The Painted Lady by Felicia Rogers

Author:Felicia Rogers [Rogers, Felicia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astraea Press
Published: 2012-02-02T23:57:48+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

When they arrived back at the townhouse, they stood in front of Elizabeth’s door. She didn’t want the evening to end. Elizabeth fingered Bruce’s collar, her eyes focused on his top button. She said, “Would you like to come in for a little while?”

“Yes.”

A smile played across her lips. There had been no hesitation in his answer. Just a simple yes. She turned to the door and opened it, going in first. The lights came on with the flick of a switch, and Elizabeth directed Bruce to have a seat. She went to the kitchen and brewed a pot of coffee. Bringing back two mugs, she handed one to Bruce and took the other for herself.

Elizabeth sat down and slipped out of the red high heels. She sighed with relief now that she could actually move her toes. Curling her legs up under her as she sat on the couch, Elizabeth inhaled the scent of the coffee.

When she looked up, Bruce was staring at her. The mug rested against his lips, his brows knitted in thought. When he spoke he asked, “So, what are your plans for tomorrow?”

“Same thing I do every week.”

“And that would be…?”

“Go to church, of course.”

“Oh yes, I remember,” said Bruce.

Bruce was playing with the handle on his cup and Elizabeth realized she had yet to invite him to service. This was a normal habit for her. She invited almost everyone she met to church. She’d known Bruce for two weeks and hadn’t invited him yet. Although she had invited Cole.

She reminded herself that she and Bruce had been to dinner together, worked countless hours together, and attended the engagement party together. When had there been time?

Elizabeth asked, “Bruce, would you like to come to church with me tomorrow? It’s called Grace Baptist.”

“Well—well—I—” he stuttered, as if he didn’t know how to answer.

“It won’t affect our friendship if you are already attending another church. I try to invite everyone, because one never knows when another person doesn’t have a church home.”

“You know, I think I would like that. But I must warn you, I’ve never attended a Baptist service. I’ve been to mass quite a few times, but I’ve never tried anything else.”

“I promise not to hold that against you,” she grinned.

“What time do I need to pick you up?”

“No need. It is just a couple of blocks away. I normally walk. I leave the house around nine-thirty. Is that okay?”

“Sounds great,” he said, shifting in his seat.

“Bruce, do you have something else to say?”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I do have a question.”

“Sure. Ask away.”

Bruce took a deep breath, “Elizabeth, when we talked about your family earlier, I—well, not that you’re a liar, I don’t mean that. It was just you didn’t mention anything negative about your family at all. I can’t believe they are so perfect there is nothing negative to say about them.”

“I never said that.”

“I know you didn’t say it. It was the impression you gave.”

Elizabeth didn’t know how to tell him she didn’t look at her family that way.

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