Aunt Betty looked back and forth between the both of them. “Why not?”
“I ... ” It didn’t feel right sitting next to Erin and the kids in front of everyone, in front of God, like they were some picture-perfect family. Everyone in the church would know he didn’t belong sitting next to her.
Aunt Betty’s expression softened. “Okay, sweetie. Sit where you’re comfortable, and I’ll meet you at the car after the service.”
Logan released a long breath. “Thanks,” he said, and he walked toward the entrance and found a seat by himself in the very back.
Having grown up in this church, sitting right next to Aunt Betty most Sundays, Logan knew what to expect when the service started. He knew when to stand, when to sing, and when to close his eyes to pray. He tried to focus on the sermon as the preacher talked about forgiveness, but couldn’t stop his eyes from going to Erin and the children.
She sat with her back straight and her head turned toward the pulpit, with the rare exceptions of when she had to lean over and talk to Parker for bouncing around in his seat or ask Samantha to sit up. Eachtime, he noticed, she did it with a patient look on her face.
He’d been so enthralled with watching them interact, he’d barely noticed when the service was over. People started standing up all around him, and he was once more met with hellos and more questions about where he’d been all this time. Logan tried to answer them all politely, but when he found a small break, he exited the building as quickly as possible.
He was leaning against Aunt Betty’s car, since she’d commandeered the keys, waiting for her to come out, when Ellis spotted him across the parking lot.
“I thought I saw you in there,” Ellis called out and started walking over. A petite, redheaded woman and three little girls with the same bright hair trailed behind him.
“Hey.” Logan forced a friendly grin.
“Glad you made it to church today.” Ellis stuck his hand out for a handshake. “I’m guessing everyone wanted to know where you’ve been.”
Logan chuckled. “Yeah, it’s funny what a sabbatical from Frostford will do.”
“I guess I’m guilty of that too.” Ellis grimaced. “But I wanted to get a chance for you to meet my wife and daughters.” Ellis introduced Anne Marie and his three girls, all named after plants. Rose, Holly, and Fern.
Logan greeted them all in turn. A handshake for Anne Marie, and awkward waves at each of the girls, who giggled as they were introduced.
“I’m actually glad I caught you, since I didn’t get your number the other day at the store,” Ellis said. “Anne Marie and I’d love to have you over for dinner next week. How about Wednesday?”
“Um ... ” Wednesday was no different from any other day. He didn’t have plans other than to work on the house and eat dinner with the family. “Let me double check. I’m sure Aunt Betty has your number?”
“I’m sure she does.” He wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “If we don’t hear from you, we’ll plan on you coming by. We eat at six.”
“Wednesday at six. Got it.”
The family had just walked off when Aunt Betty finally walked out. “Sorry it took me so long. You’d think you were some kind of celebrity the way people kept pestering me about you. They all wanted to know when you got into town, how long you’d been here, and Janice had the nerve to give me her niece’s number like I was some kind of matchmaker.”
Logan’s eyes went wide. He did not want to go on any blind dates while he was in town.
“Don’t worry, I’m not setting you up with anyone’s niece or granddaughter or anything like that.”
“Whew.” Logan put his hand to his chest.
“Do you really have so little faith in me, Logan?” She handed him the keys.
No, he didn’t. Aunt Betty knew better than to try to set him up. He unlocked the door to let her in the passenger side, and was closing the door when hespotted Erin and the children walking out the front doors of the church.
Like a magnet, his eyes followed her as she guided Samantha and Parker to her car. As if she knew she was being watched, she looked up. Her eyes found Logan’s. They stared at each other across the parking lot. Logan wasn’t sure for how long, only that the spell was broken by Parker pulling on Erin’s arm. She said something to her son, and they started walking again.
Yeah, there was no way he’d be ready to be set up with someone’s niece anytime soon.
Erin had been looking forwardto a quiet Sunday afternoon, but the bathroom floor was wet, and it took everything in her not to cry.
It had been weeks since she had a day all to herself. There was no baking, no home improvement projects, and she’d just dropped Samantha and Parker off at Anne Marie’s to play with the girls. Aunt Betty was off playing bingo with some of her friends, and Logan rarely came inside the main house.
The only thing on Erin’s agenda for the afternoon was a nice, long bubble bath. Now, it looked like she’d be handling another emergency instead of enjoying a restful Sabbath.
She sighed as she tip-toed across the bathroom tiles toward the toilet. The water was clear, thank goodness, but it was gently flowing over the rim of the toiletbowl. A quiet sound came from the tank that let Erin know that the water was still running.
