Love Inspired: May 2022 Box Set 1 of 2 by Vannetta Chapman

Author:Vannetta Chapman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Emery sat next to Charlie on the wooden bench under the shade of an ancient oak with far-reaching branches. Zeb leaned against Charlie, giving comfort that a hurting child would accept. The girl had already shrugged away from Emery, avoiding her touch. Emery understood that need to maintain distance. She knew the fear of allowing touch, the fear of thinking if someone comforted her, she might fall apart and never be able to put herself back together.

She’d spent her childhood imagining herself as Humpty Dumpty.

It had taken two surgeons and multiple surgeries to somewhat put her physical body back together. The emotional part had taken a lot longer.

She sat for a moment, silently praying for the right words. Before she could get them out, Charlie spoke.

“I hate myself,” she admitted in a shaky voice, sounding younger than her fourteen years.

“Why?”

“I hate that I couldn’t save my parents.”

Emery’s heart broke for the girl. “You have to share those thoughts, Charlie. You have to get them out.”

“Yeah, that’s what Mrs. Graves said, but...” She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to relive that day.”

“I get that,” Emery sympathized. “I haven’t been through what you’ve been through. I do know how it feels to be abandoned, without hope and alone. It takes time to overcome.”

“Have you?” Charlie asked. “Overcome it, I mean?”

“I have. I do remember. Sometimes I have nightmares about it. But at the end of the day, I’m whole and happy with my life.”

Silence fell over them, both lost in their own thoughts.

Across the lawn, Beau worked alongside the students as they planted tomatoes together. Cadence remained at his side.

“If he doesn’t want us...” Charlie said. “I mean, he’s not a dad. He didn’t plan on having kids. He told my parents he’d take us, but that nothing would ever happen to them.”

“He wants you,” Emery assured the girl and prayed it was the truth.

“Caddie loves him. I know she still doesn’t say much, but she wants to be with him all the time.” Charlie looked down at her hands. “What if she forgets our mom and dad?”

“She won’t. And we’ll help her to remember. We have the photo albums from your home.”

“No, I’m not ready to look at their faces.” Charlie shook her head.

Nan and Tilly pulled up in Tilly’s old boat of a Cadillac. The two women got out and joined the kids at the garden. Beau spoke to them, left Cadence with the women and started across the lawn in their direction.

As Beau drew closer, Emery felt a surprising wave of relief. His strength was evident, not merely physical but an emotional and spiritual strength that steadied the people around him.

He took a seat on the bench next to Emery, stretched his long legs and proceeded to relax as if they weren’t sitting there in the throes of loss and heartache.

“Are you ready to join us?” he asked the teenager.

“You left Caddie,” Charlie accused.

“She’s with Nan and Tilly. I promise you she is fine.

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