Page 153 of Sing with Me

Skye tried to be strong, but inside her heart, she knew she could not carry on a long-distance relationship. FaceTime every day wouldn’t cut it for her.

Maybe the only reason Diehl was on St. Simon’s Island all summer was to get saved. Maybe it wasn’t to find a new girlfriend.

Skye wondered how life would go on.

“It’s amazing how my priorities have changed overnight,” Diehl said. “Before this summer, I wanted wealth—lots of it. I wanted to earn more than Dad and Grandpa combined. I know that’s a simple goal but if you knew their net worth, you might laugh at my impossible dream. Now, I want health—spiritual and emotional health.”

“You still have to go back to work.”

“I know, but…” Diehl leaned toward his iPad. “I want to be with you.”

“Your office is in Atlanta. Mine is on St. Simon’s Island.” Skye didn’t have to remind him, but it was worth repeating.

“We can’t meet in the middle because that’s the Okefenokee Swamp.” Diehl laughed.

It wasn’t exactly, but Skye knew what he was saying.

Diehl turned solemn. “I don’t want to leave you.”

Skye wondered if they had plunged into a relationship too quickly. Now was not the time to bring it up. After Elisa returned, they would need to address it.

“I want God’s perfect will to be done for both of us.” That was all she could say for now.

“I agree, Skye. We can pray about this and see where He leads us.” Diehl stared at the screen.

Skye smiled. “I’m just tired. I had a ridiculously long first day. I hope someone else will fill in the judging tomorrow so I don’t have to do it. Frankly I just want to help my brother at his booth and that’s all I want to do.”

“Then don’t volunteer.” Diehl folded his arms. “Tomorrow, go to the organizers and talk to them. Surely they have backups—or they should have made a list.”

“Do you boss people around at your workplace?” Skye smiled.

“All the time.”

“This is the first time you told me what to do.”

“Is it?” Diehl raised his eyebrows. “Let me remind you that I skillfully wiggled my way into playing piano for the Treble Trio. Didn’t I tell you what to do then to? Aren’t you glad you agreed to let me do it?”

“You’re just as good as your sister at the piano—after you scrape off the rust.” Skye laughed.

“I do love the way you sing. Your voice is clean, crisp, and clear. Made me want to do my best at the piano.”

“Thank you for your help. You took a load off your sister in her last trimester of pregnancy.”

“And I haven’t even been accepted as an official member of Treble Trio.”

“You’re filling in for your sister,” Skye said. “If we make you an official member, then it’s not a trio any more.”

“Well, you figure that out. It’s your group.”

“That’s a problem for another day.” Skye massaged her shoulders and stretched. “Right now I’m tired, and I have to get up early to eat more strange dishes.”

“I’ll pray you don’t get food poisoning,” Diehl said.

“Thank you, Mr. Brooks.”

“I’ll let you go. Sweet dreams.”

It was anything but sweet dreams.

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