She had been avoiding this moment for over a year now but there was something about a party held in your honor that didn't lend itself to avoiding any particular guest. Sarah wasn't sure why he had come or even why he had been invited. Wasn't it taboo to invite an ex-boyfriend to a friend's party?
Graduating law school (and passing the bar!) was an accomplishment to be sure and it was true that she might not have made it through the first year without Grant's help and tutelage but they had broken up two years ago and she had been studiously avoiding him for a year so why was he here? It was terribly unfair that in a few weeks they would both move away from campus and her previous year's diligence would be worthwhile, yet here he was walking toward her and she had nothing to duck behind.
“Congratulations, Sarah.” Grant's dimples lit his typically serious face with sincerity as Sarah tried to recall every reason why she shouldn't still love this man. “I heard you're moving back to Owensville to practice.”
Sarah nodded, swallowing to find her voice. She could argue a case in front of the meanest judge but Grant still made her swoon. “My mom's all alone now,” she shrugged, “I'm all she's got left. What about you?”
“I will be working in Richmond for a non-profit, providing cheap or free legal counsel to those in need.”
“That's great, Grant. I didn't really expect you to do that but – it's great,” Sarah spluttered, trying to cover her shock. Grant was a really great guy but he had always been more ambitious than not. He had always wanted to land a prestigious job immediately after passing the bar to help him vault up the corporate ladder.
“Actually, there is something I wanted to talk to you about, Sarah. Something I wanted to explain,”Grant looked around the crowded party tent anxiously, “this isn't perhaps the best place for it but...”
The squealing microphone interrupted him. Sarah was relieved. Whatever Grant had to say she didn't want to hear it. A year ago she had given her life to Christ and had been working furiously to overcome her feelings for him since learning that she should not marry a non-Christian. She had found her best weapon to be avoidance and had used it profusely. She had just wanted to get through these last few weeks without seeing him and to move on with her life.
