away, but I can’t get away from it. Now, my lies have been discovered. It’s my own fault. I need you to be with me when I meet this stranger who knows so much about me. Help me to be bold and obedient. And give me peace, Dear Lord. I need peace about Paul and what I’ve done. I need to be released from this pain and sin. I need to be honest and get from under this cloud of sin and torture. I need strength and courage for—”
Exhaustion and drowsiness overtook Ellen as she prayed. Her eyes closed, and she fell asleep. Sometime in the night, she woke, startled by the bedside lamp, shining on her face, and the Bible still in her hands. She put her Bible away and flicked off the light then settled under the covers like a baby, cradled in her mother’s arms. God had allowed some peace to comfort her.
The next Monday came all too soon. Rand had spent most of the days before preparing for his trip to Paris. Ellen hardly spoke to him. Even dinner time felt rushed as Rand would hurry to his office afterwards to push through mounds of work. Once when Ellen happened by his office late one night and saw him at his desk, she offered to bring him tea, but he declined her offer without raising his head. From then on, Ellen left him alone.
This morning she woke early to have a word with Rand before he left. The night before, he’d spent a good deal of time with Dolly. They’d exchanged goodbyes so he wouldn’t disturb her in the morning. Ellen knew Rand was hesitant to leave his aunt. He worried over her a lot. She wanted to ease those worries.
Ellen rushed downstairs at six in hopes of having breakfast with Rand. To her surprise, he’d already eaten and was about to walk out the front door.
“You didn’t have to get up early, Ellen,” Rand said as Edward arrived to help with his luggage.
“I wanted to reassure you one last time that everything will be fine here while you’re away.”
Rand smiled. “That’s comforting, Ellen. I appreciate your concern. You know me so well. I don’t like leaving Aunt Dolly, but I have confidence in you.”
“I won’t disappoint you, Rand.” I love you too much , Ellen added silently.
“You’ve never disappointed us, Ellen,” Rand was quick to say. “If everything goes as I hope, I should be back by Friday evening. Celeste and Edward will take care of the house. You just watch over Aunt Dolly for me.”
“I will.” Ellen smiled, reassuringly. “Don’t worry.”
“I’ll call every day.”
“Make sure you check the time zones if you want to talk to Dolly. She has a schedule you know. Call when she’s awake. She won’t want to miss your calls.”
“Thanks for reminding me,” Rand said, appraising Ellen’s youthful appearance. Her caressable hair fanned softly against her face and along her neckline. He regretted not making time for her the past week, but it couldn’t be helped. Work took precedence over pleasure this time. It didn’t mean Ellen hadn’t been on his mind every single moment of the day. If he ever married, he’d make sure to reverse the priorities. But, someone like Ellen would understand when work had to come first.
“I’ll see you in a week. Have fun in Paris. Do some sightseeing.”
Rand scoffed. “I’m afraid I didn’t schedule any fun activities. It’s going to be all work and no play for me. I’ll be running from one meeting to the next.”
Ellen reached up and straightened his blue striped tie.
Rand gave her a profound look and touched his tie where her hands had been. “Thanks, I dressed in a hurry this morning.”
“I guess you’re going straight to a meeting with you arrive,” she said, her voice and eyes warm and smooth as silk. “You’re wearing the classic, business suit.”
“Yes, it’s an evening appointment.”
“Don’t get too rumpled on the flight,” Ellen warned.
Rand chuckled. “I couldn’t if I tried. I’ll be reading reports
Exhaustion and drowsiness overtook Ellen as she prayed. Her eyes closed, and she fell asleep. Sometime in the night, she woke, startled by the bedside lamp, shining on her face, and the Bible still in her hands. She put her Bible away and flicked off the light then settled under the covers like a baby, cradled in her mother’s arms. God had allowed some peace to comfort her.
The next Monday came all too soon. Rand had spent most of the days before preparing for his trip to Paris. Ellen hardly spoke to him. Even dinner time felt rushed as Rand would hurry to his office afterwards to push through mounds of work. Once when Ellen happened by his office late one night and saw him at his desk, she offered to bring him tea, but he declined her offer without raising his head. From then on, Ellen left him alone.
This morning she woke early to have a word with Rand before he left. The night before, he’d spent a good deal of time with Dolly. They’d exchanged goodbyes so he wouldn’t disturb her in the morning. Ellen knew Rand was hesitant to leave his aunt. He worried over her a lot. She wanted to ease those worries.
Ellen rushed downstairs at six in hopes of having breakfast with Rand. To her surprise, he’d already eaten and was about to walk out the front door.
“You didn’t have to get up early, Ellen,” Rand said as Edward arrived to help with his luggage.
“I wanted to reassure you one last time that everything will be fine here while you’re away.”
Rand smiled. “That’s comforting, Ellen. I appreciate your concern. You know me so well. I don’t like leaving Aunt Dolly, but I have confidence in you.”
“I won’t disappoint you, Rand.” I love you too much , Ellen added silently.
“You’ve never disappointed us, Ellen,” Rand was quick to say. “If everything goes as I hope, I should be back by Friday evening. Celeste and Edward will take care of the house. You just watch over Aunt Dolly for me.”
“I will.” Ellen smiled, reassuringly. “Don’t worry.”
“I’ll call every day.”
“Make sure you check the time zones if you want to talk to Dolly. She has a schedule you know. Call when she’s awake. She won’t want to miss your calls.”
“Thanks for reminding me,” Rand said, appraising Ellen’s youthful appearance. Her caressable hair fanned softly against her face and along her neckline. He regretted not making time for her the past week, but it couldn’t be helped. Work took precedence over pleasure this time. It didn’t mean Ellen hadn’t been on his mind every single moment of the day. If he ever married, he’d make sure to reverse the priorities. But, someone like Ellen would understand when work had to come first.
“I’ll see you in a week. Have fun in Paris. Do some sightseeing.”
Rand scoffed. “I’m afraid I didn’t schedule any fun activities. It’s going to be all work and no play for me. I’ll be running from one meeting to the next.”
Ellen reached up and straightened his blue striped tie.
Rand gave her a profound look and touched his tie where her hands had been. “Thanks, I dressed in a hurry this morning.”
“I guess you’re going straight to a meeting with you arrive,” she said, her voice and eyes warm and smooth as silk. “You’re wearing the classic, business suit.”
“Yes, it’s an evening appointment.”
“Don’t get too rumpled on the flight,” Ellen warned.
Rand chuckled. “I couldn’t if I tried. I’ll be reading reports
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