“Good morning, Addison,” Ethan said. “Ms. Carlson, Aaron. You all look great.”
“So do you,” Addison said, then winced at the slip. “I mean the three of you look great. How did you ever talk these hooligans into strapping ties around their necks?”
Jason chuckled and pulled the tie off.
Aaron eyed the clip-on with clear envy.
“Did ya get your Easter basket, Mimi Ruth?” Carson asked.
“I did,” she said. “I absolutely love chocolate. Thank you.”
“The bunny is already toast,” Aaron said.
The comment pleased the twins to no end.
“You can sit with us,” Jason said. “Can they sit with us, Dad?”
Yeah, Dad, how do we deal with this?
After a slight hesitation, Ethan nodded. “Of course they can sit with us.”
As they walked up the steps, Addison admired the stately old church. Aged bricks lent the building a warm and distinguished air. Stained-glass windows marched down the sides and glistened in the morning sun. Mammoth, arched wooden doors welcomed them into a lobby of sorts.
Once in the sanctuary, Aaron helped Aunt Ruth get to her seat. Addison slid into the long wooden pew and somehow ended up next to the very person she’d most wanted to avoid. She did her best to ignore Ethan, despite the musky scent of his cologne and the way his navy suit did amazing things to his hair and eyes.
Thankfully, a distraction arrived in the form of Ethan’s family. Several minutes were spared exchanging hugs and hellos as they all loaded into the pew in front of her. Then a door opened behind the stage. The choir walked out to fill the pews behind the pulpit, and the service began.
The last person to emerge was a tall, slender woman with mahogany hair. She stopped in front of a microphone. She began singing, and all at once, Addison forgot about Ethan. Forgot about everything.
Addison leaned closer to Ethan. “Who is she?”
“Meredith Vining.”
The mysterious Meredith. The one who couldn’t direct the musical because she was recording an album. Addison had heard many professional singers before. Rock stars, opera singers and Broadway veterans. However, she’d never heard the kind of expression and passion Meredith Vining was able to bring to music.
Closing her eyes, Addison allowed the words to wash over her. Tears came soon after. Even when Ethan reached over and squeezed her hand, her focus remained on the music.
Spiritual matters had always been relegated to a small corner of her life. Her parents hadn’t been religious. Other than the occasional Christmas Eve service, her family had never gone to church. Aunt Ruth had tried to instill some of her values, but Addison had been filled with too much bitterness at the time to accept a God who had let her father die. As an adult, she hadn’t given much thought about God at all. There hadn’t been time to ponder the mysteries of the universe when she’d been worried about where her next meal would come from or if she’d have enough to cover the rent.
God probably wouldn’t have wanted her anyway. Addison had done some pretty questionable things in order to survive and make a name for herself in a town that wasn’t the least bit concerned about her soul. As the saying went, there is no God in show business – other than the god of power and money and fame.
Except for the afternoon in her aunt’s room when she’d read the Bible passage, Addison had never felt an otherworldly presence. Now, a glimmer of awareness returned but magnified tenfold, until it filled her being.
As Meredith soared into the last note and the final chord faded away, Addison felt drained, but at the same time completely energized. She glanced at Ethan. His eyes remained straight ahead, and she could almost imagine he’d touched her hand.
Hymn singing followed Meredith’s anthem. A brass quartet filled the church with the sounds of “Amazing Grace.” Then Seth stepped up to the podium.
The pastor surveyed the full pews, seeming to cast a benevolent smile on each person in the congregation. “Good morning,” he said. “This is the day the Lord has made. He has risen.”
“Praise the Lord, He has risen indeed,” the congregation responded en masse.
Addison cast a curious glance around her. Everyone else seemed to know what was going on. No doubt they’d spoken the same words many times before. As she scanned the rows, Addison realized many of faces were familiar. Across the way, she spotted Julia and her family. Her stepsister, Sarah, cradled the baby in her lap, and her husband kept an arm around both of them. Next to them sat Julia’s stepmother, Grace, and her husband.
Addison’s perusal revealed several cast members among the crowd. Nina Walters and her family were there as well as Peter Johnson, Luke Mitchell, and Marjorie Shannon with a handsome brown-haired man. Addison spotted Deputy Gordy Howe, too, as well as a couple of the nurses from the hospital. Even Uncle Jesse from the Gas Up was there.
Addison was shocked to realize how many people she’d come to know and care about in the last few months. Each had touched her life in some way.
Shaken, she pulled her gaze back to the front just as Pastor Seth began his sermon.
“Plans,” he began. “We all make them. We have ideas about what our lives should be, but I want to talk to you today about The Plan. A Plan set in motion by the Master himself. From the moment of the fall in the Garden of Eden, a Plan was born. God had a Plan for a nomadic tribesman who was told to journey to a promised land. And from him came a great nation.”
As Seth preached, emotion welled up inside Addison again. How had she never heard this before? She’d gone to church when she’d lived here all those years ago. She had fuzzy memories of Sunday school, but somehow, the message had never gotten through. Now, a powerful longing seized Addison. Seth might well have written his sermon just for her.
“From that nation came a great king who united the people of Israel,” Seth continued. “And many centuries later, in the birthplace of King David, came a Savior. A Savior who, with the power of His blood, and the sacrifice of His life, would save us all. A sacrificial lamb who would erase the stain of sin from humankind forever. To cover your sins today. Thousands of years of history, orchestrated for one purpose. You. Praise the Lord for His plans are perfect.”
As the sermon concluded, everyone rose and sang a final hymn. Addison was too spent to sing anything. The organ blared to life, and they started filing out of the pew. There was a long backup as everyone stopped to speak to Seth, which gave Addison time to compose herself. By the time it was her turn, she could actually form complete sentences.
“Addison, it’s wonderful to see you here finally,” Seth said with a pleased smile.
“Thank you. I was very impressed. You have an incredible gift. If you ever wanted to get into acting, I could hook you up.”
The corner of his mouth quirked. “Except I’m not acting. Thank you for the compliment, though. Coming from you, it means a lot.”
Addison had barely moved on when she heard her name from across the foyer. She turned to see Julia, standing by the massive oak doors with Meredith Vining.
“I’m so glad you came,” Julia said as Addison reached the two women.
“It was my aunt’s special request,” Addison said. “You must be so proud of Seth.”
“Oh, I am.” For a second Julia’s expression softened, the deep blue of her eyes radiating love. Then she focused again. “Addison, I wanted you to meet my best friend, Meredith Vining.”
Meredith held out her hand. “I can’t believe I’m standing here in front of Addison Covington. I was so obsessed with your show. I wanted to be you so much. My husband thought I was nuts.”
“Interesting. Most people wanted to be Sydney or my daughter,” Addison said. “Your song was amazing. I think I could easily become obsessed with your voice.”
Meredith colored and stammered. “Thank you.”
Julia put an arm around Meredith. “We all think she’s special, and of course you heard Addison is directing the spring musical at the h
igh school.”
“I did,” Meredith said. “You’re very brave.”
“I don’t know if it’s bravery so much as masochism,” Addison said with a laugh. “Actually, I wasn’t the first choice to step in. I think everyone would have much preferred to have you direct.”
“No way,” Meredith said. “A famous actress over a church choir director?”
“One who’s recording an album, or so I’ve heard.”
“Yes, I’ve been commuting between home and Nashville, which should thankfully be over in a few more weeks. I can’t wait to get back to my normal life.”
“Something tells me your normal life is about to change,” Addison said.
A brief moment of sheer terror flashed across Meredith’s face. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Listen, are you in town for a few days?” Addison asked.
“I have a week off. Why?”
“Can you come to a rehearsal before you leave? I could use backup with the musical part of this show. I don’t have much experience, and half the time I feel like I’m floundering.”
“Sure,” Meredith said. “I can come and work with the kids at the beginning of your rehearsals every day this week if you want.”
“If I want? I’d be your slave for life.”
Meredith laughed, and they shook on it. Addison left the church feeling uplifted and cleansed in a weird way. Like the black cloud hanging over her life had drifted away. For the first time, she felt like she’d turned the corner, and everything was going to be all right.
Aaron came up beside her. “What’s that about?”
“Huh?”
“You’re smiling and cheerful,” he said, one finger circling around her face.
“I can’t be cheerful?” Addison asked with asperity
“No, it’s just unusual.”
“It is not.”
Aaron had the audacity to laugh.
Snot-nosed brat. “Okay then, maybe I’m turning over a new leaf,” she said. “From now on, I’m going to smile and be happy and full of good cheer.”
“You sound like a Christmas card.”
“Ho, ho, ho.”
Eye roll. Shrug. Sneer. “Whatever you say.”
Honestly, how did parents put up with such smugness? “Go ahead. Doubt me, but you’ll see. I’ll be so sunny everyone will need sunglasses to look at me.”
“Addison…” Aaron said in a pained whisper.
“What?”
“People are starting to stare.”
A quick survey revealed several bystanders were indeed eyeing her warily. Addison gave an impromptu bow and wave. Her audience chuckled right on cue.
Before Aaron could get away, Addison threw an arm around him. “Another thing I’m going to do is start coming to church. We both are.”
The teenager’s head came around. “We are?”
“Yes, I think it will be good for us.”
Rather than the protest Addison expected, he turned thoughtful. “Aunt Ruth will probably be happy about it.”
“When did you start calling her Aunt Ruth?” Addison asked, not bothering to hide her surprise.
“She said I could.”
A maiden great-aunt and an ex-stepson. Quite an odd, patchwork quilt family she was collecting. “So, we’ll do it for her.”
“Right.”
Their eyes met and they shared a small smile. Happiness. One baby step at a time.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Addison’s vow to be cheerful lasted through the rest of Sunday. She avoided Ethan as much as possible during Easter supper at Caroline’s. Or he avoided her. The twins were so busy playing with their cousins, they barely paid any attention to Addison at all, so she was saved from having to avoid them. It even lasted after Elizabeth somehow talked Addison into being a chaperone at the school dance.
However, her good mood stood no chance against the giant red stripes of paint crisscrossing her once-beautiful set the next day.
Stomach twisting, Addison stared at the defiled backdrops. “This can’t be happening.”
Next to her, Marjorie held back tears. “I can’t imagine who would do this.”
“I can’t either, but I promise when I find them they will be punished,” Ethan said.
The words had been spoken in a soft, almost casual tone, but Addison shivered all the same. He stood with his hands on his hips, mouth pinched so tight his lips turned white, like he was about to explode.
“Are you sure no one saw anything?” Addison asked. “This didn’t happen in five minutes.”
“We’ve questioned the students and the janitorial staff,” Marjorie said. “A prankster must have gotten in here last night.”
“I’m not so sure,” Addison said, studying the red stripes again. “This seems personal.”
Marjorie’s head shook in denial. “I can’t think who would have such a grudge.”
“Someone who doesn’t like what I’m doing here perhaps? There were a lot of parents who protested me getting this job.”
“Surely none of them would go this far,” Marjorie said.
“When people get worked up over something they see as an injustice, they can be capable of anything.”
Sounds of distress and anger drifted toward them, and Addison turned to look at her cast. Everyone was upset. The boys were tense, like they were getting ready to go into the Colosseum to fight tigers. Several of the girls were crying. Robin Bradley was trying to comfort a sobbing Lisa Turney.
“What do we do, Ms. Covington?” Luke Mitchell asked.
Addison watched as Bob Olsen inspected the damage. “Do you have any suggestions?” she asked.
“Well, the paint is dry,” the shop teacher said, straightening up again. “We could scrape the worst of it off, then redo the sections with the red.”
“Which could take forever,” Addison said. “Not to mention people. It might be better to just paint over everything and start from scratch. Which would still take a lot of people, and our time is getting very limited.”
Ethan opened his mouth enough to talk. “Bob, how many people would we need?”
The older man ran his eyes over the set. “As many as we can get.”
“Okay,” Ethan said before spinning around and hurrying up the aisle toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Addison called after him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back,” he said.
Which left her with a cast of upset kids who were all waiting for her to do something.
Taking a deep breath, Addison pulled her shoulders back. “Okay. I know this is upsetting, but as they say, the show must go on,” she said, meeting the eyes of every one of her cast members. “So, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to rehearse. I trust Mr. Thomas is working to fix the problem, but our job is to make sure this play is ready for its debut in a few weeks. A set is just a backdrop. It can’t sing or dance or act. You are what’s important, and we can do this on an empty stage or a cornfield. What do you say? Can I count on you guys?”
Slowly, the kids started to nod, and the tears dried up.
Addison could not have been more proud. “Good. Then get in your places for Act One. We’ve got a first run-through to do.”
****
Ethan pulled his phone out and dialed Jake the moment he left the auditorium.
“I’ve got an emergency,” Ethan said as soon as his older brother answered. “I need you to call everyone you know and tell them to get to the high school ASAP.”
“Why?” Jake asked, his response sharp with worry. “Is someone hurt? Some wacko loose in the school?”
“No, but somebody tried to sabotage the play. Messed up the sets with red paint.”
“Seriously? That’s the emergency?” Jake blew out a breath. “Don’t scare me like that, bro.”
“Sorry.” Ethan released a gusty exhale of his own. “If you’d seen the sets, you’d be upset, too. The kids are devastated, and Addison…” He broke off. He didn’t w
ant to think about the look on her face as she’d taken in the damage. And how it made him want to tear something, or someone, apart.
“Right… Addison,” Jake said. “The same Addison you wouldn’t look in the eye at Mom’s house yesterday.”
Brothers. Who needed them? “I’m not talking about this now,” Ethan said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Fine… don’t talk about it,” Jake said. “Be an idiot.”
“Can you please just make some calls and get as many people as you can to the school? I’m heading to the hardware store.”
A quick silence fell and then Jake sighed. “Not to worry. I’ll raise up an army to save your fair princess.”
“I’m not trying to save Addison,” Ethan ground out. “It’s my school.”
“I know,” Jake said, and Ethan was pretty sure his brother knew everything he was feeling.
Ethan hung up and raced for his car. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he wondered how he’d ever survive this uneasy standoff with Addison. He’d done the right thing in breaking things off with her. What he hadn’t counted on was missing her so much. Hadn’t imagined the emptiness or the hole in his heart where she’d somehow taken up residence.
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