Chapter Thirteen

 

By the time Sunday morning rolled around, I’d already talked myself out of a dress. It was just a small chapel outside of campus. Would they really get that bent out of shape over something as stupid as dress code?

Maybe.

I didn’t care, though. After much deliberation, I’d paired my dark, silk blouse with an ash gray skirt, and a pair of black tights. If that wasn’t conservative, I didn’t know what was. Now who’s rockin’ the winter tights, Cafeteria Girl? I grinned.

As soon as the elevator arrived on the ground floor, I headed straight for the lobby. For whatever reason, I couldn’t stand the thought of Wallace having to wait for me. He’d probably be scorned for dragging in a heathen as it was. I wasn’t going to add tardiness to his charges.

“Wow.”

I recognized his voice before I spotted him leaning against the wall, one leg bent in a casual stance, looking handsome as ever. I flicked a glance over my shoulder, trying to find the source of his praise. “What?”

“You…” He pushed off the wall and turned his head, carefully avoiding my eyes. “You look good. Not that you don’t always…look good. You look great.” He forged ahead, pushing the door open. “We should go.”

My heart gave a squeeze as I slipped past him. That was a compliment, wasn’t it? “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he muttered, shoving his hands down into his pockets as we made for the parking lot. The sun was bright against the snow, and I immediately missed my sunglasses. Thankfully, the one thing I’d gotten right had been my choice of footwear. From the knees down, I was all snug and warm in my gray boots. No heel.

He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and strode ahead to a black, salt-covered Ford F-150. “Sorry, I should’ve had it warming up.” He unlocked the passenger door and held it open, offering me a hand up. “I guess I’m not used to having someone with me.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” I reached up to get a good grip and grasped his hand. The contact, though brief, burned amid the icy temperatures, and I struggled to find the foothold before he hoisted me into the cabin. “Th-Thanks.”

He nodded, checking again to make sure I was clear before he shut the door.

I buckled my seatbelt while he walked around the truck. The seat’s chill was already starting to seep through my skirt, but it didn’t matter. With us being on our way to church, it was probably best to ice downstairs anyway.

He climbed inside. “Ready?”

“Mhmm,” I managed, watching as he fastened his own seatbelt. vzyl

A low buzz pulsed from his pocket, and he pulled his phone out just enough to see the caller ID. “Ugh.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” he muttered, cramming it back down in his pocket. “It wasn’t anyone important.”

The chapel was at least three minutes away and I had, at best, two minutes of small talk prepared. I ran my palms down the front of my skirt as the truck rumbled to life. What else could we possibly talk about?

As if reading my mind, Wallace reached over and twisted a knob on the dash. Familiar music pounded through the speakers, and the tension inside the cabin melted away. My hero.

We rode without need for conversation and, before I knew it, we were there. Getting out of the truck was a little harder than getting in, but he managed to help me down without incident. Either he was really chivalrous, or he was under the impression that I was helpless. The latter seemed more likely, given our last icy experience.

Not that I blamed him.

I straightened my skirt as we made for the entrance. The scent of fire and brimstone mixed with the crisp, winter air, and I immediately straightened my posture. I’ve already renounced excessive drinking, okay? I projected the thought like a defensive, anti-guilt shield as we made our way up the sidewalk. Thankfully, it’d already been shoveled and salted. I wouldn’t be giving a repeat performance of my greatest falls.

I glanced up at the old, stone chapel and felt my stomach twist in knots. It was weird going into a service cold, both figuratively and literally. Sure, I’d known Wallace for a couple of weeks now, but that didn’t make me comfortable with the arrangement. I was still an outsider.

Oh well. It was too late to worry about it now. I’d just have to pull up my big girl panties and act like a grownup. I lifted my chin and took quick, clipped strides toward the stairs that led to the arched entryway. I could do this.

“That excited to get inside?” an amused voice called from directly behind me.

“You know it,” I lied, gripping the railing like a lifeline as I made my way to the door.

He chuckled, and I didn’t have to see him to know he was shaking his head.

“Good morning!” someone called from the doorway, beckoning us inside. “Chilly one, isn’t it?”

Gah! It was Cafeteria Girl. I’d summoned her with my winter tights…

I plastered on my friendliest expression and brushed past her, slipping into the dark foyer. So, this was how he knew her. Or, at least, this could’ve been where they’d met. It all made sense now.

She was the Mary Poppins incarnate on door duty, stationed to greet everyone who came in for morning services. I turned around. If I figured correctly, I’d be getting a—

“Would you like a bulletin?” Her voice was sweet as candy as she slipped the pamphlet into my waiting hands. “Welcome to Campus Fellowship!”

“Thank—”

“Hey, Wallace!” Her face brightened as she craned her neck to meet his eyes in such close quarters. “How’s it going?” She passed him a bulletin without breaking her gaze.

“Pretty good, thanks. How’re you, Rach?” He put a hand on my back, urging me forward so he could get out of the doorway. When the door closed, the room dimmed and grew intimate.

Rach? They’re that close?

“I’m great. Thank you for asking.” Her face had to hurt from keeping that peppy expression up all the time. My face hurt, and I’d only been smiling for a minute. “Who’s your friend?”

The weight of his hand on my back disappeared. “This is Rena.” He edged around me, gesturing between us. “Rena, this is Rachel.”

Something about the girl vexed me so. She stood half a head taller than me, with meticulously-combed hair, a flimsy, floral print dress, and a cardigan sweater. In the dead of winter. Oh, and of course, she had worn the tights again.

She nodded, and her hazel eyes were light with mirth. “So great to meet you, Rena! I hope you’ll come back and visit us again sometime.”

I twisted my lips back and prayed it didn’t look as maniacal as it felt. “Maybe.”

Wallace rocked on his heels and looked around at the others assembled in the foyer. “We better go find a seat. We’ll catch you inside.”

“Sure thing.” She beamed and peeked out through the glass, readying herself for the next onslaught of parishioners.

Sure thing, she says. Ugh. I took a step back. The foyer was warm and smelled like brewing coffee. Synthetic candlelight flickered overhead, casting a soft glow on the carpet as people milled around, lost in conversation. If I had to guess, I’d say most of them were around my age. They wore everything from sweatshirts and jeans to dresses and ties. Everyone had a different definition of Sunday best, and they were all represented without discrimination.

I knew I should’ve gone with jeans.

The sound of a live beat came from around the corner, and I blinked toward the opening to the sanctuary. Soon, a guitar riff joined in, and nobody seemed to notice. Didn’t they hear that?

“C’mon.” Wallace gestured over his shoulder as he smoothly made his way through the crowd.

I stayed close, afraid of getting separated. On my own turf, I would’ve had no problem, but here? I had butterflies.

A few people stopped their conversations long enough to nod a greeting as we passed, and I returned them as best I could, but keeping up with Wallace’s long strides wasn’t exactly easy. I was about to say something, when we turned the corner.

And the view left me speechless.