Upon a Midnight Clear by Gail Gaymer Martin

Author:Gail Gaymer Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2000-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

David faltered when Callie spoke his name. Turning, he faced her, his heart galloping at the sound of her voice. His eyes feasted on her tonight, sitting near him as if she belonged in the house forever. Not an employee, but a woman. A woman who loved his child and who, he prayed, could learn to love him. Startled by his own longings, he shivered.

“I hope I didn’t startle you. This has been on my mind for some time now.”

He tensed, considering the serious expression on her face. “Is something wrong?”

“No. When I visited the church a while back, Pastor John asked me if I would sing for a Sunday service.” She grinned. “He also asked me to direct the choir, but I’ll leave that talent to you.”

David halted her with a gesture. “Forget that.” He wondered if Pastor John had put her up to the comment.

“Well, anyway, I’m thinking about singing, and I wanted to warn you.”

“Warn me? You have a lovely voice, Callie. You should sing.”

She halted and searched his face. When she spoke, her voice sounded controlled and thoughtful. “How do you know I have a lovely voice?” Her eyes lit with a questioning brightness, as if she’d learned the answer to a secret.

He’d spoken without thinking. “I’ve heard you sing with Nattie. The children’s songs. I have ears.”

“And you? Do you sing, David?”

“I sang long ago. Nothing like you.”

She squinted as if weighing his response, then continued. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m accepting your pastor’s invitation to sing.”

“If you’re singing—” He faltered over the words. “I’d like to hear you. I’ll attend worship that Sunday.”

Her eyes widened. “You don’t attend worship?”

“I’ve felt very lonely at First Community. Too many memories.” He thought of his promise to Sara. “Since Nattie’s doing better, I’m taking her to Sunday School, but I usually drop her off and wait.”

“You wait for her.” Her eyes widened even more. “David, you’ll never get less lonely unless you work at it.”

But it was more than lonely. Much more. “I’m angry, too, I suppose…at God.” The words escaped his control.

“Angry? At God?” Her face bent to a scowl. “Because of Sara’s death? But you said you knew she had cancer.”

“You’ve asked a whole parcel of questions. Which do you want me to answer?” Despite the tension edging inside him, a quirky grin flickered on his mouth.

Callie eyed him. “It’s wrong, you know, to be angry at God.”

“I know.” He wandered back to the chair he had left a few minutes earlier and again straddled the seat, leaning on the back. “But as I said before, I had tremendous faith that our love would heal Sara’s cancer. A young lover’s error. But I had faith. When Sara died, I felt betrayed.”

The scowl retreated, and her face overflowed with empathy.

Surprised, he felt his eyes mist at his admission. “And when Nattie reacted like she did, I felt devastated. God took my wife, and then my daughter. I couldn’t accept that.”

“Oh, David, I understand.

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