"Lighten My Heart" by Lin Stepp

Forgiveness is hard in a marriage when the heart has been deeply wounded. How can a person move past the memories, pains, and angry words spoken to even consider a reconciliation? And as Gwen wonders, why should she even try?

Gwen never imagined in a million years that Alex would hurt her and betray her trust as he had. They'd always been so much in love, so close. How could he have lied to her for over a year? Let her think everything was okay in their lives when his and Josh's business was going under? She might have helped. After all, she'd followed him all the way to Arkansas from her home in South Carolina, worked alongside him and Josh to establish the restaurant. How could he have left her out, lied to her, and then come to her later to tell her he and Josh had lost everything-not only the business but their home as well? Heartbroken, she packs up their three children and heads home to her family, not wanting to see or talk with Alex Trescott ever again.

Alex had made some monumental mistakes in his life, but hiding his financial affairs from his wife and lying to her had to be the worst. Somehow, he and Josh kept believing they could turn the restaurant around, and he kept thinking he wouldn't even need to upset Gwen and the children over all the problems. But then the worst happened and they lost everything. And when he tried to explain to Gwen, she felt betrayed that he'd lied to her all this time. He couldn't really blame her for packing up and fleeing home to her family, never wanting to see him again. But a chance to return to his family's restaurant in Beaufort draws him back home, too. And in his heart, he dreams, if foolishly, that he might get a second chance with Gwen.

Local Interest/ Local Fiction