Hidden Treasures by Kathryn Springer

Author:Kathryn Springer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Cade’s fingers drummed an uneven beat against the top of the desk as he tried to concentrate on some of the work he’d brought with him to Blue Key.

Unfortunately, the image of Meghan—hands lifted to the sky, palms open, offering praise to God even as it looked as if she were waiting to receive something back—kept intruding on his thoughts.

Once again, his fingers itched to hold a paintbrush.

He drummed them against the desk to distract them, but when they idly picked up a pen and started to sketch the curve of the birch tree on the back of an envelope, he surged to his feet.

Meghan hadn’t even caught his veiled attempt at sarcasm when he’d asked her if she always lived life with abandon. The question had been based purely on self-preservation. He’d thought it would shut the conversation down. Instead her honest response had pushed it to another level.

Expectation.

That’s what she’d called it.

And that’s what he didn’t understand.

As far as he was concerned, that way of thinking was an open invitation to disappointment. If you didn’t expect anything—or more importantly, if you made things happen—you didn’t end up with…nothing.

Their conversation cycled back through Cade’s mind.

He’d never discussed his faith in such an unconventional setting before, but it wouldn’t have surprised him to find out she had.

Of course he believed in God. He attended the church he’d been raised in faithfully and gave generously when the offering plate went by. He talked to God but tried not to bother Him with what he considered to be insignificant details as he went about his day-to-day routine. His faith fit neatly into his life. It didn’t spill over the edges and disturb anything around him.

Why was that a bad thing?

Earlier in the spring, Parker had invited him to church for a special evening series designed to encourage people to “live what they believed” but Cade had declined, assuming he was already doing that. Parker had gone without him and that’s when she’d met Justin, a missionary back in the States on something called “furlough” while he waited for his next assignment.

They’d dated for a month before announcing their engagement.

Way too fast, Cade had thought. Less than the expiration date on a gallon of milk.

If he ever decided to pursue a relationship, Cade knew he wouldn’t let his heart rule his head. It would be based on mutual interests, not emotions. Conversations would be like a game of chess. Well thought out. Reasonable.

Unlike his last conversation with Meghan.

Talking to Meghan was like playing…verbal Twister.

A reluctant smile tilted the corners of Cade’s lips when he remembered his parents having similar “discussions.” Never arguments. Discussions. That’s what they’d called them. How he and Parker, young as they were, had been able to discern the difference, he wasn’t sure.

Maybe it had something to do with the undercurrent of respect in their voices. Or the sparkle of laughter that never left Douglas’s eyes, no matter how heated the debate. Or the way Genevieve would catch Cade’s wide-eyed stare and wink at him while he listened.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.