LITMIR.BIZ

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“I completely forgot.”

      Jennifer elbowed her husband. “Thanks, Gage.”

      Gage shrugged. “Sorry.”

      “Seriously, Jake. I’ve looked over them and talked with the committee. They’ve agreed to give you another week.”

      Wearily Jake nodded. “Fine. Fine. Good night”

      They waved and left.

      Jake climbed in his truck and ran up to the local dollar store.

      Once there, Jake went through the aisles, trying to decide what the cat would need and if he could pay for it with the money Maggie had given him.

      He shook his head.

      Impossible.

      With God, all things are possible, he acknowledged silently. “So, how are we going to work this out so as not to embarrass her?” he muttered.

      Jake thought.

      They could afford cat food. That was a must. Cat litter, too. But that left only three dollars for a litter box and bowls.

      Remembering being on the streets when he was a kid, he smiled. Other people had had pets, but they certainly hadn’t been able to afford all the fancy stuff advertised on these aisles as musts for cat owners. No, a simple bowl out of the kitchen and a plastic-lined box had suited them fine.

      He took the two items up the cash register and paid for them, feeling guilty. Of course, what Maggie didn’t know was that he’d had the cabinets filled from their food pantry as a welcome gift from the church. So maybe this money wouldn’t be missed so much when she realized she had food.

      After paying for the items, he took them out to the truck and hurried back to Maggie’s.

      He knocked.

      “Come in, Jake.”

      He opened the door and went inside, carrying the items. “You really should have that locked.”

      He stopped, unable to believe what he was seeing. Maggie had taken the extra pillow, put her raincoat over it, then a sheet and finally the cat on top of it.

      The cat saw him and growled.

      He sneezed.

      Maggie looked up, noticed the bag and smiled. “Thank you.”

      Jake handed her the food. “I’ll carry the litter. It’s too heavy.”

      “Okay.” Maggie nodded and went into the kitchen. She rummaged around until she found two old bowls, then filled one with water and one with food.

      “About the door…” he began.

      “I would have had it locked, but I went out to get my suitcases. I had just gotten back in before you arrived.”

      “I told you I’d get those for you,” Jake said, somehow feeling he’d failed to help her.

      Maggie glanced over her shoulder at him. Jake noted the way her hair had come out of the ponytail and several strands fell loosely against her cheek. “That wasn’t necessary, Jake.”

      Jake stared at her smile, thinking how soft it made her look. When she tipped her head quizzically he cleared his throat. “Oh, um…well, carrying those can’t be good for you as far along as you are.”

      Maggie chuckled, finished pouring the food and brought both bowls back over to the cat. “There you go, my darlin’,” she crooned, obviously not hearing the growl when she rubbed the cat on the head.

      “I’m just over seven months pregnant, Jake. I have eight weeks to go. Actually, tomorrow I’ll be seven months. Anyway, I’m big but not helpless. The doctor at the clinic told me I’d get a lot bigger the last two months.”

      Jake nodded. “Elizabeth was as big as a barrel before her twins were born.”

      Maggie laughed. “I hope I don’t look like a barrel.”

      Jake flushed. “I didn’t mean that.”

      Maggie looked up impishly. “You’re a pastor. I thought all pastors had a talent to wax eloquent.”

      Her attitude surprised a laugh out of him. “I don’t know where my talent for words has gone. I have never been able to wax eloquent, Maggie-May. I’m just a country boy at heart and I’m afraid that comes out in my sermons.”

      Maggie didn’t answer but slowly pushed herself to her feet.

      Jake couldn’t resist the urge to reach out to her. He caught her elbow to steady her, wondering how she kept her balance.

      She must have known anyway what he thought because of the knowing smile she gave him. “Thank you, Jake, for helping me today.”

      Jake nodded, taking that as his cue to leave. He started toward the door.

      “And thank you for the food in the cabinets.”

      So, she knew about that. “That was a welcoming gift from the church. We have a food pantry, and it’s well stocked right now.”

      Maggie had an unfathomable look on her face. Jake hoped he hadn’t gone too far. He waited as she studied him. Finally, she nodded. “It means a lot.”

      Relieved, Jake smiled. “Good. You’re part of our family now, Maggie. You shouldn’t go in need of food or help. If you have a need, please tell someone.”

      “I haven’t even attended your church yet, Jake. How can I be part of your family?”

      Jake saw the yearning in her eyes and wondered at it. Was it loneliness? A desire to belong somewhere? He didn’t know, but he wanted to reassure her. “Whether you attended our church or another, we’re all family. As a Christian, that’s what God expects. But I’ve met you, you’re working for me, I know you as part of God’s family. So, we’re here for you.”

      Maggie slowly shook her head, the light dimming in her eyes. “I’ve heard that preached, Jake, but I have yet to see that truly practiced.”

      Jake wanted to retort that she’d been going to the wrong churches. But he didn’t He couldn’t judge what he didn’t know, where he hadn’t been. And he was glad it wasn’t his job. Instead, he said, “Give us a try. I’m not saying we’re perfect. I don’t think there’s a church that is, but God won’t fail you when we do.”

      Maggie thought about what he said and nodded. God hadn’t failed her. She didn’t understand how this had happened to her, why she’d ended up pregnant, but she did know that every time she had lost a job, something had turned up almost immediately. She had never run out of food, though she had come close. And when she had been at her lowest, this man had appeared, offering her hope again—or at least it looked that way. She’d have to reserve judgment on that until later.

      “No, God never fails us, does He?” she repeated softly, her heart echoing loudly in her own ears. “Thank you, Jake.”

      Jake nodded. “Well, let me get out of here so you can get some sleep. Church starts at ten in the morning. I hope to see you there.”

      Maggie nodded again. “Good night.”

      “Good night”

      Jake went out the door but paused. “Lock it before I leave the porch.”

      Maggie held back a chuckle. She walked across the floor and locked the door.

      She heard his feet echo on the steps and then peeked out the window. He walked—no, it reminded her more of a stroll—to his car as if he had all the time in the world, as if there weren’t any problems pressing down on his shoulders, as if he were happy and carefree. “Oh, Father, why can’t I feel like that? Where has my joy gone? Have I been down in the pit so long that I can’t see out?”

      Maggie turned and headed back over to the cat, which was trying to lap up the water. “You poor thing,” she

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