Page 70 of Still Afraid

It felt strange to walk away from the wreckage of her home and let other people sort through it. But she was spent after that panic attack. So much work would be required to get the area cleaned up. What was she even going to do with it now? At least she had Josh to help her figure it out. She wasn’t in this alone.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

At Chloe’s insistence, Josh had taken the first shower when they got back to his—their place. Now he dozed on the bed while she took hers. But he couldn’t really sleep. The sound of her singing in the shower teased his heart. Nine days.

Poirot had taken up residence in the living room, happy to be inside a cool house.

Josh folded his hands behind his head as he lay on his back. It was such a strange thing to think about Chloe officially living here and being his wife in such a short period of time. He’d longed to be married off and on over the years. But God’s timing was perfect as always.

And Josh needed to trust His timing wouldn’t include ripping her away right before they were married. But Josh’s anxiety was mounting by the hour. If clouds gathered in the sky today, even he would be terrified. It wasn’t like him to be fearful, but this was the love of his life. He felt powerless to protect her.

Father, You are going to have to help me. I surrender my fear and anxiety to You. I recognize I have no ultimate control over Chloe’s safety, so I surrender that to You too, even though it’s not mine to begin with. Please Lord, keep us both safe so we can marry and grow old together.

The shower cut off but Chloe’s singing continued. Josh wondered if she knew he could hear her through the door. He almost hoped she didn’t … or maybe he hoped she did and truly didn’t care whether he could hear her. Definitely the latter. He wanted her to be comfortable enough with him to let her true self shine.

Five minutes later the door opened, and her singing stopped almost immediately.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He turned his head and opened one eye. “Don’t stop singing on my account. I could listen to your voice for the rest of my life.”

She stood there dressed in a t-shirt and shorts with her hair wrapped in a towel. Beautiful. She radiated beauty no matter what she wore.

“I like the new do.” He closed his eyes again.

A towel landed on his face. He laughed and tossed it back at her. She chucked it into the bathroom and came to the edge of the bed, longing in her eyes.

Opening his arm closest to her, he said, “Come here.”

She crawled over and curled up next to him. “You’re playing with fire, Dr. Schneider.”

“I promise to behave. Do you?”

“If I must.”

“Chloe!”

She laughed. Her wet hair draped across his arm, but he didn’t care. She took a deep breath and relaxed against him.

They rested together in silence. Simply having her with him, snuggled close, was the balm his soul needed. He loved this woman with every fiber of his being.

His doorbell camera alerted him to someone at the front door. He wasn’t about to bother looking. Was he expecting a package?

Possibly something for the wedding.

Poirot let out a low bark, suggesting he was too tired to be bothered as well. Then the doorbell rang. The dog gave a real bark. But only a single one.

Chloe laughed. “He doesn’t want to be disturbed either.”

“My thoughts exactly. Probably a package or something.”

Josh turned toward Chloe, resting his hand on her hip. She rolled to her back.

Lowering his lips to hers, he kissed her gently, careful not to unlock desire they couldn’t satisfy for nine more days.

She giggled through the kiss.

The doorbell rang again. He released her lips but hovered close over her. “Seriously?”