Her jaw dropped. “No wonder you were sick.”
“In my defense, I was eight.”
“What did you parents say?”
“They took mercy on me and said the upset stomach was punishment enough. However, as a joke they filled my basket that year with those gummies.”
A fit of laughter overcame her. “That’s hilarious.”
“Fortunately, my sisters loved the gummy bunnies as well, and I was able to make several fortuitous trades to get other candies.”
“So, you were a mischievous and industrious child.” She smiled, thinking of him as a precocious young boy.
“I plead the fifth,” he answered and winked.
She returned his wink with a smirk. “That’s tells me all I need to know.”
“I’m sure you were a perfect angel.”
“Of course. I even have the halo to prove it.”
He arched a brow.
“For real,” she insisted. “I was an angel ten years running in the Christmas pageant. Mom probably still has the halo in the attic somewhere.”
“Ah, the beloved Christmas pageant. My sisters were angels also. I was a shepherd except for my senior year when I landedthe role of Joseph. I quickly realized being a shepherd was more fun.”
“Why is that?”
“Our church had the outdoor pageant. As a shepherd I could hang in the field and talk with my buddies until our time came. I couldn’t do that as Joseph, plus my Mary didn’t like me which created tension.”
Her turn came to raise a brow. “I can’t imagine anyone not liking you.”
His lips twisted into a quasi-chagrined grin. “Did I mention we were lab partners in tenth grade biology, and I may not have matured yet, the only explanation I have for purposefully knocking over the rat we were dissecting so it fell on her foot?”
She looked at him ruefully. “You didn’t.”
He nodded slowly. “Unfortunately, so.”
“No wonder she didn’t like you.”
“Does it help that we ended up attending the same college, and I did apologize to her, albeit several years late.”
“That does help.” She shuddered, thinking of the rat. “But doesn’t erase the act.”
“I know.
A glance around the parking lot showed only the pastor’s car and one other vehicle left other than Judah’s. “We should go. If you’re positive you don’t mind coming to my parents’ house, it’s fine by me. I’m sorry if my initial reaction made it seem otherwise. I truly only had your feelings in mind.”
“I appreciate that and accompanying you would be my honor.” He leaned in. “Plus, anytime I can get a homecooked meal is a plus in my mind.”
She harrumphed. “I see how it is.”
“Can you blame a man?” He took a step, initiating their walk to his truck.
“Now’s probably a good time to tell you my freezer is full of meals Mom cooked and sent home with me. I can cook, but it doesn’t always feel worth it for myself, so most nights I order from the diner or heat up one of mom’s.”
“Becka would do that for me and Dad. Still does for Dad. Candace doesn’t cook, but she’d have meals delivered, especially for our dad. They also take turns cleaning his house, for which I’m grateful. Dad is many things, but a housekeeper isn’t one of them.”
