“Then I think I’ll call it a night.”
“Yeah, me, too.” He needed to get out of there.
He stood up and took her hand, tugging her up and away from the edge, not taking any chances she was going to tip over. There was that same electrical voltage sparking from her to him but he played cool, letting go the minute she was safe.
They walked one behind the other down the steps and across the yard. His mind was racing and guilt kept trying to suffocate him. “I’ll see you later,” he said, stopping at his truck.
She turned and walked backward a few steps. “Yes. Later. Good night.”
And then she spun around, hurried up the steps and disappeared through the door without another glance.
Toast. How had he ever been so stupid? He had a horrible feeling that the best thing that had ever happened to him had just walked out of his life.
Chapter Eleven
The music was already playing when Lucy walked into the side door of the church—a rustic-looking building set on a hill overlooking the town. She’d been planning to visit ever since she’d arrived, but had found herself dragging her feet. Today she knew she needed to be here. Dew Drop had a couple of churches, but Nana had told her this was where they worshipped, and so she’d come to visit. She’d stayed home the first couple of Sundays in town, settling in. It was a lame excuse, she knew, but since her life had turned upside down, she’d only gone to church sporadically. She’d had anger issues to deal with. She wasn’t angry with God, but with Tim. She was determined to put that all behind her. She prayed that God would ease the knot that had buried deep in her heart.
The interior of the church was different from most, also rustic looking with concrete floors and cedar walls.
Mabel and Ms. Jo were the first to greet her.
“Lucy, it is good to see you here.” Mabel hunched down and engulfed Lucy in a hug. The overpowering scent of magnolias clung to Lucy even after Mabel let go of her.
“You’ll learn to run when you see her coming,” Ms. Jo said, eye to eye since they were both less than five foot. “Mabel, she’s blue. Do you see that? One of these days you’re gonna let loose of someone and they’re gonna already have gone to their heavenly reward.”
Lucy chuckled, trying to breathe past the magnolia fumes stuck to the white blouse she was wearing with her slacks. “I’ll live, so rest easy that it won’t be me,” she said, tugging her collar close, making sure it was in place. “I’m glad to see y’all.” It was so true. They’d been so nice coming out to the house and welcoming her.
“Then come on over here and sit with us.” Mabel locked her arm through Lucy’s and started walking her toward the pews that were set in rows. Lucy almost had to run to keep up with Mabel’s long strides.
“Dragging the poor girl around like a rag doll,” she heard Ms. Jo grunt.
Mabel ignored her as the band of men with guitars up on the platform stood and began strumming. “We’ve been hearing good things from Ruby Ann, haven’t we, Jo?” Mabel pulled Lucy into a pew in the middle section.
“Said Rowdy’s become a regular over at your place.” Ms. Jo pushed her round glasses up on her pert nose, her intelligent eyes seeing right through Lucy—or at least that was how it felt.