Chapter 27 #2
He smiled, a sweet, soft smile just for her. “Then after I meet with Mina on Monday, we should know more about our future.”
Things were still unsettled between them, but Abby raised her face to the salty breeze and let it carry away the weight of any remaining doubt. Her anxiety lifted, replaced by a quiet peace.
“I’m glad you came so we could talk about this,” she said.
“I couldn’t stay away.”
Completely at peace, she watched the waves crash into the boulders below. Thank You, God, for Your many blessings.
Burke stood quietly behind her. His silence continued so long she had to know what he was thinking. She turned to look at him.
He took a small box from one of his cargo pockets. Not velvet like a jewelry box, but a cedar box sanded smooth.
“I made this.” Uncertainty replaced his conviction not only in his words, but in his expression. “I spent the last two weeks getting it right.”
“I can tell you worked hard on it.” She took the box, the cedar smooth under her fingers. Whatever it contained, he’d handcrafted the box for her. She lifted the lid. Inside sat a hand-carved wooden compass, polished with oil, and the needle was set in silver.
She turned it over. Found a single word, etched in careful script— Return.
“The compass and box are both beautiful.” Emotion choked off her voice.
“It’s meant to be more than nice to look at,” he said, voice low. “The compass means a return to something real.”
To her, that meant a return to who she was. No more trying to be something her family wanted her to be. No more trying to be the unbreakable woman she tried to be when she was sheriff. But now, just Abby. A woman in love with Burke, who reciprocated her feelings.
This man—stubborn, brave, compassionate—wasn’t only part of her life now. He was home for her. Not because he rescued her, but because he saw her. Her failings. Her faults. And he stayed.
She stepped closer. “Sometimes the hardest journeys are the ones back to ourselves.”
He reached for her hand. “You helped me find something I’d lost. Trust. Faith. Love. I won’t get everything right. That’s for sure. But I’d like to figure it out—with you.”
As a gust of wind swept over them, a quiet prayer rose up within her—a prayer of gratitude and surrender. For love. For the grace that had never really left.
“I wasn’t looking for love,” she whispered. “For us. I didn’t think I deserved it.”
“Me neither. In fact, I was thinking I was a lost cause in that department.” He stepped closer and circled her in his arms. “But here we are.”
She curled her hands around his neck and lifted up on her toes for what she hoped was an inevitable kiss.
To the sound of waves crashing into the rocks, he lowered his lips to hers—a kiss of peace and love. His lips, soft and gentle, didn’t demand anything, but simply promised—I see you. I trust you. I’m not leaving.
He lifted his head and breathed deeply.
She instantly missed his contact and rose up again to rest her forehead against his. “So… what now?”
“I love you, Abby.” He looked deep into her eyes. “Will you walk this path with me?”
“I love you too.” She smiled, tears wetting her eyes. “I will, with God’s help, every step.”
Thank you so much for reading Lost Cause.