“Were you able to get any of the poppy seed cake? It’s Mandy’s specialty. I can’t cook at all, never could. She gets that from her mother.” I thought I caught a glimpse of pain flash across his eyes as he said this, but it was gone before I could be sure.
“I did, actually. It was wonderful.” I looked over at Mandy as I said this, ashamed I’d neglected to tell her while I was eating it. She gave me one of her father’s smiles.
“I’m sure it is strange to be back here after all this time. Maudra tells me you hadn’t seen the church since the renovation.”
I nodded.
“What do you think of it?”
I paused a little too long. “It’s big.”
Pastor Bron laughed good-naturedly. “I wasn’t here when they remodeled, obviously, but I have had several of the older parishioners ask me if we could return it to how it used to be when I step in after Brother Thomas retires. I doubt that would be cost effective, unfortunately, even though I am sure the old sanctuary held many wonderful memories. I hope to help build more wonderful and new ones with the sanctuary we have now.”
I seemed to be at a loss about what to say quite a bit since reentering the church.
Maudra, thankfully, never had that problem. She placed her hand over mine as she replied to him. “We old souls have a difficult time with change and letting go of the past. Never was one to stand in the way of progress, though.” The irony of the picture she made dressed in her Victorian garb as she uttered this statement was lost on her. However, I noticed Nolan grin at Della over a mouthful of dessert.
“I would love to meet with you at some time in the near future to discuss the future of our youth group.”
I focused back on Pastor Bron. “I’m sorry?”
He looked between Donnie and Mandy quizzically.
“I was told your degree was in youth ministry and that you were interested in joining the staff here at the Holy Church.”
Donnie, once again, found himself at the receiving end of my glare.
Mandy interjected, “Oh, Daddy. I didn’t tell you last night. That seems to be more Donnie’s interpretation of the situation than Brooke’s. Not that it’s a bad idea. I think Brooke would be a wonderful addition to the youth group. In fact, I was really looking forward to introducing him to Darwin. I was disappointed when he and his family didn’t show up today.”
“Darwin’s grandmother died yesterday. They’re driving to Kansas today to get the preparations ready. Sorry, sweetie, I forgot to tell you. I got the call this morning. I can’t believe I forgot to mention that in the service today. I will have to request prayer for their family in this evening’s service.”
“Oh, that is horrible. Poor Darwin.” Mandy’s eyes instantly filled with tears. “His grandmother was the most important person in his life.”
Pastor Bron gave a sympathetic smile. “I know, Mandy. He will need a lot of extra love and attention when he returns.” He gave the table a few seconds to let the news of Darwin’s situation sink in, then turned his attention back to me. “Which brings me back to you, Brooke. So, your degree isn’t in youth ministry?”
“Yes, it is, actually. Although I’ve never used it.”
Donnie interrupted, “Sure you have! You were the leader in our youth group when we were in high school.”
I rolled my eyes at him before I could catch myself. Just the way I wanted Pastor Bron to see me. “That was before I ever had my degree, Donnie. And that was nearly fifteen years ago.”
“So imagine how much better you’ve gotten in all these years!”
“Yes, Donnie, because that’s the way it works.”
“Actually, Brooke,” Pastor Bron interjected, rescuing me from rolling my eyes again or making some other juvenile gesture to Donnie. “I think that might be exactly how it would work.”
“Pastor Bron… sorry, Tyler,” I corrected, “I haven’t even been going to church the past several years. And the only kids I’ve worked with have been in residential treatment, and I doubt that would be appropriate for the kids here.”
“You might be surprised, Brooke. And as far as not going to church, do you still believe in God and Jesus being the Savior?”
I stuttered, “Well, of course I do.”
“Well, then, I am uncertain what the problem is.”
Was he serious? Was he the only person in the room who didn’t know? Surely Donnie or Mandy told him. They wouldn’t have been so cruel to leave that for me to tell the hottest preacher in the world myself. “Well, for one, I’m a little busy at the moment. I am trying to get my mom’s house back in order and take care of her and attempting to get used to living here again.”
He nodded as if he understood. “Of course, of course. I didn’t mean immediately. We would work around your timeline. But after—”
