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  A TRUSTING HEART

  Judith McCoy Miller

  COPYRIGHT

  © 1998 by Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher, Truly Yours, PO Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683.

  All of the characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

  PROLOGUE

  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and

  the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. EPHESIANS 5:20

  Jake Lindsey made a left turn and steered his car into the limestone-walled cemetery. His wife, Claire, sat beside him on the beige, leather-upholstered seat of their white Honda Accord. Silently, they drove along the narrow gravel road, both of them watching for the gray marble statue of a little boy balancing an urn upon his head. In the spring and summer, the pitcher spewed a steady stream of water on the surrounding triangular flower bed. In autumn and winter, the flowers were replaced by fallen leaves, and the splashing water ceased to flow. Throughout the year, however, the statue served as a marker, dividing the roadway into separate sections of the cemetery.

  “Turn left, here,” Claire quietly instructed, breaking the silence.

  “I know,” Jake replied, giving her a slight smile and nodding his head.

  “Habit,” Claire said. “You know me. I’ve always got to give directions.”

  He said nothing, but took one hand from the steering wheel and laid it on top of hers. “After all these years, I wouldn’t know what to do if you stopped telling me how and where to drive,” he said, squeezing her hand.

  “I’m okay, Jake,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “Really, I am. God has brought us so far since this time last year.”

  He returned her smile and pulled the car as far off the gravel road as possible. “Better put your coat on. It’s windy,” he warned as he opened her car door.

  Together they walked to the back of the vehicle, and Claire stood waiting as Jake removed a huge hanging basket containing Christmas greens, holly, and red poinsettias. A large, red-and-green plaid, weatherproof ribbon was securely wired to the top of the container. Carrying the floral arrangement in one hand, Jake positioned his arm around Claire’s waist and led her toward Michelle’s grave. Without saying anything further, Jake pulled the wire cutters from his overcoat, removed the hanging basket they had suspended above the grave several months earlier, and then placed it on the ground. Picking up the new basket, he secured the wire hook on the heavy metal base and took the fresh piece of wire that Claire handed him. She watched as he meticulously rotated the wire, bending and turning until it met his exacting specifications.

  “How’s that?” he asked. “I think it’s good and secure,” he continued as if in answer to her unasked question.

  “It looks great,” she replied, her eyes drifting downward to the mauve-colored headstone they had chosen. An angel in flight was carved into the upper-left corner, symbolizing Michelle’s emancipation from her impaired physical body into the sovereign freedom of eternity with God. A simple verse was engraved below her name: “Think of her as living in the hearts of those she touched, for nothing loved is ever lost, and she was loved so much.” That unambiguous phrase represented the emotions of everyone who had ever developed a bond with their sweet Michelle. And it was those people, plus an abiding faith in God, that had kept Claire and Jake afloat during the grief-ridden months that followed Michelle’s death. When there were no words to say and no deeds that lent solace, they relied upon the great Comforter, resting in the knowledge that their child was safe in His arms.

  There had been times, especially for Claire, when even God’s comfort had seemed insufficient to assuage her grief. In many respects, it appeared that Claire’s mourning mirrored the struggle of Michelle’s life—insurmountable. But Michelle had risen to the challenge of her life, and Claire acknowledged that she herself could do no less. Amazingly, the pain had slowly diminished and, over a period of time, was replaced by a genuine peace and contentment. Claire now accepted the fact that she would always miss Michelle, but she also permitted herself to find joy in releasing her child to a better life.

  The cold December air stirred the pine trees standing vigil over the row of graves. Claire seated herself on the white wrought-iron bench that Jake had placed under a pine flourishing near Michelle’s headstone and pulled the collar of her wool, hunter-green coat high around her neck.

  Where has all the time gone? she thought. It seems like only yesterday when I was arguing with Gloria that I didn’t want her setting up blind dates and meddling in my life.

  ONE

  “For the third time, Gloria, I don’t want to go out to dinner with you and Roger,” Claire Winslow stated, the irritation in her voice unmistakable.

  “Honestly, Claire, you’d think I was suggesting you do something illegal, instead of trying to pry you out of this house for a little adult conversation and companionship,” Gloria replied.

  “I was already going to go out for adult conversation and companionship—with you, remember?” Claire retorted, her green eyes flashing.

  “I know, I know. If you want me to tell Roger to forget it, I will. It’s just that he’s been on temporary duty assignment for three weeks, and I didn’t know he’d be back tonight when we made our plans. . .”

  “Gloria! Go out to dinner with him. Enjoy yourself, but leave me out of it. I’d feel like the fifth wheel tagging along.”

  “No! I told Roger that I had promised you we were going to dinner tonight. He insisted I bring you. Besides, he said there would probably be some other people dropping by.”

  “Dropping by? What does ‘dropping by’ mean? And who are these other people?” Claire asked, suddenly suspicious.

  Gloria Vargas and Claire Winslow had become friends four years earlier while working at the same law office. It was a small practice, just two attorneys plus Gloria, who was a legal secretary; Claire, who was a legal assistant; and the receptionist, Josie, who had just graduated from high school. Although she was a sweet girl, Josie’s age precluded her from having much in common with the other two women.

  When Glenn Winslow, Claire’s husband, had died two years earlier while on a vacation in Colorado, it was Gloria who met her at the airport upon her arrival home, never leaving her side until Claire’s mother arrived. Claire and Gloria had a strong friendship, although they didn’t agree on everything. One of their primary disagreements arose over the fact that Gloria was determined that Claire should begin dating again. Consequently, whenever Gloria used terminology such as “dropping by,” Claire’s antennae went up. Claire had been easy to dupe the first few times Gloria tried her hand at matchmaking. But throughout the past few months, Claire had learned most of her friend’s tricks.

  At twenty-nine, Gloria was five years Claire’s junior and had never been married, although she thought it was in Claire’s best interest to once again tie the knot. In contrast, Claire was just as sure that she should remain single. After steadfastly avowing that marriage was not for her, Gloria was now blissfully in love with Roger and was even more determined that Claire should once again find someone with whom to share her life.

  “You know, Claire, you’re the most skeptical person I’ve ever known. Roger said that some of the guys from his company mentioned they might be at the Circle Restaurant tonight too. That’s what I meant when I said ‘dropping by.’ You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. I wouldn’t have even said anything except that you didn’t want to be a thr
eesome. Please say you’ll go.”

  “You’re beginning to sound like a whiny two-year-old,” Claire said as she poured a cup of coffee and sat down across from her friend at the kitchen table. “Sure is a pretty evening, isn’t it?” she asked, watching the two young neighbor children next door playing in a sprinkler. Their squeals of delight, along with the rat-a-tat-tat of the turning sprinkler, reverberated across the short distance and through the screened kitchen windows.

  “Yeah, it is. You’re going to get all melancholy on me if you sit here staring at those kids. Come on, Claire. I’ll give you fifteen minutes to repair your makeup and fix your hair, or I’m going to call Roger and we’ll physically drag you to the restaurant.”

  “All right, but I need at least an hour. I want to relax a few more minutes, and then I’ll get ready. Pick me up around seven o’clock.”

  “You sure drive a hard bargain,” Gloria said, giving her friend a grin. “I’ll be back at seven, and you’d better be ready to go! I won’t take any excuses,” she warned as she walked out the screen door, allowing it to slam closed after her.

  Claire watched as the petite brunette jogged down the driveway to her car, her bronze complexion accented by the creamy white silk blouse she was wearing. “How can anyone look so good all the time?” Claire murmured as her friend slipped behind the wheel of her sleek red Chevy.

  ❧

  It was exactly seven o’clock when Gloria came to a halt in the driveway and tooted the horn. Claire shook her head as she pulled the front door closed behind her. Wearing a pair of black slacks and pale gold blouse that accented the blond highlights in her light brown hair, Claire walked toward the car. The two women presented a striking contrast. Claire was seven inches taller with a much more curvaceous figure, light brown hair, green eyes, and fair complexion. Gloria, on the other hand, at a mere five feet, had a “little-boy” petite figure, short black hair, dark eyes, and bronze complexion.

  Claire and Gloria were almost as different in their religious beliefs as they were in appearance. Throughout their friendship, they had prayed for each other, and both of them loved God. But their methods of worship differed as much as their lives. Neither was willing to compromise her beliefs, nor did the other expect it. Yet the bond of Christian love ran deep between the two women.

  “I was watching for you—you didn’t have to lay on the horn and alert the whole neighborhood,” Claire remarked, giving her friend a teasing smile.

  “I don’t think those few little toots were enough to alert the whole neighborhood, but if you don’t shake a leg, I’ll see what I can do,” she called out the rolled-down car window.

  “Don’t do me any favors,” Claire replied, opening the car door and sliding onto the seat.

  “Where’s Roger?”

  “He’s going to meet us there. He said he’d hitch a ride with one of the other guys,” Gloria answered casually.

  The Circle was a favorite restaurant in the small military town adjacent to Fort Riley and was usually packed on weekends. By the time they pulled into the parking lot, Claire was already dreading the long wait for a table and the thought of being surrounded by throngs of loud, gregarious people she didn’t know.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Gloria said, eyeing her friend.

  “What does that mean?” Claire asked.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Gloria replied.

  “You don’t have any idea what I’m thinking,” Claire rebutted, staring out the car window as they pulled alongside another car in the parking lot.

  “You’re wishing you were at home and you’re devising some outlandish plan so that I’ll take you,” Gloria smugly answered.

  “Not quite—but close,” she admitted as she opened the car door.

  “Come on, it’ll be fun. Visiting, good food. . .”

  “Right! People I don’t know, calories I don’t need, conversations I’m not interested in—it’ll be great fun.”

  “Now who’s sounding like a whiny two-year-old?” Gloria asked, but not waiting for an answer. “Roger! Over here,” she waved, jumping up and down to attract his attention.

  It took no time for Roger to spot Gloria. Petite or not, she could make herself heard. And the minute Roger caught sight of them, he came bolting across the room and swept Gloria into a giant bear hug. Not sure how to handle what seemed an extremely awkward situation, Claire attempted to disassociate herself from the two of them as they kissed and embraced. It was obvious to everyone in the restaurant that they were delighted the three-week hiatus in their relationship was now over.

  “Hi, Claire,” Roger offered when he finally came up for air.

  “Hi, Roger. Did you have a table for us over there?” Claire inquired, desperately wanting to move out of the group gathered at the front of the restaurant who were obviously enjoying the couple’s reunion.

  “We’ve got a great table,” he advised, weaving through the crowd toward a long table where several couples were seated, along with a solitary man.

  “Who is he?” Claire hissed in Gloria’s ear. “He’d better have a wife or girlfriend in the bathroom,” she continued when Gloria didn’t answer.

  “Hey, Jake—this is Claire Winslow. Claire—meet Jake Lindsey,” Roger stated, introducing the man seated across the table from Claire.

  Jake nodded and rose from his chair until the women were seated, his six-foot, three-inch frame towering over the rest of them. Claire said nothing.

  “So, how you been, Jake?” Gloria inquired in an obvious attempt at conversation.

  “I’ve been fine. It’s nice to see you again, Gloria. It’s nice to meet you, Claire,” he stated, forcing her to reply.

  “Why?” Claire asked.

  “Why, what?”

  “Why is it nice to meet me? Did you know you were going to meet me? Because I didn’t know I was going to meet you, Jake. It is Jake, isn’t it? It seems that Roger and Gloria have been busy attempting to run my life again. You’ve been back in town less than twenty-four hours, Roger, and already the two of you are back to playing games,” Claire fumed at the surprised couple.

  “We just wanted to. . .”

  “I know exactly what you wanted to do, Gloria. However, let me set the record straight for you, Jake,” she said, glaring across the table. “If you have any intention of marriage or, for that matter, any type of commitment, you’ve been introduced to the wrong person.”

  A sharp elbow landed in Claire’s ribs just as she completed the statement.

  “Whaaat?” Claire asked, rubbing her side while looking at Gloria. “He might as well know where I stand! If you and Roger are intent on playing these matchmaking games, your prey should know the rules,” she continued, as though Jake weren’t present and hearing the conversation.

  “Claire. . .” Gloria began.

  “I can speak for myself, Gloria,” Jake replied, his azure blue eyes locked on Claire. “You need not worry, Claire. You’ve just met the man of your dreams—I’m thirty-five years old, never been married, and never intend to make that mistake. So it would appear we have at least one thing in common, wouldn’t you say?”

  Claire was relieved when the waiter appeared at that very moment. “I’ll have the dinner buffet, coffee, and my check is separate,” she told the young man. Nodding, he continued around the table taking orders and finally arrived across the table beside Jake.

  “I’ll have the dinner buffet, iced tea, and my check is separate also—unless you’d like to pay for it,” he said, looking up and catching Claire staring at him.

  A deep blush began to rise, and she could feel the heat climbing upward into her cheeks. “I’ll allow him to pay for his own,” she replied, turning to talk with Gloria.

  “I think they’re into a pretty deep conversation at the moment,” Jake commented, nodding toward Gloria and Roger. “Now me—I’d be happy to talk to you,” he offered, giving her a broad smile that caused the small lines at the edges of his eyes to crinkle.

&nb
sp; “Where did you get a tan like that, this time of year?” Claire ventured, surprised at his deep bronze shade before summer’s arrival.

  “It’s called desert tan,” he replied, once again giving her an engaging smile, his blue eyes twinkling. “I was in California from January through the end of March for training. It’s one of those added bonuses of being in the Army that I could do without.”

  That explained not only the tan, but also the pronounced sun streaks blended throughout his brown, wavy hair. Although his hair conformed to the usual short military cut, there was a definite curl that defied being totally eliminated. His broad shoulders and muscular build were evidence of his profession as a well-trained soldier.

  “I think I could live with a job that sent me to California for the winter without too many complaints,” Claire replied as she took a sip of her warm coffee. “Think I should have ordered iced tea. Appears the waiter’s going to be too busy to keep the coffee hot enough for my taste.”

  Jake merely nodded at her remark.

  “So tell me what it’s like to spend the winter on the sunny beaches of California,” Claire urged.

  “I wouldn’t know. I said I spent the winter in California, but I’m afraid I didn’t see any sunny beaches. We were training at Fort Irwin. Know anything about Fort Irwin?” he asked, without waiting for an answer. “It’s in the desert—one of those really plum assignments you hope never comes your way. However, my name seems to be permanently recorded on someone’s Fort Irwin winter-fun list.”

  “It can’t be all that bad—at least it’s warm, right?”

  “Oh it’s warm in the daytime, all right! The reflection of the sun beating on that sand produces unbelievable heat. Then once the sun goes down in the evening, you’re plagued with nights so cold that sometimes it snows. But believe it or not, the sun rises the next morning and you’re suffering from the heat all over again. And that’s just a couple of the reasons I’d be glad to do without California in the winter,” he answered while gesturing at the waiter to bring Claire a glass of iced tea.