Page 63 of Betrayed
She wanted to dive into deeper conversation, but she wasn’t sure how.
“I’ve been thinking about taking the sergeant’s exam.”
“You’d be a great sergeant.”
Color rose in his cheeks. “Thanks. I’ve hesitated because nothing ever seems to go right. What if my past wrongs come back to bite me again?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, seeing Eric made me think about the fact we knew what happened and never reported it. Didn’t help that I read the verse in Leviticus the other day that said we were just as responsible.”
“We definitely were in the wrong, but what would that have to do with your job?”
“Hard not to put two and two together that God punished us for our … indiscretions by taking our daughter.”
AJ felt slammed with Logan’s words. “No. That’s not how that works. We confessed that sin, and Christ paid the price. Sin doesn’t need to be paid for more than once. Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient.”
“But consequences …”
“Are not punishments for sin, they are the natural workings. Bree died because she ventured too far and the water caught her. She died because we live in a fallen world.”
“I don’t need a sermon right now.”
She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to preach. But I’ve just wrestled with these very same thoughts.”
He did not rip his arm away like she thought he might. He looked down at her hand. “I want to believe what you’re saying.”
“You have to wrestle through it. Talk to Him about it.” She moved her hand from Logan’s arm and pointed heavenward.
He shifted around uncomfortably. AJ guessed he and God weren’t on the best of speaking terms right now. Jesus, take hold of Logan’s heart and help him work through this. Help him find forgiveness from You and extend it to me.
“If you’re so spiritually enlightened, answer me this: If God is sovereign, why’d our little girl die?”
“I don’t know. I can’t possibly know the answer to that. But I know He is sovereign, and I know nothing happens without His oversight. That doesn’t mean He orchestrated her death for anything. But I know He will work all things together for our good and His glory. No matter how much it sucks. He can use it to draw us closer to Him.”
Gah. She was preaching again. But Logan clearly needed to hear it.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to get heated. But I’m super passionate about this.”
He snorted a dry laugh. “I can tell.”
She shot him a cheesy grin. Silence fell between them.
“Too bad you came to all of this after you cheated on me.”
An arrow hit her heart. “That’s not fair.”
“Love and war.”
“No.”
“Why’d you run off and have sex with another guy then?”
She took a deep breath. “How many times do I have to apologize?”
“Until I understand.”
“No, until you forgive me. I’ve forgiven you.”
