His Plan: Book 2 in the Crossing Midian Series - A Small-Town Christian Romance

Chapter 20

The next morning, after Lenore ate breakfast with her mom and grandmother, she refilled her coffee and sat down at her desk to finish editing the pictures from Matthew's newborn session. It seemed like so long ago already, but had it really only been a few weeks? So much had changed since then.

Now she was more than just a hopeful photographer on her way to make her mark in the world. Lenore clicked on the picture that Kara snapped of her and Beau together with the baby, and she smiled. She suddenly found herself as a youth leader to an amazing group of teens, partnered with a man who was somehow slowly capturing her heart.

Sighing, Lenore shook her head, trying to clear it before digging back into her work, while trying not to think of Beau Anderson.

But try as she might, every few minutes her mind drifted right back to him, replaying their conversation from the night before over and over again.

For the first time in years since she'd met him, Beau was actually talking, and Lenore was so thankful that she was the one he had opened up to. Lenore had gotten such a glimpse into Beau's life and a clear picture of Tommy. As if she could see through his words a boy she would never know; would never get to meet.

The trauma of losing Tommy had devastated Beau to such a point, it was no wonder he wouldn't talk to anyone. And now she finally understood the guilt he had been carrying around all these years.

Beau blamed himself for the accident, because in his eyes, it wasn't an accident at all. If he had never left the house that night, then Tommy never would have had to go out looking for him. They would have been at home during the storm instead of trying to navigate the slick roads.

Lenore tried to convince him it wasn't his fault, but she knew that wars weren't won in a day. A battle, though, had been won that night. Beau won it the minute he trusted Lenore enough to let her in, to open up to her so honestly. And one day, she was sure, Beau Anderson would forgive himself. And when he did, he would be free of the weights he so needlessly carried around.

Lenore had come home and ended the night in fervent prayer for this man whom she had come to care for so deeply. She prayed God would help him let go of the past. She prayed he would recognize God's never ending love and mercy, and that he would realize the only one blaming him was himself.

***

A little while later, Lenore stood in the kitchen, ready to pour her third coffee, when her phone rang with a number she didn't recognize.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Connolly? This is Renea Morrison from Golden Hour Imagery, here in Nashville."

Lenore's heart stopped. They were really calling her? Lenore told herself to stay calm and to not get too excited. She could be calling to tell her they weren't interested, after all.

"Yes, of course." Lenore answered, hoping her voice sounded cheerful. "How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thanks. Listen, Lenore, I have your portfolio here, and I have to say I'm impressed with what I see. You handled Naomi Bell's wedding?"

"I did," Lenore said as she held the phone with one hand while she picked up her coffee with the other and headed into the living room. "Their photographer had to cancel last minute, and I saw a chance and took it."

"I love the initiative," Renea said with a laugh. "I especially love the creativity here. The photo where Ben is holding the neck of the guitar, and Naomi is reflected in the front of it? It's beautiful."

Renea sounded so genuine and Lenore couldn't help but beam proudly.

"Thank you. Incorporating music was really important to both of them, and since they met because of the promotion for Banshee Guitars, I thought it would be a fun nod to that."