The Stone Family Heart - Taylor Hart Page 0,23
at the statue. “That statue. I never should have put money into a physical thing. I just love Paul so much.”
Tim thought of all the times his uncle had lectured to him about Saul of Tarsus seeing an angel, suffering blindness for three days, and emerging as Paul, the great Christian leader. “I know you do.”
His uncle sighed. “It’s not important. We’ll figure out how to fix it.”
“We will,” Tim agreed.
“How is the town?”
“Good. Not many gas leaks, and we’re fixing what we’re finding. But mostly, things look good. Mrs. Roxy had her front window destroyed, but they’re working it out.”
“Shoot.”
“Darla will be sending me more reports as the day goes on.”
His uncle nodded. “Good. And Kensi?”
His aunt’s nervous energy seemed to cease, and she waited to hear an answer.
“Uh, she’s good.” Why did Tim suddenly feel as awkward as he’d been at sixteen, like he was dating Kensi and his aunt and uncle were waiting for a report from the evening’s activities?
“How does she look?” her aunt asked, leaning into him. “I know the passing of her sweet mama has been hard for her. Trey told me the other day when I was talking to him that she missed their mama a lot.”
Tim nodded, not wanting to say that she looked amazing. And in a swimsuit … He shook his head. “She looks good.”
His uncle cocked an eyebrow at him—he always knew things. “I bet she does.”
His aunt looked back and forth between Tim and his uncle. “What is going on?”
“Nothing,” they both said at the same time.
His aunt narrowed her eyes at him. “Hmmph. Why don’t you invite her over for Sunday dinner this week?”
“No,” Tim said. This whole situation was full of contradictions. For some unknown reason, he’d asked her out last night, but he didn’t want to invite her to Sunday dinner?
Going out wasn’t something he thought he’d be doing with any woman for a long, long time. If ever. But he wasn’t going to ask her over for dinner at his aunt and uncles.
That would just fuel the gossips in town, which included his aunt. Something he would never say to her, but it was true.
His uncle clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I think this all might be a message for you, son.”
Oh dear. He didn’t appreciate messages from God. “What’s that?”
“Just what I told you the other night. It’s time to move on.”
Tim didn’t know what to think about the “moving on” part. “I have to go help Joe finish checking in on people.”
“Okay. See you soon, dear.” His aunt turned away, already distracted by another neighbor.
“You’re a good man, Tim.” His uncle leaned in. “And I know you’ll feel guilt about Tina for a long time, even though it wasn’t your fault.”
Familiar anger shot through his chest. “Then whose fault was it?”
His uncle shrugged, a sober look washing over his face. “Maybe it was part of God’s plan.”
God’s plan. Tim was tired of hearing that.
His uncle was already being summoned by someone else. Tim took a step back. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Thanks for checking in with us.” His uncle turned away from him.
Tim watched him go, marveling at how in tune to other people his uncle was. Tim could guarantee that the pastor already knew everything Tim was feeling and thinking. He cast his eyes about for a distraction and soon found one: Mrs. Heist, a lady across the street, was trying to remove heavy debris from her yard. He rushed toward her. “Mrs. Heist, wait. I’ll help you.”
Chapter 7
Pastor Henry grinned as he watched his nephew rush across the street to help Mrs. Heist. The boy was in love with Kensi Stone, even after all these years. It was plain as day. If Tim could only have seen his own face when Lily had asked if he wanted to bring her to Sunday dinner.
Lily spoke with Ms. Bond about how frightened her little dog was, and Henry nodded along, pretending to listen to the conversation. All he could think about was how good the Lord was in bringing Kensi back to South Port. Tim had been floundering for almost two years, and it would be heaven-sent for him to have someone again.
The pastor thought of the little beach home he’d just sold to Tim. Wouldn’t it be grand to see Tim and Kensi sitting on the little porch and sharing their day while the sun set?
A surge of warmth flooded through him, and he turned to Lily, taking her hand.