A Journey by Chance Read Online Free Page B

saying too much. “Well, it just got complicated.” If she mentioned that Steve faced difficult choices and ultimately chose the ones that were not in her bestinterest, it would sound gossipy and demeaning. In spite of everything, she wouldn’t stoop to that. He was just doing his job. His version of it, anyway.
    â€œIs your leg all right?” Lauren’s voice was concerned. “I’ve been praying about that.”
    â€œThanks.” Her cousin prayed about everything, just like the aunts did. It must be a small-town thing. “It healed fine and usually doesn’t hurt. I bicycle and wear a brace for long hikes. My jog’s just a little lopsided.”
    â€œWell, what happened? All you’ve told me was that you got hurt at work and had to take a disability leave of absence.” Lauren glanced at her. “Or maybe you don’t want to talk about it?”
    Gina shrugged a shoulder. “Not really. It was…complicated. I don’t think I’ve sorted it all out yet. Let’s talk about more cheerful things, like your wedding. Or the family!” She’d heard enough about the wedding. “Tell me all about the cousins.”
    She listened with only half attention. The other half occupied itself with pushing aside memories. They were a year’s worth in the making, still too vivid to easily ignore. She was a vet employed at the Wild Creatures Country in Orange County, California. She had chosen the elephants over the Park. Steve, her boss and romantic interest, had chosen the Park over her. Worse than ending their relationship, his choice had ended her career. It was simple. Heartbreakingly so.
    But her heart had healed. If God created hearts, He made them with incredible resiliency. As with her leg, though, her heart moved in its own uneven beat. There were some emotional dances she’d have to sit out. Emotional dances like following your dreams and doing what you love to do. Or trusting people.
    â€œDisability leave of absence” stretched the truth, but it was the most she could handle for now. To admit out loud that she had been fired was still beyond her ability.

Four
    Gina sat at a round table, plunked down in the precise center of the Valley Oaks Community Church reception hall. She felt like a buoy anchored to a floating chair, afloat in a sea of humidity peopled with unfamiliar faces. The entire church membership, perhaps even the entire town, had turned out for Aunt Lottie’s birthday celebration. Wall-to-wall tables filled the sunny room that easily accomodated the hundreds now noisily milling about, hemming her in.
    She pulled at the scooped neck of her chamois-colored knit cotton top. The label read 100 percent cotton…but it wasn’t breathing this afternoon. She discreetly picked at the matching wrinkled linen skirt, easing it off of her lap, and wondered where to dump her cup of too-sweet punch and find a glass of ice water.
    The outside temperature was 90, the humidity 95 percent. Inside it must be—
    She stopped the petulant line of thinking. It wouldn’t change anything. And she had certainly spent long enough wallowing in self-pity these past months. Look for something positive , she reminded herself.
    Across the room her mother was overseeing the placement of the candy dishes and plates of white sheet cake. She gravitated toward such tasks at hand, which was why she was so successful as a manager. Between this open house and the coming wedding and reception, she would easily find outlets for her skills.

    Aunt Lottie was beaming, her white hair freshly fluffed this morning, her new dress a pretty pastel floral print. She was 90 today…just like the temperature.
    â€œHello.”
    The masculine voice came from behind her. It was soft, well-modulated, with a whispery hint to it. And it was definitely familiar.
    Brady Olafsson came into view and pulled a folding chair out from the table. “May