Catherine, following Jaidon through his church, bumped into a teenager. She looked over her shoulder as she continued walking in the direction she was being led.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Part of her wanted to turn around and follow the teenager out of the sanctuary, but Jaidon had a secure hold on her hand, guiding her toward their seats. When Jaidon asked her what she was doing Sunday, she had no idea he was going to ask her to go to church. Not even in the building ten minutes, and it was already proving to be the cultural learning experience he’d told her it would be, and not just because his church didn’t have hard wooden pews facing each other.
Taking a Sunday off from her church to visit another church couldn’t hurt. After all it was only one day. She hadn’t missed a Sunday since last summer, when she went to visit a college friend in California.
Catherine gripped his hand tighter as they maneuvered through the crowd. She silently prayed they wouldn’t get separated. She wanted to whisper, but Jaidon wouldn’t be able to hear her. Other people were talking; perhaps it was acceptable at this church. “There must be at least two hundred people here.”
“Closer to six if you count the kids in children’s services and nursery. Plus there are a couple adult Sunday school classes that take place during second service.” Jaidon pulled her closer to him, slowing his pace, and she followed toward the direction he pointed. “We can sit over here.”
They edged in front of two couples, passed down the aisle, and sat toward the middle of the row. She leaned over to whisper in Jaidon’s ear. “Why is everyone still talking? Shouldn’t they be quiet in the sanctuary?”
Jaidon smiled. “Because service hasn’t started yet.”
Catherine looked around at people greeting others on their way to their seats; some stopped to converse longer. How did they know when service started?
Jaidon nudged her gently with his shoulder. “Why are you frowning?”
“I’m sorry.” Catherine sighed. “I’m just used to my church. We always begin worship as soon as we come into the sanctuary.” “It’ll begin shortly.” Jaidon opened his church bulletin, something her church didn’t have.
Catherine wanted to close her eyes and worship but found the chatter around her distracting. She couldn’t wait for church to begin.
“Hello,” Roberto said and extended his hand for Catherine to shake. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise.” Catherine smiled and shook his hand; then he shook hands with Jaidon. “Where is Josephina?”
Roberto nodded toward the first row of chairs in front of the sanctuary. “She’s sitting up front with the youth.” He pointed to the next row over. “That’s our senior pastor and his wife. Jaidon will have to introduce you after church.” He smiled and nodded toward Jaidon. “I’ll catch you later.”
Jaidon smiled and nodded back. “Will do.”
Catherine felt like she missed some kind of unspoken exchange between the two men. Probably a guy thing. She shrugged it off and sat back, quietly observing. A few plants and flowers decorated the platform. While they were pretty, they could serve as a distraction. A piano, drum set, and a couple guitars were on stage. This must be one of those programmed churches she’d heard about. She could visualize some of the elders’ eyes widening if they caught sight of instruments in a sanctuary. She did find the padded chairs comfortable; they would be a welcome addition to her church.
Catherine leaned closer to Jaidon. “Some people are getting on the stage. Does that mean it’s about to begin?”
Jaidon laughed. “You’d think you’ve never been to church before.”
“I have.” Catherine turned her attention to the front of the sanctuary and crossed her arms. “Next week you have to come to my church.”
“Oh do I?” Jaidon said. Amusement made his blue eyes glisten.
“Yes. As you said, it’s a great cultural learning experience.” Catherine smiled sweetly as she used his argument against him.
“It’s a date.” Jaidon stood and Catherine followed suit as the musicians began to play. “I’d be happy to go to your church with you.”
Her heart skipped a beat even though Jaidon didn’t mean it was an actual date. But if he did become a Friend… Catherine glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Wishful thinking. That’s all it was.
As the service proceeded, Catherine tried to process everything. The members of the church came in and sat down before church started. They stood for music, which was another thing her church didn’t have. They began with prayer, standing, and then they sat. They finished, on their feet again, before they sat for announcements and for the pastor to deliver the Word. No one who shared in the Quaker meetings spoke as long as Jaidon’s pastor did. And apparently, he was the only one allowed to speak—though Jaidon’s pastor said some interesting things.
According to the pastor, anyone who believed the Bible verse John 3:16 and accepted Jesus Christ as Savior became a Christian. That would make her one. Catherine smiled. For some reason that knowledge made her feel warm inside. Her father had never considered his family to be Christian. Perhaps because he’d been brought up more strictly, based on older traditions and his family’s heritage.
When service was over, Jaidon introduced Catherine to the senior pastor, Thomas Burnside, and his wife, Natalie. Catherine was surprised to learn that Nathan was the youngest of their three children. Especially since neither Roberto nor Jaidon had mentioned he was their pastor’s son when they’d introduced him to her at the center. He hadn’t said much, if anything, to her. She hoped she could remember everyone since these were Jaidon’s friends.
“I hope you’ve enjoyed visiting our church today,” Thomas said, “and you’ll come back again soon.”
“I’d like that.” Catherine smiled politely. She glanced from the pastor to Jaidon, who looked somewhat like a cat with a canary in its mouth and wasn’t quite sure if it should swallow or not. Obviously the pastor was trying to gain a new convert. Why not have a little fun, make him sweat that he could be losing one? If only, she wished silently. “However, I do have a church I attend regularly. Jaidon is coming with me next week.”
“He is?” Thomas’s eyebrows raised a fraction before he quickly regained his composure. “That’s nice of him.”
“Well we really should get going if we want to beat others in line at the restaurant.” Jaidon shook the pastor’s hand and said good-bye to Natalie before leading Catherine outside. “I’m sorry.”
Catherine laughed. “Maybe if our church was a little less subtle we’d have more members.”
Jaidon ran a hand through his hair. “It was that obvious, huh?”
Catherine nodded. “Do you think he’s afraid I’ll persuade you to become a Quaker?”
Jaidon stopped and stood close to her instead of opening the car door. The heat of his breath warmed her and yet sent a chill down her spine. “I don’t know. What does your church have to offer?”
“What—” Catherine swallowed hard, hoping to keep her voice from cracking further. “What were you hoping for?”
His eyebrows rose slightly, and his head tilted. He eyed her lips before staring into her eyes. “Besides the spiritual aspect of it, I’d like to meet a nice Christian woman that I could date and possibly marry one day.”
“Maybe you could expand a bit on your preferences.” The thought of Jaidon pursuing one of the women from her church made her stomach turn. Okay, so she was attracted to him. What woman in her right mind, and who still had breath in her, wouldn’t be? Not only was he sweet and kind and caring, but he also served as delicious eye candy she was finding hard to resist. “There aren’t a lot of single women at my church.”
“Hmm…” Jaidon moved closer. “But you go there?”
She nodded.
“And you’re single?”
Her heart beat faster. She looked from his eyes to his lips and closed her eyes in anticipation. She felt his arm brush hers, and then he stepped back.
“If you think of anyone who’d like to go out on a real date with me, and work on a lasting relationship, let me know.” Jaidon leaned against the door of the Hummer, waiting for her to get in. “Because changing churches is a big commitment.”