Second Chance Sweethearts (Love Inspired) by Kristen Ethridge Page A

holding.
    The past several hours had all run together. All of her training had kicked in and she’d just done what she needed to do. But now the immediate danger was no longer resting squarely on her shoulders and they were safe, surrounded by local officials, police and doctors in the safest building in town and she could release that burden. Gloria tried, but she couldn’t even feel relief. All she felt was tired.
    Inez reached toward Gloria from the couch she had been instructed to lie on. “Gloria, come here.”
    Gloria slipped her hand into the older woman’s thin grasp. Her hand felt cold. So much time spent in wind and rain. Gloria wondered if any of them would ever be dry or warm again. Or safe. Would the memories of tonight mark them all forever?
    “How are you feeling, Inez?”
    “Like a drowned rat.” The older woman shuddered, making her gray hair shake. “I think I saw a few on the boat ride over here, too. Yuck. But they’re bringing me some dry clothes. That should help. I think they’re bringing some for you, too.”
    Gloria wondered what kind of dry clothes they had in a hurricane command center. Probably not anything that would show up on a catwalk—in Paris, France,
or
Paris, Texas. “I’m glad you’re okay, Inez.”
    Inez smiled. The deep lines around her face stretched out, and Gloria could see the neighborhood beauty she used to be. “You don’t have to be afraid to be around Rigo, you know.”
    “I’m not afraid of him.” Gloria tried not to snap. Just because she didn’t want to spend any more time than necessary around him didn’t mean she was afraid of him.
    “You’re afraid of something. You know, God doesn’t give you a spirit of fear. He gives strength to His people.”
    The corner of Gloria’s mouth twisted downward. She didn’t want to talk about God and she didn’t want to speak badly about the woman’s favorite nephew, but Inez had to know the history. Everyone in the La Misión neighborhood knew the story behind Gloria and Rigo, from high school until after Felipe’s death.
    She was the star of a real-life soap opera in her own backyard.
    “No, really, I’m not afraid of anything.” Gloria tried to sound reassuring. She tried to end this line of conversation. Couldn’t they talk about something more palatable? Talking about the hurricane winds, which were again howling outside, wrecking even more of their hometown, seemed like an easier topic.
    “Gloria, I know a lot has happened between you and Rigo.”
    Could Inez read her mind? Maybe not, Gloria decided. “A lot” was mild compared to how she would have described it.
    Gloria waved her hand, noncommittally. “It’s in the past, Inez. Really. We don’t have to talk about it.”
    Inez shook her head again. “No. We do.”
    The strength in her voice hit Gloria like a punch to the stomach. Clearly, Rigo’s aunt was going to have her say.
    “You think he’s responsible for Felipe’s death. You think he left you high and dry after high school and again after the funeral.” Her gaze was unwavering. “Don’t deny it. I know
su madre
. Your mother’s submitted many a prayer request to our Bible study group on your behalf over the years.”
    Gloria had no choice but to silently nod. Every word was true.
    “And, Gloria, maybe he could have done things better over the years. Maybe you could have, too. He’s had to learn a few lessons—some the hard way. But the simple fact is that God can work all things to good for those who love Him. The Bible says so. The question is, do you love Him?”
    She wasn’t expecting the conversation to take this turn. She felt her heart miss a beat.
    “Who? Rigo?” She had, once.
    “No, silly girl. God. Do you love Him?”
    She had, once, too. Now she didn’t know Him anymore. She sat in church, week after week, month after month, year after year, too afraid to not go. And too afraid to let her guard down and ask for the help she needed.
    “I did. But then He took