Page 24 of Sing with Me

Diehl came downstairs just as he heard someone turning the lock on the front door. He rushed to the security keypad and turned it off—before he checked who it was. He figured that whoever had the key had permission to enter the house.

The door opened and there was Skye. Her hair was tied up in a bun and her face was scrubbed fresh. No makeup at all. Diehl recalled touching that smooth skin even though it was only for seconds.

“Oh, hey Diehl. Good morning.” She pulled the key from the lock. “I wasn’t sure what time you’d be awake, so I decided to let Joe in.”

She stepped aside to let a burly man with a chef’s hat in. “Chef Joseph, meet Diehl Brooks.”

They shook hands.

Behind him, someone carried a basket.

“His assistant, Chuck.” Skye closed the door behind them.

She showed Chef Joseph and Chuck the kitchen. Diehl followed them.

“From time to time, Chef Joseph will fill in for me,” Skye said.

Diehl’s heart dropped. He wanted to see Skye everyday.

“I guess I’ll see you Monday morning.” Skye left the kitchen. “Or tomorrow, if you decide to go to church with us.”

Diehl followed her to the front door. “Us who?”

“My friends and I. Brinley, Ivan, and others. Would you like to come to my Sunday School class to meet everyone? Most of them are in town for the summer.”

“Are you saying I don’t have friends in town?”

“No.” Skye looked perplexed. “I was suggesting that maybe you’d like to meet new friends.”

“Do I need to expand my circle of friends?”

Skye appeared calm, regardless of how he replied to her. Such a contrast from Isobel, who had flown off the handle every single time Diehl disagreed with her—especially on the millions of dollars of frivolous spending over the years of hard partying.

“You’re testy this morning.” Skye lowered her voice. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

How did she know? “Uh, not really.”

“Figured. After breakfast, you might consider going back to bed.”

“Then who will let the chef in to cook lunch?”

“We brought all your lunch and dinner ingredients,” Skye said. “They could cook your lunch and put it away in the fridge with instructions for reheating the dishes when you get up.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Did you all shop before you came here this morning?” Diehl wondered what time they got up.

“No, I bought all the groceries last night.”

“Last night? After rehearsal?”

Skye nodded. “Yeah, it was a long day.”

“And it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have ignored your emails, text messages, voicemail. I am so sorry.” Diehl searched Skye’s eyes.

“I forgive you.”

“Just like that?” Diehl was surprised. Too often, people held grudges. Isobel could hold grudges for years.

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