As if hearing her thoughts, Luke spoke. “Gloriana, sooner or later you’re going to have to reconcile with God. That’s what’s hurting you the most right now. You may not realize it, but it’s the truth. For a young woman who has spent her life honoring God and trusting in Him for her needs, to walk away from Him now at such a difficult time makes everything worse.”

She pulled back. “I didn’t walk away. He did.”

“Did He? Or did He just not keep your life in the order you had become accustomed to?”

“What good is it to be a Christian and serve Him if we cannot trust Him to protect us from evil and bad things?”

“When did He fail you in that area?” Luke asked, his voice barely a whisper.

“By taking my family. My father.” Was it really so hard for him to understand?

“There are things that will happen to us over the course of our lifetime. Things that cause us great sorrow and pain, but that hardly equates to God’s lack of protection and love. Gloriana, God didn’t walk away. You did. You turned your back on Him because He didn’t do things your way. It’s hard to lose your father, but he was right with God when the end came. I know it’s hard without him, and I would give just about anything to give him back to you, but instead I’ll give you what I can. Myself.”

She looked deep into his eyes and could see the depth of his sincerity. How she wanted to trust in that pledge, but Luke was here today and gone tomorrow. At least that was the way Gloriana saw it.

Before she realized what was happening, she found Luke’s mouth upon hers. The kiss was tender and promising. She momentarily lost herself in that single, simple action. It was her first kiss—probably her last. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the gesture.

But then reasonable thought returned, and she jumped back, pushing him away at the same time.

“No! I can’t. I can’t let myself care about you only to lose you when summer ends. Do you realize how hard it is to care for someone you know you will soon be parted from? I take care of Sally every day and grow closer and closer to her, only to know that when your job here is done, you’ll take her away from me. I spend time with you and care for you as well, but soon you’ll be gone. I can’t bear it, Luke. I just can’t lose anyone else.”

Luke touched her cheek. “I have no intention of leaving you, Gloriana, nor of taking Sally away from you. You are the baby’s mother as sure as anything. I wouldn’t hurt you that way.”