Because a cloudburst had opened from the heavens, they were forced under the awning of the Christian bookstore.
“Oh Michael…” Taking the cone from him, a laugh-cry escaped through her aching throat. She hugged her brother, long and hard. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Once she released him, she looked into his eyes—a dark brown, just like Dad’s.
His smile exuded warmth even as he studied her. “I’m not sure about that.” He gestured toward the bench and she followed, sitting next to him.
“You’re my brother. So of course I’ve missed you.” Now that she was here with him, a wound inside her she hadn’t even known about lay gaping wide open. “Although, I know it doesn’t seem like it.”
“Considering how hard you tried to avoid me.” Though the words themselves accused her, his voice remained peaceful.
“I’m so—”
“I don’t blame you. Not really,” he said.
“I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been through.”
“Only what I’ve deserved.”
Licking her ice cream, she watched the sidewalk begin to fill with people again, as the rain subsided. But what about me? Or their mother and sister? Did they deserve to suffer for his actions? If it were possible, she thought she heard a ripping sound inside her heart. She’d missed her brother terribly, true—she knew that now. But Mom and Emily…she missed them, too. Life was so unfair.
“We can’t go back to the way things were,” Amber said.
It was good, sitting here with him, though she wasn’t sure why he’d sought her out. Closure perhaps?
“No, we can’t. I’m not asking you to.”
“Then why did you want to see me?” She wished she hadn’t asked the question. But it had nagged her since his first attempt at contact.
Michael’s ice cream had melted much of the way down his cone. He’d clearly lost interest in it and tossed it into the garbage can near the bench. “Can’t a brother see his sister?” He stared at his empty hands. “Don’t answer that.”
“I can’t help but notice there’s something different about you. What happened in prison?”
Michael stared at his hands again, then looked at something in the distance, a smile playing on his lips and a light in his eyes. “I found Christ.”
Amber gasped then squeezed him. “I’m happy for you.” He’d resolved his issues with the Lord. Now Amber would have to resolve hers.
“I became involved in the prison ministry there.”
She’d heard people sometimes made up those stories to position themselves back into someone’s life. “I can see in your eyes that it’s real.”
“And I can see in yours what I’d feared.” Michael took her hand. “You blame me for the accident. I’ve always known. Everything changed because of my choices.”
Tears hung in her lashes. “I can’t deny it.”
“I see in your eyes what I saw in the mirror every single day since making my mistake, since Mom and Emily died. I know what that can do to you. Unforgiveness can keep you from God.”
Now, Amber was the one to stare at her hands, the tears slipping hotly down her cheeks.
“Amber, please forgive me.”
“Oh Michael.”
He hugged her tightly as she released the anguish she’d held on to for so long. She wished their reunion could have taken place in a more private setting than in front of a Christian bookstore. “Of course I forgive you. I have to. I…want to.” Lord, please help it be so.
When her tears were spent, they strolled the sidewalks of downtown, peering into the shops. Few remained open in the evening. Amber detected a lift to her step, as though a weight had been removed.
“You know, I want to make sure that you’re not blaming God.”
She swallowed. “What makes you say that?”
He jammed his hands into his pocket. “I blamed Him when Dad died. I think that’s why I ran so far from Him, that I made those terrible choices. I ended up having to find Him again…in prison, no less.”
Despite his heavy words, she attempted to inject humor into hers. “Don’t worry, brother, I’m not going to commit a crime or go to prison.”
His left brow arched. “No, you’re not. But we all drift away from God in our own way.”
He didn’t press her further, and they walked to a coffee kiosk where they ordered something to drink.
“What do you plan to do now that you’re out? I mean, where will you go?” The words created an awkward moment. How did someone convicted of a crime find a job?
“A good question.” Again, he jammed a hand into his pocket. “I don’t suppose there are any openings at that museum where you intern.” A nervous chuckled escaped him.
Comfortable on the sofa, Amber had almost fallen asleep when she heard the door open.
Muriel tossed her bag on the couch, a bleak expression on her face. “Want a smoothie?”
“I’m good, thanks.” From where she sat, Amber watched Muriel pull out the blender. “So, how was your date?”
“Please, don’t ask.”
“I already did. Come on, you know you want to talk about it.” Amber tugged herself from where she sat and slogged into the kitchen. Muriel dumped ice cream and chocolate syrup into the milk already in the blender. “I thought you were making a smoothie.”
“Shake, whatever.”
“Well, in that case, I could use a chocolate shake, too.”
“Deal, if you set me up with someone cute. Don’t you know anyone?”
Michael immediately came to mind. But no, how could she set anyone up with him? She put her face on the counter. What a mess. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
“What about your Dr. Selman?”
Taken aback, it was a moment before Amber could respond. Jealousy stirred at Muriel’s suggestion. She lifted her face to look at Muriel. “I thought you said he likes me. And if he’s my Dr. Selman as you put it, why would you even ask?”
“Well, you don’t seem interested.”
Amber scratched her head, feeling like her life had spiraled out of control. The truth was, even with Michael’s return in to her life, she could hardly stop thinking about Dr. Selman. She must be crazy.
Or…in love.
“Look, I was only teasing to see if you’d admit you have a thing for him.”
“A thing for him”? Oh, Amber had a thing for him all right. In fact, her eyes were beginning to open. She had more than just a thing for him. But she wasn’t ready to go into that with Muriel.
“I do know someone. I met him at Bible study.” Oops. That might not sit too well with Muriel.
“You know, for the right guy, I could get into Jesus.”
“Oh, bother.” Amber knew she had failed miserably. Her blame game had cost her the ability to talk to Muriel about Jesus. But she had to try. “This is how it works. If you want to know the Truth, all you have to do is ask God. He’ll show you.”
Muriel chose to hit the BLEND button at the beginning of Amber’s spiel and stared at her almost cross-eyed, pretending she couldn’t hear a word.
Someone pounded on the door. Amber shared a look with Muriel.
“You expecting someone?” Muriel asked.
Standing there in her sweats? “Do I look like it?” Amber hurried to the door, hoping that her brother hadn’t decided to pay her a visit. He’d just dropped her off an hour ago. She needed time to process everything.
Opening the door revealed a handsome and familiar silhouette. Her knees went weak.
“Dr. Selman?”
Hair tousled, Amber stared up at him expectantly. Apparently, he’d disturbed her. In her eyes, he hoped he read that she was glad to see him, despite the late hour.
Brandon opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. I’m a first-class idiot.
“Why don’t you come in?” she stood aside, allowing him entry.
“Dr. Selman, what a surprise.” Muriel smiled widely at him and held up a tall glass as if to say “cheers.” Over the rim of the glass she gave Amber an amused look.
He had the funny feeling that, when it came to Amber, Muriel was the expert and Brandon a fossil laid bare.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Amber led him over to the sofa.
“No thank you.” This was more than awkward. “Can we talk?”
She brushed her long hair over her shoulder and glanced toward the kitchen. “Uh…”
Muriel finished her drink then set her glass down. She wiped away a milk mustache. “I hope you don’t think I’m rude, but I’ve got a big day tomorrow. Going to hit the sack.” After she leaned in to whisper to Amber, Muriel disappeared down the hall.
Amber faced him, her expression wary. “What’s this about?”
Brandon stared at the coffee table. “Forgive my intrusion. I didn’t feel I had any choice but to speak to you.”
“And you couldn’t do this tomorrow at the museum?” Amber rubbed her arms. “Must be serious.”
Fortunately, his meeting with the donor went better than expected; even Sheila appeared pleased. But he’d had to shove aside his anxiety over the news he’d discovered mere moments before dinner. Maybe he worried for nothing, but after the dinner meeting, he couldn’t bear to spend the rest of the night speculating. He had to see Amber. “Please don’t take this the wrong way. But I wanted to confirm that you found the artifact today.” Brandon dipped his chin, waiting for her response, and feeling the weight of his question down to his toes. He’d wanted to give her the benefit of a doubt.
Amber pressed her eyes shut. As her lips trembled, Brandon felt a deep ache in his chest.
“No, I didn’t catalog it. I don’t know where it is,” she said, her voice a hoarse whisper.
Brandon closed his eyes, too, cringing inside.
He’d give anything if nothing stood between them. All he wanted to do at that moment was hold her in his arms, but not in the same way he’d done on previous occasions when he’d simply comforted her.
No…he wanted to hold her in an entirely different way.
When he opened his eyes, she was staring at him.
“What do you think happened?” he asked.
Amber stood. “Look, you don’t have to tiptoe around this. It’s about my brother, isn’t it? I told you he’d committed a crime. Then an artifact turns up missing.” She turned her back on him.
He had the sneaking suspicion she was crying again and with what he was about to ask, he wasn’t going to make the tears go away. “Have you told me everything?”
The knot in his throat suddenly grew larger. The last thing he wanted was for her to find out he’d hunted for information about her brother. Cad.
She whirled to face him, her eyes surprisingly dry. Brandon felt everything rush out of him. He’d entertained far too much hope for something between them. “I’m not accusing you or your brother of anything.”
Wasn’t he?
Her expression softened. “I met with him tonight. It was the first time I’ve seen him in at least a year.”
Brandon sucked in a breath. Her brother was in town, then?
“I could see immediately that something had changed. He told me that a prison ministry came to visit every week, and that he’d found Christ. Actually, I should say he recommitted his life to Christ.”
Though the news relieved Brandon, the heaviness of the situation pressed against him. He leaned back against the couch, absorbing her words. More than anything, he wanted to believe her. But she wasn’t telling him everything.
He licked his lips. “Amber. What was your brother convicted of?”
A deep frown appeared in her lips and brows. “I’m guessing you already know the answer to that.”
“I’m sorry.” Unable to meet her gaze, he stared down at the rug. “I know that he was caught trafficking artifacts.”
Amber turned and, to his alarm, walked out the front door. Right now, he hated himself. But what choice did he have?
Needing a handle on this situation before Jim returned, he had to resolve this tonight, if possible. He followed Amber, and found her standing in the shadows of the porch, looking at the sky. Clouds skirted the moon, drifting away.
Brandon turned her to face him and lifted her chin.
“Do you want me to say I think Michael stole the artifact?” she asked. “Well, I’m not going to.”
The turmoil in her face cut him deep. He hated to see her hurting. “Your brother’s choices aren’t your fault. They’re no reflection on you. You don’t pay the price for his mistakes.”
She searched his eyes. “If that’s true, then why are you here?”
She had him there. But her question uncovered the deeper truth of why he’d really come. He wanted to see her, be with her, make sure she was safe. At that moment, looking into her pale eyes, then down to her soft lips, he no longer cared about the artifact, the museum, or her brother’s crimes. How many times had he thought about her lips? How many times had he wanted to kiss…
Before he knew it, his lips were pressed against hers. He lingered against their softness, while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Heart racing, he drew her closer. Her slight form fit perfectly against his frame.
“Dr. Selman.” She whispered against his cheek. The way she’d said his name sent shivers over him.
He kissed her again then whispered in her ear. “Will you finally call me Brandon?”