Read Country Crooner (Christian Romance) for Free Online Page B

miss my father terribly, and I need to know the best way to take care of his business."
    She had an inkling of a thought that maybe she should stay in the small town and run the radio station on her own. But the idea seemed impossible... she didn't go to business school and work on building up her career in online marketing only to move back to her home town and run an unprofitable gospel radio station. She couldn't see any future in that life.
    It was nice to be back in nature, and it helped her to feel closer to God. She always felt more connected to God when she was out in the wild, and she didn't get the opportunity very often in California. It felt refreshing to be outside, and it rejuvenated her soul. She continued to pray, pouring her heart out to God about the concerns that she had and the decisions she was trying to make.
    After she finished praying, she sat quietly for a few minutes looking for an answer. Nothing came to her.
    There was only silence.
    She could hear the rustling of the leaves, the soft bubbling of the water as it moved over the rocks, and birds chirping in the tree tops. The sounds were calming, but she was looking for an answer from God. She needed to know what to do.
    Why wasn't God listening to her, especially when she needed him so much right now?
    She looked at her watch and discovered the she needed to meet Kurt in five minutes, so she got up and quickly walked back up the path to head to the café.
    When she arrived at the café, she looked inside and found that he had already sat down at a table and was waiting for her. He had a glass of water in one hand, and a menu in the other.
    As she approached the table, he stood to greet her. "Thanks for meeting me; I just want to apologize again for my behavior. I was out of line. I hope you'll forgive me." He seemed genuine in his apology, although Chelsea was still hesitant... wondering what his agenda was.
    "It's all right; I tried not to take it too personally. This whole week has just been a blur for me, trying to keep up with the funeral and taking care of all of my father's arrangements." She seated herself at the table and took a small drink from the other water glass placed there.
    "I can't imagine what you're going through," he responded, also resuming his seat. "I haven't lost a parent before, but I'm sure it would be a very difficult thing. Trying to deal with the death of a close family member is hard enough without having to worry about the business decisions."
    "Yes, I miss him terribly, he was a good man. And I'm at a complete loss to know what I should be doing about his radio station. I know that so many people in this community have enjoyed the messages that he shared, but I just don't see a way to keep it going."
    "I'm sorry for your loss." Kurt reached over and gently placed his hand on hers on top of the table, he looked up into her eyes. "I want you to know that your father was a good man, and that he meant a lot to me. After I moved away to pursue my music career, I lived a rough life and forgot about God.”
    The waitress came over and Kurt removed his hand from Chelsea ’s and turned his attention back to the menu. After they had both given the waitress their orders, he watched her for a few seconds before continuing.
    “Everything eventually came crashing down on me, and I moved back home with my parents to get my feet under me again. That was when I started to get to know your father, and became involved with the youth in the area. With Jerry’s help, I remembered the priorities in life, and gained greater faith in God. Without your father's good influence in my life, I don't know where I would be right now."
    Chelsea was grateful to hear about Kurt's experience with her father, and though she had felt much frustration towards this man, she noticed that she had enjoyed his brief touch on her hand. Plus, it was tough to ignore the softness of his lips and his dashing smile.
    "This week, I’ve heard so many stories like