Anthrocide

Anthrocide.net is the official website for D.L. Hamilton, author of several Christian novels and essays.

Canceled Debts

Les’s proposal is almost exactly as Chauncette envisioned it: halting, humble, self-deprecating, yet at the same time reassuring, determined—manly even. She loves him and knows that he is the one for her now and forever. Which makes it all the harder for her knowing she is about to tell him “No.” Ghosts of an abusive childhood will not let her go.

Les’s friend, Will Randall is a lonely middle-aged widower considering going the online dating route. When Will has a chance meeting with the gorgeous but desperate Angela it should be a perfect match…except she has abuse issues of her own, is half his age, and is married. Eventually he considers doing the unthinkable to help her out of an unsolvable dilemma.

Canceled Debts, sequel to The Way of Escape, is a story of the power of forgiveness—forgiveness that seems impossible—and the amazing life changes that can result.

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Excerpt from Canceled Debts

After Will’s return from church on Sunday, Angela had called him over out of earshot of Jeffy.

“We need some things from the store,” she said.

“Yeah, I know. We can make a list.”

She seemed a bit agitated about something. “The thing is, I’m not sure it’s a good idea for me to be out and about; y’know?”

“Yeah, that’s okay. I’ll just go.” He was having a hard time grasping why this was such a big deal. “We’ll just make a list.”

She cleared her throat. “I’ve already started one,” she said. She handed him a piece of binder paper with one item on it. It was for a package of feminine hygiene pads. “I’m sorry,” she said. “If you would rather, I could go to one of the 24-hour stores at like midnight or something.”

He gave a light laugh. “Don’t worry about it; I’ll do it. You’ve got the brand and everything so it shouldn’t be any problem. But let’s put some more stuff on the list so it won’t be so conspicuous.”

“But if someone sees you how will you explain it?”

“Angela, there are just under a million people in this city. I’ve lived here for 20 years and have never once seen anyone I recognize at the supermarket.” He lifted her chin with the crook of his index finger and touched the tip of her nose with the tip of his. “It’ll be fine,” he said gently.

She locked her wrists behind his neck. “You are the most wonderful man.” Though he wanted desperately to kiss her he looked away and she gently released him.

The shopping trip was without incident, although he did wait until there was no one else on the aisle before he got Angela’s item and then buried it in the cart. At checkout he was fortunate to have a woman checker and an exceptionally bored one at that. She bagged the item along with all the others without even seeming to notice it. He put all the grocery bags in the trunk along with a case of bottled water. He put that closest to the trunk opening so he could get it out easiest.

At home he pulled into the garage and unloaded the water first and was carrying it into the house when he heard a car pull up in the driveway. It was Les and Chauncette. He quickly set the case of water down inside the house and headed back to the car’s trunk. Too late.

“Here we’ll help y’all get this stuff inside,” said Les as he and Chauncette grabbed two bags each. They both stopped cold when they saw what was at the top of the last bag. They looked at each other and then at Will. Les furrowed his brows, started to speak, then just looked bewildered.

Will grabbed the bag.

Chauncette spoke slowly. “Is there something you’re not telling us, Will?”

Will gave a quick laugh. “Oh, these? They’re for my—um—my cousin. Amy. She’s visiting here from—um—Portland.”

The couple both exhaled noisily. “Oh, we’re sorry to bother you, Will,” said Chauncette. “We didn’t know you had company.”

“Oh, it’s no problem. Except…”

“Yes?”

“Um, except Amy’s little boy isn’t feeling very well. That’s why I went shopping for her.”

“Aw, what a great guy you are,” said Chauncette, once again eying the package. “Is that why you weren’t able to go to El Patio with Will?”

“Yes! That’s it exactly. I had to go pick Amy up at the airport.”

There was a pause. “You could have just said that,” said Les.

“Um—well—I know, but I figured you’d feel obligated to invite her along and—”

The inside door opened. “Will, do you need any—” Angela stopped mid-sentence and stared dumbstruck.

Will cleared his throat. “There she is. This is my cousin Amy from Portland. Amy, these are my friends Les and Chauncette.”

Angela recovered quickly. She came down the couple of steps into the garage and held out her hand. “So nice to meet you. Chauncette is it? What a lovely name.”

“Sorry to hear your son isn’t feeling well,” said Chauncette.

“Oh, he’ll be fine. Probably just worn out from all that driving. It’s a long haul from Portland.”

The silence and exchanged glances let her know immediately she had made some sort of gaffe.

Les spoke up. “Ah, Will? Could I, um, talk to you for a second?”

“We better get these in the house,” said Chauncette as she and Angela took the bags from the guys.

After they went in, Les walked out toward his car with Will. “Okay, I know it’s none of my concern, but that hot little honey in there ain’t your cousin from Portland. She ain’t nobody’s cousin from Portland. So who is she really?”

Will took a deep breath. “All right, look. She’s just a single mom who needs a place to stay and, well, I’m helping her.”

“A place to stay? Y’mean she’s living here?”

Will winced. “Well, yeah, sort of.”

“Are you outta your ever-lovin’ mind? A lonely widower sharin’ a house with a twenty-something Miss Universe?”

“Les, it’s not like that—”

Les’s eyes got big. “Is that a gal from that datin’ site?”

“No, no. She’s…” Will sighed. “It’s complicated, okay? Just suffice it to say she’s in need of some help and that’s what I’m doing. And that’s ALL I’m doing. I can assure you we’re not, well, you know, involved in any, well, physical—”

Les held up his hand. “You don’t owe me no expletives. But ain’t there no gals around she could stay with? Probably Chauncette would—”

“I’m sure she would. But, I’ll just say this and no more. Every person she meets or has contact with increases the danger she is in. Now, it’s nothing illegal or anything, but she simply has to stay out of sight. And you and Chauncette need to pretend you’ve never seen her. I know that doesn’t make sense but that’s how it has to be, okay? You and Chauncette absolutely cannot mention her to anyone. Not one soul. Ever. You have to promise me.”

“Okay, buddy, I promise and I’ll let Chauncette know that mum’s the word.”

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