Clara's Heart (A Heartbeat in Time, Book Two) by Kitty Margo

Author:Kitty Margo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: civil war, supernatural, historical romance, time travel, love triangle, victorian historical romance
Publisher: Kitty Margo

Chapter 18

The following Sunday, Sean and Will stepped down from the carriage, with Sean assisting Jerica and Clara to the ground. They were attending Sunday services at a white clapboard church in the town square. Clara was a vision in pale yellow watered silk while Jerica looked radiant in mauve. Will didn’t hold Clara’s hand or touch her in any way. The odor of whiskey was strong on his breath and she noticed that his hands trembled and his eyes were red rimmed and bloodshot.

Why was he already drinking whiskey so early in the morning?

Clara sighed, remembering in months past how he would lean against her in church and hold her hand the entire time. Now a small child could fit in the space between them.

They sat in the third row back with Sean holding Bella and Jerica cradling Michael against her breast. Clara couldn’t help but be envious of the young family.

A family that she would never have.

Not that she would have had a family with Will, even if she could get pregnant. Her husband intended to dissolve their marriage as soon as possible, as though a day that was so special to her had never even taken place.

The whispering and rustling of clothes quieted down when Pastor Rosedale stepped up to the pulpit and noisily cleared his throat. “Good morning ladies, gentleman, and the wee ones in attendance this morning.”

Clara immediately knew what his sermon would address and reached for Will’s hand. His entire body jerked at her touch, yet he didn’t pull away. She smiled tenderly at his questioning gaze.

Pastor Rosedale looked across the audience, his eyes searching. “I had an entirely different sermon prepared for today’s service, although it would seem the Lord has other plans. Someone here needs to hear the words our heavenly Father has laid upon my heart.”

Opening his bible, the pastor turned to a page he had bookmarked. With a booming voice that easily carried across the small church, he intoned, ‘The book of Ephesians warns us, ‘Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’”

He paused and lifted his eyes from his bible to gaze directly at Will before continuing. “Corinthians assures us that love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Will didn’t utter a word, his eyes closed in silent prayer. His hand in Clara’s was cold, stiff, and unmoving just before he yanked free to clutch it in his lap.

The pastor spoke on forgiveness for over an hour before closing his bible and motioning for everyone to rise. While the congregation sang a closing hymn the pastor moved to the entrance of the church to bid the churchgoers farewell.

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