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"I know," he adhter, "but that never stopped ood to be together like this "You wouldn’t mind then if ent back to church?"

His eyes ood idea"

Leah nestled back into the warood deal to be grateful for lately"

"Yes, it does," she agreed

Thethe hts They led her on the sa to picture what Andrew’s and her child would be like She hoped, boy or girl, that their baby would inherit her husband’s love of life, his excites

"Leah," he said after a nant?"

"I know I a to have a child, Andrew"

"You realize you’ve gotit now too, don’t you?"

"Yes, and that’s even better"

"This could be dangerous thinking for us both Weourselves up for another major disappointment, and I don’t think either one of us can take , not even for an instant "Here, feel," she said, taking the hot chocolate and setting it aside Then, reaching for his hand, she pressed his palers pressed over his "Now tell me what you believe"

He was silent for what seemed like an eternity before he wrapped his ar her as if he were suddenly afraid and needed so to

"I love you," she whispered

"I know," he whispered, and when they kissed she realized he was tre rooain"

The needle was poised in her fingers, ready to pierce the linen fabric "I don’t feel , Dad Would you make my excuses?"

"I explained you were a little under the weather"

She pulled the thread through the material "Thank you" The needlepoint was aher mind, but she doubted that she’d ever finish this project The Ten Commandments were filled with Thou Shalt Not and that was the way she’d viewed life Her views had subtly changed, thanks to knowing Chet

Her father claimed his favorite chair across from her and reached for his Bible He opened it and silently read for several es and set the leather-bound book aside

"I’ve waited now for three days for you to tell me why you’re so low I don’t know that I have the patience to hold outwhere to begin or how The pain was too fresh yet, too raw She lowered her gaze to her lap and clenched her hands together Her father was a patient ave her a few ently patted her knee "It’s at times like these that I wish yourwhat’s wrong than I ah, "I counsel people frohter"

"Dad, it’s not that"

"I know, love If it will make it easier, you don’t need to tell me there’s a inning I believed it was Michael, but it’s obvious he’s not the one" He reached for his handkerchief andthe role of the matchmaker with you two I should have known better I’randchildren someday"

Monica closed her eyes to a fresh wave of pain Now there would be no children, because there was no Chet It was ain, never ht then that was exactly how she felt

"Whoever this young man is I’d like to thank hithy silence

"You don’t know hirateful he didn’t play a gauess Chet’s identity

"For the first time since you entered your twenties you’ve taken your eyes off yourself You’ve worked so hard to do the right thing, to be the perfect example of God’s love to others Soon you focused all your efforts on yourself and how good you were It was then that you started to notice the flaws in others It became a vicious circle and I couldn’t seeaze to his "I don’t understand"

"Forgivelike the preacher I am You’re my only child and I love you more than words can say, but there’ve been tiood and hard"

"For what?" Although she asked the question, Monica ell aware of the answer

"For standing in judgh God’s eyes," her father continued

"Theshe owed her father some explanation "I oing into a tavern and I tried to stop hi it was for him to drink"