“Mr. Moore?” Della’s mouth dropped. “Really?”
Sue cleared her throat. “Now, none of that, any of you. There’s enough gossip in this building without us adding to it. Maudra, really!”
“Oh pish, Sue! If they kin talk ’bout us, we kin talk ’bout them!”
Sue knew better than to continue arguing with Maudra, so she tried a different approach. She turned to me. “So, I was thinking. Not right away or anything, I know you still need some more time to get acclimated, but I am wanting to have you over for dinner with a couple people.”
More people?
Sue rushed forward, seeing something on my face. “Not too many now. Just you and us, and Maudra, of course. Mandy and her dad. The Thomases.” She took a sip of water, and her voice got quieter. “And your mom.” Chuck looked up from his food, his attention caught.
Donnie’s voice joined mine in unison. “What?” We looked at each other.
“Mom, are you crazy? Are you trying to make sure Brooke moves back to Colorado?”
Sue looked at him innocently. “What? It’s nice to get everyone together.”
Maudra let out a laugh that sounded more like a vaguely disguised curse word, which earned her a glare from Sue.
“I’m serious. I think it would be a good thing. I think it would be what God would want us to do.”
Donnie could see his mom was sincere and her feelings were beginning to get hurt. He softened his voice. “Mom. Even if such a thing were a good idea, how in the world could we get Rose there? I don’t remember the last time she left that house besides to go to the hospital.”
Sue spoke immediately. “I’ve already considered that. If she refuses, we bring the meal to her. Eat it at her place. It would be good for her.”
I finally found my voice again. “Trust me, Sue, you don’t want to eat in that house. Even after I finally get it all cleaned out, it is still not going to be attractive. Plus there’s not that much room there for all those people.”
“Well, I think it is a good idea. And we’ll figure something out.” She looked over at Mandy. “Mandy agrees with me. We’ve been praying about it.”
Donnie looked over at Mandy. “You’re in on this?”
She nodded.
He looked back at me. “We’re sunk, cuz.”
Mandy might be able to pray me into church, but I knew there was no way she was able to pray my mother out of her house, let alone pray her into a meal with two preachers and her gay son.
Nolan caught my eye and smiled at me encouragingly. “You know these Durke women. Ain’t nothing you can do about them!”
Della kissed his cheek. “Got that right, sweetheart.” She turned back to talk to Sue, who was looking thoroughly offended at the reception of her idea.
Just in case I wasn’t already overwhelmed with unappealing prospects, Pastor Bron walked up behind me and placed his hand on my shoulder, shocking me as his finger accidentally touched my ear. I jumped.
“Oh, sorry, son.” Pastor Bron shook his hand loosely, as if to shake off the electricity. “Not sure where that came from.”
I turned to meet his eyes. “Oh, that’s okay. It didn’t hurt.” I started to say something else but was silenced as I looked at him. He had been handsome from far away. Upclose, he was superb. He looked like Harrison Ford or Paul Newman in their prime. My mouth went slack.
Donnie cleared his throat. Startled, I looked over at him. He bugged his eyes as if to say, “Quit picturing my girlfriend’s preacher-father naked.”
I turned my blushing face back to Pastor Bron. He smiled again, either unaware of what was behind my gaze or choosing to be flattered rather than reproachful. “Mind if I pull up a chair?”
I managed to find my voice. To my surprise, it wasn’t husky. “No, of course not, Pastor Bron.”
“Tyler, please. I’ve never been overly formal.” He flashed another smile as he pulled a chair over to our table. Luckily, his smile brought to mind Mandy’s face, and I was able to keep my mind focused.
“Mandy raved about you last night after she came home from dinner.” He glanced over at Mandy lovingly. “Couldn’t say enough of how wonderful you are. And, of course, Donnie has always spoken of you fondly.”
“Uh, thank you.” So eloquent. I wondered if everyone in the reception room could hear my lustful thoughts about their preacher.
