She laughed. “I think you’ve had enough sweets, my sweet.”
With the birthday outfit tucked into a plastic bag and Alice dressed in a new outfit, they returned to the fellowship hall to open gifts. She set Alice on a playmat on the floor and piled the presents around her. One by one, she handed Alice a gift and watched her shake boxes and pull tissue paper from bags and crinkle it.
The slow process overwhelmed Alice after fifteen minutes and her sleepiness came through. She started fussing and pushing away the gifts presented to her. The party came to an end with the guest of honor’s increasing crankiness.
Jessa shoved torn wrapping paper into a plastic garbage bag. “Why don’t you take Alice home to let her get a good nap. We can take care of cleaning this up.”
“I couldn’t do that. You’ve all put so much into this, cleaning up is the least I can do.”
Mom stacked presents in Dad’s arms. “We can take her home and put her down for a nap.”
“That would be great.” She collected the last of the loose wrapping paper and threw it in the bag Jessa held. “I’ll switch the car seat over real quick.”
“Give me your keys and I’ll do it when I take these out.” Her dad tried to hold out a hand then must have realized they were full. “Er, give them to your mom.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll just take care of it.” She carried a bag of trash to the dumpster on her way and moved the car seat to her mom’s car.
Elijah stopped her on the way back inside. “Do you need help cleaning up?”
“We’ve got it under control, but thanks.”
“Are you sure?” He rolled his hand in a casual gesture. “I’ve got nothing else going on.”
“My sisters are helping, and Landon too. We cleaned a lot as we went so there’s not a big mess left.”
“If you’re sure.” He waved goodbye. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget play practice after church. I’m bringing some pizza to throw in the oven for the kids.”
She inwardly groaned. With work and the preparations for Alice’s party, she’d forgotten about the practice. “I’ll be there. Have you got the pizzas already?”
“No, I planned on stopping by the grocery on the way home.”
“We have tons of food leftover from today. Why don’t you save the pizza for another day and feed them party foods tomorrow?”
“If your family doesn’t want them, the church budget will thank me.” He furrowed his brows. “The new curriculum we decided on cost substantially more than others available, but it will be worth it. Anywhere I can save a few bucks will help cover that extra.”
“It’s an investment.”
A slow smile crawled on his mouth. “That’s exactly what I told the board when they questioned me.”
“Great minds think alike.” She spotted her dad coming near the door with his arms full. She opened the door for him, then glanced at Elijah. “I need to get in there, but I’ll leave the food in the fridge. See you tomorrow.”
“See you.” He looked at her dad. “Have a good afternoon, Mr. Graff.”
“You too, Pastor Eli. Thanks for coming.”
Trixie listened to the exchange, and it dawned on her she no longer got annoyed when she heard him called Pastor Eli. Nevertheless, she preferred calling him Elijah, and that’s how she thought of him. Just a friend, with no intimidating clergy title.
Chapter Nine
“Lesson learned for next year.” Elijah sat down on the stage steps and gulped a bottle of water. “Don’t wait until the week before the Easter play to start making the props.”
“Whoever’s in charge next year should have it easy if they pick a play that can reuse these.” Trixie sat on the stage where she she’d taped an X as a position marker for the soldiers. He pitched the other water bottle to her, and she drank a long sip.
Her statement reminded him that he wouldn’t be here. Come fall, he’d be done in Jasper Lake and going home to South Carolina to start seminary. He didn’t have the blasé attitude he’d had seven months ago. Who knew he’d grow this attached to a church family in such a short time?
But he had a plan that God had called him to.
“Why not do the same play again and make it really easy?” He laughed at his own joke.
