Status Updates From Wooing the Widower

If God makes you a martyr, that’s one thing, but don’t go looking for it.

“being so far away from proper medical care scared me. If something went wrong, I’d be relying on God alone.”

“Sometimes that’s the point,” Gage said.

“Margie, I’m sixty-seven years old and, as you know, I’ve already had the scare of a brain tumor. I don’t have time to date for years before deciding if I’m interested in a woman. If there is something between us, I don’t want you running back to your life and leaving me behind.”

He returned with the apple cider and handed her the warm mug. Sweet with a hint of spice. Opposite the man who’d brought it. He was mostly spice with a hint of sweetness.

“In a godly marriage, you shouldn’t have to worry about the decisions your husband will make. If he’s led by the Lord, he’ll always have your best interest at heart.”

“Everyone who has been through the property showed up with a preapproval letter or proof of funds. These weren’t lookie-loos, they were serious potential buyers.”

“Rockin’ Years,”

The words of the song left him longing for someone special to sit in the rocking chair beside his for the rest of his years.

“You’re taller than most women I’ve danced with.”

“Is that a bad thing?” she asked.

“It’s not good or bad. It just is. It does make it easier to look into your eyes.”

“You’re ready early?”

“Real estate agents learn to be on time or risk dealing with annoyed clients.”

“I have the perfect thing.” She led him to a table of scarves. “These are elegant and stylish, so it’ll look like you put some thought into the gift, but it won’t be an over-the-top this-is-too-much-too-soon thing like jewelry.”

The scene was like something out of a Hallmark movie. All they needed was a girl inheriting a bakery and a rich city guy willing to give it all up to be with her. The fact that he’d seen too many of those movies was not something he was proud of, but when your daughter loses her mom young, you do what you have to do. So, he’d been the one to watch cheesy movies and drink hot chocolate with her.

was it too forward of him to buy her a Christmas present? After such a long time out of the game, he didn’t know how to play anymore.

“Jesus said fornication was a legitimate reason to seek divorce. I’m pretty sure your divorce qualified for that exemption.”

The man goes away for rape and serves his wife with divorce papers. That’s a new low.

(If he was righteous, he might have done so to release her from his evil ways. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

they didn’t have words to express their empathy, but she wished they’d had the courage to try. Their silent presence would’ve been better than their complete absence.

He’d decided against attending Redemption Bible in order to avoid running into Margie. The woman affected him, and he wasn’t sure what to do about it yet. A pang of guilt shot through him. Service was about worship, so it shouldn’t matter who else was present.

Helping others was the best way to keep from dwelling on your own issues.

His life and Margie’s life were too different. He was at least ten years older than her. Probably closer to fifteen.

young man with a guitar strummed a tune she recognized as Kumbaya. It was only a year earlier when her daughter explained to her that historians believed it was pidgin English and a transliteration for Come by here, Lord.

“Wow. The light in here is amazing.”

“Yes. It’s like heaven came down and filled the space.”