45

Running was a gift Finn rediscovered in seminary. As an undergrad, running was a part of the demanding routine of a Division I athlete. He had hated every pounding footfall. But, a half a decade after the requirement of running ended, Finn realized the beauty he found in the simple movement. Arms swishing and legs stretching released his mind from the burden of his thoughts. And, as odd as slogging through the icy mix of fresh snow buttressed against the salt laden blackish gray street scrapings might seem, Finn felt pure peace with the subzero air burning in his lungs. His runs gave him time and space to work through unanswered questions and to discover what direction God was calling him to follow.

The last several mornings, his running questions came from a single source: Darcy Langston.

When he’d first met Darcy, he sensed the fear and uncertainty tightly coiled under her tense surface. He empathized with the odd mix of emotions. His teens and most of his twenties had been burdened with the twin feelings. Finn wasn’t certain how the Lord was asking him to intervene in Darcy’s life at their first meeting. He dreaded he might have ignored God’s true purpose for bringing Darcy into his life in favor of his own longings and a few stolen kisses.

“Hey Pastor Finn. Not too cold for you this morning?”

Finn lifted his gaze to the lone runner gliding toward him. “Not in the least, Chief Taylor. I thought we had agreed to drop the ‘pastor’?”

Police Chief Sean Taylor slowed to a stop in front of Finn. “I’ll drop the ‘pastor’ when you start calling me Sean.”

“Deal.” Finn glanced at his watch. “How much further do you have to run?”

“Until my wife has the first pot of snickerdoodle coffee brewed.” Sean nodded toward the faint light shining through the window of Only the Basics café. “Probably another twenty minutes or so. Want some company?”

Finn nodded and started a slow steady pace across the center of town.

Sean easily matched him.

When Finn had moved to Gibson’s Run, his uncle recommended he meet with all the town leaders, both official and unofficial. Although a few years his senior, Sean was the one city leader who felt most like a friend and less like a judge.

“The decorations are really beautiful,” Sean said.

“Mmmhmm…”

“Heard you were going ahead with Tessa’s play.”

“Mmmhmm…”

“Saw you kissing Lulu’s niece.”

Finn skidded to a stop. “What?”

Sean slowed; a wide grin stretched across his face. “Thought that might get your attention.”

“How? When? Where? Why?”

“Slow down, Scoop. It was last night. I was on patrol, short end of the stick since we have to bring in part timers for the festival. I happened to drive by Lulu’s house and saw you and the lovely Ms. Langston.”

“Dr. Langston.”

“Fancy. What’s the deal? I thought the two of you just met?”

Finn nodded, unsure of how to explain the rash romantic entanglement. The simple answer was he had lost his mind and good sense with one smile from Darcy Langston. The not so simple answer was he was one slip away from falling in love with a woman who was likely to leave little more than tread marks across his heart when she left town in three months.

“It’s complicated.”

“Life’s complicated.”

“We’ve been spending a lot of time together because of the play and…”

“Really, man? That’s your answer? A children’s play? Not much of a romantic angle.”

“Well, what’s your story with Maggie? Did you fall in love with her over snickerdoodle coffee?”

“Yes. And I saved her from a stalker who had tracked her all over the country.”

“Oh…” Well, that kind of deflated any romantic notions Finn had for falling in love during a children’s Christmas pageant.

“But it’s not a competition. If Maggie didn’t have that dirt bag following her, I’m sure our story would be something equally as charming as falling in love during a children’s play.” Sean patted Finn’s shoulder. “A little advice… be a little more discreet. If the LAS ladies find out you’re putting the moves on Lulu’s niece, they’ll have you at the altar before your cousin’s wedding in January.”

Sean started to jog. Finn matched his pace, but his brain zoomed with new worries. Somehow in the whirlwind of stolen kisses and boomeranging emotions, he forgot about the Ladies Aid Society. The fact the LAS members weren’t in the front of his mind spoke volumes for how enthralled Finn was with Darcy. The mere thought of the LAS ladies becoming aware of his feelings for her kick started a searing pain at the base of his skull.

“Silence is the best answer, my friend. If you’re not careful Sissy Jenkins will be giving you an earful on your morality clause while simultaneously handing you bridal magazines and save the date cards.”

Pain shot from the base of his head through to his eye.

What if Sissy Jenkins knew he’d kissed Darcy? His personal nightmare before Christmas.