For his entire life, Ashton had been made fun of and teased for his personality. Even his brother was not like himself. His brother was fierce and tough, athletic and seemed to be good at everything. He had been competitive and he had beat Ashton at pretty much any sport there was. Ashton had tried to keep up, but he wasn't quite as athletic as his brother. He just accepted that he would never be as good as his brother and moved on.

His mother had been a kind soul, always encouraging him to remain true to himself. She was the one who taught him the art of cooking and encouraged him to read books. She had always been a gentle reminder of what God had planned for him. She was here to guide him, even when his father thought of him as a failure.

Ashton loved his father dearly, but his father had wanted him to play sports, shoot guns, and do all things a strapping young lad would. But Ashton was not that man and it angered his father. The man had beat him a time or two to try and beat the "pussy" out of him, as he called it. The beatings had hurt, but instead of it making Ashton more manly, it pushed him closer to his mother and God. Perhaps his father was the real reason he had left the cattle farm. Perhaps he just needed to get away for awhile, to stop the beatings and figure out what God wanted him to be. Surely the life he was living wasn't what he was supposed to experience for the rest of his life.

While the move to Sacrosanct had been difficult, he wouldn't have changed a thing. He was able to learn to be his own person and it was just what he needed. It was offering himself the chance to learn what kind of man he was supposed to be. God was right there with him, showing him the way and making sure that he always remembered that he wasn't alone.

So even on this walk back from Whole Foods, he had seen God in the gentle breeze, the way the birds sang, and the sheer beauty of the flowers growing wild on the sidewalk. So naturally, when he had so rudely bumped into the pretty blonde woman as he rounded the corner, it was no surprise that he saw God in her too.

He mentions that he also enjoys going to the local Farmer's Market on Thursdays. Her excitement causes him to smile. "I love fresh bell peppers. I've been told my stuffed bell peppers are sinful." Truthfully, he had been told that his stuffed bell peppers were better than sex, but he wasn't about to repeat that. Not to mention, he had nothing to compare it to. So he would just say they were sinful. He had been known to be sinful once or twice â€" sinful in the sense that he had a taste of alcohol before he came of age...so very sinful.

She asks if he was knew and he told her that he had only been there a few weeks. She seemed like a nice person â€" ensuring that he was finding everything okay. It was pleasant to find someone like her. Most people in this town didn't care one way or another if he was finding everything okay. "I have found everything I need...except a job. But I am sure that will come in due time." He would not rush things. God had a plan for him â€" something just waiting for him and he was so sure of it.

They introduce one another and he makes a promise to himself to try and remember her name. He had glad she doesn't seem too upset if she must remind him. Ashton would always wish he had been given the gift of remembering names, but alas, he had not. So he would just have to try his best and hope that she didn't become too upset with him later.

Ashton tries to make friendly conversation, asking what her drink might be. She answers with something long and drawn out, something he's never had the pleasure of trying. "I usually drink my coffee black...I've never had it any other way." He had grown up with little money, not having a lot of extra to spend on things like flavored iced coffees. What extra they did have usually went towards the care of the animals or his brother's sporting abilities.

She offers to show him where the little café is located and he nods his head softly. "That would be mighty fine." Perhaps he should just spend the little bit extra and indulge himself into something. Would God forgive him if he took a little pleasure in an iced coffee? Surely he would.

She offers to walk him home so he can drop off his groceries and he nods his head lightly. "That should be fine. I must confess, my apartment is nothing grand." He had never shown anyone where he lived. It wasn't a huge apartment. It was small, modest, and the furnishings were simply the bare minimum. The only thing fully stocked was his kitchen. He would much rather buy him a new kitchen appliance than a chair for his living room. "Follow me, it's not far from here." He smiles as he nods his head just down the street. And slowly, he turns and begins to lead her down the block.