Page 68 of Rescued Dreams
Elam scratched his jaw.
Probably trying to figure out how to get the down payment.
“How about five thousand dollars?” Amelia said. “You can have it all free and clear.” He’d get a shock when the first tax bill showed up, but by then it would be firmly his problem.
“I’ll think about it,” Elam said. “For now, I just need five minutes inside.”
They didn’t need to follow him because of Kane’s security cameras. Elam wouldn’t even know they were there, but she would be able to see exactly where he went and what he got later. After he left.
“Go ahead.” She and Ridge moved out of the way, staying outside. Even though she owned the place, Amelia tried not to go inside unless she had to. Sometimes it seemed like the house had a…darkness to it that seeped into her skin. Almost like it would poison her with its history.
“You okay?”
She looked over at Ridge. “I don’t like the house. It scares me. More than just what it represents. I want to get rid of it.”
“Maybe he will buy it. Or we can figure out something else to do—like donating it to an organization. Someone could turn the place into a small charter school or a church annex.”
“It just feels like…” She looked at the exterior. “Oil. The way it sits on water and doesn’t mix. The way it coats your fingers and takes forever to wash off.” In her nightmares, the house was a living thing. She could run and run but never quite escaped it.
“Or the way sin stains a person’s soul.”
Amelia needed to let him share his faith. “How do you get rid of it?”
“We don’t. The death of Christ paid the penalty to wash our sins away. Forever. To cleanse us from all unrighteousness. No matter who we are, we’ve done wrong.”
“We all need that?” It didn’t sound complicated. She could easily admit she didn’t know everything and often wanted advice. Getting it from the Being who had created the universe meant it would probably be good advice.
He said, “It’s the only way to have hope and peace.”
She loved that look on his face so much. The softness of his expression and the way he so clearly believed what he was saying. Before she could respond to it, her brother stepped out of the house.
She wanted to talk more with Ridge about what he believed, but that would have to happen later now. This afternoon, maybe. He had a twelve-hour shift tonight, so it would be breakfast before she saw him—unless she hung out at the firehouse.
“I’m done.” Her brother wasn’t carrying anything, and none of his pockets were bulging.
“You didn’t find it?”
Elam sniffed. “Don’t worry about me, Amelia. I don’t deserve it.” He started to walk away.
“That’s always been true enough.”
He stiffened and slowed a little.
She continued, “But that was before. It’s been a long time. I’m guessing we’re both a lot different than who we used to be.”
He opened the door and looked back at her. “Not that different. Stay away from me.”
She bit her lip. Elam’s driver pulled out. She said, “It would be easier to believe he’s still a jerk.”
Ridge watched the car head down the drive. “If he cares about you, but in the circles he runs with you’d be in danger through association, it makes sense to push you away.”
“That would mean he’s had a total personality transplant.” She rolled her eyes. “Prison might’ve changed him, but making him empathetic? I’m not so sure. He never cared about me then, and he doesn’t care about me now. I want him to take the house so I can walk away.”
Ridge shrugged. “At least we’ll be able to see what he took from here. He might get back to you about the house.”
“What he took or what he did. Given we don’t know which it was yet.” She glanced at the house. “I really hope he agrees to take the monstrosity off my hands. Then the police will know whose door to knock on when there’s a crime in town.” She let out a sigh.
Ridge grinned. “It’ll be okay. Really.” He tugged her into a walk. “You can rest today, take a nap. Hang out with the girls a bit and do some studying for the lieutenant’s exam. You’ll be back to work in no time.”
