Blessed Vows. Jillian Hart

was no longer a stranger. She couldn’t say exactly why; it was only something she could feel. Like faith. Or like hope.

      She could sense the heart of the man, his integrity and character and strength. And his goodness.

      He folded his strong arms over his broad chest. “Come join me.”

      That sounded like the best idea ever. Her feet were moving her forward before she made the conscious decision. “Sally seems to be having a good time. I’m glad you brought her.”

      He took the bowl she offered him. “Being here seems to have done her a world of good. I haven’t seen her smile since I came to pick her up. Now I owe you.”

      “For what?” She eased onto the far end of the bench. “I didn’t do anything. Just made supper and apple pie and now I handed her a Popsicle.”

      “Ben told me you were humble, too. Not just nice and sweet and funny—”

      “My brother is biased, plus he spends most of his time far away from here. You know that. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and dulls the memory of a person’s faults.”

      “Sure, okay. I don’t buy that.” He bit off the end of his Popsicle. “You are funny.”

      “Me? I haven’t said anything funny since you got here. I wish I were funny. You know, like a comedian.”

      “Well, you are the only woman I know who wears big pink rabbits on her feet.”

      “What?” She stared at her slippers. She was still wearing them? “I’d forgotten all about them.”

      “And you’re nice. You could have let your pet moose attack me and Sal.”

      “It was tempting.” She slurped the melting goodness off the top of her grape pop. “Like I said, I owed you for saving Ben when he was hurt.”

      “He seems to be doing better. They say he’ll be back on base after his honeymoon.”

      “He’s pretty psyched about being able to return to active duty.”

      “We’re pretty psyched he’s coming back. He might get back to work before I do.” Jake nodded to where Sally sat twirling in the swing while licking the dripping goodness of the iced treat. There was a whole lot he didn’t know how to say. His job wasn’t just any job. He was a para-rescueman; he put his life on the line so that others might live. And he couldn’t do that living near the base and being home every night to take care of Sally.

      And yet if he didn’t take her, then there was no one else but social services. He wouldn’t do that to her. He couldn’t. He loved her too much and he could never break the trust his sister had placed in him for Sally’s sake.

      Lord, I know this is all in Your plan. So please, show me the way to help Sally through this. Show me what I’m supposed to do with her and for her.