Page 17 of Love and Loathing

Ma, Dad, Diana, Cecilia, and Maggie May all sat in the booth in front of them.

Cecilia turned around. “Did you hear?” She sat tall, looking over them toward the back. “Alexander Young is here.”

“Alexander Young?” Ma practically yelled—his name still reverberated through the rafters above as she too craned her neck to see.

Maggie May spun in her seat and giggled. “Good heavenly days! I love him.”

Cecilia adjusted her bodice. “I’m getting his autograph.”

Diana grabbed her arm. “The service is starting.”

Ma smacked Diana’s arm. “Don’t be so bossy.”

“But Mama!” Diana protested.

“Sit down and be quiet,” came Dad’s firm voice, and Jessie couldn’t be more grateful for her dad when all four women did as they were told.

“Thank you,” she mouthed to her dad.

He winked.

Another whisper came from the back of the chapel, another ripple. Both Jessie and Caroline turned to see what had caused this one. Jacob Whitley scooted into the back pew opposite the one where Brandon, Charlie, and Alex sat. He kept his head down.

Jessie’s and Caroline’s gazes both flew to their cousins, Jo and Allie. They were up a couple rows on the same side as Jacob. The twins both glanced over their shoulders. Jo’s fiancé, Cash, put his arm around Jo. The sisters made no reaction—only turned back to the front.

“Did you see that?” Caroline asked.

“Yeah, since when is Allie so calm about … anything?” Jessie asked. Allie always said exactly what she wanted, did exactly what she wanted, and was who she was. Jessie loved that about her. And she kind of wished she was more like that. Jacob’s brother had lost Allie and Jo the home their father had made. And when Daniel had fled, so had Jacob. And Allie made no reaction? Something was up.

Presley Coombs sat behind them and leaned forward, resting an arm between them. She basically ran Choco Latte, her family’s business, by herself. She was an artist with chocolate, and because of that, she had people in and out of her shop all day every day. She was typically the most up to date with all the local gossip. “Mirabelle was in the other day and told me Jacob went to Jameson’s house to help him weed his yard. He’s going back in a couple weeks to help him plant flowers.”

Jessie blinked. “Are you sure?”

Presley nodded. “That’s what Mirabelle said.”

Caroline rested her hands on her heart. “I knew it. I knew he wanted to make up for what his brother did.”

“Buying pizza for a bunch of people, doing yard work for victims of his brother’s crime … what’s next?” Presley asked, before she leaned back in her seat.

Pastor Brown took his place at the podium. “Before we get started, I’m sure you’re all wondering why we had some of you scan your phones as you came in. I’d like to ask everyone who scanned their phone to stay after services.”

Jessie nodded. She had wondered about that coming in. They’d had her name on a list and insisted she swipe her phone over one of those square codes. All of her sisters had been asked to swipe as well, but her parents hadn’t. She was glad they mentioned it now. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise, and she turned. From the back row, Jacob stared at her. But he wasn’t the only one. Alex stared at her too. She swallowed and turned back, feeling goose bumps rise on her arms. She rubbed at them and wondered which of the men had caused them before shaking that unwelcome thought from her mind again.

“Also, some of you may have noticed that we have a visiting pastor with us today.” Pastor Brown signaled to a slightly awkward-looking young man in a three-piece suit with a bow tie, suspenders, and a carnation in his suit coat pocket. “This is Pastor Connolly. He’ll be taking up residency with us for the next few months.”

After the introduction, Pastor Brown said the prayer and gave his sermon. It was all about forgiveness and not judging our fellow men. Jessie could help but think of Jacob. Cecilia had been right when she’d said they’d never had proof he’d been involved. And he seemed to be trying to make amends. She’d been putting off talking with him since last week when he’d popped up at Wicked Dough. So she’d find him after service and talk to him then.

* * *

For an hour, Alex tried to pay attention to the sermon, but his gaze kept straying to Jessie. Her hair was pulled up off her neck, showing the graceful lines of it and the creamy skin there. And she had that pretty blue dress on again, the one she’d worn to the wedding. Even when he’d initially seen her holding her camera in the banquet hall, his first thought was that she was beautiful. And he loved that dress on her. It complemented her skin tone beautifully, and in his more fanciful moments, he even had thoughts that maybe one day she’d wear it to match his eyes.

He thought of the way he’d caught her looking at him before the service, how her cheeks had flushed a pretty pink and the way she’d rubbed her arms when she’d looked away. Was it hot in here? She was a good distraction, at least from thoughts of how someone had yelled his name and what would happen after the service. He’d be swarmed.

Pastor Brown, an older man with brown hair and gray spots at his temple, finished with a prayer, then reminded everyone who’d swiped their phone to stay put. He took a seat.

Alex started to get up when Charlie pushed him down. “Wait with me. I swiped my phone.”

Alex’s gaze went to Jessie again. Her mother and father were leaving; her mother gave her daughters a wide, excited smile, and patted the daughter with the glasses on her cheek before stepping out of the pew. Jessie and her sisters made no move to leave. He nodded to Charlie. He’d stay. Maybe he’d get to talk to Jessie after. About what, he didn’t know. He’d think of something. The non-swipers cleared the room. Looked like mostly a younger crowd now.

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