An Unbroken Heart by Kathleen Fuller Page B

without
anger, or about the buggy accident without guilt.
    Mrs. Rodriguez looked up at the ceiling, said something in Spanish he didn’t understand,
then peered at him. “I realize it’s not my place to pry into your business, but I
have to say my piece. I know you aren’t religious . . .”
    Cameron drew back. Mrs. Rodriguez was a faithful attendee of her local Catholic church.
Both Cameron and Mackenzie had never attended church, although when they were in
the group home a pastor came by every once in a while to talk to the kids. Cameron
usually ignored him. If God was real he wouldn’t have let Cameron or Mackenzie get
stuck in foster care. They would have had loving parents and families, not broken
ones. God would have never let my wife die.
    â€œ. . . but I promise you, God is telling me to tell you that you need to stay.”
    Okay, that was a surprise. Cameron had never heard of God directly speaking to someone.
He’d always thought of him—which was rarely—as some intangible spirit thing hovering
above, waiting to punish people. Like a ghost on steroids or something. “He’s talking
to you right now?”
    â€œNot in words so much. But I feel it in my heart. And when I feel something in my
heart, I know God has put it there.”
    Cameron nodded, but more out of politeness than agreement. He respected Mrs. Rodriguez
too much to dismiss her beliefs, even though he didn’t accept them. “I appreciate
the thought—”
    â€œIt’s not a thought, Cameron. It’s real. If you leave Langdon, you’ll bring trouble
on yourself.”
    This wasn’t how he’d expected the conversation to go. He’d assumed she might try
to convince him to stay, but not with some kind of religious mumbo jumbo. Besides,
how much more trouble could happen? He’d already lost his wife. And taken the lives
of two innocent people.
    If he stayed, the risk was too great that the cops would figure out he was the one
who had plowed into the Amish buggy almost six weeks ago. He’d been thinking about
Mackenzie as he’d left for work that morning. Then he realized he’d forgotten his
wallet at home and had to turn back. Even now he could remember his anger—how his
foot pressed on the pedal, how his car raced down the winding road as if the speed
would pull the agony and fury out of his body. By the time the buggy came into view,
he hit the brakes too late. His head had slammed against the steering wheel of his
beat-up Chevy truck. Panicked, he’d backed up and driven off, blood dripping down
his face.
    He called in sick to work and spent the day freaking out in his apartment, trying
to figure out what to do. All he could think about was Lacy and how his arrest would
put her into the system that had nearly broken him if he hadn’t met Mackenzie. His
daughter would be alone, and he couldn’t allow that to happen. Not because of his
careless stupidity.
    He squirmed in the chair and forced the memories from his mind. He had to focus on
the present. “I can pay you whatever the penalty is for breaking the lease.”
    â€œForget that.” She looked at him for a long moment, then shook her head as if she
was disappointed in him. She couldn’t possibly be more disappointed in him than he
was in himself. “I can see you’re determined to go. When are you leaving?”
    â€œThursday morning. My last day of work is Wednesday, and I plan to pack up everything
that night.”
    â€œAt least let me make you a pot roast tonight. As a going away present.”
    He smiled, glad she wasn’t upset with him. “You know I’d never turn down your pot
roast.”
    â€œAnd you don’t worry about taking Lacy to day care. I’ll watch her until you go.
I won’t have much time left with the little one.” She rose from her chair. To Cameron’s
surprise she touched his shoulder. “I’ll also be