Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
But forty minutes later, Heavenly lifted her head from her textbook. She’d probably read the same page a handful of times and retained nothing. She needed a caffeine infusion.
Rising, she tiptoed to the stairs and made her way to the kitchen. She was surprised to see Zach sitting at the table, staring down into a cup of coffee.
“Good morning.”
He turned and scanned her cautiously. “Morning.”
“You’re up early.”
“Habits of a farmer.” He shrugged.
Despite the fact she was fully dressed, he seemed uncomfortable. Because they were alone?
“Did you sleep?” she asked.
“Some. Thank you.”
He cast his gaze back to the coffee, as if it held all the secrets of his future. Or as if he didn’t know what else to do.
Suddenly knowing he’d have to spend the rest of his life without his wife and daughter must be like a bulldozer to his heart. After missing Seth so much, Heavenly would have sworn she didn’t have any more capacity to hurt for anyone, but she ached for him. “Can I make you some breakfast?”
“Don’t trouble yourself. I’ll be fine.”
Something else occurred to her. “Do you know how to cook?”
He hesitated, looking like he wanted to set her at ease. Instead, he snapped his mouth closed and sighed. “Not really.”
“I can give you a quick lesson in eggs and toast if that sounds good.”
Zach’s smile was faint but real. “That would be helpful.”
“Let me grab some coffee and we’ll get started.”
He swallowed more from his mug and rose. “I appreciate it.”
After Heavenly put together her own cup of nirvana and took a few swallows, she turned to Zach, now looking out the glass door to the back patio, seemingly lost in thought.
“Do you wonder if they’re looking down on you?”
“I’m sorry?” He turned back to her.
“Faith and Joanna. Do you wonder if they’re somewhere, watching over you?”
“It’s crossed my mind. The notion that your loved ones are still with you in some way is tempting to believe. The Chosen frowned on the idea of spirits lingering in the earthly realm. A less selfish man would wish them to be resting peacefully in God’s arms.”
She cupped his shoulder. “But you need more time to let them go. I understand. I’m sure whatever God you believe in understands that, too. Ready to get started?”
“Sure.”
It took a while to explain the mechanics of the stove and toaster, then to walk him through the cooking, but fifteen minutes later, they sat to a light breakfast. The silence was awkward, so she tried more conversation. “Any thoughts about what you’d like to do today? Tour of the area? Take in a movie? Go for a swim?”
“Gideon—I mean Beck—said something about shopping. Not my idea of a good time, but I understand it’s necessary since I didn’t leave Messiah City with much. Other than that… I’ve never seen a movie, and I don’t know how to swim.”
Heavenly tried not to gape. Somewhere along the way, she remembered hearing that outside influences were frowned upon in Messiah City. Of course he’d never had a chance to visit a theater. But swimming? Wow.
“Let’s rectify that, then. We have a bunch of cable channels and streaming services.” She reached for the remote and flipped on the big TV affixed to the wall. “What interests you? Sports? Documentaries?” She intentionally avoided the news, and he wouldn’t have the faintest idea what a sitcom was. “Or I can just flip around until something appeals to you.”
He had no interest in morning shows, home improvement, or reality TV, but something bright and flashy that made lots of clinking noises got his attention. “Stop. What is that?”
It wasn’t familiar to Heavenly at a glance except in the most general sense. “It’s a game show.”
Zach’s brows furrowed as he stared in concentration. “What does that mean?”
“Um…people register to play games on TV to win prizes, like trips and cars and cash.”
He scarfed down the last of his breakfast, then took his plate to the sink—his eyes never leaving the TV. Then he wandered to the sofa with the last of his coffee. “Mind if I watch this for a while?”
Not what she would have chosen, but… “No problem. I’ll be upstairs studying if you need anything.”
Zach gave her a vague nod as he sat, his stare glued.
Heavenly headed back upstairs, shaking her head. Game shows. Go figure.
When she settled back at her desk, she was more awake than before…but not more focused. Beck rose and came to check on her. After assuring him she was fine—well, as fine as she could be in these circumstances—she half listened as he showered, called to check in on his patients, then rounded up Zach to head out for their errands.
Soon after he left her with a lingering kiss and a promise not to be longer than necessary, her phone dinged on the desk beside her. She took a sip of her water, lifted the device, and glanced at the screen, praying Seth had decided to reach out to her. But no. This text was from one of the last people she’d ever expected to hear from.