Before he could answer, a greeter approached them. “Good to see you again, Lucas.”
“Same to you, Larry.” He pulled her forward. “This is Serena Adams, Cecil Chauvin’s granddaughter.”
“Little Rena?” Larry shook her hand. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”
She searched her memory but couldn’t place him. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you.”
The man chuckled. “I wouldn’t expect you to. Your grandfather and I go way back, but I haven’t seen you since you were a small girl.”
A fuzzy image surfaced, and she smiled. “Larry Andrus. You and Pawpaw would go fishing every Saturday morning, and you took me with you one time, but I cried when I caught a fish.”
Larry broke out in a broad grin. “That’s me.”
“It’s good to see you. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you at first.”
He waved away the apology. “Don’t give it a second thought.”
After Larry had given her a visitor’s card to fill out, Rex took her down a long hallway and into the last room on the right. Class had already started, and they slipped into the back row and found two empty seats.
She opened her Bible to the scripture for the week, surprised she knew exactly where to find it still, and followed along with the notes projected on a screen. The teacher spoke in a lively manner and was passionate about what he taught, but in a completely opposite way then her dad had been.
The lesson engrossed her, and a stab of disappointed pricked her when the class finished. She never would have expected to enjoy it, let alone want to return the next week. Several of the class members came up to introduce themselves, including the teacher.
Once everyone had filtered out, she turned to Lucas. “Do we pick Cecily up from her class, or will she meet us in the sanctuary?”
His eyes danced with laughter. Not a mocking laughter, but genuine amusement. “Maybe if she were a young child, but the youth get sent out on their own.”
“That makes sense.” She should have known as such and her cheeks warmed.
“C’mon. Let’s go before all the pews get taken.” He reached for her hand and led her out. “If I know your grandfather and Cecily, they’ll be talking until the preacher takes the pulpit.”
“It didn’t take you long to figure that one out.” She chuckled and shook her head. “Some days my ears hurt from the chatter, but it’s too quiet when she’s not around.”
“It’s too new for my ears to hurt.”
The weight of what she’d done pressed down on her shoulders. “It shouldn’t be new. I’m sorry.”
He nudged her shoulder with his. “I’ve forgiven you. When I tell you God’s changed my heart and attitude, I mean it. Maybe it’s time you forgive yourself.”
They came to the sanctuary, saving her from a reply. She spotted Pawpaw first, deep in conversation with a couple who lived down the street from them, and then Cecily talking with a group of friends.
She became aware of Lucas’s hand on hers. Though it meant nothing more than him being chivalrous, she pulled away. The last thing she needed was for Cecily to spot the gesture and read more into it.
“Where do we sit?”
Lucas pointed to a pew in the middle. “That’s where we sat last week. If they’re anything like my family, they sit in the same spot every week they can.”
“Pawpaw does like routine.” She caught her grandfather’s attention, and he appeared to excuse himself from his conversation.
He came over and joined them with a smile, leaned over and gave her a hug. “My heart is happy seeing you here today.”
“Mine’s happy being here.” The funny thing was, she meant it. Church had played a tremendous role in her life, but she’d allowed the bad memories to block out the good.
An announcement over the speakers gave a two-minute warning, and all the people scattered to pews and sat down. Cecily slid between her and Lucas just as the preacher began announcements.
Serena looked at Pawpaw to her right and Cecily and Lucas to her left. To an unknowing bystander they appeared a happy family.
Family.
