friends and a strong faith. God had truly blessed her. It was Godâs plan she sought.
âThanks for the explanation,â she said.
Silence grew. Marcie stared at the boats, began eating her sandwich. Zack studied her for a long moment.
âSo what now?â he asked.
She looked at her sandwich, wishing she had made them smaller. âWe go on, I guess. What else is there?â
âI hope one day we might be friends,â he said slowly. When she risked another glance, she could see the deep emotion in his eyes. She had not been the only one hurt by the past. Could she put it behind her? Could they one day be friends?
The pull of attraction she felt when around him suggested not. Sheâd forever yearn for more than friendship,for the love theyâd once shared. She glanced around the marina. Everywhere she looked she saw bits and pieces of the past. Theyâd gone sailing several times over the summers in high school. Sheâd loved skimming the water while he handled the sails.
She shook her head to dislodge her thoughts. She did not want to dwell in the past.
Tears threatened. Sheâd loved him so much at one time and now all he wanted was to be friends. Swallowing hard, she nodded. âSure, friends.â
He reached out and took one of her hands in his.
She looked up into his dark eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. For a moment she wished sheâd dare hold his hand and never let him go. Slowly she slipped her hand from his. âA lotâs happened since then. I have a nice life and am content. Youâll get tired of pokey old Rocky Point again and take off. You were right. I love it here and never wanted to live elsewhere. I have friends, my dad, a good business. Iâm a homebody from the get-go.â
âItâs a good place to live. To raise a family. Joeâs done well. We worked on cars together when we were teenagers. Iâm thinking of asking him to let me buy in as a partner. I have enough knowledge to pull my own weight.â He sat back a bit, as if deliberately placing distance between them.
âAnd how long before you miss the lights of Paris or the excitement of a race and you take off again?â she asked slowly. âThis isnât your place anymore.â
âItâs my place, as much as it ever was. Iâm back, probably for good.â Now wasnât the time to go into his change of heart, his change of plans brought on by Jacquesâs death.
Marcie toyed with her sandwich, wondering how soon she could leave without looking like she was running away.
âHowâs your dad?â Zack asked.
âFine. Heâs going fishing today.â
âHe always loved that. You go often?â
She shook her head. âI havenât been in a while. Too busy. But heâs cut back his work hours to four days a week so he and his cronies can go as often as the weather permits.â
âDid he ever get that boat he talked about?â
âNo.â She didnât want to talk about mundane things. She wanted to be alone, to think about what heâd said, try to see things from his point of view. Please, Lord, give me insight to his feelings, so I can find forgiveness in my heart.
Â
Zack watched Marcie as she played with her food. She wasnât eating. The sandwiches were delicious, but he didnât have much appetite himself. Heâd delayed speaking with her for the entire time heâd been back in town. Finally garnering courage to face her on Sunday and now todayâand it seemed the wall sheâd erected was stronger than ever. He wanted her forgiveness. He wanted her friendship. He wanted her laughter. Truth be told, he wanted her to love him again.
But her reaction to his apology had him fearing that would never happen. She hadnât said she understood his decision, that they had been kids but were older now and wiser. He felt wiser, with the experience of the last years. He was no longer
Lynette Eason, Lisa Harris, Rachel Dylan