To Love Again by Bonnie K. Winn

Author:Bonnie K. Winn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Love Inspired
Published: 2007-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Paul entered the church sanctuary, and looked for the jacket he’d left there. The finance committee, which he chaired, had just finished their meeting. Rosewood Community Church had its challenges. Although it had a steady congregation, demands were always high. The school was constantly in the red and the food bank always needed bolstering. He had found creative methods to boost their bottom line, but it was always tricky.

The strains of a song filtered through the quiet building—choir practice. He stepped into a back pew so he could listen. To his astonishment, Laura stood in the front row of the choir loft.

He didn’t know she could sing and he sure didn’t know she’d joined the choir. He’d had business the past few days that had taken him to Dallas and she hadn’t accompanied him.

The music director, Noah Brady, who was Grace’s husband, tapped his baton. Although he was a busy surgeon, Noah always made time for the church choir. Grace accompanied the group on the piano. Despite scars from a massive car accident, her hands had healed well enough to play.

Paul leaned against the back of the pew in front of him. Of course not everyone in the group was talented. Noah held the philosophy that the Lord was pleased by all joyful noise. And he had a talent for blending the best and the worst, resulting in an even sound. Luckily, a few members were gifted.

As Noah had singled Laura out. Paul hoped she wouldn’t be embarrassed. If anything would help her family, it was inclusion in church activities.

Then she opened her mouth to sing.

And he was amazed.

Her husky alto voice was vibrant, compelling. Then she reached for and found several high notes, and he realized that her range was incredible. The emotion she put into the song gave him goose bumps. Like a finely tuned instrument, she played her incredible voice, leaving a hush in the sanctuary when the last notes died away.

Then the singers all started talking at once. A rumble of compliments filled the choral loft as they crowded around her.

Paul had heard beautiful voices before, but Laura’s was magical. Yet, even from a distance, he could see she was blushing from the praise.

He sat quietly, waiting until the rehearsal was over. When everyone began leaving, he approached her.

“What are you doing here?” Laura said when she saw him.

“Listening to you.”

She blushed deeper.

“You didn’t tell me you could sing.”

She shook her head. “I’m so out of practice.”

He tried to see if she was putting on a show of false modesty. “It didn’t sound like it.”

She tugged at her hair, pushing a wayward strand behind her ear. “I haven’t sung since high school.”

“Why not?”

Laura shrugged. “No special reason.”

What was she hiding? He felt it again, that sense of secrecy. “Weren’t you in your church choir in Houston?”

She waved goodbye to Grace. “We didn’t attend church.”

“Never?” Suspicion flattened his voice.

She opened her purse. “No, I’m sorry to say we didn’t.”

“It’s a new interest?” This didn’t square with his picture of Jerry as a family man.

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