Page 17 of Sing with Me

“Because you have nothing better to do.”

“None whatsoever.”

After Diehl left the kitchen, Skye wasn’t sure how to pray or think about it.

“What do you think?” she asked Marlo.

“You’re asking me?”

“Uh-huh. Take up his offer or not?”

“Let the man pay his penance.” Marlo laughed.

“There are complications,” Skye said.

“Like what?”

“I don’t want his sister to not feel needed, you know? I’ll call Brinley and Avery and talk to them.” Skye stirred the couscous.

She heated up a frying pan while Marlo finished cutting up the brussels sprouts and carrots. She sliced up some butter and looked for her bottle of olive oil.

Salmon tonight was going to be simple. All she wanted to do was sautée the filet in a wash of basil in melted butter. “Could you melt down the butter for me?”

Marlo nodded.

The butter in the measuring cup seemed too little for the size of the salmon filet, so Skye added more butter. “Melt that in the microwave for about thirty seconds, and then stir in two tablespoons of chopped basil.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Meanwhile, Skye heated up the olive oil in a stainless steel pan. She prayed the pan would work fine. She had been in such a hurry to leave her house that she had forgotten to pack her own favorite pan.

It would take ten minutes to drive back to her house, and another ten or fifteen—depending on traffic—to get back here. She wanted to serve dinner at five o’clock so that they could do some menu planning at six o’clock, while Marlo cleaned up the kitchen.

After that, Skye and Marlo would need to leave. Skye planned to have a light dinner tonight at home before the rehearsal at eight.

After putting the salmon filet, skin down, in the frying pan, Skye called Brinley and Avery on FaceTime, and told them about Diehl’s offer.

“I can’t believe it.” Brinley looked stunned. “I can’t imagine my brother playing hymns at all, let alone offer to take my place for the next three months.”

“If needed.”

“I don’t know when I’ll get back after the baby’s born.”

“So you like his offer?” Skye asked.

“I love it, but…”

“But what?” Skye couldn’t think of anything except that they still might need a second backup person just in case. “We can always ask someone in the Women’s Bible Study Group if Diehl doesn’t work out.”

Avery nodded. She was munching on something. Salad, maybe. “I’m okay with whatever you decide. I have to go now. A student is waiting for me in my studio. So how is this going to work?”

“Can we rehearse at your house?” Skye asked Avery.

“No. I don’t want strangers coming to my house and playing my piano.” Avery was as blunt as ever.

“Okay.”

“Since you’re already there in his house, I think it’s safe.”

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