Page 60 of Cole’s Dilemma

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“You’re worried,” she said. “Oh… can I–can I hug you without you thinking that I’m a horrible, scheming flirt?”

“I…”

She had her arms around him before he could make sense of what she was saying. Eva took away his reservations with the warmth he felt behind her embrace—as always she was full of love.

Dang, this girl was all about charity. He should take a few tips from her.

Not only that, but she gave great hugs. It was all about him. Some people made it about themselves, but not Eva. She was a giver. He felt himself sagging with a relief that he couldn’t quite describe.

Maybe being alone with Eva wouldn’t be all that bad.

And he didn’t mean it that way, only that she was great at consoling him.

She pulled back from him, watching him with concern. “You want to know my strategy for dealing with serious situations like these?” she asked. With her usual eagerness, she didn’t give him time to respond. “I’m not sure if it works for everyone, but I just want to tell you that you should do everything that you can to keep up your spirits. Have hope, think the best will happen, and don’t go into mourning until it is truly time to mourn. Do you get what I’m saying?”

He did. Kinda. He nodded.

“I’m just saying, don’t borrow trouble. Do whatever you have to do to get through your worry and feelings of helplessness. Pray!”

He laughed in surprise. “You’re telling me to pray?”

“Yeah, really talk to God like you say you do, work it out together and… never accept defeat until you have no other choice.”

Spoken like a girl whose family made their fortune off gambling. And still, he could only admire her fighting spirit. No wonder she was full of such contagious cheer, she didn’t give up.

Sometimes to her detriment.

But that was a river to cross another time.

Chapter Seventeen

Eva marched through the barn, searching for Cole. She’d made waffles. They were a little burnt, but she was desperate to find someone to eat them.

The morning sun brightened the windows, giving the stalls a celestial glow. This holiday was not going at all as she expected.

Oh, Lily! Her surgery was finally here. Cole was beside himself with worry.

Strangely, he’d let her comfort him with hugs, even after their fight. Eva wasn’t used to that. When would West let her in like that? He wasn’t answering any of her texts or calls, but then again, she knew that he was stressed out of his mind. He didn’t handle pressure well.

She frowned.

Eva wasn’t one for prayers, but Cole’s talk of miracles kept coming to her mind, and quite unexpectedly, she stopped in her tracks and decided to try it out.Please watch over West’s momma during her surgery, God. She is a sweet soul. I’d sure like a chance to get to know her better.

That wasn’t so bad. Did she really feel like she’d talked to somebody? Actually, yes, strangely enough. Who knew what good her prayer had done, but she felt better already.

She made her way past the next stall and stopped short when she caught sight of Dopey. Her heart brightened like someone had thrown a bucket of sunshine over her. The calf was trying to get to the straw outside of his stall. “Hi, you big goofball.” She reached for the mischievous boy. “Looks like you’re still trying to get into trouble.” She ran her hand down the big baby’s long snout. He let out a long bellow of complaint. “Don’t you start with me, Dopey. I’ve got enough trouble dealing with Cole.”

West’s brother was still talking smack about her man. That was one reason she’d never say anything about West’s prolonged silence.

She threw out another plea to God.Help me out with West, too, while you’re at it. Can you get him to call me? I’ve got to show Cole he’s wrong about him. By the way I’m taking tips on how to get West to open up to me on what’s really going on his life, have him tell me what he really thinks. I need to know what’s going on in that stubborn head of his.

She paused, wondering if she was asking for too much. But wasn’t God supposed to be all powerful? Cole had mentioned something about accepting God’s will. Maybe this was where that came into play.

Oh, and if you could help Cole fix whatever beef he has with West, that would also be awesome.

Sure, Cole’s intentions to save her from getting hurt were good, but she began to understand that most of his objections stemmed from his broken relationship with his brother.

She’d help heal the rift between them.


Tags: Stephanie Fowers Romance