What Lies Within by Karen Ball

Author:Karen Ball [Ball, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-56163-3
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Published: 2012-07-24T16:00:00+00:00

Kyla wasn’t sure what she’d expected when she met the elders. But it certainly wasn’t this group of sweet-faced, grandfatherly gentlemen sitting around a table, staring at her.

Fredrik introduced each of them, and Kyla noted the mixture of hope and doubt in their eyes. She couldn’t help wondering if that was because of all the opposition they’d experienced—or because their new contractor was a woman.

“Of course”—Fredrik offered her a bright smile; at least he was happy to have her here—“we don’t expect you to remember all the names right off.”

“Just the important ones.”

She smiled at the man teasing her. Don, if she remembered correctly. His brother, who sat next to him, nudged him in the arm. “So you don’t want her to remember your name?”

Kyla’s tension began to ease. She was going to like these men.

“And, of course, our dear Hilda D’Angelo. She’s been the organist and pianist and head deaconess—”

One of the elders—Steve? Was that his name?—gave a good-natured snort. “Only deaconess, you mean.”

“—for years. And that large ball of fluff in her lap is Doggy Dog.”

At its name, the dog lifted its head, laying a long, sleek snout on the table and peering at Fredrik. He came to lay a large hand on the dog’s head, scritching its ears. “Doggy has been coming to our church for what?” He looked down at Hilda. “Ten years?”

The woman’s smile was as sweet as her features. A halo of white hair framed her slightly lined face. “About that.”

Fredrik walked back to where Kyla stood. “Hilda’s really the one who watches over all us old men, making sure we don’t get in deeper than we can get out of.”

“I’m afraid I didn’t do a very good job of that this time.” Hilda’s soft voice held an underlying strength.

“You did as well as you could, considering this stubborn bunch.”

Kyla’s gaze drifted to the back of the room. Her first reaction at seeing Rafael standing there when she came in was pure pleasure. Then she remembered their conflicts—and her devotion to Mason—and grabbed the reins of those runaway emotions, giving them a mighty jerk. She was going to see Rafael on a regular basis. She’d have to keep her traitorous emotions in severe check if she wanted to get through it unscathed.

She turned her attention back to the elders, noting again the lack of enthusiasm in their gazes, the tension in the way they sat there, looking from her to Fredrik. Before she could ask about it, one of the elders spoke up.

“I want to apologize, Miss Justice. I’m sure you can tell we’re somewhat reserved.”

“I had noticed … Steve? Is that right?”

The man’s angular face lit up. “Your memory is exemplary. And it’s not that we’re not glad you’re here, but we haven’t much money left in our building fund. We spent most of our resources on the last contractor—”

“At least Lawton was better than the nimrod before him. Took our money and gave nothing in return.” This muttered comment from Wayne, his grizzled features stormy.

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