by Anna Schmidt
“Nothing stays the same, honey,” Reba said. “Change is a fact of life, and it could be that God’s tagged you for something you’ve been preparing for your whole life without even realizing it.” She pushed herself to her feet and took Megan’s cluster of flags from her. “Okay, break’s over and that’s about my quota of sage advice for the day. Why don’t you go enjoy the festivities? Oh, look, here comes Jeb. Like I always say, timing is everything.”
Megan glanced up and indeed Jeb was heading straight for the flag booth, his smile as bright as the sun itself.
“We have a committee,” he said, his tone as triumphant as his smile.
“Caleb Armstrong?”
“Caleb and Faith plus you and me. It’s a start.”
“It sure sounds that way,” Reba agreed. “Now, why don’t the two of you take this discussion over there by the lemonade stand so I can get back to handing out these flags. Shoo.” She gave Megan a gentle shove in Jeb’s direction and turned her attention to a passing group of young people.
“We probably need a couple more adults and maybe one more young person on the team,” Jeb said. “How would you feel about asking Jessica Burbank and her daughter Cindy to be part of this?”
“Sure.” What was she going to say? No? It would be difficult for me?
“Don’t just give in, Megan.” Jeb’s tone had changed entirely. His voice was quiet but gentle. A counselor. A pastor.
“I’m not,” she protested. “Jessica will be a wonderful addition. The kids in town all love her and she has such creative ideas.”
“As do you,” he said. “Jessica has a lot of respect for you, Megan. In fact, when I mentioned the idea of starting a youth center while we were at Henry’s wake and told her I was hoping to have you chair the committee, she said I couldn’t have made a better choice.”
“So, you’ve already asked her to be part of this?”
“Nope. Just kicking around ideas. She did suggest Cindy as a person who might be a good bridge between the teens and ’tweens in town.” He picked up two cups of lemonade from the table and handed one to her. “But it’s your committee if you accept the chair position. You should really choose your own team.”
“Oh, Jeb, I’ve never chaired anything in my life. There are so many others—Jessica for starters.”
“So, you’re saying no?”
His disappointment was so obvious that Megan had trouble meeting his eyes. “I’m saying you can do better,” she murmured.
“I don’t agree, but it’s your call.” He took a drink of his lemonade, but when she glanced up his eyes were focused on her, challenging her, daring her.
“Oh, all right, but…”
He grinned. “Nope. No codicils. You’ve agreed, now let’s get to work.” He pulled out the BlackBerry he’d once told them was a holdover from his days in the corporate world and studied it. “How’s tomorrow night for a first meeting?”
“It’s a school night and, besides, Caleb is supposed to head back to Milwaukee tonight. He won’t be back until after graduation, when his family comes up in June.”
“Well, we can’t wait until June to get this thing going.”
“We could meet later today—maybe have a light supper before Caleb heads back?” Megan couldn’t help thinking this would allow Faith and Caleb to be together but remove the temptation to give in to teenage angst over the time that would pass before they’d see each other again.
“Great idea. See? I knew you were a natural at this leadership thing.”
Megan felt the warmth of his praise spread through her like syrup on waffles. “Maybe we could meet at the inn and include Jessica and Cindy,” she added, taking further pleasure in the look of surprise that passed over his handsome features. “I mean, if you still think asking them to be part of the committee is a good idea.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said and drained the last of his lemonade. “Six o’clock?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Megan parroted his response. “I’ll go tell Faith…and Caleb.”
“Why don’t you go invite Jessica and Cindy to the meeting?” he suggested. “I’ll check in with Faith and Caleb. And then, if you’re not busy, I thought maybe we could finish that walk along the nature trail we started several weeks ago.”
Megan knew the difference between a minister counseling her, a cohort setting up a committee meeting and a man asking to spend time with her. Jeb was suggesting the latter. She became too aware of their surroundings. They were in the midst of locals who would surely take notice of all the time they’d already spent together today. And there was Faith, who had made no secret of her disagreement with Reba’s attempts at matchmaking, not to mention Reba herself, who would no doubt take false hope in seeing Megan and Jeb go off together. She should refuse—nip in the bud any idea he might have of romantic involvement.
“Okay,” she said, barely realizing she’d spoken aloud until she looked up and saw Jeb’s smile.
“Okay,” he repeated. And reflected in his gaze was the flicker of joy she felt at the idea that this man wanted to spend time with her—just to be with her.
“I don’t know why you’re so worried about Faith,” she muttered to herself, as she headed toward where Jessica Burbank stood on the sidelines, watching her twins play soccer. “You’re the one acting like a starry-eyed teenager.”
Megan and Jessica greeted each other as they had for years. Their smiles were too wide, their voices too enthusiastic, their greeting generic.
“Perfect weather for the parade,” Megan said as she stood next to Jessica on the sidelines.
“We couldn’t have asked for better,” Jessica agreed.
It was moments like these when memories of the friendship they had shared threatened to overwhelm Megan. She and Jessica had been the best of friends. As the school year wound to a close they had spent hours in Jessica’s pink bedroom, planning their summer. The hours spent in those fairyland surroundings had been like an escape for Megan and had allowed her to forget the dark and dreary house she shared with her father.
“Goal!” Jessica shouted, pumping a fist high in the air and grinning at one of the twins.
Megan shook off her reverie and applauded the boy’s achievement. As the teams lined up for a fresh start, Jessica sat on the blanket she’d spread on the sidelines and patted a place beside her. “Can you sit for a while?” She squinted up at Megan, the sun in her eyes, her long brown bangs further obstructing her vision.
“Remember that time we decided to cut each other’s hair?” Megan said, accepting the invitation to sit.
Jessica looked surprised and then curious. “What made you think of that?”
Megan shrugged, embarrassed. What a dork, Faith would say. “I’m not sure—time of year, seeing the kids, memories.”
“Yeah.” Jessica pulled at a blade of grass on the edge of the blanket and gazed out at the soccer players. “It all goes so fast, doesn’t it?”
They watched the action on the field for a long moment and then Megan found her courage. “I was wondering—that is, Reverend Matthews suggested—well, you may have heard that he wants to establish a youth center in the church basement. A place for the kids to gather and stay out of trouble.”
“He mentioned something about that. Pete and I both think it’s a great idea. How can we help?”
It was so like Jessica to cut to the chase. Megan couldn’t help but smile. “Would you be willing to serve on the planning committee?”
“Sure.” No questions to check who else might be on the committee.
“And Jeb—Reverend Matthews—thinks the young people should also be represented. He’s already recruited Faith and Caleb Armstrong, so do you think Cindy might be—”
“Sure. Well, I’ll check, but I’d say the chance to work on anything with Faith is its own reward. Cindy idolizes Faith.”
Megan searched Jessica’s tone and expression for any sign that this was a problem for her and found nothing but approval. But then a tiny
frown creased Jessica’s forehead. “Caleb Armstrong, you say?”
Megan nodded. “I think Jeb wants someone to represent the summer kids and Caleb seems to be their leader.”
Jessica released a long sigh. “Yeah, it makes sense.” She made a face and glanced at Megan. “Do you trust that kid?”
“Not really,” Megan admitted.
“Well, good, because I worry about the attention he’s been showering on Faith. He reminds me of Danny at that age.”
Megan could not have been more shocked if Jessica had suddenly announced her intention to run away to Las Vegas and become a showgirl—something the two of them used to consider when they were teens and life in Singing Springs seemed beyond boring.
“I’m so sorry, Megan,” Jessica said, covering Megan’s hand with hers. “That was uncalled for.”
“No, it’s true. I mean, Caleb is handsome and smart and impossibly charming, as was Danny.”
Jessica went back to pulling stray blades of grass. “I’ve missed you, Megan,” she said softly.
And like the friends they had once been Megan didn’t have to ask what she meant. “Me, too,” she replied. “I’m really looking forward to working on the youth center with you. You wouldn’t be interested in chairing the committee, would you?”
Jessica let out a honk of a laugh that had been her signature in high school, and Megan couldn’t help grinning.
“Not on your life, Meggie. The hunk minister tapped you for this assignment so go forth and lead.” Then she was on her feet again, shouting at one of the fathers refereeing the game, “Hey, Chad, ever hear of offsides?”
Megan saw Jessica’s husband, Pete, signal her to hold back, but that simply wasn’t Jessica. She saw someone in need of her help and she gave it—whether they asked for it or not. Megan smiled and wondered at the lightness she felt as she stood up. It felt as if she’d carried a huge rock around so long that she hadn’t even realized she was hauling it. And then someone—Jessica—had come along and set it down for her. “Hey, Jess, we’re meeting at the inn tonight at six, okay?”
Jessica acknowledged the information with a wave and kept on stalking the referee.
Megan lifted the long skirt of her costume and climbed the grassy hillside that surrounded the soccer field. When she reached the top Jeb was waiting.
“How did it go?”
“Fine. She and Cindy are on board.”
“So, ready to take that walk?” He held his hand out to her, saw her hesitation and withdrew it. “It’s a walk, Megan, okay?”
But Megan couldn’t help noticing that Jeb seemed a little irritated, and that very human response to her slight made her realize that even a preacher could be vulnerable.
Chapter Seven
“H ow did things go with Jessica?” Jeb asked, forcing himself to focus on topics that might obscure his loss of patience earlier.
“It was as if we’d never stopped being friends,” Megan marveled.
“Perhaps because you hadn’t?”
She considered that for a long moment. “You’re right. There wasn’t any real break. Jess was already off at college. Of course, when she came home after her freshman year it was like we took up right where we’d left off—talking for hours and hanging out at her house the way we always had.”
“And you and her brother were dating?”
“Danny was leaving for college that fall, and then I’d planned to go the year after that. Danny had a full athletic scholarship, and the guidance counselor had hinted I could qualify for an academic scholarship at the same school. The three of us used to dream about all being on campus together.” She walked ahead of him on the narrow path, her hands clasped behind her back, her head bent with the weight of her memories. “It never happened. Danny got accepted to the University of Southern California and that was it,” she murmured, then looked back at him with a smile. “Enough. The important thing is that Jess is going to help us get the youth center going. She’s a wonder at organizing things.”
They spent some time talking about the logistics of setting up a center in the cramped space of the church basement, and soon found themselves at the end of the circular trail. The festivities at the park were breaking up. Megan spotted Reba lifting a box loaded with leftover programs and flags into her van and ran off to help her. “See you at six,” she called.
Jeb couldn’t believe how quickly the day—the anniversary—had slipped by. Had he started to forget, to allow the memory of his wife and daughter to fade? And was that the natural way of things, or had he selfishly enjoyed the day in spite of its meaning?
At the meeting it was apparent how close the friendship between Megan and Jessica had once been. They were each brimming with ideas, talking over each other and then laughing as one backed off, saying, “You first,” and the other would reply, “No, go ahead.”
Caleb offered several suggestions, but Jeb could not help noticing that Faith was very quiet. She watched her mother as if Megan were a stranger. It was certain that Megan’s vibrancy and confidence were new to the girl. Cindy was eager to please, volunteering for any assignment, especially those that would have her working with Faith. The younger girl clearly thought the sun rose and set in Faith Osbourne. Jeb had been glad to see that, if Faith were aware of this hero worship, she did nothing to take advantage of it. Instead she treated Cindy more like a younger sister. She was protective, occasionally interrupting the chatter of the others to ask Cindy what she thought.
In an hour as they sat around Reba’s kitchen table devouring hamburgers from the grill, Reba’s fried potatoes and a salad of early garden greens, they laid out an impressive plan for the center. Caleb excused himself to get started on the drive home to Milwaukee, and promised to text Jeb if he came up with any additional ideas. The young couple walked hand in hand out to Caleb’s car, and Megan nervously began clearing the table, talking excitedly to cover the sudden silence outside. Jeb saw Cindy give her mother a sly look and pucker her lips as she glanced out the screen door.
“Come on, pumpkin,” Jessica said, hugging Cindy close. “Let’s head home—you’ve got school tomorrow.” She stood at the open door to call out her goodbyes and immediately they all heard the engine of Caleb’s car fire.
“Thank you,” Jeb heard Megan whisper as she walked Jessica and Cindy out to the porch. He realized that Jessica had deliberately interrupted an excessively long farewell that Faith and Caleb might be engaged in. And when he saw tears brimming on Faith’s lashes as she ran past them all and into the bathroom, he knew Jessica had guessed right.
When Megan went off to comfort Faith, Jeb finished packing his books and clothes he’d brought to the inn, and moved back up to the parsonage. Later that night he stood at the sink in the small kitchen and looked down at the inn. Lights glowed in the upstairs windows where guests were staying. The porch light was on, making Jeb smile.
“That advertising line about leaving a light on for you?” Reba had huffed one morning at breakfast after reprimanding him for turning out the porch light the night before. “That was my Stan’s motto. ‘How will folks know to stop if there’s no light?’ he used to ask.”
Jeb knew that the light over the stove in the large country kitchen also stayed on through the night. “You never know when a body might need a cold glass of milk or something to eat,” Reba had told him.
The truth was he was going to miss staying at the inn. The parsonage certainly had everything he needed, but it felt lifeless compared to the inn. He shut off the kitchen light and walked down the narrow hall to the front of the house. He paused at the door of the living room, crowded with the somber, heavy furniture Reverend Dunhill and his wife seemed to have preferred.
He stood there for a moment, thinking about the role of a parsonage in a ministry. It wasn’t just where the preacher and his family lived. It set the tone for the kind of ministry the congregation might expect. According to most reports, Dunhill had preferred heavy-handed sobriety in his messages and lifestyle.
But that had never been Jeb’s style. He was a people person and that trait had been at the core of the success he’d achieved in the corporate world. Now he was in a new profession but he’d discovered that some things were not so different. When you got right down to it, the role of spiritual leader had a lot in common with the job of CEO in a large company.
Jeb retraced his steps and sat down at the dining-room table that served as his home office. He started to make notes. God, CEO for the World, he wrote at the top of a yellow legal pad. Yep, it would make a good topic for a sermon.
Megan and Jessica continued to bounce new ideas off one another. Sometimes it was over tea while Megan prepared breakfast for the inn’s guests and sometimes it was later in the day over mugs of steaming coffee at the Shack.
“By Jove, I think we’ve got it,” Jessica said late in the afternoon a week later, mimicking a British accent. “Why don’t you have Faith e-mail Caleb tonight to fill him in on the final plans. We need his buy-in for the grand opening, when he and his family come up next week for the summer.”
Megan frowned. “I’m not sure Faith has been in contact with Caleb lately.”
“Trouble in teen paradise?”
“I think she expected to get an invitation to his graduation. Not that I would have let her go. Still, the gesture would have meant something.” Megan closed the binder where she kept copious notes on plans for the youth center. “I’ll e-mail the whole committee tonight. I need to catch up on some work on the computer at the inn.”
They each took a sip of their coffee.
“How are things with you and Jeb?” Jessica asked, eyeing Megan over the rim of her mug.
“I… We… That is…” Megan sputtered, searching for some possible response to such a ridiculous question.
Jessica laughed. “Oh, honey, I do wish you could see your face.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Megan said irritably.
“Yes, you do,” Jessica said, her tone gentle and caring. “You like him. He clearly likes you. Is there an issue I don’t see?”