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“Well, I don’t know them yet.”
“True.” She sighed. “Okay, um, my mom passed away from a heart attack ten years ago, and my dad was lost to lung cancer five years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “I loved them. And I do feel bad that you didn’t have parents.”
“Don’t. It’s okay. I have Truman. Granted, he’s not happy with me right now, but he’s my family.”
This intrigued her. “Right. Your foster brother you’re close with.”
“Yes. Do you have siblings?”
“Just the beach crew, but no, none officially that I’m related to. There’s the Stones and the people they married.” She let out a huff. “And the Bridezilla.”
He grinned. “I’m confused, but okay.”
She laughed again. “So why do you want to change?”
He hesitated.
“Hey, you said you’d give me all your secrets.”
“Right. Ahh …” He chuckled nervously. “You know, being this honest is hard.”
That made her take pause. “Should I be worried?”
“Maybe, but I want to be better.”
Now she was really paying attention. “Okay.”
“I am not excusing myself. Believe me, I’m not. But my past sort of led me to a place where I lied and cheated and did things I’m not proud of.”
Lucy’s heart jumped. “Did you go to jail?”
He sighed. “No. I mean, I could have. But most of the lying and cheating was petty stuff that we were never caught for. I’ve been working the past year to make things right with people. Kind of like an AA program for thieves.” He let out a light laugh. “I told you my brother and I made good money on a software program we developed. It’s kind of on autopilot. It’s what allowed me to have a new start. And I’m so grateful. So in the past year, I decided I would return any money I ever took and everything I ever stole. I did as much as I could do. I fixed as much as I could fix.”
Lucy didn’t know how to react, but she admired that he was being honest with her and that he wanted to change. “That’s good.”
Raine gave her a playful smile. “It’s okay if you don’t know what to say. I’m dumping a lot on you for a motorcycle ride. Pastor Henry’s the one I’ve been talking the most to, and I guess I’m lonely.”
“Pastor is the perfect one for this.”
“He’s … He’s like my best friend in South Port.” He grunted. “Is that strange? To have a pastor as your best friend?”
“Not Pastor Henry. He’s one of a kind.”
“He is. I just like how he’s real and so into the Bible. He’s got me reading it, actually. I’m kind of obsessed with it.”
That really intrigued her. “Oh?”
“Philippians 4:13. ‘I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me.’”
“It’s been a while since I’ve heard that verse, or since I’ve read any, but I like that one.”
For a comfortable moment, neither of them spoke.
Lucy realized she liked this guy—as a person, at least. She laughed and picked up one of the chocolate-covered strawberries. “You quoted the Bible, and you threw in a little dessert. If this was a first date, I’d say it’s a good one.”
