Read Love Is Patient and A Heart's Refuge for Free Online Page B

right,” Ted put in. “A company that doesn’t move ahead goes behind.”
    “From the looks of things, we’re doing that already,” Dylan said, tension entering his voice.
    “I don’t think we need to talk business at the supper table,” Stephanie said with a tight smile. “Chelsea, have you gotten hold of the caterers to finalize details?”
    The conversation turned back to the wedding, leaving Lisa wondering again at the tension that existed between Dylan, his father and his brother.
    The rest of the meal was a sparring match of wordsand jokes, half-finished sentences. Laughter was the dominant emotion. And questions. But after Stephanie’s quiet warning, no business was spoken.
    As she tried to eat, Lisa couldn’t keep up with half the conversations, but she didn’t mind. Far easier to be simply a silent bystander.
    She noticed that in spite of the general air of togetherness around the table, Dylan and his father exchanged no more than a few sentences. Though Dylan hardly looked at his father, Alex’s eyes were constantly on his son as if hoping for some connection.
    “Have we met before, Lisa?” Dara asked suddenly. “The more I see you, the more familiar you seem.”
    Lisa kept her smile in place even as icy fingers tickled her spine. “My mother always told me my face was a dime a dozen. Maybe that’s why.”
    Dara laughed lightly. “Maybe.” But Lisa could tell Dara wasn’t satisfied with the reply.
    Lisa folded her napkin and laid it on her plate. She felt suddenly ill and wanted to leave. But she didn’t want to be the first away from the table.
    She looked up to see Alex watching her, a light frown on his face. Surely he didn’t recognize her, as well?
    Lisa steeled herself for another round of questions.
    “I think we should finish this meal, Stephanie,” Alex said, much to her relief. “We can have dessert in the living room.”
    He pulled a large worn book from a shelf behind him that was part of the kitchen cabinets. Lisa recognized a Bible. A well-read Bible.
    He handed it to Stephanie.
    “Why don’t you read, dear?” she said softly.
    He shook his head. With a slight nod of acquiescence, Stephanie took the book and paged through it. As she did, arms were crossed, faces turned toward her as a feeling of waiting permeated the room. This was normal routine, Lisa realized, sitting back in her chair.
    “We always have devotions after our meal,” Stephanie said, smiling at Lisa. “If you’re uncomfortable with that, you are welcome to leave.”
    “No, this is fine.” She glanced around the table, underlining her lack of objection. “Please, go ahead.”
    “Instead of reading through our usual devotions, I thought I would simply read a psalm.” Stephanie glanced up at Lisa as she slipped her reading glasses on. “So that Lisa doesn’t feel completely out of the loop.”
    Lisa felt that way already, but she simply smiled her thanks.
    “Psalm thirty-three.” Stephanie brushed a strand of hair back from her face and began to read. “’Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him….’”
    The cadences and rhythms of the psalm washed over Lisa. Familiar enough that she could almost hear Rick Haskell’s voice reading the words. A light pain settled in her chest, an echo of the one she’d felt in the airplane. Just like this family, Rick used to read the Bible after supper. Sometimes in the evening, as well. Unbidden, her thoughts returned to the angry place she revisited each time she thought of their deaths.
    “’From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all wholive on earth, He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.’”
    If God could truly see everyone, why had He taken Rick and her mother away from her and Gabe? What had they done to deserve such a loss?
    “’We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we