Head Over Heels Read Free

a bit of mascara that added length to the longest eyelashes he’d ever seen.
    She appeared to know him, but he didn’t remember her.
    â€œI—I’m sorry,” he stammered. “Do I know you?”
    â€œTechnically, we’ve met before, but I can’t blame you for not remembering me.” She dug through her purse and placed his wallet on the small table beside the bed. “I found this stuck in the slot where the windshield wipers are when I got home last night. I guess it got stuck there when you fell. I hope you don’t mind that I looked inside. I had to know your name so they would let me in. My name is Marielle McGee, and that was my car you landed on.”
    His vision lost focus as he struggled to remember details. All he knew was what the nurses had told him—that he’d fallen out a window and, instead of landing on the hard cement, he’d landed on a car, which had madethe landing less serious than it might have been. While short-term memory loss was common for the injury he’d sustained, it still worried him.
    â€œI don’t know what to say. You probably saved my life.”
    â€œOh… Well… Speaking of that, do you want to talk about it? I’m a good listener.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” he said as he brushed his index finger over the bandage that covered his nose. “I’ve been told that no permanent damage was done.”
    Her tone softened. “Don’t worry. I’m a volunteer counselor at my church. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger about things like this.”
    â€œAbout things like…what?”
    â€œProblems. Depression. Despondency. Things that would drive a person to acts of desperation.”
    â€œDesperation?” The pain in his head worsened as he realized what she meant. “Please don’t worry. I don’t remember what happened, but I’m not suicidal. My life is good. I have a good job, a nice home, and I can assure you that I didn’t do anything that drastic because of a broken heart. I’ve been much too busy to get involved in a relationship—”
    His voice caught. Thinking of work, a shadow of a memory flashed through his mind. For some reason, he’d gotten up and walked to the window. He couldn’t remember why. But all jokes aside, he knew that he wouldn’t kill himself out of frustration with his computer. Besides, statistically, jumping out of a window wasn’t usually fatal unless it was the seventh story or higher.
    â€œDo you believe in God, Russ?”
    â€œYes, of course I do.”
    â€œI mean as more than just the Creator of the universe. Do you believe in God, who loves all the children He’s created, including you?”
    â€œYeah.” He just hadn’t been to church lately. Actually, he hadn’t been to church for a long time. On a few occasions, he’d weakened and gone back, but he didn’t know why. Going to church or not going to church didn’t make any difference. Nothing got better, nothing changed. He’d struggled and worked hard, and he had been faithful, but God hadn’t given him any breaks in his youth, and God didn’t give him any breaks now. God made him work, and work hard for everything he had. It seemed God never considered his debt repaid.
    He cleared his throat. “Please don’t worry. I’m fine. In fact, I’m anxious to get back to work. I’m a Web designer, and I’m in the middle of designing a big interactive Web site for an important client.”
    â€œOh.” She paused, then shuffled something in her hand. “It’s just that, well, the newspaper…” Her voice trailed off.
    â€œThe newspaper?”
    â€œThe newspaper is saying something very different than what you’re telling me right now.”
    Russ gulped. “You mean there was a reporter there?”
    Marielle nodded. “Yes. And it appears they’ve done