Hauling her guitar, Bible, and purse from the parking lot to the church, Skye found Peggy waiting for her in the foyer.
“Skye,” Peggy said, looking troubled and uncertain, “I like your hair.When did you have it cut?”she asked haltingly.
“Yesterday afternoon...And thanks, I like it, too.”She accepted the compliment but wondered how long it would take Peggy to notice the real change.
Tears shimmered in Peggy’s eyes.“I want to apologize for yesterday.I was blunt and rude.Will you forgive me?”It was apparent from her hurried speech that their conversation had weighed heavily on her mind.
Tears misted Skye’s deep blue eyes as well.“Of course I will, Peg.But there’s no need to apologize.Most of what you said was true.”
“Perhaps, but there were nicer ways of saying it.”Her fingers wiped away the moisture from her cheek, and she gave a half laugh.“We better get to class before we turn into Water Works, Incorporated, right here in the church foyer.”
Skye was touched by the thoughtfulness of her sister-in-law.“I’ll talk to you later.”Impulsively she set her guitar down and gave Peggy an affectionate hug before making her way to the Youth Department downstairs.
Working with the youth Sunday mornings offered Skye a challenge completely different from her kindergartners, one Skye enjoyed.She was the Sunday School teacher for the eighth-grade group and was also in charge of the opening Sunday services.
She was met in the large room by several enthusiastic hoots.The youths had always been known for their liveliness, and Skye responded with a ready smile.
The songs she led were some of the standard ones the teens enjoyed.She wandered around the room, her fingers moving agilely over the guitar strings.She paused, seeing two of the younger teen girls passing notes.Past experience had taught her that if she brought pressure from within their own peer group, any behavior problems cleared up quickly.
She stopped the song.“All right, girls.”She didn’t mention names but pointedly fixed her gaze on the offending class members.“This isn’t theWoody Woodpecker Hour.”
The whole class burst into laughter.
“Yeah, girls, shape up,” one boy shouted, and several girls responded by sticking out their tongues.
Skye resumed the song before things got out of hand, and soon everyone was singing again.And there was no more note-passing.
Skye left church feeling elated and cheerful.The pastor’s sermon had reinforced the insights revealed the day before, and she was amazed at how persistent her blindness had been.
The aroma of meat and vegetables slowly cooking in a Crock-Pot met her as she entered her apartment.Skye usually ate her main meal at lunchtime on Sundays, a tradition her family had followed.Sundays were centered on the morningand evening worship services, and it was convenient to eat the main meal of the day at lunchtime.
Skye had lingered over the morning paper and was changing her clothes when the phone rang.
“Hello,” she said cheerfully, expecting Peggy.
“Good afternoon,” Jordan responded.
Instantly her heartbeat accelerated.She needed to explain yesterday’s outburst, and it wasn’t going to come easy.She so seldom lost her temper like that.
“Hello, Jordan.”She hardly knew where to start.“I’m glad you phoned...I feel I owe you an apology.”
“Good.”His crisp voice seemed to mock her.“I’ll take you to lunch, and you can tell me all about it.I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
The connection was broken, and Skye was left listening to the hum of the dial tone.Skye shrugged.He hadn’t even asked her.Jordan Kiley could be the most infuriating man.What if she had already made plans for the afternoon?She often did with her niece, Janey.Apparently any arrangements she’d made were of no consequence.She wasn’t angry, but bemused.Jordan’s personality was commanding and forceful, as if he was accustomed to giving orders and having them followed.What an enigmatic man he was.
The doorbell rang well within the allotted twenty minutes.His smile was warm and lazy when she opened the door.
“Are you ready?”
“Ready?”Her round blue eyes feigned ignorance.
“I thought we were going out to eat.”His gaze narrowed slightly.
“I don’t remember your asking,” she said matter-of-factly.
Catching a glimpse of the table set for two in her tiny kitchenette, Jordan expelled his breath.“You’re expecting someone.”It wasn’t a question but a statement of fact.
“Yes, I am.You.”
