CHAPTER 21

The following Sunday – April 7

From a distance Danni recognized Jaycee waiting at the front doors of the church. She quickened her pace as she made her way across the parking lot to join her friend.

Seeing all of the cars parked in front of the church reminded her of the many Sundays and Wednesday nights she and Chloe had attended their little community church with their dad. She wondered now why she had stayed away for so long.

Jaycee gave her a hug when she reached the top landing. “I wasn’t sure if you’d really be here,” she teased with a bright smile on her face.

“Do I look okay?” Danni straightened her skirt and smoothed her jacket.

“You look great. Let’s go inside before the service begins. I don’t want to miss the music.”

Jaycee led her to a seat, three rows from the back.

“Do you always sit here?” Danni asked. “Or are you trying to hide your heathen friend?”

Jaycee stifled a laugh. “Yes . . . and no! Of course, I always sit here.” She handed Danni a worship guide and a songbook. “Here, you may need these.”

Danni gave her an I-have-been-to-church-before look and harrumphed, and then she settled comfortably into the padded pew. She looked around the large auditorium with its twenty-or thirty-foot ceilings held in place with massive wooden beams. Each arched stained-glass window along the sidewalls had been pieced together in a random mosaic pattern reminiscent of the European cathedrals Danni had seen on her senior class trip.

It could be a beautiful setting for a wedding.

Casting her gaze to the floor, she noted the neutral beige carpet. She could picture her bridesmaids—Jaycee, Chloe, and an old friend from college—wearing simple turquoise chiffon halter dresses as they walked down the aisle carrying white lilies. She would be following in an off-white, dropped waist gown with a wrapped bodice. Her veil would stream from a beaded tiara on top of her head, and—

Jaycee punched Danni and whispered, “Stand up for the prelude.”

Within seconds dozens of choir members, wearing sapphire blue robes topped with gold-colored stoles, filed into the loft from doors on either side of the stage. Danni stood in awe of the pageantry, bracing herself with her hands on the back of the pickled oak-colored pew in front of her.

The pipe organ blared a gothic intro that emerged into a hymn she had sung for years in her hometown church in Iowa. When the congregation began to sing the words to “How Great Thou Art,” Danni averted her eyes to the ceiling. The beauty of this grand chamber almost took away her breath.

The light mahogany beams running across the ceiling, parallel to the choir loft, began at the front of the church and continued all the way to the vestibule behind her. The narrow, arched windows along each wall filtered a kaleidoscope of colors onto rows of benches filled with worshippers, who were standing to worship with the choir. Danni marveled at the intricacy and detail of the voices as they blended together and remembered the vow she had taken as a young girl to follow her faith no matter the cost.

When had she let that slip away?

A few minutes later, the choir director led the congregation in prayer and asked everyone to take a seat and turn to the first song in their program. Jaycee opened her hymnal and began to sing, an enraptured look on her face.

Yes, this church was perfect for a wedding. Now, if only she was as certain about the groom.

After the service, Jaycee invited Danni to lunch, but she declined so she could take Sophie to the park for a run. Hurrying back to her condo, she changed into shorts and a T-shirt while Sophie romped through the house in anticipation. As soon as Danni grabbed the leash, the big dog pounced, landing at Danni’s feet with a bow.

“We’re going to have fun, Soph.” Danni snapped the leash onto the Newfie’s collar. “I’m taking you to the big park today.”

Within ten minutes Danni had secured the Newfoundland in the rear cargo area of her Escape. Then, buckling herself in, she rolled down her windows and opened the sunroof. It was a beautiful spring afternoon for driving the short distance to Centennial Park. After their run, they would eat lunch on the patio of M. L. Rose, a dog-friendly establishment on Charlotte Pike. It was tempting to bypass their run and head straight to lunch, but a three-mile jog around Centennial Park would give her a chance to clear her head. And maybe do some soul-searching about church today, as well as the events of the last few weeks.

God had brought her here, to Nashville, for a purpose. She was sure of that. But somehow in the messiness, and the busyness, of everyday life she had managed to leave Him out of her decisions.

She was now facing one of the biggest decisions she would ever have to make. She needed to pray about it. Isn’t that what her dad had told her less than two weeks ago?

Help me, God.

She exhaled the words, and then slammed on her brakes to avoid a car merging on the right from 25th Avenue. The driver of the other vehicle honked his horn and sped away. Danni regained her composure, looked twice—and then one more time—to be sure there was no other oncoming traffic before easing into the far right lane. A few seconds later she turned right into the West End Avenue entrance of the park.

That had been close. Her heart still palpitated in her chest. She watched carefully as she navigated between parked cars and pedestrians, finally wedging her Escape into a small parking spot on the west side of the Parthenon.

When Danni opened the door, Sophie bounded from the car, leaping with enthusiasm.

“Let’s go, Soph.”

Following a few minutes of walking to warm up their muscles, Danni signaled the dog it was time to run. Sophie took off in a slow lope, increasing to full speed as they approached the front of the giant pavilion. From there, they took a right to continue their run around the park’s perimeter.

En route to the dog park near Thirty-First Avenue, they jogged passed flowering cherry and dogwood trees, a fountain, and a water bridge. Then a rustle of activity caught Danni’s attention. A man jumped up from a blanket on the ground and waved to her.

“Hey, what are you two doing here?”

Caleb Samuels.

He seemed happy to see her, but he cautiously eyed Sophie.

The dog growled, and Danni averted her attention to a young, red-haired boy still sitting on the blanket. Danni pulled back on the leash and signaled for Sophie to sit.

“Why is that dog growling at you, Caleb?”

Danni tightened her grip on the leash, remembering the first time Caleb and Sophie had met. “She’s just cautious about who to trust,” she told the boy, then turned the question on Caleb, “What are you doing here?”

“I asked you first.” Was it his lazy smile or the shock of stopping so quickly that caused her heart to palpitate?

Another low growl emulated from deep within the Newfoundland’s chest. “That’s enough, Soph.” The dog settled onto the ground, still watching the TBI agent.

He switched his attention to the boy, who was now standing behind him. “Zachary, I want you to meet someone.” The boy jumped up and stuck out his hand.

“Danielle, this is Zachary.”

She gave the boy’s hand a firm shake, a sense of illogical disappointment rushing through her. Could this be Caleb’s son? That was something she hadn’t seen coming. And all along she’d thought he was single because he didn’t wear a wedding ring.

“So what are the two of you doing here?”

Danni felt her cheeks flush when she realized she had repeated her opening question. Not to mention that it was obvious they were having a picnic.

Caleb placed his arm around the boy’s shoulders and drew him close. “Actually, we were just about to have lunch. Would you like to join us for barbecue sandwiches from Hog Heaven?” He motioned toward the blanket on the ground behind them. “I think we even have enough for Sophie, don’t we, Zach?”

“Sure!” Zach smiled up at Caleb and then turned his attention to Danni. “Could I take your dog for a walk?”

“Do you think you can handle her? She’s a big girl.”

“I can. I used to have a big dog.”

Danni looked to Caleb, and he nodded his approval. “Okay. But how about this . . . why don’t you play together inside the dog park?”

“Okay!” Zach reached for the leash.

Danni turned to Sophie. “Sophie, you mind your manners. Zach’s in charge.”

The Newfie wiggled her tail as if she completely understood. What dog didn’t love little boys? In fact, Sophie loved all children, as most Newfoundlands did.

“Call me if you need me, okay?” Danni reminded the boy.

“I will, but we’ll be fine!” He took off running, whisking Sophie away with him.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Caleb offered Danni a cold drink.

She fluffed her T-shirt. “That would be great. I’m a bit overheated.”

“We have bottled water.”

“Water sounds great.”

He escorted her to the blanket, and she eased herself to the ground, positioning her body so she could watch Zach and Sophie playing inside the dog park.

“He’ll be fine with her. He’s good with animals.” Caleb pulled a bottle of water from a small cooler of ice, wiped it with a napkin, and handed it to her.

“What kind of dog do you have?” Danni took a sip.

“Me? I don’t have a dog. They don’t like me, remember?” He laughed. “Zach and his mom used to have a lab.”

“Oh.” She was now more confused than before.

“I’m Zach’s big brother from our volunteer program at church.”

“Oh . . . church.” Danni could tell she was blushing again. Had she forgotten how to speak in complete sentences? Church? Another side of Caleb she hadn’t seen coming.

“Does that surprise you?”

“Oh, no . . . no. Not at all.” She took a long drink of water. “Where?”

“Mt. Zion on Ebenezer Road.” He studied her, his face unreadable, a reminder he made a living doing interrogations. “Where do you go to church?”

“Agent Samuels, I have the feeling you know everything I do, so I’m guessing a reply isn’t necessary.”

His lips curved into a warm smile.

“Would you please call me Caleb? And no, I don’t know everything about you. But it will be interesting learning more.” He gestured toward Zach and Sophie playing together.

Danni watched as the boy chased the dog, and then the dog chased the boy. Sophie had found a new friend, so she settled into a more comfortable position on the blanket. Perhaps she had too.

“This sandwich is good. Do you think I could give Sophie a bite?” Zach asked.

“It’s up to Danni.” Caleb deferred to their guest, who looked even more striking in her casual clothes than he’d ever seen her when she was outfitted in her fancy business suits.

“Sure. If it’s only the chicken and not the sauce.” In less than an hour Danni and Zach had become best buddies.

The boy wasted no time in giving the dog a portion of his sandwich. “You need to eat up, Sophie, because we have more to do after we’re done eating.”

Sophie was lying on her side stretched out between Danni and Zach, convenient to the food, as well as the fun, and opposite Caleb. He wasn’t certain if the dog trusted him yet. Although she hadn’t growled again, she had kept her eyes on him.

After his sandwich was completely gone, Zach started pulling bites of meat from the Styrofoam to-go container and giving them to the dog. Sophie took them eagerly but gently from his hand. It was obvious she understood kids. Now . . . if she would only warm up to him.

“You’re a good girl. I hope I get to see you again,” Zach announced.

Caleb smiled and leaned back on his hands. He was curious how Danni would react to such an overt invitation. She threw him a puzzled look and then turned to Zach. “I’m sure she would like that. Hopefully you’ll see her again sometime.”

“When?” The boy asked.

Ah. The innocence of youth. Caleb bit his lip, watching Danni.

“Well, I don’t know.” She seemed uneasy. Much more so than the dog. “Sophie and I don’t come to this park very often.”

“But you would come if Caleb and I invited you, right?” Zach turned to Caleb with pleading eyes.

Caleb ruffled the hair on the boy’s head and grinned. “You ask too many questions, Zach. We don’t want Danni to think we’re pushing her into anything.” He hesitated and then turned to Danni. “We want you to know that you’re welcome anytime.”

Danni wasn’t quick to reply. She watched Zach as he scratched the wavy hair behind the big dog’s ears. He was unaware of the implications of his request. “Well,” she finally said. “I believe I can speak for both Sophie and me.” She smiled. “We would be honored to take you up on the invitation some time, Zach.”

“How about next Sunday?” The kid was determined to pin her down. He turned to Caleb. “We’ll be here next week, right?”

Caleb nodded.

Zach quickly turned back to Danni. “Would you bring Sophie and meet us here then?”

Danni leaned back on her hands, mirroring Caleb’s position, her face glowing. Caleb wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or the early afternoon sun they had soaked up in the last hour.

She sat up and pulled her phone from her pocket. “Let me see. I need to check Sophie’s calendar to be sure.”

Zach grinned as he watched Danni search her phone. Finally, she looked at the boy and said. “Looks like she’s available. Want me to pencil you in?”

“Yes, please. If Caleb is okay with it.”

Zach and Danni both turned to face him. He threw his hands up in the air, palms outward, as if he had just been talked into the idea.

“Next Sunday works for me. Same time, same place. Zach and I’ll bring Kentucky Fried Chicken.”

“I’ll bring dessert.” Danni volunteered. “If that’s okay?”

“We’d be happy for Danni to do that, wouldn’t we, Zachary?”

“Yes, sir!” The boy jumped to his feet. “It’s a date! C’mon, Sophie.” He grabbed the dog’s leash. “I’ll race you to the gate.”

“Be back in a few minutes.” Danni shouted after them. “Sophie and I need to leave soon.”

“Okay!” Zach’s response trailed behind him. The youngster appeared to be having more fun than he’d had in a long while.

“To say the least, Zach has enjoyed this afternoon. I have too.” Caleb hoped he wasn’t overstepping his bounds.

“I’m certain that’s because of Sophie, but I’ll try not to let it hurt my feelings.” She tucked her phone back into her pocket and prepared to stand.

“Are you really okay with meeting us next weekend?” he asked. “We don’t want to push. And I know you have a lot of other commitments.”

“No, I’m good with it, if you are.”

The woman blushed more often than anyone he’d ever met. There was an awkward moment of silence, and Caleb wondered if his attraction to Danielle Kemp could be mutual. If that was the case, he had a whole lot of thinking to do.

“I’m great with it,” he said. “In fact, I’ll look forward to it.”