Valley of Shadows and Stranger in the Shadows: Valley of ShadowsStranger in the Shadows
Page 41
“How long of a quick peek?”
“A couple of hours.”
“That’s what I thought.” Ben chuckled, his hand resting on her shoulder, his finger warm against her neck. “So, what did you find?”
“That Jordyn thought she and Adam were going to be together forever. She’s been in love with him for years.”
“Was she the other woman?”
“I think so. From what I gathered, they went out a few times years ago. Then seemed to reconnect for a while, during the months before Adam died. She proclaimed her love for him over and over again in her e-mails.”
“And scared him away?”
“Knowing Adam, yes.” She shrugged. “The most recent e-mails, the ones she sent right before he died, were mostly hateful rantings. She threatened me a few times. Told him that if he got back together with me, we’d both be sorry.”
“Did you show Jake?”
“Yeah, he’s already come by for the e-mails and taken the laptop in as evidence. He mentioned something that surprised me.”
“What’s that?”
“He thinks there might be a connection between Jordyn and Matthew Jackson. I was freelancing for James when I worked on The Strangers case. There’s a good possibility Jordyn somehow made contact with one of the group’s members, maybe hoping she’d find someone who wanted to get me out of the way. There’s no proof that’s what happened, but it makes sense.”
“If he’s right that might have been enough to send her over the edge. If she thought she’d get rid of you, but it backfired and Adam was killed—”
“She would have gone a little crazy. Guilt can be a terrible thing.”
“I’m not sure she was capable of guilt, but she did corner the market on hate.”
“I wish…” Chloe’s voice trailed off and she shook her head, not sure what she wished, what she wanted.
“That you could have known?”
“Yes, but even that wouldn’t have saved Adam.”
Ben pulled her into his arms, his hands smoothing down her back and resting at her waist. “No, it wouldn’t have, but you can’t spend your life thinking about that, Chloe.”
“I know.” She blinked hard, trying to force back tears. They refused to be stopped and slid down her cheeks, dripping onto Ben’s shirt.
He brushed away the moisture, his palm warm against her skin. “Are you crying for Adam?”
“He never even had a chance.”
“But you do. A chance at life. At friendship. At love. Adam wouldn’t want you to pass that up.”
At love?
Chloe looked up into his eyes, felt herself pulled in again. Into his confidence. His strength. Into all the things she’d wanted for so long, but was sure she’d never have.
“You’re right. He wouldn’t. And I don’t want to pass those things up, either.”
His lips curved, the slow, easy smile tugging at Chloe’s heart. “That makes two of us.”
He leaned forward, kissing her with passion and with promise, chasing the nightmare away and replacing it with a dream of the future spent with a man who shared her faith, her goals, her heart. A man put into her life by God. A gift that Chloe would always be thankful for.
Epilogue
The dark night pressed in around her, the sound of laughter and music a backdrop to the wild beating of her heart. Chloe shoved a box of floral decorations out of the way and reached for her suitcase and the small bag of clothes sitting beside it, the heady aroma of hyacinth drifting on the air and filling her with longing and with joy. This was it, then. A new beginning. A new dream. A new life.
She was ready for it.
“Need a hand?” The words were warm and filled with humor, the dark figure that stepped from the shadows stealing her breath.
“Maybe more than one. I thought I’d put the suitcase into your car, but Tiffany and Opal helped me pack and I’m not sure I can handle it while I’m wearing heels.”
“Then let me handle it for you.” Ben’s arms slipped around her waist, pulling her backward. She turned, staring up into his face, wanting to memorize this moment, the way she felt standing in his arms.
He smiled, caressing her shoulder, his fingers gliding over her skin, trailing heat with every touch. “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”
“A hundred times.”
“Then this will be a hundred and one. You’re beautiful, Chloe. So beautiful you take my breath away.” He trailed kisses up her neck, his hand cupping the back of her head, his body warm against hers.
“I was just thinking the same about you.”
“That I’m beautiful?” His laughter rumbled near her ear.
“That you take my breath away.” Chloe sank into his embrace, her love for Ben strong and sure and undeniable. “And that if we keep this up we may not make our flight.”
“I’m not sure that would be such a bad thing.”
“Me, neither.” She tilted her head as his lips caressed the sensitive flesh beneath her jaw.
“So maybe we should go to my place and forget the airport.” His eyes gleamed in the moonlight, dark and filled with promise.
“There you are.” Opal bustled across the parking lot, salt and pepper curls bouncing with each step. “I thought you were changing into your traveling suit and coming right back to the reception.”
“I got sidetracked.”
“So I see, but if you two plan on making that flight to Thailand, you’d better get moving.”
Ben met Chloe’s gaze, the joy, the hope that she felt reflected in his eyes. “I’ll get the suitcase into the car.”
“I’ll get changed.”
“And I’ll have everybody ready and waiting to say goodbye and throw rose petals. Five minutes. And don’t make me come looking for you again.”
Chloe smiled, following Opal back into the church and closing herself into Ben’s office, her husband’s office. She’d lived through so much heartache, so many tears, but those were in the past. Today was for new beginnings, fresh starts. Laughter. Joy. Peace.
A soft knock sounded at the door, and Chloe opened it, her heart skipping a beat as she caught sight of Ben. He’d changed into jeans and a polo shirt, his sandy hair falling over his forehead, his eyes gleaming brilliant blue. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then let’s get started on the rest of our lives.” He wrapped an arm around her waist, led her into the reception hall. His foster parents were there, standing beside the door with a dozen or more of his foster siblings. His sister Raven and her husband, Shane, were there, too. Opal. Sam. Tiffany and Jake. Hawke and Miranda.
So many people, so much happiness.
Chloe’s heart welled with it, her eyes filling as white rose petals fell like gentle spring rain, washing over her, washing through her as Ben swept her into his arms and carried her into the future.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
Faith isn’t always easy. Often we wonder how things can be going so badly when we’re trying so hard to trust God, serve Him and seek His will. The answer is as simple as it is complicated. God never promised that our lives would be free of pain and troubles. He only promised that whatever we’re going through, He’ll be with us through it. That’s a lesson Chloe Davidson must learn as she begins a new life in Lakeview, Virginia, and faces some of the most difficult times of her life.
I hope you enjoy reading her story, and I pray that whatever troubles you may be going through, you’ll have peace that can only come from the One who truly understands.
I love to hear from readers. You can contact me at Shirlee@shirleemccoy.com, or 1121 Annapolis Road, PMB 244, Odenton, Maryland, 21113-1633.
Blessi
ngs,
Shirlee McCoy
Questions for Discussion
Chloe leaves her old life in Washington, D.C., to begin a new one in Lakeview. Why? What is she running from? Have you ever run from an uncomfortable situation?
As she settles into a new routine, Chloe can’t help but be drawn into the lives of the people who live in Lakeview. How does she feel about belonging to a new community?
Chloe has a lot of fears that stem from the night her ex-fiancé, Adam, died. She seems to feel that her terror makes her weak. Do you think that is true? What are her strengths and weaknesses?
Ben is drawn to Chloe immediately. How does his view of her differ from Chloe’s view of herself? How does his confidence in Chloe help her regain confidence in herself?
Ben is a widower who loved his late wife. When he meets Chloe, he’s not looking for a relationship. What is it about Chloe that makes him change his mind?
Chloe and Ben are attracted to each other immediately, but that isn’t what draws them closer. What makes them a good match? In what way does this reflect God’s plan for every relationship?
Struggles are part of life. During those struggles we can grow closer to God, or further away from Him. What happened to Chloe after the accident? What happened to Ben after his wife died?
Chloe makes an effort to get to know some of the townspeople by attending the church’s quilting group. Have you ever taken that first step and been happy with the result? Unhappy? Why?
God has a plan for each of our lives. Sometimes that plan is easy to see. Sometimes it’s not. How does Chloe find the strength to trust in God’s plan when she doesn’t understand it?
What struggles are you going through? How can you lean more fully on God’s grace as you face these trials?
ISBN: 9781459227859
Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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VALLEY OF SHADOWS
Copyright © 2007 by Shirlee McCoy
STRANGER IN THE SHADOWS
Copyright © 2007 by Shirlee McCoy
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