Best plan? Be polite and gracious during their next encounter—and therewouldbe a next encounter, thanks to Isabel’s involvement in the show—but keep their exchanges short and casual.
Meaning it would be smart to skip the social hour after the service and leave as fast as possible.
Armed with that strategy, Devyn gave Reverend Baker her full attention for the next hour, keeping her focus fixed on the sanctuary.
When the service wound down and the organist launched into the last song, she slipped her hymnal into the slot on the pew in front of her and scooted toward the aisle. The minute the minister exited into the vestibule, she’d slip out the side door and escape to her car before Aaron and Isabel left their seats.
She continued singing until Reverend Baker passed by, then implemented her plan.
Sixty seconds later, she was striding toward the Focus Lauren had insisted she use. As her sister had pointed out, letting the car sit idle in the garage was silly. Lauren’s suggestion to return the rental car to the North Bend airport and Uber back had been—
Ten feet from the car, Devyn stopped. Gaped at the left front tire.
Well, crud.
How could you get a flat tire in a church parking lot?
Muttering a few choice words, she cast a glance toward the front door as a few congregants trickled out. But most people went tothe social hour ... Aaron and Isabel included, no doubt. What little girl would pass up donuts and Danish? And what father could resist a child’s plea for a Sunday morning treat?
If they’d taken a detour there, maybe she could get this fixed before they emerged.
Tackling the chore herself was out of the question, of course. She might have a driver’s license, but she’d never dealt with car issues—or even owned a car. Who needed one in New York City?
But who could she call for help on a Sunday morning?
She checked her watch.
Lauren ought to be up by now, even if she’d decided to sleep late today and skip services. Hopefully she could recommend a resource.
Angling away from the church, Devyn pulled out her cell, propped a hip against the side of the car, and called her sister’s number.
Three rings later, Lauren answered, sounding half asleep.
Devyn winced. “Did I wake you?”
“Yes. But I should get up anyway. Where are you?”
“Church.” She gave her the bad news. “Any idea who I could call?”
“Marv. At the garage.”
“Is he still running that place?” The man had been the only car repair game in town whenshe’dlived here, and his hair had been mostly gray back then.
“Yeah. Let me see if I can find his number. Hold on for a minute.”
A thunk came over the line, suggesting Lauren had set the phone down, followed by shuffling sounds.
Unless Marv happened to have an emergency number, however, the odds of reaching him on a Sunday were minuscule.
She’d better come up with a plan B fast or—
“Miss Devyn!”
At the familiar little girl’s voice, her heart skipped a beat.
Crud.
Her escape plan had been foiled.
