The Road to Forgiveness by Leigh Bale

Author:Leigh Bale [Bale, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780373876006
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-05-01T05:00:00+00:00

The next evening, Mari came into the house to help fix dinner. The tempting aroma of refried beans hung in the air. Even after all these years, Mom still made them from scratch, cooked in a pan on the stovetop.

“Hola, niña!” Mom greeted her with a wide smile. “How did it go with the meetings out at the schools?”

“Fine. They all agreed to participate.” After Mari washed her hands, she reached into the cupboard for the dishes and set the table.

“Aren’t you glad Joel’s here?” Mom said. “He’s helped out so much around the place and came up with the fundraiser idea. Isn’t he a blessing in our lives?”

“Yes, he’s been a blessing.” Which confused Mari. She couldn’t get used to this new side of Joel. Maybe he really had changed.

As she compared the old Joel with the new, she poured milk into Livi’s glass. And then a thought struck her. What did the Lord have in mind by bringing Joel here? She shook her head, wondering at the purposes of God. Was it possible that not only did Joel need them, but they also needed him?

“Where’s Matt tonight?”

Mom sighed with resignation. “Doing homework over at Dallin’s house.”

Mari understood Mom’s hesitation. Being with Dallin meant no homework would be done. Instead, she and Mom would be worried until Matt got home later that night, safe and sound. Mari remembered feeling this same way so many times when Joel came to stay with them in the summers. She’d watched her father pace the floor, making phone calls to find out where Joel might be. Now and then, the phone would ring and Dad would have to run out the door to the police station to pick up Joel for some illegal prank.

In spite of the past, Mari couldn’t help being relieved Joel was here now. Before he’d shown up, she’d prayed to God for help. That some way they’d be able to pay their bills and keep the farm. That she’d have the strength to carry the workload in front of her.

And then Joel Hunter came to stay.

As if knowing she was thinking about him, Joel walked into the house. A burst of chilly air followed him. He closed the door and took a deep, relaxing breath. He’d doffed his muddy boots on the front porch and stood in the doorway in his stocking feet, his cheeks red from the cool night air. As his gaze rested on Mari, she dropped the forks to the table with a clatter, mesmerized by the crooked curve of his smile.

A smile for her.

Mari couldn’t explain the sweet foggy feeling she felt at that moment or why seeing him made her unexplainably happy. As if her world were better and she and her family could handle anything life threw at them.

“Hi,” he spoke softly.

“Hello,” she returned, feeling silly for her fanciful thoughts.

This was Joel Hunter, trouble incarnate. But even she believed people could change and deserved a second chance. Even people like Joel.

“Come in, Joel,” Mom called.

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