Family Ties: Family Ties / Promise Of Grace

“One small point—it’s not ready yet.”

Cindy shrugged. “Michael offered to help. But you wouldn’t even let him make a phone call. If you had, maybe the space would be finished by now.”

“I don’t impose on strangers.”

“Michael’s not a stranger!”

“Not to you. I barely know him.”

Exasperated, she tossed down a manila folder. “By your choice. My friends have extended themselves, but you purposely remain distant.”

“Another thing I don’t believe I asked for,” he reminded her in a tight voice.

She leaned back against the desk. “Look, Flynn. I don’t know how things were done with your friends. But in a small town like Rosewood, we depend on each other and our faith.”

“One more strike and you’re out.”

Dismayed, she stared at him. “I still can’t believe you mean that.”

Impatiently he smoothed one hand back over his chestnut hair. “And you accused me of ignoring what I didn’t want to hear?”

She fiddled for a moment with the deep blue antique glass inkwell. “I hate to think of you having such a gaping hole in your life, one nothing else can fill.”

“And I hate to think I’m going to have to endure a sermon. If I’m going to move today, I’d better get to it.”

But she didn’t stir, instead raising her eyes. “I wouldn’t have put you out of your office if it wasn’t for a good cause. My Rainbow class has nearly doubled and there’s no other space available.”

Flynn muttered under his breath.

Cindy couldn’t distinguish the words, but suspected she wouldn’t want to hear them if she could. Turning around, she scribbled on a notepad, then ripped the page free. “We can still call Michael about your office.”

“How about if you let me make that one decision?”

“Of course.” She handed him the paper. “Here’s his number.” She took one more step toward the door, then hesitated. “I know you think I want to wrestle away your control. But it’s never been about that. I feel how much pain you’ve been in since you lost Julia, then all the responsibility of raising the girls on your own. I was just trying to make things easier for you, to let you not have to worry for once.”