Finding the Way Back (Book 1 in the Forgiving Hearts Trilogy) by Erin Landy Page B

forgot about it.”
    “Don’t you keep in touch with him at all?”
    “I don’t want to. Can we leave it at that?”
    Rose sat down in the chair next to the bed, her eyes shadowed with sadness. “You and Colton were together for two years. How can you not want to talk to him?”
    “We’ve already had this conversation. Like many young couples, Colton and I grew apart. I can’t tell you when it started, or what we could have done to prevent it. Maybe we were never in love at all.”
    Rose’s hand crept over to cover hers. “I don’t believe that, Laurel, and neither do you. You might be able to fool everyone else, but not me. You still love him.”
    Laurel’s eyes fell as she once again tried to control the urge to cry. What good had loving him done her? “My love wasn’t enough.”
    The curtains parted again to let in the nursing aide in the pink scrubs. “Okay, Mrs. Samuels. You’re free to go. I’ve got a wheelchair here to help get you to your car.”
    It was an effort, but Laurel kept her eyes glued to the double-wide door in front of her. She had no desire to see Colton again. Over the pounding of her heart, she could hear Rose and the aide discussing a recent concert. She hoped it would keep them occupied until they reached the drop-off area where Rose’s car was parked.
    Only when several miles separated her from the hospital did Laurel relax. She would avoid this area in the future. Her apartment and the teaching job she would be starting in a few days were on St. Simons, a barrier island separated from Brunswick by saltwater marshes several miles wide. With careful planning, there was no reason she and Colton couldn’t stay out of each other’s way.
    * * * *
    As he walked back to the nurses’ station, Colton fought to restrain his spiraling emotions. His heart had nearly leapt out of his chest when he saw Laurel lying on the gurney, more beautiful than his memories had been able to do her justice. In those first joyous seconds, he thought she was glad to see him, too. That was before every bit of color faded from her face. Then he knew how wrong he’d been to entertain such a ridiculous idea.
    For months, he envisioned every scenario in which he might meet her again, but had never thought it would be in the ER. From that reception a few minutes ago, it was difficult to remain optimistic about a possible reconciliation. Nothing in their conversation made him believe she would give him another chance. How was he going to live the rest of his life without her?
    He winced as he recalled her reaction when he’d bound her ankle. The stiffness in her body told him how much she hated his touch. It hadn’t always been that way. Colton closed off his mind to these tortuous thoughts. He was reaping the sorrow and misery he himself had sown. For the worst of reasons, he betrayed the woman he promised to love and honor. The injury he dealt Laurel wasn’t going to heal easily or ever without help. Only God could repair the damage and restore their marriage.
    Turning to God hadn’t always been his preferred method of dealing with problems. But in the aftermath of his infidelity, when he didn’t know which way to turn, God became more than a remote being remembered once a week at church. In the unraveling of his relationship with Laurel, Colton discovered the unconditional love God has for His children. Gaining her forgiveness might never happen, but he sought and received it willingly from his Heavenly Father. He emerged from his self-made pit of suffering determined to be the man God wanted him to be. Whether or not his future included Laurel was something he must leave in God’s hands.
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Amber return with the empty wheelchair. A fitting symbol of my life without Laurel he thought with a frown.
    “I just realized something,” she said as she skipped past where he stood.
    “Don’t keep me in suspense. I could use a laugh,” he retorted.
    “That pretty lady you