The Stone Family Heart - Taylor Hart Page 0,24

She didn’t seem to notice, still chatting. Ms. Bond was the kind of woman a pastor couldn’t talk to very often, because she wouldn’t quit talking. He immediately felt guilty for even thinking that, and he asked the Lord for forgiveness.

Clear thoughts, clear body, clear soul.

He sucked in a long breath. His gaze went back to Tim, who was picking up debris and hauling it to the front street. The town would send around an extra trash pickup later in the week, and everything would be spick and span. That was the good thing about living in a town like South Port: everyone cared about each other. And Tim was one of the best sheriffs this town had ever seen.

Pride filled the pastor as he thought about how Tim hadn’t wanted to stay in South Port when he was finished with the service. But in God’s divine wisdom, the sheriff back then—now the mayor—had asked him to become a deputy. Henry wasn’t sure Tim would have taken the job, except for the fact that he’d met his wife, Tina, and they’d started dating.

A stab of pain hit the center of his chest as he thought about Tina’s bone cancer. In the space of four months, she’d gone from discovering the pain to being buried. It’d been tough on Tim, and tough on Henry too. It wasn’t about Henry or Lily, but Tim was like their son. They’d never been able to have children, and having Tim come into their lives after his parents’ car accident had been such a blessing to them. He would never tell it to Tim that way, though. Tim still didn’t understand losing them.

No one understood that kind of loss at such an early age. Henry didn’t know the reason for them leaving either. But he did understand that God’s divine hand was involved in having Tim come into his and Lily’s life. For all intents and purposes, he had become their son. Boy, how he loved that kid.

He hoped that good things were in store in God’s plans for Kensi and Tim. Well, of course it would be, he chided himself. God’s plan was always the good thing.

“Henry,” Lily said, tugging his hand. “Didn’t you say you had a meeting we had to go to?”

It was time to save her. “Yes,” he said, turning his full attention to Ms. Bond. “Sorry, we need to go.”

He and Lily waved goodbye, and Lily leaned into him. “The woman could drive even Paul of Damascus to a little white lie.”

He chuckled. “Yes, she could.”

Chapter 8

Kensi walked around the beach house, inspecting for damage. She texted herself on her phone so she could remember the details later.

Window, side paneling next to window. Touch up paint on the shutters on the east side. Another window. Another window. More siding on the west side. More touch up paint.

Dang it. She put her phone in the side pocket of her exercise clothes and bent to pick up some trash that had collected in the bushes around the property. There was always lots of trash after a hurricane. Another piece of debris was stuck in a different bush, and she pried it free of the leaves.

She paused and stared up at the majestic beach house. She had been so angry at her mother when she’d discovered that she’d left it solely to Trey. Of course, she hadn’t been angry at Trey. It wasn’t his fault and he never wanted that.

But, looking back, it had been the right thing. Trey and Ava had restored it beautifully. Her heart hurt to think of all the damage that had been done to it.

She’d have to talk to her siblings about foregoing any profits to help fix all this damage. Good thing there was money put away in the trust for this place.

Kensi surveyed the repaved pool and the pool chairs thrown against the pool house from the wind. “And it’s not an easy place to manage,” she said to herself.

It wasn’t long before she had fixed the chairs back into place.

Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out. When she saw that it was Jeff, she quickly declined the call and put the phone back in her pocket. She didn’t need Jeff in her ear. She was supposed to be relaxing.

Her text tone sounded. Answer the dang phone. I’m worried about you. I saw there was a hurricane there last night.

Guilt filled her, followed by anger. Her first instinct was to send him a scathing reply,