“It’s getting late. Time for us to wrap things up for the night. How about you guys put away the gym equipment, and you girls can help Josephina.” Jaidon motioned Catherine in the direction away from the others. “Come on. I’ll walk you out.” Catherine swallowed the lump in her throat as she walked outside with Jaidon. Did this mean they didn’t need her help? Kasey had said they were thankful for all the volunteers they could get, so maybe they weren’t dismissing her. Maybe they were giving her a warning. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“What are you sorry for?” The street light barely illuminated Jaidon’s face. She couldn’t read his expression. “Ariannah is…a zealous youth. She means well.” Jaidon sighed. “Don’t let her get under your skin.”
“I won’t.” Which was a lie. She already had. Catherine wished she knew how to convince Ariannah they were on the same side. They both wanted to help at the center and make a difference in other people’s lives.
“So—you’ll be back?”
Catherine thought about it a moment. Spending her evenings with her Siamese cat held some appeal, but not on a routine basis. She liked helping others. The youth seemed interested in hearing what she had to say. Giving up before she really got started wouldn’t help anyone. “Yes. I’ll be back.”
“Excellent. How about I pick you up Thursday evening, if you’re available, and we can ride together,” Jaidon said. “That way I make sure you get home safely.”
“Sounds good.” Catherine smiled. “What about the rest of the group?”
“They’ll ride together in another car.” Jaidon had a welcoming air about him. Perhaps it was his sincere blue eyes, his easygoing attitude, or maybe even his reassuring smile. It was nice that he was considerate enough to want to look out for her.
She gave Jaidon her phone number. When she started toward her car, he reached for her arm to stop her. “Did you need something else?”
“About earlier tonight.” Jaidon let go of her arm. “I just wanted to say thank you again, and tell you not to mind Ariannah. It doesn’t matter that you’re a Quaker. Actually if you think about it, we’re a lot alike.”
Catherine shook her head. “Not really.”
Jaidon frowned. “What do you mean?”
“We both come from very different upbringings. My beliefs are an integral part of my life and a big determinant in the decisions I make for my future.” Catherine sighed. “But aside from our religious beliefs, yes, I guess we are a lot alike. We both want to help youth stay out of trouble and make better decisions for their lives.”
Chapter 3
Jaidon pulled into the parking lot at the newer apartment complex that Catherine lived in. He scrolled through his text messages to find her text so he could verify her address and apartment number.
He’d given their previous conversation a lot of thought. Thought that kept him up the last two nights. How could he help Catherine see they weren’t that different? He needed to give her time to get to know him, see their similarities, and realize they both loved the Lord. The desire to help youth was only one of the evident things they shared in common. With time and patience, she would come to see his convictions. Now if only he could be patient.
Jaidon climbed out of his yellow Hummer. Catherine came down the sidewalk. It was refreshing to see her in street clothes. She wore a dark blue T-shirt under her light jacket, and sweats. Her hair pulled back in a ponytail looked practical, but he preferred it cascading down over her shoulders.
So much for being the gentleman and meeting her at the door. He opened the passenger door for her to climb in. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“You, too.” Catherine smiled, climbed in, and buckled up as he closed the car door. He slid into the driver’s seat and did the same.
“I’m curious,” Catherine said. “You have a really nice vehicle. Aren’t you afraid someone will steal your Hummer when you’re at the youth center?”
“I debated whether or not to buy an older, less expensive vehicle, but then it’s almost pointless to leave the Hummer sitting idle while I drive the other one. Unfortunately I bought this one previous to volunteering at the center, and definitely before gas prices skyrocketed.” Jaidon laughed. “And to be honest, why do you think I got a bright yellow one? If anybody steals it, it’s kind of hard to miss going down the road.”
“I guess it would be.” Catherine chuckled.
His heart quickened at the tune of her laughter. He had so many things to learn and discover about the woman sitting next to him. “Tell me about yourself.”
She blinked a couple times. Catherine opened her mouth and then closed it, almost as if she didn’t know what to say. Her expression grew somewhat reserved. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything—nothing. I don’t know.” Jaidon shrugged. Did all her relatives have beautiful hazel eyes like magnets that had the ability to captivate you without warning? He cleared his throat. “Tell me about your family.” After all, he hoped to meet them one day, and with any luck, it would be soon.
“Well I have an older brother who is married. They are expecting their third child in June. My mother is a junior high math teacher.” A smile creased her lips when she talked about her family. That was a good sign—happy memories associated with them. “I take after her more than my father.”
“What does your father do?” Jaidon asked. When Catherine didn’t answer immediately, he glanced back at her. She was the one who’d brought her father up in the first place. Her tone didn’t sound negative when she compared herself to either parent.
Catherine wrung her hands together and stared at them before she finally looked back at Jaidon. “He passed away when I was fourteen. Cancer.”
“I’m sorry.” Jaidon reached over and clasped her hands in his free one. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s not your fault. His birthday is this weekend. I always get a bit sentimental.” Catherine sighed. “This is the first year since he passed away that I don’t have to do something to keep my mother occupied.”
How does one respond? Or should he? He continued to hold her hands in his right one and let the silence linger until she was ready to talk.
“My mother recently started dating someone.” There. She said it. “After twelve years of her being without a mate, I know my mother deserves to find happiness again. But preferably with someone more suitable.”
Catherine never expected that letting go would be harder for her than her mother. Her father had meant the world to her. He’d shared stories about her grandfather and greatgrandfather. Stories about their faith, their trials and struggles.
“More suitable?” Jaidon frowned. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Alex, the gym teacher my mother is dating, doesn’t share our faith. Although he did say he is willing to go to meetings with my mother.” Jaidon reminded her of a younger version of Alex, except Jaidon was handsome and in better shape. They both loved working with youth. Jaidon showed more spiritual commitment. He was also strongly connected with his church— not likely to make compromises either. This was another reason an intimate relationship between them wouldn’t work.
“Why is it so important that he goes to your church?” Jaidon asked. “If he loves the Lord, that should be enough, shouldn’t it?”
“Because it’s part of our heritage. My father grew up in a long line of Quakers. I can already tell my mother’s convictions have weakened since my father passed away. Dad would be very disappointed.” Since her mother had begun dating Alex, Catherine wondered about her parents’ varying differences of commitment to their faith. But who was she to judge anyone’s relationship with God? Even Jaidon’s? Or the other volunteers? They were free to worship God how they chose. Her choice was made…albeit, made somewhat for her by her father. How did you deny your father’s dying request?
“Why would he be disappointed?”
Catherine blinked and shrugged her shoulders. The answer should be obvious, but by the puz
zled look on his face, it wasn’t. “My father would expect my mother to set the example for my brother and me. Dad had a great-great-uncle who turned away from the faith, and it was strongly frowned upon. My father, and his father before him, were so concerned it might happen again that they made their children promise to only marry Quakers and never leave the faith.”
“Ah,” Jaidon said.
“Anyhow I know it’s silly to get upset after so many years. I guess I’ve just gotten used to doing something with my mother for Dad’s birthday, and now she doesn’t need me to keep her company.”
“It’s not silly.” Jaidon squeezed her hands reassuringly. “So, what are we going to do this weekend?”
“Uh—” Catherine blinked several times then smiled. He wanted to keep her company? That was sweet of him. Her girlfriends hadn’t even offered to keep her occupied. “I don’t know. What are we going to do?”
“Tell you what. Why don’t I make it a surprise?”
“Sounds intriguing.” Catherine wiggled her eyebrows. The anticipation of the unknown sounded fun. Although his version of fun and hers could be two very different things. “Just promise me it doesn’t involve jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.” Jaidon smiled. “What about one that isn’t perfectly good?” Catherine’s eyes widened as she shook her head vehemently. “N-o, thanks!”
He laughed at the way she over-exaggerated her words. “Don’t worry. No airplanes. I promise.”
Jaidon pulled his hand back in order to parallel park the Hummer, and she experienced an instantaneous sense of loss. Catherine mentally shook herself. She valued the blooming friendship developing between her and Jaidon. His reassuring touch had offered much needed comfort—that’s all.
Throughout the evening Jaidon seemed to keep an eye on her. His protectiveness touched her, but it confused her as well. He needn’t feel obligated to look out for her just because he gave her a ride. It wasn’t as if she’d been delivered into a den of thieves. The youth at the center wanted to feel safe also.
Roberto and Jaidon chose teams for a basketball game. For his fourth pick, Jaidon motioned for her. “Catherine, come on. You’re on my team.”
Her cheeks warmed. When they’d begun choosing, she thought it was going to be just the guys playing. She looked around then half jogged to line up with the rest of Jaidon’s team.
She was the first female chosen for either team. Roberto added a woman to his team.
By the time both teams finished choosing, Ariannah and Rosie ended up on the same team as Catherine. She silently hoped it would give the three of them a chance to bond. Thankfully Rosie never displayed an attitude toward her. Perhaps she would be an ally in winning over Ariannah.
Twenty minutes into the game, Ariannah dribbled the ball halfway down the court. Catherine made her way farther down, positioning herself for the set up. “Pass me the ball.”
Ariannah was boxed in. She glanced at Catherine then looked around for other teammates. Even though Catherine was the clear shot, Ariannah threw the ball to Jaidon, who struggled to reach around a guy four inches taller than him. The other team intercepted the ball, headed down the court toward their net, and scored.
“What’s up with that?” Rosie shook her head in disgust. “You cost us points.”
“Yeah,” a couple of the guys said, grunting.
Romeo brushed by Ariannah, bumping her shoulder roughly. “Doesn’t look like you’re playing on the same team.” Ariannah glared at Catherine as if it were her fault. The urge to roll her eyes and shake her head was overwhelming, but she sighed as she headed down the court to get back into the action. She snatched the ball from one of the guys on the other team, dribbled down to the top of the key and made a three- point jump shot, draining it straight through the hoop.
“Girl got game,” Romeo said and high-fived her.
Catherine felt a sense of redemption. Her shot tied the game. To top off her jubilation, a few minutes later Jaidon scored the winning basket. Romeo patted him on the back. Ariannah gave him a sideways hug. Jaidon slipped away from Ariannah, Romeo, and the others who were still congratulating him and made his way to her, throwing his arms around her. “We did it.”
“We sure did.” The moistness from Jaidon’s sweaty T-shirt made her cringe. She preferred his normal woodsy-exotic scent—and a dry shirt. She patted his back and moved away slightly.
“Why don’t we celebrate on the way home? We can stop and get a pizza with the works,” Jaidon suggested.
“I think that would be great,” Ariannah said cheerfully. Before Jaidon could utter another word, she turned and called out, “Pastor Martinez, Jaidon suggested we stop and get a pizza on the way home.”
Jaidon closed his mouth. Whatever he was about to say, he’d apparently decided against it, and none too happily by the scowl on his face. Maybe he wanted to invite the others himself. Then again maybe he didn’t intend to invite the teens from the center. Wouldn’t they need parental permission slips to take them anywhere? Ariannah’s presumptuous attitude might inadvertently cause a rift between the youth and the sponsors.
Maybe she could help him out. Catherine whispered, “If you’d like to get out of going, I can make an excuse and say I have to work early tomorrow.”
Jaidon shook his head and smiled when his eyes met hers. His expression softened. “No that’s okay. I’d rather go out with you—and the others.”
He kept one arm around her as they walked the ten or so feet to where the bulk of their team stood talking.
An idea came to Catherine. “Why don’t we pick up some pizzas next week and bring them?”
“Then we can have a rematch,” Rosie said.
Catherine giggled. “You do realize we won?”
Rosie chuckled. “Girl, I’m just playin’ with you. I figured if we win again, we might get another pizza.”
“I hear that.” Romeo high-fived Rosie.
Jaidon laughed. “We’ll see what we can do. But first we have to win again.”
“Oh, we will.” Romeo leaned his forearm on Catherine’s shoulder. “We got Miss Hoops on our side.”
Catherine blushed as her teammates cheered.
Before they left the center, Catherine decided to freshen up. Kristen and Gabby were lingering in the bathroom, talking while they messed with their hair. Catherine smiled at them. She’d only talked with them a little since she’d started volunteering. Both girls had cheered their friends from the sidelines during the basketball game. Catherine washed her face with a damp paper towel and finger-combed her hair back into a ponytail.
“Are you and Jaidon going out now?” Gabby asked.
Perhaps they’d seen Catherine get out of Jaidon’s Hummer. Catherine smiled and shook her head. “No. He was just being nice and giving me a ride.”
“Yeah right.” Kristen laughed. “He’s got it for you bad.”
Gabby nodded in agreement. “He’s got a dopey grin and practically drools when he’s watching you.”
Drools? That didn’t create a very good visual. Jaidon couldn’t like her. He already knew her dilemma—she couldn’t consider dating someone who wasn’t a Quaker. She’d made that clear to him on the way to the center.
Catching the frown on her face in the mirror, Catherine changed her expression to one she hoped conveyed lighthearted nonchalance. “We’re just friends. That’s all.”
When they left to get pizzas, a twinge of guilt still plagued Catherine. She wished their teenage teammates could have joined them for a victory pizza. But she reminded herself that the rest of the group from Jaidon’s church was going and only Ariannah was on their team, so it barely constituted a victory pizza. Although Ariannah had used that fact as leverage to join them on the car ride to the pizza parlor. Catherine didn’t mind totally. It meant she wouldn’t have to be alone with Jaidon again. Hopefully by the time they left the restaurant, she’d think of how to confront him concerning Kristen and Gabby’s accusations.
Chapter 4
You’r
e awfully quiet.” Jaidon glanced over at Catherine on the drive home from the pizza parlor. The smell of the restaurant still lingered on their clothing. She didn’t know whether or not to be thankful that Ariannah hadn’t come with them this time.
Her tumultuous thoughts remained below the surface, threatening to wreak havoc with everything she held dear. Catherine didn’t want to lose her newfound friendship with Jaidon. Yet she had a promise to fulfill to her father. She didn’t want to mislead Jaidon. How should she broach the subject? Her stomach knotted. She opted for the chicken way out. “I’m not sure hanging out this weekend is a good idea.”
“Why?” Jaidon stared at her. If the frown on his face was any indication, he wasn’t happy. “Did Ariannah say something to you?”
Catherine shook her head. “I really don’t know her that well. What would she have to say to me?”
“I don’t know. She’s been acting weird for a while. Normally she’s a nice kid, but lately—” Jaidon shrugged. “I don’t know what her problem is.”
Catherine’s lips pursed. What could she say? She didn’t know how the other youth sponsor used to act. Adding a comment would only contribute to gossip or speaking ill of someone when they didn’t have a chance to defend themselves. She couldn’t think of any reason she’d given the woman to dislike her. She didn’t want to start now.
When Catherine didn’t speak, Jaidon continued, “Anyhow. What’s wrong with this weekend?”
“It’s just—” How could she make him see the futility of even trying to have an intimate relationship? She’d never been able to get other guys to understand. They didn’t want to be just friends. She’d made a promise to her father. A promise she couldn’t break. “I come from a long line of Quakers.”
“I know. That doesn’t bother me.” Jaidon shrugged. He glanced at her a couple times. His eyes widened. “But it bothers you.”
“I don’t want it to bother me.” And she didn’t want it to. “But like I explained earlier, I’m stuck. I promised my father on his deathbed that I would marry a Quaker.”
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