Page 138 of Sing with Me

No.

Skye placed a finger on his lips. “Shhh. Listen.”

“What?”

“Hear the waves of the ocean?”

“Yes.”

“Back and forth, perpetually. Isn’t that a reminder from God that time continues? Life goes on? What was in the past remained in the past.”

“I don’t know. I’m still thinking of them. My kids, Isobel, her extramarital affairs.”

“Turn them over to God. He sees the past, present, and future, and has things under control. He’s got this.”

Diehl nodded. Barely. Like he wanted so hard to believe what Skye said.

“Forgive Isobel,” Skye added. “Let her go.”

Diehl was shocked at what he just heard. “It’s easy for you to say. You’re outside, looking in.”

Skye stepped away from him. “I guess I expected more of you, even though I’ve heard many things about you—never mind.”

“What did Brin say about me?” There could be a million of things. His life hadn’t always been exemplary. His business decisions had often been brutal. His choice of investments could be over the top. His private purchases—and his art collection in Atlanta—were extravagant.

He had brought none of that with him to St. Simon’s Island. His sister’s beach house was austere. Whitewashed walls and blue accents. Nothing more. There were very few art pieces in the house. The only thing more expensive than the kitchen makeover was the Steinway grand piano in the living room.

However, he had brought himself to the island.

And now his old life was affecting his new relationship with Skye.

He touched her arm. Her skin was soft. Her fingers might be rough from working in the kitchen a lot, but the rest of her arms felt delicate. She was so beautiful and pure that Diehl didn’t believe that he should inflict the sins of his past life on him.

Perhaps Skye wasn’t for him. She deserved a better man. Maybe a Bible-teaching man like Hayden What’s-his-name.

Diehl could see it now.

Why would God bless him with love a second time around when he failed the first time?

He was trying to figure out how to say it nicely when out of the corner of his eye he saw Malik walk toward them, coming down the stone patch by the violin-shaped pool that Grandpa Brooks had installed in the backyard of Brooks Cottage.

Malik waved.

Diehl waved back. “Got something for me?”

“We have a lead!”

“Thank God.” Skye grabbed Diehl’s arm. “Good news there.”

There was a smile on her face. No malice, no anger there. She had said she was disappointed, yes, but only in his response to a problem and not him as a person. Diehl had noticed that bit of detail.

When was the last time Isobel hadn’t attacked him personally for a behavior he could have corrected and then held a grudge for days?

On the other hand, Skye had been calm since Saturday morning’s episode and didn’t raise her voice at him. Instead, she spent most of the day with him and Ethan. She was like cool spring water on a hot summer’s day. Refreshing.

Diehl wanted to stay with her forever.

And yet…

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