Chapter 40

Divorced.

Wasn't it?

When Nora hurried up the steps toward her, Savannah's control crumpled. She sank into her friend's embrace, and the comforting press of Nora's arms around her released the floodgate holding back her tears. Savannah sobbed against her shoulder until she managed to get a grip on her emotions. The familiar scent of peppermints and Nora's vanilla shampoo strengthened her as much as Nora's patting her on the back.

Nora glanced at the decree. "Let's get inside out of the wind. We can talk while we decorate for the celebration."

Nora sat beside her. "You can always get remarried. What's driving this fear you have?"

"What did he say when you told him you loved him?"

"He said I could kiss him again, but he didn't say he loved me too."

She shook her head. "I have to know what he's thinking. He said to let him know when I was ready to talk. I'm going to tell him to meet me at Ella's grave tomorrow morning."

***

The inscription on Ella's headstone caught his gaze: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." After his last visit to the cemetery, he had read the passage in Luke that it came from, so he now understood that Jesus had been talking about storing up treasure in heaven. Blake had told him it had nothing to do with his money but his actions. And Hez had no idea how that worked. Not yet. Blake had promised to help explain it, and Hez realized he was finally ready to listen, to maybe accept that God might forgive him. It seemed impossible, but what if it was true?

There was that crossroad. Or there might be a crossroad anyway. He needed to find out.

She took his hand in hers. "You don't need to keep apologizing. It could have happened to anyone."

"You've changed. I see it every day."

She squeezed his hand. "It's enough for me."

"But look at us now! You're not hiding and I'm not leaving. I've forgiven you, Hez. God has forgiven you. You don't have to keep carrying around the guilt of the past. Just let it go. You can have a fresh start."