Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

F R A N C I N E R I V E R S
I’ll have to leave before he comes.
Meribah sat on a box and warmed her hands near the Franklin stove.
“You’re thinking about leaving, aren’t you?”
Angel glanced up. “Yes.”
“You’re not happy with the work?”
“It’s not the work. It’s…” What could she say? Sighing, she nodded
toward the big crate. “Michael’s stove. He’ll come for it soon.”
“And you don’t want to see him?”
“I can’t.”
“Was it so terrible?”
It was so wonderful. Too wonderful to last. “It’s just better if I don’t.”
“Where will you go?”
She shrugged. “San Francisco. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.”
Meribah folded her hands in her lap. “Joseph thinks a great deal of your
husband.”
Angel nodded and looked away. “I know.” Just his name roused so many
feelings inside her. She thought the longing would diminish. She thought
distance would dissolve her feelings for him. She had been away from him
for three weeks, and she ached for him more now than she had the night
she left.
“I was married once before,” Meribah said. “To a very difficult man. My
mother died when I was young, and Papa wanted me well settled before his
time came. So he picked a man who, for all outward appearances, was prosperous
and kind. My husband was neither. I used to pray that God would
deliver me from him. And he did.” She paused. “Then I learned how cruel
life can treat a woman alone.”
“I’ve been alone all my life,” Angel said simply.
“If your husband is even half the man Joseph thinks he is, you should go
back and work things out with him.”
Angel retreated. “Don’t ‘should’ on me,” she said defensively. “You don’t
know anything about my life or where I’ve been.” Meribah was silent for a
long moment, and Angel regretted her harshness.
“You’re right,” Meribah said finally. “I don’t know all the circumstances,
but I do know the little Joseph told me.”
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