Gloriana nodded. “I’ll take you to my house, but first, do you have any questions? I don’t want to talk about this in front of Sally. She can’t bear it.”

“I don’t think I have questions. Scott went fishing with your father and his crew, and the storm came up and the ship sank.”

The way he said it seemed so matter-of-fact that it made Gloriana angry. “Yes, and eight men lost their lives. Perhaps you weren’t that fond of your brother, but I was, and I loved the rest of the crew as well.”

Luke’s brow furrowed as confusion filled his expression. He shook his head. “I didn’t mean to sound callous, honestly. I loved my brother deeply.”

Gloriana forced herself to calm down. She could see the hurt in his eyes. “And I didn’t mean to sound so angry. But I am angry. I’m angry at the loss, and I’m angry at trying to figure out the future. My eight-year-old brother is blaming himself for his father’s death, and now he has no one but me to rely on.”

“I am sorry.”

Gloriana barely heard him. “Most of all I’m angry at God. He took my brother and sister and mother three years ago, and now my father and your brother. They were good men. They were good friends—in fact, Scott was like a son to my father. He loved him. We loved Scott and Sally.” She got up and began to pace. “And now they’re gone, and Sally will most likely die as well. It makes no sense. God is cruel.”

“He gives and takes away, but still we must say, ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.’”

She turned on her heel and fixed Luke with a hard look. “How can you say that?”

“What else shall I say? I’m hurting just as much as you are, but I cannot see that blaming God will help any more than you blaming yourself.”

“Oh, I don’t blame myself. I had nothing to do with this. God who controls the world—the seas and storms—He is the one who could have done something, yet He stood by idle.” A sob broke from her throat. She was losing control in front of this stranger, and it only furthered her frustration. “I’ve lost everything and have no idea how I’m going to face the future, and yet God is silent.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “It’s a terrible burden to bear, and I would think you feel it as well.”

“I do. I can hardly comprehend my brother being gone. I just had a letter from him, and his happiness was spelled out across the pages. He loved fishing.” Luke shook his head. “I can hardly imagine coming from our background of wealth and enjoying manual labor, but that was Scott. He was always full of surprises.”

“I know he loved it.” Gloriana wiped her cheeks with her sleeve. “He loved Sally and the coming baby as well. Now he’ll never see that child. It’s not right.” She buried her face in her hands and let go of her tears.