Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 11 (28 page)

The living room clock chimed but Willow didn
’
t speak.
The kettle whistled and Chad mixed him some coffee, and still she sat silent.
Finally, with honesty she hadn
’
t shown with herself, Willow admitted,
“
I don
’
t know if I
’
m ready to follow Jesus if it means away from what I know
.”

“
You have a habit of that—lying about things like that
.”

“
What!
”

“
Just a few days ago, I heard you singing,
‘
Where He leads me I will follow, all the way… Follow Jesus every day.
’
You did that before—about something.
Hymns are prayers, affirmations
—
not quite the same as vows perhaps
—
but nearly so.
You sang you
’
d follow Him
,
and when He asks you to trust Him to only lead you where He wants you to go, you balk because you have no guarantees it
’
s where you want to go
.”

“
Will you go away?
”

Chad misunderstood and sighed.
“
I didn
’
t think you were a quitter.
I foolishly thought you cared, if not about me, about our friendship.
I
—”

“
Chad?
”

“
What?
”

“
Be quiet
.”
The dumbstruck look on his face nearly sent her into a fit of giggles.
“
I didn
’
t say leave forever and don
’
t come back.
I said go away.
I need time to work this out.
I need quiet.
I need you to go away
.”

Chad pushed back his chair, kissed her temple, grabbed his jacket, and left.
Willow stared at the back door, as it swung shut gently.
“
What is with him and the constant kisses lately?
”

To be continued…

Alone without friends or family to comfort her after the death of her mother, Willow Finley’s idyllic life is over—and just beginning.

Follow Willow as she learns to blend her old life with the new, experiences things she’s only read about, and makes the first friends she’s ever had. Living as if in the past, her life is moving forward.

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