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Broken Together

By Joi Copeland

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Chapter One

Zoey Fuller shifted the gears in her vehicle as she drove through the winding roads toward her hometown. Seven years she'd been away. What would her parents say upon her unexpected return? She shook the thought away. It didn't matter. They'd be thrilled, since they'd been pestering her for a few years to come home. Reasons they didn't know kept her away. Guilt swept through her. Would she ever be able to let go of the hurt she'd caused?
What would her parents say if they knew of the shameful way she'd behaved on her graduation night? She doubted they'd sweep it under the carpet or even try to make her feel better. They'd be disappointed for sure. She'd rather keep their positive view of her. Being the only child to James and Julie Fuller, she was used to being the center of attention. Of course, being the head cheerleader, prom queen, and the most popular girl in high school only boosted her ego.
Zoey snorted. Until she stepped foot into the real world. College proved to be more difficult, and humbling, than she ever expected. She certainly didn't regret it though. Not only did she earn her degree based on her brains and not her looks, she also came to realize her selfishness and her need for a Savior.
Tree lined roads beckoned her. Clouds rolled across the sky, signaling a summer storm only moments before the first drop hit her windshield. Zoey grinned, rolling down her window and inhaling the sweet scent of the rain. Drops pelted her face before she rolled the window up. She loved Flagstaff in the summer. Especially during the monsoon season. Zoey couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. The rain showers would wipe away the humidity of the months before and bring in cooler temperatures. Oh, how she loved Flagstaff!
Zoey wouldn't trade her time in college for anything. But returning home had always been her heart's desire. Her parents would be surprised to find she'd landed a teaching job at her old high school. Shoot, she was surprised. But so thankful. And arriving in July gave her at least a month and a half to meet the staff, prepare her classroom, and get her lesson plans together.
Excitement coursed through her as she pulled into her parents' driveway. They'd lived in the same mansion as long as she could remember. She'd held friend gatherings and parties at this very house. Heat covered her face. The things she'd done in some of the rooms brought shame to her. Pursing her lips, she pushed down the guilt that threatened to overtake her. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." Second Corinthians 5:17. She repeated the verse as she pulled her suitcases from the trunk of her car.
She climbed the steps, opened the front door with her key, and pushed the door closed behind her. "Mom? Dad?"
"Zoey?" Her mother's voice echoed down the stairs and into the entry way.
Her father bounded down the stairs, her mother on his heels. "Sweetheart! What are you doing home?"
Her dad wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. She leaned into his embrace. "I have some news for you."
"More than this?" Her mom pushed her dad aside and kissed her cheek. "What could be better than this?"
"Leave your bags here. I'll have Jonathan take them to your room. Assuming you are staying here?" Her dad raised one eyebrow.
Zoey laughed. "If you'll have me."
"Of course we will. Come!" Julie Fuller grabbed her hand and pulled her into the sitting room. "Tell us this great news you have."
Zoey eased onto the brown antique couch. Nothing in the room had changed since she moved out. The same cream colored walls decorated by expensive art. Antique couches and chairs placed strategically around the oval room so that no matter where people sat, they'd be facing each other in conversation. The baby grand piano filled the corner of the sitting room. No, nothing changed. Not even the mocha colored curtains covering the large windows.
"Well, I applied for a teaching position at my old high school." Zoey bit back a grin. "And I start preparing lesson plans soon."
"What?" Her mother jumped out of her chair. "Oh, Zoey, this is fantastic! You're home for good, then?"
Zoey nodded. "So it seems. I've always wanted to teach here, not in Phoenix. I'm just glad I have the opportunity."
Her mother wrapped her arms around Zoey and then sat back down. "Well, I'm thrilled. What do you need to do to get ready?"
Zoey glanced at her watch. "I'd love to go to the school today, see my classroom and stuff."
Her father clapped his hands and stood. "Good idea. We'll get your belongings to your old room while you head over there. Will you be home for dinner?"
"Do you think I would miss Cathy's cooking?" Zoey shook her head. "Of course I'll be home!"
Her parents' chuckle followed her out of the house. She started her car and drove to her old high school.
Moments later, Zoey pulled open the glass door and stepped into her past. Laughter from years gone by floated through her mind. Old friends' faces flashed before her, causing an ache in her heart so deep, she almost couldn't breathe. She ran her hands along the dented lockers, stopping on locker twenty-seven. Cadan's old locker. She'd never stopped to talk to the goofy, overweight kid at school, but at her favorite coffee shop, the one way out of town, they'd shared stories and laughter. The old guilt she felt whenever she thought of Cadan pierced her heart once again. She blinked away the tears, not allowing them to fall.
Zoey squared her shoulders and headed to her classroom. She'd received the keys weeks before. At least she wouldn't have to hunt down the janitor. Was it still old Mr. Handerland? She hoped so. She adored the older man who wiped the floors with a constant smile on his face. She'd love to see him once again.
Zoey sauntered down the hallway, her eyes flitting to the room numbers and names on the side of each door. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.
#
Gawain Moss stood to the side of the window of his classroom, making sure he couldn't be seen by the woman who'd stopped in front of the door. He shook his head. No way could it be her. The picture from his brother's twelfth grade yearbook popped in his head. So did the framed pictures of the head cheerleader from the year his brother graduated. What was she doing here?
Dread filled his entire being. No. She couldn't be the new English teacher they'd just hired, could she? Why would the most popular girl in school end up teaching? According to his brother’s letter, she’d never had a heart for others.
Gawain regretted not going to high school with his twin brother. If he had, would things have ended differently? If he'd moved with his family, would his brother's life been altered? Could he have changed the past? He ran his hand through his wavy, short hair. His mom often got on his case for his long hair. So, to appease her, he trimmed it, but once the school year ended, he’d grow it out again.
He didn't really care. He liked the fresh look. And he liked his scruffy beard. But he’d shave once the year began. His students teased him mercilessly last year about his hair. But toward the end of the semester, he'd noticed some of the male students growing out their hair and expressing themselves in other ways as well. He grinned. He hoped to have even more of an impact on his students this year. He never wanted them to go through what his brother experienced. Ever.
The woman outside his classroom ran her hand over the side of the door. He assumed it was over his name. She started to reach for the door knob but then withdrew her hand. He breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't ready to face the woman with the long brown hair just yet.
If he had his way, he wouldn't deal with her at all. Unfortunately, since she now worked at the same school, he'd inevitably have contact with her at some point.
Gawain inched away from the door, lest she saw movement. He turned to his cluttered desk and sank down into the swivel chair. He crossed his arms over the desk and allowed his head to fall onto them. Lord, why her? Why now? Haven’t we been through enough already?
The same peace that filled Gawain over the last seven years filled him escaped him. The only way he could get through this next year would be at the foot of the cross. Otherwise, he'd give in to the temptation to hate the woman who'd walked away from his twin seven years ago.

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