Walk With Me by Becky Melby

Author:Becky Melby
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

eleven

She could barely steady her hand to button her jacket. Sydney walked up the steps from the church basement next to her mother, knowing she had to get out the door before she said something she’d really regret. The look on Mattie’s face told her she’d probably spouted more than she should have at the meeting.

The morning had started out so beautifully. Sharing a hymnal with Trace, his rich voice blending with hers. The sermon was on friendship, using the example of Jonathan and David, and Trace had taken notes. At one point, when Pastor Owen read from Ecclesiastes, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken,” Trace had winked at her.

And then they’d announced a short members-only meeting.

Reaching the top step, Sydney glanced at her mother. “I’m walking home.” She put her Bible in her canvas bag and hiked the bag onto her shoulder.

“Good idea.” Mattie gave her just a hint of a smile. “Don’t bring this up at home.”

“Are you”—she lowered her voice as two boys ran past them—“kidding?” It wasn’t exactly the tone she should be using with her mother. “Trace would hightail it out of here if he knew.”

Mattie nodded. They’d reached the front door. There, sitting on the step, was Trace. “Oh no,” she whispered.

“Please tell me no one was heartless enough to tell him.” Sydney pushed open the glass door. “Hi!”

He stood, flashing the same fake smile he’d used in the restaurant. “Thought I’d hang around and see if you wanted to walk with me.”

Mattie slid the canvas bag off Sydney’s shoulder. “See you two at home.”

Sydney squeezed her mother’s elbow. Mattie had spoken more loudly than she needed to. Phyllis Lincoln, waddling toward the car waiting for her at the front door, turned and glared.

“Thanks, Mom.”

Sydney held out her hand to Trace. “Let’s go.”

He looked down at her hand then up at her face. With a grin that actually reached his eyes, he took her hand. “Making a statement, are we?”

“Yes. But that’s not the only reason.”

“I’m glad.” He led the way to the road. “How’d the meet-ing go?”

“Oh, you know, like church meetings always go. Boring.”

“What was it about?” He was searching her face. She could feel it, even with her eyes on the road ahead.

“Just budget stuff.”

He didn’t respond to that. They walked in silence for al-most a quarter mile. And then his pace slowed. “Tell me the truth, Syd.”

Unexpected tears made her turn from his smoky blue eyes.

His thumb rubbed the back of her hand. “I know what’s going on.”

Sydney stopped. “Who told you?”

“I overheard. I know the church is in trouble because of me. I won’t let it go any further.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have a couple leads on jobs. As soon as I find a place to rent, I’m leaving.”

“Where?”

He ran his hand over his eyes. “One’s in Taylors Falls. The other’s in Stillwater.”

Neither were all that far away. Still, she didn’t trust her voice and only nodded.

“I’ve been thinking about the sermon.” His hand shifted, and he laced his fingers through hers.

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