As soon as she arrived at Little Flock, she’d regretted not dragging Theo with her. Now that they were back together, with the promise of his eventual transfer to Louisville, she didn’t want to be away from him even for a moment.
Her mom reined the kids together for a quick rehearsal, calling orders here and there of the older ones and of Gretchen. Briar didn’t know her lines, but her Joseph did, and he helped, giving Gretchen a chance to slip away.
“Hey,” a voice came up behind her from the front doors.
She swiveled, hoping to see him there. Instead, it was Coach Hart and Coach Ketchum. The latter nodded up. “Looking forward to watching this.”
“You’re coming to Mass?” Gretchen covered her mouth as soon as the words were out. “Sorry, Coach. Didn’t mean to be rude, I just—”
“I don’t always go,” Coach Hart confessed, grimacing. “I guess Gretchen here assumes you wouldn’t either.”
“Sundays are for God and football,” Coach Ketchum answered. “God first.” He winked at her.
Gretchen frowned. If Coach Ketchum was a Little Flock regular, how come he and Miss Liesel didn’t seem to be on closer terms? Hickory Grove was close to begin with, and folks were only made closer by the church, no doubt.
Unsure why the two were even there at the church presently, Gretchen decided it wouldn’t hurt to dig a little. Then, she’d need to skedaddle home to get her gifts all set for the morning. Stockings for all, and goodies inside. No coal this year, unless her little brothers pulled something funny during the play that night.
“You have kids, Coach Ketch?” She used his nickname from when she was in school and he was a history teacher there.
He shook his head. “Didn’t quite get the chance to have my own. But my athletes are like my sons now. And my students like my daughters.” He smiled at her.
“I came by to collect Greta and Tabby. She’ll need a bottle and a change before we come back later for mass. Then the lighting.” Coach Hart nodded toward the group assembled at the front of the parish hall.
“Oh,” Gretchen answered. Something in her deflated. Hope, maybe, that they were bringing some word about Theo. That he was looking for her. Sort of like Miss Fern had been looking for him. It sure seemed like the two men had a little extra time on their hands as the women scrambled around town tying Christmas together. Men. Gretchen smirked inwardly.
“I gotta head out,” Coach Ketchum murmured. “I promised Fern and Stedman I’d bring a few tables and chairs over from the high school. Gotta pick him up from the house there on Pine Tree and head over.”
“You’d better hurry,” Gretchen said, imagining Liesel still there with Miss Fern. Her pretty red nails and done-up hair and Christmas sweater on display and for what? For who?
Could it be… for him? Mark Ketchum?
No, Gretchen realized flatly. Opposites to that degree would probably never attract.