking.

She could only hope tonight wouldn’t be a repeat of last night, but today—right now—she’d get outside and enjoy the clear blue skies and light breeze.

“Come on, Winnie. Let’s go for a walk. And then we’ll come back home and take a nap. How’s that sound?” Of course, the dog had to stop dancing around so she could get the leash attached to his collar. “Settle down or I’ll skip the walk and just go for the nap.”

She’d walk. Think. Maybe talk to God. Even though she hadn’t done that in weeks, He would listen to her. Maybe she could ask God to help her. Help Geoff.

Or maybe she’d just walk. Not think. Not pray. Just walk, one way and then the other, and celebrate that small accomplishment.

But when she opened the front door, all her maybes stalled out.

Geoff’s brother stood on the other side.

His appearance couldn’t be considered some bizarre answer to prayer because she hadn’t had a chance to pray. He was just there—an unexpected guest. Not that she was inviting Brian Hennessey into her house. There would be no explaining that to Geoff this evening.

Brian didn’t wear glasses or a baseball hat like Geoff, so it was easy to see he had the same color eyes as his brother.

She shouldn’t be curious about Brian, but she was. He was someone she never thought she’d meet. One of her husband’s long-lost brothers. And now he stood a few feet from her.

Brian broke the silence, offering her a smile that displayed slightly crooked top teeth. Only one of the Hennessey brothers had the benefit of orthodontia. “I’m sorry I didn’t call, but I—”

Jillian held up her hand, interrupting his apology. “You don’t have to explain. If you called Geoff, he wouldn’t answer.”

“No, what I meant was I didn’t know your phone number.”

Jillian shushed Winston, who’d started to bark the minute Brian started talking. “My phone number?”

“I was hoping to talk to you. Not Geoff.” He shrugged as if he knew he should apologize but wasn’t going to.

“I was taking my dog for a walk.” Jillian motioned to where Winston sat by her feet. “This is Winston.”

“Great.” Brian took a step back. “I’d be up for a walk, if that’s okay.”

Yes. No. It was just a walk. It wouldn’t hurt to listen to what he had to say.

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