Page 126 of Sing with Me

“Mom is up now. I don’t think she had enough sleep. She’s all cranky and upset,” Diehl said. “She’s getting all sorts of crazy ideas about the Bishops. She thinks there’s a conspiracy to make me look like a bad father so that the Bishops can take away my two kids—biologically theirs.”

Skye unbuckled her seat belt. “What do you think?”

“I don’t know, to be honest. Elisa is twelve. When I was that age, I got into all sorts of trouble without any help from my parents or grandparents.”

“When I was twelve, I had no idea that one year later, I would lose both of my parents. My world changed.” Skye didn’t want to dwell on the past. “Anyway, sounds like you and Ethan won’t be able to make it to church this morning.”

“I doubt it. After I talk with you, I’m going to bed. We might make it to evening church.”

“Or you can catch the livestream replay in your pajamas.” Skye stepped out of her car with her purse and Bible. “If I see Ivan in Sunday School, I’ll ask him about the search and rescue.”

“Are you coming over after church?” Diehl asked.

“Do you want me to?”

“Yes.” He did not hesitate. “Please come for lunch.”

Skye hesitated. She looked both ways before she crossed the small lane between the parking lot and the front door of Seaside Chapel. One couldn’t be too careful—even if the parking lot was full of Christian drivers.

“I want to see you at lunch—if you don’t have other plans,” Diehl said.

“I was going to ask Avery to have lunch with me to discuss Brinley’s baby shower that got cancelled. Next week, she’s delivering all the baby gifts without me since I’ll be out of town.”

“But you haven’t asked her.”

“Not yet. I will see her in Sunday School.” She nodded to the greeters at the door. They had stopped handing out the Sunday morning bulletin because many people simply threw it away. To save paper and ink, the bulletin was posted on the church’s app and on the website.

“I asked you first,” Diehl said. “Please say yes.”

When Skye didn’t reply right away, Diehl continued. “I was hoping you’d have lunch with me, and then I need to talk with you about something before something else.”

“So two things?”

“Yeah.”

“And they can’t wait until I get back next week?”

“One can, but the other can’t.”

“You could talk to me on the phone. Or email me. Or text me.” Skye sat down on a bench outside her Sunday School class.

“It’s not the same, is it?”

His answer seemed to be loaded with memories and angst. Skye figured that Diehl wouldn’t do well with long-distance relationships.

“I haven’t left town,” Skye finally said, getting it.

“I know.”

“All right. You can be quite persuasive. I’ll see you at lunch at your house.” Skye decided she’d have her meeting with Avery on FaceTime from Atlanta instead. “What time do you want me to be there?”

“I know church lets out at noon, so let’s say 12:45 p.m.? We’ll eat at 1:00 p.m.”

“Okay. I better go now. Good morning to you.” She didn’t mention his name in public. People were coming and going in the church hallway, and someone could pick up a name if she said it.

Not that it mattered.

Still.

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