It was five more minutes before Donna arrived at the pond. Bobby Lee was standing with his back turned to her, flinging rocks into the water. Yet, somehow, he knew she’d arrived.
“Join me, Kateri,” he said without turning around.
He was wearing a white buttoned-down shirt and tan linen pants. His wavy blonde mane was blowing freely in the wind. Donna walked over and stood next to him, and gazed out into the water. Even though it was breezy outside, the water was unusually still.
“I have something for you.” He turned and presented her with a rectangular box. When she was hesitant, he grabbed her hand and placed the box inside. “Open it.”
Donna opened the box. Inside was a diamond choker with a sapphire cross embedded in the center. The beauty of it took her breath away.
“Oh, my God. This…this is beautiful,” she gushed. “But I couldn’t possibly accept this.”
“Don’t worry. It’s a loaner. I want you to wear it to the gala Saturday.”
“The gala?”
Donna was a little confused. She thought only certain members were allowed to attend the gala. And since her cover was a broke waitress, she had assumed she wasn’t invited.
“Kateri, the Glory Gala is the most important day of the year for the church. Recruiting elite members of society is detrimental to the goal of legitimizing our church. And with your beauty, my dear, you will be the prize we’ll dangle in front of them. It’s what we must do to introduce them to the Lord’s light.”
Donna continued to play her role and shook her head as if she were unsure. She looked up and stared into his illuminated, hazel eyes, noticing for the first time the tiny specs of olive green. Strangely, she had never been so close to him before. Yet, he was seriously expecting her to marry him.
“We need you to look the part. Clara has chosen a gown for you and some of the ladies will handle your hair and makeup.”
Donna nodded and closed the box.
“The Bible says, ‘For as the bodywithoutthe spirit is dead, sofaithwithoutworks is dead also.’ Kateri, are you a servant of God? Do you have faith?”
“I do,” Donna responded eagerly.
Bobby Lee smiled and held her face within his hands. Good looking or not, his touch was cringeworthy and made her long for the feeling of Lincoln’s touch.
“Now,sweet child, yourwork begins.”
