God's Gift of Love Read Online Free Page B

didn’t know him at all.
    Things were too uncertain, and she couldn’t trust him. 
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what you want from me.”
    “I don’t want anything,” Gabe said, his voice urgent. “I just want you to know how much I cared for you. And seeing you again this week, everything’s come flooding back, stronger. I never thought I could love someone as much as I loved you, Katie, and now that you’re back, I know I couldn’t.”
    “Oh Gabe,” she said, holding back another sob.
    Aunt May’s house was in sight. She just had to get home. She couldn’t let him be hurt. She couldn’t let him hurt her.
    They were quiet as the buggy went the final distance. She steered the horses with shaking hands and they stopped. She got off the buggy quickly, and Gabe leaped off to help her with the horse. As she worked on getting him detached and led him to the barn, her tears subsided and she was able to get a hold of her breath. Gabe helped her, opening the barn door, then the one to the stable. She stroked the horse’s neck. His name was George; and he was a kind, older horse, almost like May in that way.
    Katie pulled her shawl close and left the barn, Gabe behind her. She paused before walking up the steps of the porch. The steps he’d been working on steadily, without relenting.
    “Katie, I’m sorry if I overstepped,” Gabe said. “I just wanted you to know.”
    She hugged herself. “Gabe, you might think you love me, but... no one truly can.”
    Gabe sucked in a small breath as though her words pained him.
    “The good father, yes; family, yes; but not... not a husband, a partner, you see?”
    “ Nee ,” Gabe whispered, shaking his head. He took a step closer to her, but she backed away.
    “Mark didn’t.” Her voice broke. “And that’s for the best. I’m meant to be alone.”
    “Katie,” he said it like a plea.
    “I’m sorry, but I can’t give you what you need. I should go.” She turned and walked up the steps.
    He said her name once more. She paused at the door and glanced back at him.
    “What I said earlier about being here for you, about helping with anything you need, I still mean that,” Gabe told her. “I’ll be here.”
    She slowly nodded. “Goodnight, Gabe.”
    She slipped into the dark, warm house and leaned against the door. Tears stung her eyes again, but she forced them back. This time, she was successful.

Chapter Three: Gabe
    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
    - 1 Peter 1:3
     
    Katie’s words kept Gabe up more often than not. How could she think she wasn’t worthy of love? What had Mark done to her? The pain in her voice in the buggy, then the certainty later when she told him she couldn’t give him what he needed. It woke him up in the middle of the night, and he thought of her across the village, alone, hurting, believing those lies. When he couldn’t sleep, he’d pray instead, begging the father to open her eyes and help her realize she could be loved. That sh e wa s loved.
    He finished her porch a few days after the dinner. She came out and spoke to him as though nothing had happened between them.
    At the service, she met up with all his family again, and they all enjoyed each other’s presence. She didn’t stay for the singing that night, so neither did he.
    He kept seeing her over the following weeks. She watched the others play volleyball while she sat in the grass, too pregnant to play with them. She visited his brothers’ houses and became friends with their wives. She visited May’s children’s houses. He would be at these visits more often than not. They played many a game of Scrabble, and no matter how she tried, she never had the letters to make 'love' and 'Gabe'. Others would seat them next to each other at the dinner table. They would hint at how everyone was paired up, even Katie