This Very Moment by Rachel Ann Nunes

innocent little Pauline was dying such an agonizing, unfair death? Each is just one more grain of sand on an endless beach.”
    Kylee listened to his speech with a growing sadness. After Raymond had left, her Father in Heaven had been the one strengthening force in her life, the only reason she had survived at all. To hear someone she cared about denounce God greatly upset her. “I know it seems impossible to us, but I doubt an omniscient being deals with time and space in the same way we do. I’m sure He has others to help Him.”
    “Angels?” The word was almost mocking. “If there are angels out there, well, they would probably be a lot more concerned about one another than us lowly ants.”
    “Bill, don’t.” Kylee hated the cynicism in his voice. “I’ve seen His work with the people I’ve been involved with over the years. I know He lives and cares about us. Look at the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross.”
    “See? That’s what’s even more strange to me. The idea of an ultimate Atonement is ridiculous. I mean, why would a great and powerful being care about people enough to die for them? It’s beyond comprehension. I don’t know anyone who would willingly die for someone else. It goes against the instinct of self-preservation.”
    “Jesus is beyond instinct, beyond the natural man. He was selfless, and He always put others first.”
    “Why would He do such a thing? I just don’t buy it.”
    “I can’t explain it to you. It’s something I feel with my heart.”
    An uncomfortable silence fell between them, and then Bill said lightly, “Well, we can agree to disagree, but you now have five fewer minutes to get to your Sunday School class.”
    Kylee accepted his words as a truce. “Okay, but do you remember where I put my shoes?”
    “They’re in with my drawings. I took them off when you were asleep.”
    His words reminded Kylee of the drawing he’d made of her all those years ago. Did he still think she was as appealing as the drawing portrayed? Why did she care? Kylee flushed.
    Bill laughed. “I bet you’re wondering how you would explain sleeping over here last night to your Sunday School.”
    “I’m sure they’d understand.”
    He gave her a knowing smile. “Sure they would. And then you’d have to understand when they wanted to do it.”
    Kylee was beginning to see a new meaning to the phrase “avoid the appearance of evil.” That she hadn’t meant to stay the night, even under such innocent conditions, really wasn’t the issue. She scowled at Bill. “I’d better get my shoes.”
    “I’ll get them.” Bill left the room. She heard him run up the stairs and down again before she made it to the sitting room where she had left her car keys. “I’ll walk you to your car,” Bill said at the front door. “Wait, wear one of my jackets. It’s getting cold in the mornings, even for California.”
    Kylee put her arms into the sleeves as he held it. “Thanks.”
    Bill threw on another jacket and opened the door for her. As they walked down the front walk, a beautiful red-haired woman Kylee didn’t recognize charged up it. She heard Bill give a soft groan before greeting her. “Hi, Audrey.”
    Audrey. Audrey, thought Kylee, knowing she had heard the name recently in connection with Bill.
    “Hi, Bill,” Audrey said brightly. “I just slipped over here to invite you to go on a picnic this afternoon. I have the most perfect cold cuts that I bought over at Macky’s yesterday, knowing how much you like them, and I know this lovely little . . .” Audrey’s words faded as she stared at Kylee, taking in her oversized clothes and the folded dress in her hands. Her eyes focused on the silver sandals on Kylee’s feet.
    Bill put a hand on Kylee’s shoulders, pulling her closer. “Audrey, this is Kylee, a very old friend of mine who I ran into last night at a charity banquet. In fact, we also met a friend of yours there, a Mrs. Boswell? Do you know her? I thought so. She