Detour: Destination Abiding Love by JoAnn Carter

own wayward heart was just as frustrating. She shouldn’t even care. Not if she was here only to seek forgiveness and restitution so she’d be free to go to New York with a clear conscience. She pushed open her door. Just do what you need to do to escape Daviston as soon as possible. Practice and give them the best concert this town has ever had. That will have to be enough payback, because I need to get out of here. Instead of opening her violin case, she plopped down at the small kitchenette table.
    She had no desire to play her violin, something that happened less than a handful of times in her life.
    She picked an apple out of the bowl on the table, rubbed it on her pants, and then took a big bite. Tangy juice and crisp apple meat pleased her taste buds. At least there were still a few sweet things in this world. An image of Mrs. Whitten, Pastor, and Melissa popped into her mind and she felt a twinge of guilt for not being more thankful for them. I know, God, I know.
    With a deep sigh, she walked toward the large bay window and glanced out while she munched. A dog romped around on the lawn next door chasing a tennis ball. The next door over from that, an older woman was working in her flower bed. It all looked so “hometown.”
    Disgusted with this hometown, she turned her back on the warm sun coming in through the window and approached her violin. She wasn’t even through warm-up scales before the heaviness on her heart began to lift. Soon, she was in an all-out jam session worshiping and thanking the Lord for His faithfulness, patience, kindness, and gentleness towards her. It could have been ten minutes or two hours, but at some point, a loud knock finally penetrated through her music.
    “Be right there,” Sierra called as she walked to the door. With her violin in one hand, she opened the door with the other.
    “You go, girl!” Melissa grinned. “I could hear you from out here. It’s awesome. I’d love to listen to you all day, only I have to go to a prayer meeting in thirty minutes. I just wanted to swing by to see if you needed anything.”
    “Thanks, I’m good, but would you like to come in for a few minutes?”
    “Love to.” Melissa followed her in and took a seat on the plaid chair by the window. “Listen, I don’t mean to pry or anything, but when I was leaving church this morning, I noticed you were on the green with Cole and Laura. Things looked...a little strained.”
    “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
    Melissa patted the chair cushion next to her seat. “Here; come talk to me.”
    Sierra set her violin on the stand next to the table, and then sat. “There’s really nothing to talk about.”
    “Don’t let her push you away. Cole needs you.”
    She rubbed her forehead. “Mrs. Whitten said something to the same effect a while ago, but I don’t know why you two think that. Whatever he may need, I’m not the girl for the job. His mother is convinced I’m going to spoil his father’s campaign.” She threw up her hands. “And you know what; she may very well have a valid point.”
    “Phooey! Don’t give fear or discouragement the victory here.” Melissa grabbed hold of Sierra’s hand. “Cole is a wonderful man. I could tell you great things about him until I’m out of breath because he gives and gives to this community, to the point where I think it’s been too much.”
    “What? How is that possible?”
    “He’s so busy doing good things; he’s forgotten the best thing; his relationship with the Lord. Since you’ve arrived, I’m beginning to see a bit of that hunger for his Savior come back. God is using you. Give Him the time He needs to work in Cole’s heart.”
    “How can God use me? I have nothing to give except the music.”
    “There’s a passage I love in Second Corinthians chapter four verses six through nine. It says, ‘For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of