Calling Love: A Contemporary Christian Romance (Modern Conveniences Book 2) by Leah Atwood Page A
Authors: Leah Atwood
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in a house with a garage.
Callused fingers touched her arm. “You’re in the car now. You’re safe.”
The soothing voice brought her back to reality. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” His finger curled to grasp her arm. “But if you want to talk, I’m a good listener.”
“The reason for my storm phobia is no secret.” The gentle, caring touch he offered calmed her panicked state. “When I was seven, and my sister Anna was eight, we played Little League. One night during the fifth inning of a game, a freak storm came out of nowhere. At first everyone thought it was only rain, so we sat in the dugout waiting for it to pass.”
“What happened?” The prompt came after she’d gone silent for a minute.
“It started lightning, and the coaches called the game. On the way to her car, Jodie Michaels, one of my best friends, was struck by lightning.”
Archer’s startled eyes widened. “Did she…”
“The rain came down in sheets, making it impossible to drive, so all us kids had to witness the entire ordeal.” Twenty-two years later, the memory remained vivid in her mind. “First the ambulances came, then the helicopter. She was airlifted to the hospital but died the next day.”
“I’m so sorry.” His deepened voice demonstrated genuine compassion.
“It was terrible. Many of us dropped out for the rest of the season, and for months, I refused to leave the house if there was a single cloud in the sky. Mom or Dad would have to carry me out kicking and screaming.” She tried to stifle a sigh. “When it did storm, even if I was in the house, I’d flip out. Mom says I took a measuring tape and found the exact center of our house, and I’d sit in that spot until the storm passed.”
“That’s an extremely difficult ordeal for anyone to experience, let alone a child.”
“I’ve gotten better over the years. Now, I only get scared if I’m outside during a storm, but I take great lengths to avoid that.” She waved a hand to the rain beginning to pelt the windshield. “Tonight, I didn’t even think about checking the weather before I left, which is rare for me.”
“Too excited about your hot date?” With a wink, he let go of her arm.
“Sure,” she drawled. If he only knew how true that was. “You probably think I’m one of those people who can’t move beyond issues of my childhood, but really I’m not.”
“The thought never crossed my mind,” he said with a straight face. “I have my own, so I’m not one to judge.”
“I know, but I have the whole storm problem on top of my parental issue. Honestly, that’s about it as far as my hang-ups. I like to think I’m a fairly well-adjusted adult.”
Humor creased the corners of Archer’s eyes. “You don’t have to convince me.”
She laughed nervously, feeling vulnerable. “Then I’ll shut up before you change your mind.”
Chapter Six
Archer paced the short length of the cement walkway in front of Madison’s house. Today was the big day, the reveal of his fiancée to Gran. Would Gran buy Madison as his significant other? He sucked in a long breath and held it in his lungs for a second before slowly expelling it. His stomach turned every which way.
Where was Madison? She hadn’t changed her mind at the last minute, had she? They’d chatted on the phone last night, almost until midnight. He couldn’t believe she’d back out now. He gave her another minute, then rang the doorbell again.
His phone was still in his truck. He’d started back to the driveway to retrieve it and check for any messages from her when he heard the door creak. Turning around, he saw her holding open the storm door.
“I’m here.” A harried smiled greeted him. “I was in the basement cleaning up a water leak.”
“Did you fix it?” Relief struck to know she hadn’t been avoiding him, debating if she’d go through with the plan. “I can take a look at it.”
She twisted her lips before breaking into a
Callused fingers touched her arm. “You’re in the car now. You’re safe.”
The soothing voice brought her back to reality. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” His finger curled to grasp her arm. “But if you want to talk, I’m a good listener.”
“The reason for my storm phobia is no secret.” The gentle, caring touch he offered calmed her panicked state. “When I was seven, and my sister Anna was eight, we played Little League. One night during the fifth inning of a game, a freak storm came out of nowhere. At first everyone thought it was only rain, so we sat in the dugout waiting for it to pass.”
“What happened?” The prompt came after she’d gone silent for a minute.
“It started lightning, and the coaches called the game. On the way to her car, Jodie Michaels, one of my best friends, was struck by lightning.”
Archer’s startled eyes widened. “Did she…”
“The rain came down in sheets, making it impossible to drive, so all us kids had to witness the entire ordeal.” Twenty-two years later, the memory remained vivid in her mind. “First the ambulances came, then the helicopter. She was airlifted to the hospital but died the next day.”
“I’m so sorry.” His deepened voice demonstrated genuine compassion.
“It was terrible. Many of us dropped out for the rest of the season, and for months, I refused to leave the house if there was a single cloud in the sky. Mom or Dad would have to carry me out kicking and screaming.” She tried to stifle a sigh. “When it did storm, even if I was in the house, I’d flip out. Mom says I took a measuring tape and found the exact center of our house, and I’d sit in that spot until the storm passed.”
“That’s an extremely difficult ordeal for anyone to experience, let alone a child.”
“I’ve gotten better over the years. Now, I only get scared if I’m outside during a storm, but I take great lengths to avoid that.” She waved a hand to the rain beginning to pelt the windshield. “Tonight, I didn’t even think about checking the weather before I left, which is rare for me.”
“Too excited about your hot date?” With a wink, he let go of her arm.
“Sure,” she drawled. If he only knew how true that was. “You probably think I’m one of those people who can’t move beyond issues of my childhood, but really I’m not.”
“The thought never crossed my mind,” he said with a straight face. “I have my own, so I’m not one to judge.”
“I know, but I have the whole storm problem on top of my parental issue. Honestly, that’s about it as far as my hang-ups. I like to think I’m a fairly well-adjusted adult.”
Humor creased the corners of Archer’s eyes. “You don’t have to convince me.”
She laughed nervously, feeling vulnerable. “Then I’ll shut up before you change your mind.”
Chapter Six
Archer paced the short length of the cement walkway in front of Madison’s house. Today was the big day, the reveal of his fiancée to Gran. Would Gran buy Madison as his significant other? He sucked in a long breath and held it in his lungs for a second before slowly expelling it. His stomach turned every which way.
Where was Madison? She hadn’t changed her mind at the last minute, had she? They’d chatted on the phone last night, almost until midnight. He couldn’t believe she’d back out now. He gave her another minute, then rang the doorbell again.
His phone was still in his truck. He’d started back to the driveway to retrieve it and check for any messages from her when he heard the door creak. Turning around, he saw her holding open the storm door.
“I’m here.” A harried smiled greeted him. “I was in the basement cleaning up a water leak.”
“Did you fix it?” Relief struck to know she hadn’t been avoiding him, debating if she’d go through with the plan. “I can take a look at it.”
She twisted her lips before breaking into a
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