Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

R E D E E M I N G L O V E
for a living in this town?” she asked flippantly and smiled her old, practiced
smile. When he frowned, she figured he was probably worrying that she
would ask him to give her some money. “Never mind,” she said quickly. “A
bad joke.” She stood. “I’d better be going.”
He put his hand on her arm again. “Sit down. Meribah’s on her way with
the tray.” His wife served her a cup of coffee. Angel’s hands were shaking as
she took it. She tried to steady herself, feeling Joseph’s perusal. Meribah
offered her some cake. Angel declined. Joseph’s mother had finished her
sweeping and joined them. Angel wished she hadn’t set foot in the place.
With the censure of three pairs of eyes, she felt herself withering inside.
They talked about the flood, and rebuilding and stocking the store. Though
they didn’t ask personal questions, she could feel their inquiring looks.
A customer came in, and Meribah went to serve him. Another came in,
and Rebekkah, seeing Joseph had no intention of taking care of him,
excused herself.
“Have you a room?” he asked.
“Not yet,” Angel said. She raised her chin. “But it shouldn’t be too hard.”
“You’re going to stay here,” he said. She looked past exhaustion.
“What are your wife and mother going to say to that?” she asked sardonically,
unaware of the little-girl-lost look in her eyes.
“They’d wonder more if I sent you off with no place to go. We can’t offer
you grand accommodations, but we can give you a clean cot and blankets
and kosher food. What do you say?”
She chewed on her lip and looked at the two women.
He slapped his hands on his thighs and stood. “They won’t mind.” And
even if they did, he intended to make sure they kept their reservations to
themselves. It was late enough that he could close the store a little earlier
than usual.
Angel sat with them at the upstairs dining-room table. She pushed her
food around on her plate, pretending to eat but having no appetite. Meribah
and Rebekkah didn’t ask her any probing questions, but she could feel their
deep curiosity. When Meribah cleared the table, Angel rose and helped.
Joseph and his mother began talking in low agitated tones as soon as she
was through the door. They stopped when she came back in for the rest of
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