Georgia Sweethearts. Missy Tippens
them from one city to another, blaming others for his job failures, looking for some pie in the sky that never materialized.
But Lilly didn’t think taking the boy to church would fill that need. When she’d refused, Jenna begged her to come with them to the worship service to see Ned. To prove to him that Jenna was trying to change.
The real reason for Jenna’s sudden urge for church attendance.
Honestly, did Jenna think showing up once for a service would send her husband rushing home, begging her to take him back?
Still, Lilly hadn’t been able to refuse. She wanted to collapse as they reached their chairs and pulled off their coats, but the people were standing, singing.
“Where’s Ned?” Jenna mouthed.
Lilly scanned the crowd but didn’t see him. Had they come for nothing?
After two songs that Lilly and Jenna didn’t know, Daniel came to the front of the room—no pulpit in this church—and spoke without the aid of a microphone. He welcomed everyone, and she knew the exact moment he spotted her. His eyes widened and one side of his mouth hitched up in that crooked smile that always arrowed straight to her belly.
She tried to deflect that arrow, reminding herself what he’d told her two nights before. Daniel was a church starter. He would soon move on. And then move again. And again. He was not the kind of man whose smile should make her stomach flutter.
His expression softened when he noticed Jenna and Will. Will, who had refused to stay with the nursery worker over in the side dining room. Will, who would most likely cause a fuss before the end of the service.
Why on earth had she let Jenna guilt her into coming?
Roots. For Will...for Jenna. And maybe hope for a flailing marriage.
Lilly would tolerate anything to make sure Jenna was settled and happy before it was time to sell the shop and move on to pursue her own dreams.
Daniel’s deep voice drew in Lilly despite her desire to send her mind wandering off elsewhere. His message—and the type of love he spoke about, God’s love—sucked her right in. As if she were an arid desert and his words rain.
She tried to ignore the yearning that suddenly made it hard to breathe. She bit her lip, and dug the fingernails of her right hand into her left palm, fighting tears.
No. She slammed a wall around her heart. Refused to listen. She wanted to hold her hands over her ears and shout la la la la to block out Daniel’s words. Instead, she thought of the chorus of her favorite country music song and, in her mind, sang it as loudly as she could. Thankfully, Daniel appeared to be winding down.
She looked at Jenna, who had a tear trailing down her cheek. Oh, no. Lilly had to get a grip on her own emotions for Jenna’s sake.
Will wiggled and whimpered. Yes. The perfect distraction. She took him from Jenna and held him in her lap. He stood and bounced, his face turning red and scrunching up as if working up to a good cry. Everything else faded into the background. Finally.
Will let out a wail. “Eeeee,” he whined.
Laughter sounded around the room and Jenna frantically dug in the diaper bag for the container of Cheerios.
“I’m hungry, too, Will.” Daniel rubbed his hand over his jaw stifling a laugh. “Time to tie this up, anyway.” He raised his arms. “Stand with me, and let’s pray.”
When everyone stood, Jenna grabbed Lilly’s arm. Tears poured down her sister’s cheeks, her shoulders lifting in jerky shudders as if she was desperately trying to hold herself together. “I’m leaving.” She slipped away and rushed out the door.
Was Jenna crying over Ned? Or had she had a spiritual breakthrough? The latter scared Lilly silly. How could she possibly understand and help?
The words Daniel had spoken nudged once again at Lilly’s heart, reminding her that if Will hadn’t called out, she might be in the same condition as her sister.
Rather than risk staying through the prayer, Lilly grabbed their stuff and hurried out. She opened the car and found Jenna sobbing.
Jenna shielded her face. “Don’t let Will see me, it’ll upset him.”
Lilly shut the door and stood outside the pizza parlor, Will on her hip, trying to decide what to do. She peeked in the restaurant window and watched as the church people hugged and laughed and talked. A variety of people from all walks of life. Also several young families. A group Ned and Jenna could fit in with.
After a few minutes, her sister’s crying hadn’t stopped. Lilly decided maybe she should go inside and find Daniel. She was out of her league and probably needed backup. As she entered and slinked toward the kitchen, Frank spotted her.
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