Heartsong by Debbie Macomber Page A

but believed that for all his experience he didn’t know love as God intended it to be. Jordan Kiley was like so many others, seeking to fill a void in his life that could only be satisfied by a relationship with God.
    Reading was useless; setting aside the book, Skye changed into her jogging clothes. It looked like rain, but that didn’t bother her. She often jogged in the rain; the cool drops splashing against her face were refreshing and invigorating.
    She followed her usual route, running around the green at the Marina. The sultry breeze rolling in from the Pacific teased her. The ironic thing was the wind seemed to bewhispering Jordan’s name. As if to free herself, she tossed her head back. Her long hair, driven from her face, flowed gracefully behind her. Yet the action did little to dispel Jordan’s presence from her mind. If she listened carefully, she could almost hear his husky voice calling her.
    “This is silly,” she said aloud. To allow this one unnerving man to throw her now was like succumbing to a temporary kind of madness. She had long before accepted God’s plan for her life and didn’t regret being single.
    As if to outrun her thoughts, Skye jogged twice as far as normal and was exhausted by the time she stopped to walk the remaining blocks home. Walking the last few blocks home gave her body a chance to cool down after the long run and was as vital as the warm-up exercises she ritually performed before taking to the streets. Yet she didn’t feel herself cooling down. It was as if her body and her mind were working against her at a fever pitch. Memories of Glen bobbed to the surface of her mind, happy ones that she’d long ago locked away. Skye couldn’t help wondering if the short time she’d been with Jordan had done this to her. From past experience she realized she needed to keep herself busy, push the memories away.
    After a short shower back at home Skye changed clothes and left almost immediately, although she had no real destination in mind.
    “Anyone home?” Skye knocked loudly on the varnished door before letting herself in.
    “Skye?” Peggy Garvin came from the kitchen, a large terry-cloth apron tied around her slim waist. Bursting with the news of her pregnancy, Peggy threw her arms around her sister-in-law.
    “Brad told you, didn’t he?” she said, hugging Skye close.
    “Of course. He never could keep a secret for long,” Skye said, returning the affectionate hug. She stepped back and carefully studied the happiness in Peggy’s eyes. “You show already.”
    Peggy’s hand automatically rested against her flat stomach as her gaze swept downward. “Do you really think so?” she asked.
    “Not there, silly,” Skye chided. “It’s that radiant gleam.”
    “I know, I know. I don’t think I’ve been more pleased about anything in my life. What are we doing standing here? Let’s go into the kitchen. I’m baking cookies. Chocolate chip—your favorite.”
    “These smell good. Mind if I help myself?” She didn’t bother to wait for permission but bit into the melting morsel, savoring the chocolate flavor.
    Peggy pulled another sheet from the oven and carefully lifted the cookies with herspatula onto a waiting rack. “This is the last of the batch. Let’s have some tea; I picked up a new flavor at the store the other day. How does cherry almond sound?” Stretching her petite frame to reach the top cupboard, Peggy brought down her china cups. “Only the best for us,” she declared.
    The aroma of the tea pervaded the room as they chatted.
    “It’s so good to see you, Skye. How have you been?”
    “I should be asking you that question. How are you feeling?” Although her attention was directed to Peggy, her fingers were making lazy circles around the rim of her teacup. “You’re taking good care of yourself, aren’t you?”
    “Heavens, yes! Oh, Skye, the Lord is so good. I’m still having trouble believing I’m really pregnant, after all these years.”