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.”“That’s what Addie said.”“Addie is correct.”Mickie chewed on her lower lip.“Do they have to go on a date?”Rachel thought back to her own dating years.“When Tom and I were getting to know each other, some of my fondest memories are when we simply hung out and talked.”“Then you fell in love and got married, right?”“We did,” Rachel said.“But some couples discover after spending a lot of time together that they don’t work, that they’re not really meant for each other.”“They are meant for each other.And they have to fall in love,” Mickie said with a vehemence that took Rachel by surprise.“Ken thinks Barbie is pretty and she thinks he’s handsome.I don’t see why they wouldn’t get together, do you?”Rachel opened her mouth to tell Mickie that it takes a lot more than physical attraction to make a relationship work, but reconsidered at the last minute.These were dolls they were talking about, not real people.With that thought firmly planted in her head, Rachel smiled and leaned forward.She gently pushed a strand of hair back from Mickie’s face with her fingertips.“With you doing the matchmaking, I firmly believe your two are destined to walk down the aisle.”A look of pure joy filled the young girl’s eyes.Before Rachel knew what was happening, Mickie jumped out of her seat and flung her arms around Rachel’s neck.“I think so, too.”Rachel wrapped her arms around the child and returned the hug, unexpected tears stinging her eyes.When she’d agreed to care for Mickie, she thought she’d be able to bring the little girl into her life for thirty days and then let her go.But now, that seemed an impossible task.Knowing and loving this child as she did, Rachel couldn’t imagine letting Mickie walk out of her life…ever.Mickie sat in the hard wooden pew and watched the families slowly file into the church.Hope rose in her chest.Very soon she’d have a mommy and a daddy, too.That was, if God didn’t strike her dead first.She hated having all this time to think.Hated having all this time to worry about God being angry with her.They’d arrived early and Rachel had told her to take this time to talk to God.The trouble was, God probably didn’t want to hear from her, especially not after what she’d done.Still, if God really did know everything—like Rachel said he did—surely he knew how important it was that Rachel and Mr.Rossi got together.And really, if Rachel had thought about it, she’d have emailed Mr.Rossi and invited him to church herself.So, when Mickie used Rachel’s private email address to ask Mr.Rossi to come this morning, it was almost as if she was doing everyone a favor.“Is he here yet?” Addie whispered in her ear.“Do you see him sitting with us?” Mickie’s whisper held a sharp edge.But darn it, Addie had made her believe it was possible to get Mr.Rossi there.But with only five minutes left before church started, it looked like he would be a no-show.“There’s still time,” Addie said in her ear.“Pray harder.”Mickie obligingly screwed her eyes shut and clasped her hands tight together.Dear God, please let Mr.Rossi come.Please let Mr.Rossi come.Please let Mr.Rossi—“Is this seat taken?” a familiar deep voice asked.Mickie opened her eyes.Her lips curved into a relieved smile.It looked as if her prayers had been answered after all.Derek stood at the edge of the pew, his confidence slipping away with each passing heartbeat.When he’d checked his email this morning he’d been shocked to see one from Rachel.They’d all been discussing email addresses at Mary Karen’s house and he’d mentioned what his was in passing.He hadn’t expected her to remember it or to send him an invitation to attend church with her and Mickie.The way she was looking at him now told him she’d never expected him to show.Uncharacteristically nervous, he shifted from one foot to the other.“If it’s too crowded…”“There’s plenty of room.” Mickie leaned across Rachel and motioned for him to enter the pew.“Yes, there’s more than enough room.” Rachel slid closer to Mickie.“Hi, Mr.Rossi.” The girl’s green eyes sparkled like emeralds.He’d never seen a child so happy to be in church.“Good morning.” He returned her smile and settled in next to Rachel.“I didn’t expect to—” Rachel began, but then the organ wheezed and the congregation rose.She held out the hymnal so they could share.While they sang, he slanted a sideways glance at her, marveling at her beauty.Today she had on a fluffy blue sweater and a black skirt.Her hair hung to her shoulders in soft curls and she smelled as good as he looked.Derek forced his attention back to the hymn and realized their voices blended with such ease that it was as if they’d been singing together for years.Even though there was no chance to talk, it felt good simply being next to her.He might not have known her long, but he felt comfortable around her, and comfortable being back in church.He was glad he’d accepted her invitation.And to think he’d almost blown her off.But then, he’d reminded himself that he wanted to get back into the habit of regular worship.Still, that hadn’t been the deciding factor.It had been the last line of her email that had made it difficult for him to stay away.I’d really like to see you again.Rachel was so private about her feelings that he knew it must have taken a lot for her to add that to the email.He worried that if he didn’t show up, she might take his absence personally.No, he had to be here.The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint this lovely lady.He stopped singing for a second and leaned close, his lips brushing her ear.“I’m glad I came.”She turned, her cheeks a bright pink, her eyes a breathtaking blue.“I’m happy you did, too.”From that moment on, Rachel had difficulty keeping her mind on all things God.Like right now, she was trying to listen to the sermon, but how could she concentrate with Derek’s muscular thigh pressed so tightly against her leg?Not to mention the way his spicy cologne teased her nostrils and how each time his hand brushed hers, her heart skipped a beat.A curious thrumming filled her body and the type of thoughts running through her head had no business in a church.She determinedly forced her attention back to the sermon, to the message of hope and promises fulfilled [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]