Only Her Smokejumper Firefighter - Cami Checketts Page 0,51
you mind finding a bench to sit on with me?”
“Sure.” Her heart was beating madly. They walked together to the end of the bridge near the turtle discovery park and then along a trail until they found a bench. They didn’t touch each other and neither of them said anything.
They sat side by side. She stared at the dark water. He set the painting next to him on the bench.
“Mave.” Ren turned to her and took her hand in his. Her heart leaped. “When Cora told me you were still here in Redding, I was so relieved. I would’ve chased you down to San Francisco, Mystical Lake, or wherever, but I had to find you. I was upset, but I never should’ve let you walk out my door.”
“You had every right to be upset with me,” Mave said, studying the outline of his handsome face in the deepening evening light.
“No.” He shook his head and looked down at the painting, then back at her. “That was a pathetic reaction on my part. I wished you would’ve felt comfortable enough with me, trusted me enough, to tell me the complete story, but I understand why you didn’t. Your dad, Bruce, and your pastor did a number on you as an impressionable teenager.”
Mavyn felt a warm tremor go through her at his kind understanding. “I appreciate you being so understanding, but I’m so sorry I didn’t just tell you the entire story. I know the depth of your goodness and I think even as I lied, I knew you would’ve listened to me, given me a chance to explain, and tried to understand, but I was a wimp and couldn’t stand to see the disappointment in your eyes. Once I’d lied, I didn’t know how to take it back.”
He nodded. “I understand, but I also want you to believe that I am not disappointed with you. You made a mistake with Bruce and you tried to clear it up with your pastor. It was on him that he didn’t explain that you were forgiven.”
“Full disclosure, Ren. I made the same mistake over and over again. I met with my pastor week after week and he tried to help me and then I started lying to him about it. I’m sure he was just sick of me by the time I lost the baby and he finally wrote me off and told me God had done the same.”
“That’s wrong, Mave. God would never write you off.”
She felt the rightness of that. “Thank you.”
Would Ren write her off?
Ren’s jaw tightened. “I can’t lie and say it doesn’t make me sick to think of you and Bruce …” He cleared his throat but ground out, “Together.”
Her stomach churned. Now that he knew everything, would he leave her? Mavyn swallowed and didn’t know what to say.
“You being with Bruce is in the past, Mave. You were young. We’ve all made mistakes. Can we let it all go and move forward?”
Mavyn’s heart leaped. Did he really mean that? “I would love that.”
He smiled tenderly at her. “God doesn’t want you feeling like less, ever, and I think you’re incredible, Mave. The most amazing woman I’ve ever known. I want you to have my mother’s painting.” He picked it up and handed it to her.
She could hardly see it in the dark, but she’d memorized the portrait. She clung to it and basked in his warm praise and understanding, but she couldn’t quite let it all go. She felt she had to say, “But because I withheld information from you”— that sounded much better than lied— “you almost killed Bruce. I’m so sorry I put you in that position, Ren.”
He shook his head again. “That was on me. Yes, it would’ve been better to have all the information. But you didn’t force me to throttle Bruce.” He blew out a breath. “That was building up from the fact that he beat you up and made you lose your baby.” He paused and she nodded. “He also acted like a total … dink. The things he said about you made me furious. I’ve never been so angry. I would’ve killed him to avenge you, but the Lord and my mom’s voice stopped me.”
He was so impressive to her. “Even though I hate him, I’m glad you didn’t kill him.”
He gently cupped her neck and cheek with his palm and said, “Me too. Though I want you to know that I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”
“Thanks, Ren.” She studied