Chapter 3 Church

Larissa slid behind the wheel of her car, intending to attend Sunday morning church services. However using her right foot to drive proved nearly impossible. After several jerky attempts at driving with her left foot, she let out a frustrated groan, turned off the car, and awkwardly climbed back out from behind the wheel. No way was that going to work. She was more likely to hit something than not.

She stared up at the cloudless sky, fighting a wave of helplessness. This stupid ankle was going to ruin her few days off work if she couldnt manage to drive a car. She propped herself against the vehicle, enjoying the cool breeze as she tried to figure out what to do next.

Less than one day and she was already heartily sick of being stuck in her apartment. Maybe she could manage to hobble down to Roses Café? Josie would keep her company at least for a while. There was nothing the café owner liked more than gossip.

Larissa!

She turned when she heard her name, surprise widening her eyes when she caught sight of Gabe Allen walking toward her. Hed parked his car a few spaces down from hers.

Hi, Gabe. She was glad that this time she didnt smell like sweat and was dressed in a flowery skirt and a matching pink, short-sleeved top. She tried not to fidget with her clothing. What are you doing here?

I brought over a pair of crutches in case you needed some help getting around. He gazed at her attire and lifted his brow. Are you headed somewhere special?

She blushed and wished she could stop this ridiculous reaction to him. I planned on attending church services, but driving is apparently not an option. Had he mentioned crutches? She brightened with the possibility. I bet I could walk to church, though, if youre serious about allowing me to borrow those crutches. Church and then Roses café. Much better than sitting around and staring at the four walls of her apartment.

I think it would be better if I drove you to church, Gabe said slowly. Crutch walking isnt easy for long distances.

Oh. She was flabbergasted by his willingness to take her to church because shed never seen him attend services in the past. Thats very kind, but I dont want to take you out of your way.

Its no problem. Here, lean on me, and well get you over to my car.

She found it unsettling to realize she was standing close to Gabe with his arm anchored around her waist for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. She had no idea why God kept sending this man into her path, but for right now, she couldnt think of an excuse not to go along with his offer. Other than the obvious one, that spending time with Gabe wasnt smart.

But she breathed a little easier when she was safely seated in the passenger seat of his car. She waited until he slid into the drivers seat before glancing at him. You know, I wouldnt mind if you dropped me off at church and came back in an hour if you dont want to go in with me.

Gabe looked past her, over his shoulder as he backed out of the parking space.

Is that a polite way of saying Im not welcome? he asked.

No! Of course not. She was horrified that he would think that. I guess I just never noticed you attending church services before.

A smile bloomed across his features. Isnt it the job of a good Christian to convince us non-goers to attend church and to rediscover our faith? he asked in a teasing tone. At least thats what my sister always tries to do.

She relaxed after hearing his sister was a Christian. Yes, youre right about that. I would love for you to come to church, but I cant force you to believe in God. You have to come to that realization on your own.

Gabe was silent for a moment. I have to be honest with you. I havent been to church in well over a year.

She wondered what had happened to cause his lapse in faith. And given what hed just told her, she had no idea why hed even offered to come with her in the first place. But she didnt want to pry into his personal life by asking. She, better than anyone, understood the need for privacy. Well, I have to tell you that out of all the church services Ive attended in my lifetime, Pastor John gives one of the best, she said lightly. Hes down to earth and yet always helps remind us what God would want us to do. Maybe Im being presumptuous, but I think youll like him.

Gabe made a noncommittal noise but didnt say anything more as he pulled up to the parking lot of the church. She struggled to get out of the car, which wasnt easy, but within moments, Gabe was there, helping her.

Thanks, she murmured, hoping he wouldnt notice the breathlessness in her tone.

Stay there, he told her. Ill get the crutches.

He pulled the aluminum crutches out of the backseat and set them next to her. Try these. I set them up for your height based on memory, but I might have the measurements wrong.

She took the crutches and propped them beneath her armpits, not surprised to discover they were perfect. Theyre great. Thanks so much.

I broke my foot once, so trust me, I know what youre going through, he confided. Its not as easy to crutch walk as it looks.

She flashed him a smile and made her way over toward the sidewalk leading up to the front door of the church. Gabe stayed right beside her, his hand hovering on the small of her back, as if he was worried she might fall.

There werent many parishioners in attendance as it was the holiday, but those who were there greeted her by name. She didnt know if she should introduce Gabe, and if so, as what? Her friend? A colleague? One of the doctors she worked with? She couldnt bring herself to use any of those options, so she decided not to say anything at all.

Gabe was likely regretting his offer to bring her, based on the knowing looks being flashed their way. Did Gabe realize the power of small-town gossip? She could feel her cheeks turning red and ducked her head, hoping no one would notice.

She told herself not to worry what anyone else thought. If this was what Gabe needed to bring him back to the church, then the minor discomfort was well worth it.

Closing her eyes, she sent up a small prayer. Please, Lord, show Gabe the way home.

Gabe stood beside Larissa in church, wondering why on earth hed agreed to this. Shed given him an out, had offered to be dropped off and picked up in an hour when the service was over. Honestly, that was exactly what hed considered before she mentioned it.

But he hadnt taken the chance to skip out. Instead, here he was, attending church in the first time in over a year. His sister had dragged him to services whenever possible back in Madison, but after moving to Crystal Lake, he hadnt bothered.

When Larissa had mentioned that she couldnt force him to believe in God, hed relaxed his guard. He loved his sister, Kimberly, but she was constantly preaching at him, trying to get him to buy into every one of her beliefs. Instinctively, the more she pushed, the more hed backed off.

He picked up the hymnal and found the opening hymn. One thing hed rather liked about the church services was the music. It occurred to him now just how much hed missed it.

As the organist began to play, they rose to their feet and began to sing along.

His baritone was a bit rusty, but he soon got into the rhythm.

He caught Larissas pleased smile as she joined him in singing along. Her arm lightly brushed his, and he kept his eyes centered on the hymnal, pretending not to notice.

Even though he did.

The pastor was younger than hed anticipated. Gabe hadnt expected to enjoy the service, despite Larissas glowing praise of Pastor John Gorman, but since the theme of the sermon today was forgiveness, he found his attention riveted on the pastors words.

Pastor John paused for a moment and then read, And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses (Mark 11:25).

The passage struck a chord deep within. Hed remained so angry with Rebecca after the way shed destroyed his reputation at the University Hospital in Madison. Telling his boss and the hospital leadership that hed sexually harassed her when, in fact, she was simply upset because hed broken off their relationship. Shed cost him his job. No matter how much hed tried to deny her allegations, he knew there was no way to recover from the stigma.

It was her word against his, and hed lost. Big time.

Shaking off the past, he focused on the pastors sermon. According to Pastor John, if he wanted to find peace, he first had to cleanse his soul. And that meant forgiving Rebecca.

Could he really do that? He knew he should, but saying and doing were two different things.

The organist began the closing hymn before hed even realized the service was nearly over. And he was even more surprised that he hadnt been watching the clock, the way he used to. In fact, hed enjoyed the service.

Thanks for bringing me, Gabe, Larissa said softly. That was exactly what I needed this morning.

My pleasure, he responded. Dont tell my sister, but I liked it, too.

She laughed, and the sound reminded him of picnics at the beach. Or maybe that was just the last time he could remember being happy. Odd that he felt more lighthearted and relaxed around Larissa.

How would you like to go out on my boat this afternoon? he offered. I know the lake will be busy considering its the Memorial Day holiday, but we can still have fun.

Her blue eyes glowed with excitement and surprise. Oh, Id love to do that. You have no idea how horrible it is sitting inside the apartment while everyone else is out having a good time.

Great. How about we grab some lunch and then head over to my place. Unless you need to go home first for some reason?

No, Im fine. She blushed. And I was thinking of stopping at Roses Café, anyway.

Roses Café it is. He was glad shed agreed to come with him, even though he wasnt exactly sure why hed brought the idea up in the first place.

Nothing had changed. Larissa was still a nurse at Hope County Hospital, and he was still vying for the medical director position. He couldnt afford to get emotionally involved with someone he worked with. Yet he could relate to where she was coming from. Sitting at home alone didnt hold a lot of appeal for him, either.

He would just have to make sure that spending the day with Larissa was about being friends and nothing more.

Larissa told herself that being out on Gabes boat didnt mean anything. Even though Josie had wagged her eyebrows when shed noticed Larissa and Gabe together. Larissa tipped her face to the sun and tried to calm her racing heart. Maybe this wasnt the best idea shed ever had.

So why had she said yes?

The logical answer was that shed been bored and hadnt wanted to sit around in her apartment. But the real reason was that she liked Gabe. As a person, not just as a physician she worked with.

And she hadnt liked a man in a really long time.

For the first time, she realized that shed been running away from her past. As much as she learned to love Crystal Lake, the fact of the matter was that she would have worked anywhere that wasnt Chicago Central.

Gabe wasnt Rolland. Shed made one bad decision, but did she have to live with that one bad decision forever? Maybe it was time to forgive herself. Wasnt that what Pastor John had suggested?

I brought you here to relax, not to be stressed out, Gabe said as he slowed the boat, banking gently around a curve.

She hadnt realized that her distress had been so evident and cleared her features. Sorry about that. I guess I was wallowing in the past. Youre right that being out on the water like this is very relaxing. You must come out here whenever you have a day off, weather permitting.

I dont come out often enough, he admitted. I tend to lose myself in running instead.

She grinned. Yes, I know.

He was silent for a long moment. Ive been working hard to let go of the past as well, he finally said. So I understand how it can creep up on you at the worst time.

She lifted a brow, surprised hed admitted that much. We should be able to let go, right? Considering how nice and peaceful it is here.

He nodded as he glanced around. Yeah, nothing like the city, thats for sure. He lifted his brow. Its a bit ironic that were both relatively new to the area.

She remembered her first few weeks here and suppressed a shudder. At least you were a Wisconsinite. Shed heard hed moved here from Madison. I came from Chicago, and let me tell you, that was a huge hurdle to overcome.

He laughed. I can only imagine.

She smiled in spite of herself. Thankfully, Julie Crain befriended me, and since she grew up here, the locals finally stopped treating me like an outsider. Julie was working this weekend or she would have had someone to hang out with.

Someone other than Gabe Allen.

Not that she was complaining or anything.

I bet if we asked around, wed find more transplant residents than those who were born here, Gabe confided.

The thought of people who were born and raised here made her think of poor

Annie Hinkle. According to Julie, the Hinkles had been here as long as she had.

Her smile faded. You might be right, she agreed.

Her cell phone rang, surprising her. She stared at the screen for a moment, tempted to let the call go to voice mail as she didnt recognize the number. Reluctant curiosity compelled her to press the green button to answer. Hello?

Larissa? Its me, Annie. The woman was speaking so softly she could barely hear her.

A shiver of apprehension rippled down her spine. Annie? Whats wrong? Are you okay?

There was a loud crash followed by nothing but silence.

Annie had hung up.