G rayson frowned. “Hello, Wade. I’m your mother’s pastor, Grayson Sterling.”
Unfocused eyes widened. “No. It can’t be. I’m dreaming again? How did you find out?”
“Just calm down, Wade,” Grayson spoke slowly, as if to a simpleton. “Your mom is here, and this is Deacon Jack Phillips.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
The distraught man lost consciousness again.
“What’s he talking about?” Jack whispered.
“He must be hallucinating. I’ll call the mission and see if they can help.” He turned toward Adrea, who was still picking up trash in the living room. “Take Helen home. Jack and I will handle things from here.”
Adrea nodded. The haunted look in her eyes reflected the depths of her soul.
She’d worked for Helen and he could see the two women were close, but why would Wade call out for Adrea in his drunken stupor?
That morning at the shop, he’d hoped Wade was just a drunk wandering the streets, harassing anyone who left their doors open. Could Adrea be in a relationship with Wade?
Feeling shaky, Adrea climbed the stairs to the private balcony of her apartment.
What would Grayson think of her if he knew she’d caused Wade, an alcoholic, to go back to drinking? Had Wade said anything incriminating today?
Mark sat with his feet propped on the coffee table, reading his Bible. So serene. Nothing like the day she’d had.
She unlocked the sliding glass door, threw her keys on the cheap melamine counter, and walked around to plop beside him, striving for casual.
He frowned. “Yo, Adrea. You okay?”
“Just peachy.” Her stomach knotted tighter.
“How’s Helen?”
“Worried about Wade.”
“You’re not getting involved, are you?”
“I’m just trying to support her. She called before I left the shop. She put Wade in a Christian rehab center today.”
“Grayson told me about it. He said you took Helen to Wade’s apartment.”
“I didn’t want her to go alone. I’m involved for Helen’s sake. Not Wade’s.”
“Poor Helen.” Mark shook his head, satisfied with her explanation. “I get the feeling you’re uncomfortable around Grayson.”
“Why would I be?”
“You tell me.”
Mark knew her so well.
Adrea took a deep breath, debating on how much to tell him. No matter how hard she tried to relegate Grayson to the back of her mind, he remained at the forefront. She replayed each conversation they had, each time she saw him, again and again in her mind. Like a teenager.
“You’ll think I’m silly.”
“Just tell me, Adrea. I’ve never thought you were silly a day in your life, even when you were probably really silly. You’ve got a crush on him.”
She shrugged. “Guess so. Now you think I’m silly, don’t you?”
“Absolutely not, because I have a crush on his sister. Apparently the Sterlings are irresistible to the Welches.”
“The thing is, Grace is available and she seems to like you, too.”
“So Grayson likes you. What’s the problem?”
“He’s still in love with his wife.” She propped her feet next to his. “It’s only been two years.”
“Two years is a long time. Maybe he’s ready to move on.”
“Trust me, he’s not. Whenever he mentions her, fresh pain snuffs out the sparkle in his eyes.”
“Ooh.” Mark winced. “You’ve got it bad. I hadn’t noticed a sparkle in his eyes.”
Adrea’s face warmed. She elbowed him. “Two years is a long time, but not when a couple shared a love like he and Sara apparently did. Just trust me, Grayson Sterling is not available. And the last thing I need is another troubled man on my hands.”
“He does have his share of baggage.” Mark frowned. “Should my interim become permanent, we’ll have to socialize with him. Would you rather I back out of this church and try somewhere else?”
“Don’t you dare! You let God make the call. So, the church may make Grayson an indelible fixture in our lives. I’ll just have to get used to his presence.”
Saturday afternoon, Adrea borrowed Haylee for a walk in the park. Daffodils nodded in the gentle breeze. A few families dotted the landscape with children and various-sized dogs scurrying about.
Haylee ran ahead, with ginger pigtails flying and long, coltish legs flailing. So similar to her mother at that age. Bright sunshine made it warmer than she’d expected, and Adrea wished she’d packed a lunch.
“So you’re not coming to Mountain Grove again tomorrow?” Haylee asked as Adrea caught up.
“Mark really needs me to support him.” Adrea tugged a pigtail. “It’s like when you have to read a book report in front of the class; it helps to see a friendly face or two in the crowd.”
“So he’s preaching the morning service, but couldn’t you come to nighttime church with us?”
“It would seem weird if I only went when he preaches.”
As they walked across the crisp grass, something large crashed into the back of Adrea’s legs, knocking her off kilter. She screamed.
Strong hands on each shoulder helped to restore her balance.
“Sorry about that,” a familiar voice apologized. “I guess Cocoa remembers you.”
She turned to see Grayson and Dayne, with Cocoa straining at his leash.
What did Wade say in his sometime conscious state? Does he know about Wade and me?
“With my bum knee, I can’t hold him back when he goes full throttle.” Grayson didn’t act any differently toward her.
Adrea stroked Cocoa’s chocolate fur and turned to Haylee. “This is Cocoa and Pastor Grayson’s son, Dayne.”
The calmness of her own voice surprised her. For some reason her heart was about to beat out of her chest. Must be adrenaline.
“Hey.” Dayne waved.
“Hello.” Haylee responded with a shy grin.
“It’s nice to see you again, Haylee.” Grayson winked.
“Daddy, I’m hungry.” Dayne kicked a pebble off the sidewalk. “Can Haylee and Adrea come on our picnic?”
“It’s nice of you to invite us, but your father probably only packed for two.” Adrea wrapped her arms around Cocoa’s neck. “You go and we’ll keep Cocoa company, if you don’t mind. I promise not to let go of his leash.”
“I can’t let him drag you across the park.” Grayson smiled, devastatingly unaware of his own attractiveness. “Grace packed enough for an army. Unless you have plans?”
Lunch with the drop-dead gorgeous preacher. Might as well get to know my brother’s earthly boss. Maybe put in a good word for Mark.
“Actually, we’re on our own today. I left Mark at home to do his Bible study in peace.”
“I knew I liked him. He’s studying while I hang out in the park.”
Bingo. “Mark was so worried when his interview got off to such a confusing start.”
Grayson laughed. “As I told Mark, our initial meeting convinced me he was the perfect candidate for associate pastor. I wanted a human being, not some stuffed shirt. His down-to-earth personality, much prayer, and the recommendation from Dr. Cummings made the decision for me. I’m anxious to hear his sermon.”
“Me, too.” A dog barked, followed by the excited shout of a child. Cocoa’s ears perked up.
“In the meantime, you ladies can help us pick a spot for our meal, since Dayne and I can never agree.”
“On the way here, I wished we’d packed a lunch.” Adrea looked across the park. “How about that big sycamore over there by the swings?”
“That’s where I picked.” Dayne jumped up and down. “Two against one, let’s go!”
She expected the excited boy to run ahead, but he remained close by his father’s side. Apparently, Grayson’s warnings, after Cocoa chased the squirrel, had worked.
As Adrea helped spread the blanket, Haylee stayed close by and Dayne dug through the wicker basket.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a real red-and-white-checkered picnic blanket.” Adrea sat with her ankles crisscrossed and ran her hands over the soft fabric. “It’s beautiful.”
“Sara made it.” His eyes dimmed.
“My favorite.” Dayne removed a container from the basket and repeated the statement with each subsequent find.
With the contents emptied, Grayson blessed the food.
The chicken salad sandwiches beat Adrea’s favorite deli.
Dayne carefully tore the crust of his sandwich away and fed it to Cocoa. The large dog waited patiently for an offering, then took each bite delicately between his teeth, careful not to nip his beloved owner.
“This is delicious.” Unsnapped jeans would feel good about now.
“I’ll tell Grace. She’s the most sought-after caterer in town.” Pride echoed in his voice.
“So she’s working today, while we enjoy her mouthwatering food.”
“Trust me. She wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Dayne and Haylee hurriedly finished their meals and ran to swing nearby. The young girl had finally warmed to the little boy.
“I’m glad the kids are having fun.” Grayson watched Haylee push Dayne higher and higher.
“She’s painfully shy. As a kid, I was the same way.”
“Really? You don’t seem shy now.”
“I’m better than I used to be.” Warmth crept up her cheeks. “For my first three months at the shop, Helen put me in the showroom. It was torture. Eventually, I realized I was more uncomfortable not talking to the customers than I was while attempting to make conversation. I still tend to clam up when I’m out of my element.” Or get nervous and prattle. Like now.
“So, that’s why I never met you. You hole up in the back and play with flowers.” Several birds landed in the tree above. Grayson flinched.
“Is something wrong?” Adrea asked.
“On one of our first dates, I took Sara on a picnic and a bird decided to relieve itself—on my head.”
Adrea tried to stifle her laughter but failed. “What did you do?”
“Sara always had a very weak stomach, so she threw up, cleaned me up, and we ate. That’s when I knew she was the girl for me.” He looked off in the distance, lost in memories. “I try to avoid trees.”
The deep timbre of Grayson’s voice cast a spell on her. He smiled, which deepened the crinkles at the corners of his eyes. Her fingers tingled to smooth away the lines of worry and grief. The sable lock of hair playing across his forehead in the mid-March breeze gave her the urge to brush it back from his brow.
Concentrate on something else. Anything but him. She noticed an ant, threading its way through the grass, struggling to carry a bread crumb Cocoa had missed.
“Daddy, I don’t feel so good.”
She looked up in time to see Dayne throw up.
Adrea’s heart tumbled for the sobbing boy.
Sympathetic with her new friend’s plight, Haylee patted his back.
Ineffectively, Grayson tried to clean the boy’s face with a dry paper towel.
“I’ll get wipes.” Adrea jogged toward her nearby car.
Grabbing the towelettes, she ran back to the still sobbing boy and began washing his face and neck.
Grayson pressed his hand against Dayne’s forehead. “You don’t feel warm. You probably ate too fast and then played too hard. I should have made you wait and digest longer.”
“We’ll get you cleaned up in no time.” She tried to assure the child while working on his shirt, then turned to his father. “Does he have extra clothes?”
“Actually, we picked up some fresh laundry from Mom’s this morning.” He flashed a sheepish grin. “She does our ironing.”
“Do we have to go home, Daddy?”
“I’ll get you another shirt. We’ll stay for a while, but if you feel sick again, we’ll have to leave.” Grayson went to his car.
Adrea had the boy cleaned up by the time his father returned. Always the first to hurl at the sight of anyone tossing their cookies, it amazed her that the incident didn’t sicken her. Instead, she simply dealt with the problem.
“Since Dayne seems fine now, I think we’ll go.” She threw their trash away.
“I doubt it’s anything contagious. He got his weak stomach from Sara.”
“If it’s a virus, we’ve probably already been exposed. It’s not that. Mark will wonder about us. And speaking of ironing, I do his shirts.”
A dog yapped. Cocoa raised his ears and stared off in the distance. Following his gaze, Adrea saw a golden retriever lunge into the air to catch a neon orange Frisbee.
“Thanks for helping with Dayne. Seems like every time we’re distressed in the park, you show up to save the day.”
“No problem.” Adrea smiled. “Thanks for letting us crash your lunch. Please tell Grace how much we enjoyed her delicious meal.”
“Don’t go.” Dayne grabbed Adrea’s hand.
“We have to go home, but I liked having a picnic with you.”
“Even though I threw up?”
“Well, I wish that hadn’t happened, for your sake, but it didn’t bother me.”
“One time my Sunday school teacher threw up because a boy in class did.”
Grayson scrunched his nose. “We don’t need the details. Tell Adrea and Haylee good-bye.”
“Bye, Adrea, bye, Haylee. I’m glad you came today.”
“We are, too.” Just how glad, Adrea didn’t want to think about. She patted Cocoa on the head, then regretfully steered Haylee to the car.
“See you tomorrow,” Grayson called.
Grayson paced the kitchen floor. Grace should have been home by now. Numerous times, he’d called her cell and gotten no answer. His heart thudded in his chest. He couldn’t get enough air in his lungs. Not again. It couldn’t happen again.
He closed his eyes and the memories swirled. Sara looked so peaceful by the glow of the dash light. With her seat tilted back a bit, she fell asleep. The slightly wilted white rose lay in her lap.
In his rearview mirror, he could see Dayne curled to the side in his car seat, with one arm flung over his face.
Grayson stopped at the four-way, looked both ways, and continued. A flash of light to his right. The impact hurled the car sideways. A white explosion hit him in the face, the car spun, metal tore, glass crunched. The car slammed into something solid and came to an abrupt halt. His right knee jammed into the steering column. His scream mixed with cries from the backseat.
Sara was silent.
He shook the images away and took several deep breaths.
Willing his fumbling fingers to work, he dialed the hospital. Just as it rang, the back door opened. Grace. Marvelous, healthy, all in one piece, Grace. He hung up.
“Where have you been?” He rushed toward her with a hug.
“Can’t breathe,” Grace whispered.
He eased up but couldn’t bring himself to let go. “You’re late.” His voice broke on a sob.
“Oh Grayson.” She rubbed her palms over his back in soothing circles. “I told you I had a big luncheon today. It went longer than I planned.”
“I tried to call.” At least twenty times.
“My cell needs charged. I’m so sorry I worried you.”
Steeling his resolve, he pulled himself together and let her go. He sank to a chair.
She touched his cheek, her eyes bright with tears. “You can’t go on like this.”
“I’m okay. Really.” He wiped his face with a paper napkin. The wooden legs of his chair scraped against the tile floor as he scooted closer to the table. He leaned his elbows on the surface, his face in his hands.
“Maybe a counselor would help. Mark does counseling on the side.”
“I have the best counselor in all of heaven. I’m fine. Just call me next time.”
“I promise. And I’ll make sure my cell is charged, so I can leave it on vibrate.”
“How did your luncheon go?”
“Great. Several people asked for my card.” She opened the cabinet and got a glass. “So, what did you do today, other than almost have a coronary over nothing?”
“Dayne and I had a picnic in the park.”
“Oh good.” Ice clinked into the glass she held under the dispenser. “Quality time.”
“That, too, but we actually ran into Adrea and her niece, so Dayne invited them to join us.”
“Where was Mark?”
“Home studying. They loved your sandwiches.”
“Good thing I sent extra.” Grace filled her glass with ice water and took a sip. “So, Adrea’s very pretty and seems really sweet.”
Grayson cleared his throat.
“I’ll take it you agree.”
Something in his chest boiled. “It wasn’t like a date or anything.”
“I didn’t say it was.”
“We had a picnic in a very public place with two kids.” He stormed out of the kitchen.
She followed. “Grayson, you know Sara would want you to move on. To be happy.”
He took the stairs two at a time.
Saturday evening, Mom and Dad stopped by the apartment.
Adrea tried not to fidget as Mom surveyed her from hair to toenail.
“You’re too thin.” Mom tapped her chin with a forefinger.
“I weigh the same as the last time you saw me.” Adrea hugged her mother, who weighed only slightly more. Somehow, Mom always wanted to fatten her up.
“You’re taller than I am. You need some meat on your bones. Men don’t like beanpoles. Isn’t that right, dear?”
“Yes, dear,” Daddy said.
“Daddy, you’re supposed to be on my side.”
“Sorry, sweetness, after thirty years, I’ve learned to just agree with your mother. It keeps the peace.”
Mom playfully swatted at her husband. “I thought you might need help with tomorrow’s lunch.”
Adrea lifted the lid off the slow-cooker. The brisket bubbled with floating potatoes and carrots.
“Smells like everything’s under control.” Mom settled on the floral sofa beside Daddy. “So, Adrea, are there any candidates on the horizon? Surely a big ole church like Palisade has plenty of eligible bachelors.”
“There are no candidates.” Adrea straightened the magazines on the coffee table. “Besides, candidates are in politics. Why don’t you bother Mark about women? He has a thing for Grace Sterling.”
“I already told her.” Mark flashed a beat-you-to-it grin.
“Tell me about him?” Mom prompted.
“There’s no him.” Adrea fluffed a throw pillow and sat beside their dad. Unsatisfied, Mom turned to her son. “Mark?”
“There are a few sparks flying between Adrea and my potential new pastor.”
“There are not.” Adrea hurled the pillow at her brother.
He caught it.
“Grayson Sterling?” Mom smiled at the possibilities.
Mark nodded. “Adrea calls him Prince Sterling.”
“I do not!” Adrea jumped up.
“I always knew you’d make a perfect preacher’s wife.” Their mother clasped her hands together as if in prayer.
“Mother!” Adrea propped both hands on her hips. “Mark, I’m never speaking to you again. There are no sparks.”
“You’re protesting too much, dear. Ooh, and a twin. I might just get twin grandbabies.”
“Mother!”
“Tell me more, Mark.” Mom patted the seat beside her.
“When I first met Grayson, he assumed Adrea and I were married.” Mark chuckled. “He even thought Haylee was our daughter. When he learned different, I’ve never seen such relief on a man’s face.”
Incapable of stopping the conjecture, Adrea rolled her eyes heavenward and left them to it. “I’ll go iron Mark’s shirt.”
A few minutes later, as Adrea and the iron steamed, Mom entered the room.
She perched on the edge of Adrea’s yellow satin and lace comforter. “So Grayson sounds wonderful.”
“He is, but he’s still in love with his wife. She’s only been gone two years.”
“Well, he can’t go it alone forever. He’s a young man. His son needs a mother.”
“You may be right.” Adrea sighed. “But I don’t feel up to the challenge of getting a man to move forward from his past. I tried that with Wade.”
“Sorry I brought it up. You know I just want you to be happy.” Mom touched her hand. “We’re leaving. Turn the slow-cooker down soon, or the meat won’t be tender.”
After class, Adrea waited on the steps of the church until their parents caught up.
Mark stood with Grayson at the entrance to the sanctuary. “Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Pastor Grayson Sterling. This is his son, Dayne, and his sister, Grace. Everyone, our parents, Theodore and Samantha Welch.”
“Call me Sam.” Mom surveyed the stained-glass windows lining the sanctuary with a rainbow of color bursting on the white walls.
“And I’m just Theo.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet both of you,” Grayson said as Daddy pumped his arm. “I’m glad you could join us for the service.”
“We wouldn’t miss Mark’s first official sermon at Palisade.” Mom hugged Grace a little too eagerly.
Mark winced.
Adrea stifled laughter.
“Go ahead; put the pressure on, Mom. It’s not like I wasn’t nervous already.”
“You’ll be fine.” Mom kissed his cheek, imprinting him with her trademark fuchsia shade. “I’ve been praying for you.”
Branded many times before, Mark wiped the smear away with his handkerchief as Rachel and Haylee arrived.
“I didn’t know y’all were coming!” Mark hugged them.
“I wanted to surprise you. I couldn’t miss my brother’s first official sermon.”
The harpist began a hymn.
“Thanks, sis. It means a lot to me. I better get up there.”
Everyone found seats.
The congregation sang; then Mark took the pulpit, obviously ready to launch into his sermon.
“Ephesians 3:17–19 says, ‘That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.’ ”
Several amens echoed.
Mark flipped back toward the Old Testament, Bible pages rustling. “Now turn to Isaiah 53:5, ‘But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.’ ”
Adrea’s eyes welled with tears several times during the service. Mark’s sermon demonstrated how deeply Jesus loves us. Enough to leave His heavenly home and come to live among us, knowing He would be savagely beaten and killed.
When the altar call came, she went to thank God for sending His Son to save her soul and Jesus for enduring the punishment for her sins. It made her dilemmas seem so trivial.
She memorized a few more members of the large congregation. Red hair, nosy, Sylvie Kroft. No husband, at least no one mentioned him. Gray hair, slightly stooped over, Mrs. Jones, kind, forced smiles. Tom Deavers, the deacon/doctor with a handshake so firm, her fingers ached afterward. His wife, Patty; sons Tommy, Timmy, and Terry. She only saw Helen in passing. The older woman seemed a bit more at peace. Maybe Wade’s treatment was going well.
When she and Mark arrived at the apartment, a mix of smells permeated the kitchen. Succulent beef brisket and the perfume of flowers, from her garden and the shop, filled the air creating a captivating aroma. Their parents arrived in time for Daddy to help Mark put both leaves in the table and round up every seat they owned, even a couple of lawn chairs.
Just as Adrea took their dessert from the oven, the Sterlings arrived, followed by Curt, Rachel, and Haylee.
“I’d like to offer my help.” Grayson leaned against the counter. “But I’m useless in the kitchen.”
“I’ll help.” Grace stepped around the dividing island.
“There’s not much left to do other than put ice in the glasses.” With trembling hands, Adrea set the final plate on the wall-to-wall table. “And, Grace, you do this sort of thing all the time. You are taking this day off.”
“I can handle ice.” Grayson grabbed a glass and Adrea heard clinking.
With the table ready, Mark said the prayer and they all took their seats.
“So, how’s the church?” Curt passed the rolls.
“I love Palisade. The people are wonderful. I only wish…”
Adrea watched Grayson mentally leave, though he sat at their table with his glass of sweet tea halfway to his lips. Conversation stalled as everyone waited for his return and he snapped out of the memory.
“Sara always loved this area. In fact, we were married at Mountain Grove. My typical bride wanted her wedding in Romance.”
“She’d be proud of you.” Mom patted his arm.
“Mrs. Fenwick is definitely proud.” Daddy passed the brisket. “She was singing your praises to everyone she saw.”
“Dear Helen. I’m afraid I haven’t always been there for her.” A shadow passed over his face. He glanced at Dayne. “Adrea, this is one of the best meals I’ve had that my sister didn’t cook.”
Her face warmed. She gestured toward her mother. “Mom helped.”
“I didn’t do a thing.” Mom, a firm believer that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, grasped the opportunity to plug Adrea’s cooking. “Adrea had it all prepared before our arrival.”
“But Mom taught me how.”
“A bit belatedly,” Mark said. “Ow! Adrea, you have the boniest elbows.” Laughter followed the exchange.
After the meal, the children ran to play outside. Mark and Grace insisted on helping Adrea clean up, but Grayson managed to shoo them away to supervise the kids. Traitors, her parents, Rachel, and Curt disappeared also.
Alone with the man of her dreams. A man who still loved his deceased wife.
“How does Mark like the church?” Grayson gathered the plates while Adrea loaded them.
She turned on the dishwasher. “He loves it.”
“What about you? What do you think of Palisade?”
“At first, the size intimidated me, but I’m getting used to it. However, it’ll take me quite some time to learn everyone’s name.” She set the yellow quilted place mats back on the table.
Grayson wiped the countertops. “Don’t worry, you’ll get to know them all. They’ll make sure of it. If anything can be said of the people at Palisade, they’re very friendly. Once they get to know you, you’ll get hugs instead of handshakes.”
“I’m already getting a few.”
Finished with the counters, Grayson leaned against the refrigerator.
She could feel him watching her.
“Mark did a great job on the sermon this morning.”
“Did you really think so?” Her voice quivered.
“Of course, didn’t you?”
The steady hum of the dishwasher, followed with a gurgle, and the clunk of two plates together filled the pause.
“I thought he was awesome. I just wondered if you really thought so or if you were simply being nice.”
“If I didn’t truly enjoy the sermon, I wouldn’t say anything.”
“I’m so proud of him.”
Grayson pulled out a chair and sat.
Though she’d hoped to escape his presence, Adrea followed suit and claimed the seat across from him.
“He’s got my vote and the congregation seems to like him, as well. With Mark to rely on, I can focus better on what I need to do.”
“It was only one sermon. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Adrea decided to broach the issue on her mind. “I’m thinking about trying the women’s class for a few weeks. And if Mark were to stay at Palisade, I heard the kindergarten/first grade class needs a teacher. I used to teach children at Mountain Grove and really enjoyed it, but I stepped aside to let a newer member have a chance.”
The dishwasher stopped between cycles. Drip, drip, drip. The steady beat on the stainless-steel sink punctuated the silence.
His jaw twitched. “You’ll do anything to get away from me.” His teasing tone sounded forced.
Adrea felt the blush creep across her cheeks. She hoped he was unaware of how close he was to the truth. She stood and turned the faucet handle until the drip stopped then reclaimed her seat.
“No, really, you should attend whichever class you feel you’ll get the most from. So, you’ve given me another reason to vote Mark in.” Grayson fiddled with the lace edging on a place mat. “Sara used to teach that class.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
He held up a hand. “It’s okay. We have to move on. Since Mrs. Roberts’s illness, Mrs. Jones has filled in. She’s good with the kids, but since her husband passed, she’s been distracted. The kids need some consistency.”
“I’ll pray about it.”
“It’s nice to have people willing to volunteer.” He cupped his chin between forefinger and thumb, then propped his elbow on the table. “You and Mark fit in well. That’s one of my favorite things about Palisade. Everyone pitches in to help. I’ve seen churches where the same five people do all the work while the rest of the congregation sits and warms their pews or, even worse, complains about the way things are done.”
“I like to do my part.” Adrea straightened the salt and pepper shakers in a nice line. “Though my time seems to become more and more limited. I thought owning the florist shop would allow me to set my hours, maybe work only three days a week. Instead, I work five and most weekends.” And I’ll probably spend them running into you at weddings.
“It seems your shop is doing quite well; you could hire more help. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this life, time is short. Take time for the important things.” Sadness washed over Grayson’s face.
She ached to ease his pain. Her heart twisted. She covered his hand with hers.