Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [45]
"I used to read Taylor Stone's syndicated column in The Oregonian."
"He's a writer?"
"He ran the Three Peaks Post for years."
That's right. Cameron knew that.
"You don't really think there's anything to this Book of Days story, do you?"
"It depends on the moment you ask." Cameron sniffed a laugh. "Sometimes I can't believe I'm doing this; other times I think there actually might be something to the legend." Cameron whapped himself on the head with both hands. "Am I crazy? What do you think?"
Ann shrugged. "I believe what I said at the party last night. It's gotta be a legend."
"Even with Jessie saying she saw it?"
Ann stood and folded her arms across her chest. "You and I both know Jessie occasionally saw visions from God."
"But you believe all the God-things that Jessie and my dad believed."
"Jessie wasn't a full-out Christian mystic, but she liked reading them and that's the way her faith leaned. I've never gone down that path."
Cameron rubbed the ring finger on his left hand. "She was always asking me to go down that road with her."
"Why didn't you?"
"I've never had anything against God. It was great for Jessie, great for my dad, probably good for you too. I've just never seen how He could exist."
"What about now?"
It was an excellent question. "Maybe He's out there. But I wouldn't know where to start looking."
Ann cracked her knuckles and smiled. "I could offer some suggestions."
The fights they'd had over his marrying Jessie raced into his mind.
"You're a good guy, Cameron, but you don't follow Jesus so you shouldn't marry Jessie."
"All you're going to do is hurt her."
Cameron turned and raised his eyebrows. "Like the suggestions you used to give me all the time when Jessie and I were dating?"
Ann clasped her hands. "I see some of your memories from the past are still crystal clear."
Cameron rolled his eyes.
A few moments later Ann stuck out her hand. "Truce?"
Cameron looked into her riveting green eyes as he took her hand. "Sure."
He watched the late-morning sun play tag with the clouds as a breeze brought the perfume of ponderosa pine up from the valley.Cameron let his senses get swept away in it. It felt strange sitting next to Ann, alone, miles from anyone or anything. It also felt comforting.
And wonderful.
And wrong.
What if years ago Ann had invited him to a play before Jessie asked him to learn to rock climb? Would he be sitting here with a ring on his finger?
Stop it, Cameron.
He needed to keep his distance from her. Find out if the book was real as fast as possible, then get back to Seattle. He would never betray Jessie by having feelings for Ann. Never.
CHAPTER 16
On the drive back to Three Peaks, Cameron popped his steering wheel with his palm and blew out an exasperated breath. He'd told Ann he was making progress. What progress? If he could get Stone to talk, Cameron might get somewhere. But what if he couldn't?
"Jessie, what would you do?"
He laughed and contemplated having a conversation with God. That's exactly what Jessie would do. Could he do that while driving? How important was it to pray with eyes closed? Was that a requirement? Of course Jessie had prayed all the time with her eyes open, so it was probably all right.
He pulled up to a stoplight and rubbed his neck.
Two adults and three kids on matching bikes crossed in front of him, probably on their way to Indian Loop Road. The Fun To-Do guide in his room said it was a favorite of locals and tourists. The kind of trail he'd dreamed of going down with Jessie and their kids someday. "Thanks for killing that dream, God." There, he'd prayed.
The light turned green, and as he eased down on the gas, he decided to give prayer a real shot.
"I have no concept of how to talk to You. But if You really wrote a book, stuck it here in Three Peaks, and it's the one my dad and Jessie talked about and it really exists, I'd appreciate some help finding it. Thanks."
Ironic that he would end up here trying to find the answers to life. Jessie had loved Central Oregon