Grace Alive: a Christian Romance Read Online Free Page B

Everything and headed
inside.
    I punched in and waved to another employee as
she got ready to go. We usually don’t have more than one person at
a time that works here. It’s odd I know, but it’s a tiny craft
store. Most of the time, I just stand there waiting for customers
to come in. I straighten the store, but then after that there’s
usually nothing to do.
    I started pulling things forward and making
sure we had our stuff in stock. Once in awhile, I pulled from the
back when I was working, but for the most part that’s the previous
girl’s job to do that. After a couple hours of straightening, I
headed back toward the counter to just wait for people. The store
looked really good already. This was the point where my mind would
start churning about crap. I’d start thinking about my family, my
church, and my lack of a husband. It got on my nerves. I’d rather
be busy doing something than be thinking about that kind of stuff.
The door dinged and in walked Jacob Whitmen. Jacob hates crafts.
Why the heck was he here except to bother me? I put on my good girl
Christian face. I really try not to bite his head off, but it’s
hard sometimes. He came right up to the counter and smiled at
me.
    “Hi Zoe-Poey.”
    Ah! Can’t this guy just call me by my name?
Zoe. It’s not that hard!
    “Hi, Jacob,” I said and really wished some
random child would knock over a stack of cans, so I could excuse
myself from this conversation.
    “You busy after work today?” he asked and put
his arms on the counter to look sexy maybe? I raised an eyebrow at
him.
    “I don’t get out until ten. I’m going to be
exhausted after work.”
    “Oh, okay. I just figured maybe we could grab
an ice-cream or a coffee after you got out.” He gave me one of his
famous greasy smiles.
    “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass this time,” I
said and nodded to him. I slipped out from behind the counter to go
to the back to do something. Really I was just hiding from him, but
he didn’t need to know that. I got a glimpse of his face as I
practically ran. It was mean of me I know. I’m sorry! I just can’t
stand to be around him sometimes. He’s so pushy! I feel like he’s
trying to shove a wedding ring on my finger, and I’m just standing
there screaming, “NOOOO!” at his face. He doesn’t take the hint
that I’m not interested in him! Period!
    After I figured he’d probably left, I snuck
back out of the backroom. I couldn’t be away too long. No one was
running the register. I breathed a sigh of relief. There was no one
in the store. I went back to the counter and let my mind wander
again. This time it dwelled on Branson. Why did it always go back
to Branson? Who was he? Where had he come from? He must be someone
who just moved into town. Or he’d just started frequently buying
milk.
    Next, my mind wandered to my novel. How was I
going to find her happy ending? I’d tried so many times to give it
to her, but it always failed. Like my life. I could not go down
that hole here at work. I wouldn’t start thinking about all the
disappointments I’d had. If I started thinking of that, I probably
would just want to curl up in a ball and cry. That would be
awkward.
    The door dinged, and in walked Branson,
toting his baby in his arms. He was bouncing her up and down and
singing. He had an amazing voice, even though he was singing Old
McDonald Had A Farm. He saw me watching him and waved his hand.
The baby waved her little hand along with him.
    “Say hi to Zoe, Bree! We are here for our
milk!” He raced over to the milk section making Bree squeal with
laughter. He ran back toward me and stopped suddenly, making Bree’s
curls fly around her round face. She squealed again and clapped her
hands.
    “Dadadada…” she said with a drooly smile. She
was wearing a purple tutu and a sparkly lion shirt.
    “Did you need anything else tonight?” I asked
all professional like.
    “Nope! Just milk!” Branson said with a
cheerful look in his eyes. I rang