Inside the modern, low-slung brick building of the Calypso County Department of Child and Family Services, Emily stacked four folders on her desk. These were portfolios of paper-ready couples eager to adopt a child, portfolios she’d had in her desk for months. Young couples who had waited and waited for a baby.

She’d personally met and vetted every couple during the application and home study process.

She flipped open the first folder and gazed at the Sinclairs’ smiling photo before rereading their information. A fire fighter and a medical technologist who owned their own home and had a stable income, their references glowed. In seven years of marriage, they had suffered five miscarriages. Five lost babies. Her sympathy went out to this nice couple who longed for kids.

Satisfied that they were still as wonderful as she’d first thought, she put the folder to one side and perused the other three. All were good candidates. The issue was getting Levi to realize that he was not the right parent for Mason.

Emily propped an elbow on her desk and glanced out at the street, where traffic moved at a snail’s pace through the town of Clay City, Calypso’s county seat. A late model silver pickup truck rumbled past, reminding her of the handsome cowboy.

Levi had looked haggard yesterday, a pallor beneath his naturally dark skin. She still felt guilty about dumping so much on him on the day of his brother’s funeral. She was rarely so insensitive and had never behaved in such an unprofessional manner.

Was her friendship with Jessica clouding her objectivity? Or was her problem the good-looking cowboy himself?

She sighed and pulled a granola bar from her desk.

Simply hearing his voice had brought back memories of their youthful love and that painful time when everything went south. He’d been her first love, her first kiss, and they’d had such romantic plans for the future. Marriage, kids, a ranch of their own. A future, of course, that never happened.

Now she didn’t even know the man. She knew his face and his voice, the cleft in his chin and so much of his past, but she didn’t know him.

She did, however, understand grief and loss, and Levi had a boat-load right now. When Dennis had been killed, she’d thought her world had come to an end. Somehow, God had carried her along until she was able to breathe again and find beauty and meaning in life once more.

As she chewed the granola bar, she wondered about Levi. Did he know the Lord? He hadn’t in high school, though he’d been tolerant of her strong religious views.

Sometimes he’d teased her, called her his Saint Emily, but he’d never gone to church with her. She blamed Slim Donley for that. Weekends rarely offered time off for the overworked Donley boys.

Where had Levi been for fourteen years? Word drifted back through the rumor mill that he rambled from ranch to ranch and town to town, never settling anywhere. Why was that, she wondered. Had he missed Calypso and his brother? Had he missed her?

She caught the thought and examined it. Missed her? What in the world was going on her in head today?

As she tossed the bar wrapper into the trash, she also tossed away the silly idea. She knew better to revisit her history with Levi. Hadn’t done it in years. Not since she’d met Dennis.

She’d loved her late husband, and when he’d died, love had died with him. She didn’t trust love anymore. Not the romantic kind. Love always seemed to leave her, whether by truck or by death, and the hurt was too deep to take another chance.

Levi had looked so broken, and she was a natural born rescuer.

After a swig from her ever-present water bottle, Emily gathered the four file folders and started out of her cubicle. Levi Donley was only in her life again because of her job and her dedication to Mason. End of subject.

As she turned to leave, her county supervisor came into view. In immaculate suit and tie, Tim Myers looked like a tough boss, which he was, but he was as fair as he was professional.

“Where are you headed?”

She motioned to the folders. “I’m going over these adoptive applications for the Donley baby. I think it’s important for bonding to place him as soon as possible.”

“Couldn’t agree more. No success in locating a relative?”

The question gave Emily pause. A relative wasn’t the best thing for Mason. Not that relative. “Well…there are two so far, but one is elderly and in assisted living. I’m still searching.”

“What about the other?”

“I don’t think he’ll work out. He’s a cowboy accustomed to moving around a lot. I doubt he’s suitable.”

“Why not?”

She shifted, hedging. No way she’d dump her teenage heartbreak on Tim. He wouldn’t understand, and she couldn’t explain what any of that had to do with Levi’s suitability as a parent.

“He’s a drifter, from what I understand, with no real roots. I don’t think Levi Donley is prepared to parent a child.”

“Have you spoken with him? Met him?”

Oh yeah. Many, many times. “Yesterday.”

“How did he react?”

“He seemed stunned, uncertain. My timing was off, certainly. He’d just buried his brother, but I’m convinced he doesn’t want the responsibility.”

“Did he say that exactly?”

“No.” He’d said he’d try. Thank goodness, he’d backed away and asked for more time to consider.

“As you said, bad timing, but sounds like we’re talking about an uncle. That relationship is meaningful.”

“Yes, but…”

Tim adjusted his tie, always a sign that he had something boss-like to say.

“Family bonds are important to keep intact.” When she started to argue, Tim stopped her with a raised palm. “You’re one of my best, and you know the protocol. The state encourages kinship adoption if at all possible to keep family bonds intact. Talk to the uncle again. Run the background checks. If his character pans out and he’s agreeable, he’s the baby’s best option.”

No, he wasn’t! But Emily kept that thought to herself. She’d already raised flags with Tim, and it was imperative she be the social worker to decide Mason’s future. She loved the tiny child. No other staff member could say that.

“I’ll talk to the uncle again.”

A few minutes later, she left the office, stewing as she drove the twenty miles back to Calypso. What kind of life could Levi give a child? Sleeping in the back of a trailer? Moving every few months? What if he grew tired of child-rearing and simply took off?

She wouldn’t be much of a social worker if she let that happen.

Deciding the granola bar would do until dinner, Emily skipped a real lunch to stop at the post office and then the grocery store to pick up snacks for a women’s meeting tonight at church.

While she drove the few blocks to the Evangel Church, she spoke with Connie on Bluetooth. Juggling Mason’s care and her heavy case load with community and church responsibilities kept her hopping, but Mason came first.

“Mason is on my lap right now,” Connie said. “He’s a hungry little hombre today but much happier.”

The smile in Connie’s voice heartened Emily. “My supervisor wants me to talk with Levi again, so as soon as I stop by the church and get things set up for tonight’s meeting, I’ll come get Mason. I think the more Levi sees him and realizes how a baby changes a person’s whole life, the more likely he’ll want no part of it.”

“Is this comfortable for you? To see so much of Levi Donley?”

Comfortable? Not even close. “I’m a big girl, Connie. I deal with people every single day. I can take care of myself.”

“So strong and independent.” Connie laughed softly. “Exactly like your father. I’ll have Mason ready when you arrive.”

Emily rang off as she pulled through the circle drive and parked beneath the awning of Evangel Church. Though a modern metal building without much character, the interior of the church was warm and welcoming and provided plenty of room for meetings and future expansion.

The pastor’s office was located right inside the front glass doors. He met her in the foyer and took the grocery sacks from her. “Saw you on the security camera.”

Emily smiled and followed him down the hallway to the back of the building and the fellowship hall. Pastor Marcus Snider was close to her age, but his time in seminary, coupled with a tour in the military, made him wise and thoughtful beyond his years.

He plunked the snack bags on one of the round folding tables. “Nate and Whitney were in earlier and set up the tables for tonight’s meeting.”

“Nice of them. Whitney does such a pretty job with the centerpieces.” She trailed her fingers over the pots of bright spring flowers. They made her think of Jessica and her eye for beauty, the way she could snap a random picture with her phone and turn it into a piece of art.

The pastor tilted a hip against one of the tables and crossed his muscled arms.

“How you doing, Emily? Tough week.”

The softly spoken question was full of concern. That was Marcus. Get to the heart of the matter with compassion and a genuine desire to help. He knew how close she and Jessica had been and how hard this accident had hit her.

“Most of the time, I’m fine. I’m not even sure the reality has fully sunk in.” She rubbed the sore place above her heart. “It happened. She’s gone. I can’t change that. I wish I could, but questioning God’s will is pointless.”

“But you do?”

“Yes. I do.” She studied the back of her ringless left hand, remembering the shock and grief of Dennis’s accident. And now Jessica. “I shouldn’t. I’m sorry.”

“We all struggle with this kind of tragedy, Emily. God understands. He’s not mad at you. Our Heavenly Father thinks in terms of timeless eternity, but we humans are stuck in this finite box called life. We’re short term. He’s forever. Our brains won’t hold something that big.” He shifted. “Just remember, God knows you’re hurting, and He cares.”

Emily raised watery eyes. “Thank you for not telling me how much better off they are in heaven. I know that, but losing them still hurts.”

“Platitudes are pretty useless. Sometimes all we need is a listener, and I’m always up for that.” He straightened and dropped his arms to the side. “Anything else I can do to help?”

“Pray.”

“Got you covered there. I’m praying for Mason, too. The whole church is. It’s hard to think his dedication was only two weeks ago.”

Emily managed a smile. “Jessica and Scott were practically bursting with pride.”

“Great day. Terrific after party. A good memory to hold on to.” Marcus motioned toward the attached kitchen area. “Got time for coffee?”

She shook her head and started into the kitchen. “Maybe a water to go. I’m headed out to the Donley Ranch to talk to Scott’s brother about Mason.”

Marcus followed, stopping at the coffee pot that he kept full for counseling sessions, workers, and anyone who dropped by. Like her. “Levi?”

She opened the huge stainless steel fridge. “You met him?”

“At the funeral yesterday. Briefly. Seemed pretty wrecked but holding it all in.”

“That’s Levi.”

“You know him?” He shook a disposable foam cup from a tall stack and poured the coffee. The scent floated through the kitchen.

“Not anymore. Not really, but I used to, back in high school. He’s been gone for years and years, never settled anywhere. Never kept in touch with his brother or anyone in Calypso. I don’t expect him to stick around now.”

“What about the baby?”

“Levi is not the right person.”

“Why not? He’s an uncle. I’m a pretty good judge of character, and Levi seemed like a decent guy.”

Frustrated, she took out a water bottle and twisted the cap. Pastor sounded like her boss. The reminder that Levi was a relative was starting to wear thin.

“Maybe, but he’s a footloose cowboy who apparently lives in his horse trailer or whereever he lands. He knows nothing about babies. He didn’t even know Mason existed!” She looped a lock of hair over one ear. “So I’m going out there today to get him to relinquish any claim and let Mason be adopted by one of our applicant couples.”

“Is that what Levi wants?”

“That’s what’s best for Mason.” No matter what her supervisor thought. Yes, she would do as Tim directed and offer to run the background check, though she considered it futile because Levi would bolt soon anyway. He probably wouldn’t stick around long enough for the paperwork to clear.

Light blue eyes studied her over a white foam cup. Pastor had that kind of stare, the kind that pierced right to the core of the matter.

“Sounds like you may not be giving the man a chance.”

He didn’t deserve one. The thought pinched her conscious. When had she become so judgmental and angry?

“Is there some reason you don’t like the guy? Did he do something wrong that you know about?”

Besides breaking my heart? “We dated in high school, but that’s long forgotten.”

Marcus continued his gaze as if he didn’t quite believe her. “Forgotten maybe. What about forgiven?”

Something pinged inside. Had she forgiven Levi? She thought she had.

“The relationship wasn’t that big a deal, Pastor. A teenage romance. It’s Levi’s lifestyle that concerns me.”

“Has he said he’s leaving? That he’s selling the ranch and heading for parts unknown?” Pastor fidgeted with his coffee cup. “Even if he doesn’t remain in Calypso, does that make him ineligible to parent a child?”

“Well…no.”

Pastor set his coffee aside. “Emily, you are an exceptional, caring social worker, a strong Christian who puts your whole heart into everything you do, a woman I respect and admire.”

She could hear the but in his voice and braced herself.

“Jessica was your friend. You’re still in shock and grief, like Levi. Is there any chance that perhaps you aren’t seeing the situation as clearly as you normally would?”

Emily opened her mouth to protest but shut it again, silent. Pastor, for all his youth, was a wise counselor who saw more than most.

She was grief stricken. She was in terrible, painful shock.

“First of all, have you prayed about the situation?”

“I’ve prayed,” she said, and then admitted, “but not the way you’re asking. I’ve prayed Levi would sign the papers. I’ve prayed for the very best couple to adopt the baby.”

“Ah. Then perhaps you should check your motives and try again. Are you certain you aren’t pushing Levi to relinquish his rights because of your own feelings?”

“All I want is the best for Mason.” She fiddled with the water bottle but didn’t sip. Her motives were pure. Weren’t they?

“All right, then, let’s approach this from another direction.” Pastor pressed his hands together in a praying gesture and tapped them against his lips. “Consider this: Maybe God put Levi in your path again for a different reason.”

“To try my patience? To make me pray more?”

Marcus laughed. “Maybe. But maybe His reason has more eternal implications. How is Levi’s spiritual life?”

Eternal implications. Hadn’t she wondered if Levi knew the Lord? “I don’t know. He seems…sad and lost.”

Wasn’t that normal after a death?

The pastor pointed his folded fingertips at her with a satisfied smile. “God’s plan is almost never the one we would choose—trust me, I know this from experience—but He always knows best. Maybe He chose you to help, not only Mason, but Levi Donley as well.”

And that was the last thing Emily had wanted to hear.