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“You don’t have to do that.”
“What?”
“Pity me.”
That was the furthest thing from Lucy’s mind. She hesitated and tried to get her thoughts together.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, I don’t pity you. Maybe I have compassion for you, but honestly, it makes me appreciate that you’ve come to this place in your life.”
“I want a new life.”
She sized him up for a couple of seconds. A man who was new to town, hanging out with Pastor Henry. Hewasdifferent.
“What?”
“Nothing, I was just thinking you’re different from other men I’ve met.”
Raine sighed. “I guess that’s a fair assessment. I want to be different from who I was. I want to be made new in the Lord every day.”
She didn’t know why, exactly, but his words felt so sincere to her. “I like that.”
Raine shrugged. “The truth is all I’ve got now, but sometimes the truth doesn’t feel comfortable.”
She had a million questions for this man, but felt like it wasn’t right to ask all of them. Tentatively, she put her hand on his forearm. “The truth doesn’t feel comfortable sometimes. I agree.”
For a moment, they simply stared into each other’s eyes.
Warmth filled her, and she smiled at Raine. “The pastor is a good man.”
“Yes, he is.” He paused, then grinned at her. “Okay, so now your secrets.”
She saw him so differently now. “I don’t think I can compete with that.”
He cocked his head. “I don’t know. You have an up on me with all your small-town secrets.”
Her heart ached for him now that she knew he’d never had parents. “That must have been so hard growing up in the foster system.”
“Hey, don’t try to distract me.”
“I’m just processing everything you said.”
He hesitated. “It was okay. I think that’s why I was drawn to this little town. I was drawn to thinking about having a new life. I want that.” He glanced at her, and she could tell that he might not be altogether comfortable telling her this.
She wanted to comfort him, so she gently squeezed his arm.
He pulled away from her. “I don’t want to be a pity case, Lucy. I honestly don’t. My purpose in telling you this is just because I want to be honest with you.”
“Well, thank you.”
He sighed. “And I also want you to know that I’ve been changing. That’s part of the move here.”
“O-kay.”
“Now I need a secret from you.”
She let out a light laugh. This guy was keeping her on her toes. “My secrets are boring and mostly not secrets to anyone in this town.”
