Page 26 of Betrayed

“As broken as ever, but he sorta talked to me yesterday. I still can’t believe he came to the hospital.”

“He still loves you.”

“Doubtful. You didn’t see the way he talked to me at the grocery store.”

“No, but I saw how he fluffed your pillow when he put it on the couch.”

AJ swallowed the pills and picked up her fork. “The bridge is gone though. He seems impossible to reach.”

“Did Noah see the rain clouds before he built the ark?”

“I don’t think Logan wants to live with an ark full of animals.”

“Allie.” Granny’s rebuke of AJ’s snark was full of love and humor.

“Spell it out to me, please. My head still hurts.”

“Rebuild the bridge. He’s your husband. As his helpmate, it’s your duty to love him back to Jesus, even if he’s not receptive to that love. Yet.”

AJ let her fork clang against the plate. She’d drop back against the couch if it wouldn’t hurt too much.

“I know that’s not easy to hear, but you’ve never wanted me to beat around the emotion bush.”

“You know me too well. I love you, Granny.”

“And I you. I’m praying for you both. Like time will heal your body, it heals emotional wounds too.”

“As long as they don’t fester and become infected.”

“You’re quick. Well, we both know it’s not time that does the healing; Jesus just takes the time we need.”

AJ smiled and picked up her fork again.

The doorbell rang.

“Sorry, dear. The cable is down, so I called for a tech to fix it.”

“That’s fine. I’m going to eat. Hopefully, he’s not a talker.”

Granny crossed the room to the front door.

AJ ate while Granny let the tech in and chatted about the problem. She led a tall man into the room.

AJ nodded a greeting with a mouthful of her breakfast.

He shot her a wide smile. A familiar smile.

“Eric?” Residual shame washed over her. Was this seriously the guy who got kicked out of their college for ruining the fountain with Kool-Aid? Somehow he’d gotten caught without her and Logan’s interference, and thankfully he hadn’t divulged their secret—or if he had, the powers that be decided to let it slide since they had broken up.

“Hey, AJ.”

It was. And he didn’t seem surprised to see her.

“I figured it was a matter of time before we ran into each other. I was pretty sure you lived in Hazel Hill still.”

“Only left long enough for college.”

“Is this your mom?”