Chapter 19
“You’re talking nonsense.” The tone in Michael’s voice crescendoed higher. “There’s no way you can be with me. You deserve better, and I won’t allow you to waste the rest of your life taking care of a cripple. My conscience won’t allow it.”
Heather maintained her calm demeanor. “The only person that deserves my love is you, Michael, and no one else. I’m not leaving you again.”
“Heather, you can say that now, but a few years from now, you’ll regret your decision. I know it.” Michael sensed her stubbornness and knew he needed more drastic measures to push her away. He sucked in a deep breath and let the words flow past his lips. “I don’t love you anymore, Heather.” The minute the words escaped his mouth, his heart sunk lower. He tried to believe in his own words, convincing himself that he could extinguish all passionate feelings for her. But Michael knew he was kidding himself. Erasing Heather from his heart was as easy as cleaning a black marker stain off a white T-shirt using an eraser.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room for what seemed like hours. Heather felt like someone had stabbed a three-inch knife into her heart. Why was Michael pushing her away when she had bared her soul and emotions in front of him? Hadn’t he professed his love for her in the past? What had changed his mind? Surely he couldn’t mean those words? She knew he had been through a traumatic experience, but was it bad enough to cause him to lose his love for her? Heather refused to give up so easily.
“But Michael, I don’t understand. I thought ...”
He interrupted her before she could continue. “Thought what?” There was an edge to his voice. “Thought that I would always love you forever? Like the fairy tale stories I used to read to Evelyn?” He gave her a sarcastic laugh and waved at his torso. “This is reality so you’d better get used to it. Nobody can love me, and I can’t love anyone ... not even you. Now if you don’t mind, I want to be alone.” Michael abruptly turned his back to Heather and lost himself in the clear blue sky outside his window.
Heather stood dumbfounded with her hands at her sides as his bitter words echoed in her ears.
“I can’t love anyone, not even you.”
Did Michael actually mean what he said? Heather didn’t know what to believe. She knew Michael still had to be in shock after what had happened and needed time to sort through his emotions. But could he truly exile her from his heart, leaving her no other choice but to move on without him?
Heather felt confused and angry at the same time. She had humbled herself to come back to Crystal Cove so that she could be with the man of her dreams. A man who had once honored her and made her feel special. Had she made the wrong choice? Did she misunderstand what God was trying to tell her?
You’re a fool Heather, a sucker for love. You should have known the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Spare yourself some pain and heartache. Get away from Crystal Cove as fast as you can.
Heather tried to ignore the voice in her head and the stabbing pain in her heart from each word cannoned from Michael’s lips. But the harder she tried to dismiss the voice, the louder it became. She remained motionless for what seemed like minutes, studying the slumped outline of Michael’s body before saying a silent prayer.
“God, did I make a mistake coming back to Crystal Cove? Why did you let me come back only to be rejected by Michael?”
As she waited in agony for the wisdom of a still small voice, Michael stole a quick glance over his shoulder.
“I told you to leave,” he said with a more subdued voice.
Heather bit her lower lip. She had made a fool of herself thinking Michael really loved her. Was he really that foolish and prideful that he would reject a godly woman who loved him just as he was, scars and all? Heather felt her cheeks flush with heat as she silently chided herself for being so weak and vulnerable. She vowed it would be the last time a man would ever humiliate her again. She pivoted on her heel and turned to walk out of the room, but something stopped her.
Don’t give up, Heather. My grace is sufficient for you.
Her feet remained glued to the floor. Had she heard correctly? Was God telling her to fight for Michael? She remained still a moment longer before the voice grew louder.
My grace is sufficient for both of you.
Heather knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was telling her not to leave Michael and that his grace and power would see them through this tragedy. She had no idea how the Almighty would accomplish it, but she knew God wouldn’t fail them.
She turned to face Michael’s back and stepped closer. “I’m not leaving you,” she said firmly.
Michael lifted his head. “Huh?” There was a tone of disbelief in his voice. Seconds later, he wheeled himself around to face her.
Heather could see the look of confusion on Michael’s face as he struggled to make sense of her defiance. She repeated herself.
“I’m not leaving you, now or ever.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Heather. I’m not the same person you met in the beginning. Look at how hideous I look. Do you really think you could spend the rest of your life with a handicapped person who can barely walk, has one functioning hand, and can’t breathe normally? You deserve better than this.” Michael turned his gaze to the floor next to her.
“You know what, Michael? You may not look the same on the outside, but I fell in love with who you are on the inside. And I know that person still exists.” Heather knelt down in front of his wheelchair and clasped his hands before continuing, “Our bodies are so fragile, anything can happen to them. But who you are on the inside lasts a lifetime, and that’s who I fell in love with. And I believe that with God’s grace, we can make it through this crisis together, that is if you’ll let me.”
Heather watched Michael’s lips tremble as he gazed intently into her eyes. She knew God was slowly breaking down his walls of insecurity and that she could win over his heart if she kept her ground.
“If you truly love me, Michael, please don’t push me away.” Heather gently carressed his hands. “Let me love you and care for you.”
Michael shook his head with doubt. “I don’t know, Heather. I can’t work, and even though I have money saved, after all these medical bills who knows what I’m going to have left and how I’m going to support myself.”
Heather gave him a smile. “My love, none of that matters to me. God has provided me with more than enough to take care of us.”
Michael narrowed his brows at her as he tried to make sense of her words.
“It’s a long story, but a good friend of mine left me her inheritance. We won’t have to worry about money.”
Michael lowered his gaze into his lap. “I don’t know what to say. It just doesn’t feel right that you have to take care of me. It should be the other way around,” he sniffled before a tear fell from his eye.
Heather pressed a finger against his lips that were unscathed from the fire. “Say you’ll let me care for you and nurse you back to good health. Say that you’ll open up your heart to me and trust God to guide our relationship to wherever it goes.”
A heavy sigh escaped Michael’s lips. “Are you sure about this?”
Heather squeezed his hands tighter. “I’ve never been more sure about anything else in my life. When I left Crystal Cove, I was running from my heart. I was too scared to let my love for you come out. I was so desperate to extinguish my feelings that I was even willing to go to France so I could forget about you.”
Michael lifted a brow and remained silent.
“But I couldn’t get rid of God’s voice that kept telling me to come back. That you needed me, and we were meant to be together.” Heather took in a breath. “And so I did what God wanted me to do, and I came back. And now I know why.” Her lips pulled up into a gentle smile. “I know that deep down inside, you still love me, Michael. I know you’re afraid of the future, and I know you feel unlovable.” Heather rested a hand on top of his heart. “But this is wha
t matters the most to me. You were a handsome and beautiful person to me, and you still are. And nothing you say can change the way I think about you.”
Michael wiped the tears from his cheek before returning her smile. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you, Heather. You’re like an angel in disguise, and now I know more than ever that God does love me.” He winced as he squeezed her hand lightly. “I promise that no matter what the future holds, I will never take your love and kindness for granted. Heather Parks, I will love you with every inch of my body until my heart gives out.” His body shook as he began to cry.
Heather gingerly wrapped her arm around Michael and caressed his body as tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. Her heart soared as she basked in the tenderness of the moment knowing God had shown her how to love again and had brought the perfect man into her life, one who would teach her about God’s love. Heather knew there was only one response that was appropriate for the love of her life.
“And I promise to love you unconditionally as long as I live.”
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Kelsey MacBride
Beyond a Broken Dream Page 13