Jaidon’s brows furrowed. He nodded. “Hmm. So you can’t hang out with non-Quakers either?”
Hang out? “I thought you liked me?”
“I do. You’re fun to be around, and I had a blast playing basketball tonight,” Jaidon said. “I thought it’d be great to hang out this weekend and help get your mind off things, like your father’s birthday and your mother dating another man.”
Catherine’s cheeks warmed. Jaidon was only trying to be a good friend. She’d let Gabby and Kristen’s assumptions put her in an awkward situation. “I’m sorry, Jaidon. I’d really like to go, if you are still interested in going—as friends.”
Jaidon reached over, cupped her hands with his right hand, and smiled. “Friends.”
When Jaidon picked Catherine up Saturday morning, he almost felt guilty. One look into her beautiful hazel eyes and he squelched the niggling feeling. He’d already had the last couple of days to bolster his confidence, knowing Catherine had considered him as a possible suitor. He couldn’t help grinning every time he thought about it.
The fact that he wasn’t a Quaker was an obstacle they could get over. With time, either he could get her to at least consider going to his church to visit so she could see for herself that his church really wasn’t so different from hers or—but or wasn’t something he wanted to think about right now. It meant either he would have to convert or their friendship would be over. He swallowed hard. That definitely wasn’t something he wanted to contemplate at the moment.
“I haven’t been here in a long time,” Catherine said as Jaidon drove into the parking lot of Taltree Arboretum and Gardens. “Didn’t they open a new garden?”
Jaidon smiled at her enthusiasm. She sounded like a kid who’d just pulled up to an amusement park. It made his day knowing he’d chosen well. “Yes. The Railway Garden is open.”
“Oh goodie.”
Jaidon laughed at her enthusiasm. “I even packed a picnic lunch.”
“You thought of everything.” She returned his smile.
Almost everything, Jaidon thought to himself. Now if only he could find the magic ingredient to make her feel the same way about him that he felt for her—hopelessly in love.
During the next couple of hours, Jaidon walked along Railway Garden’s beautiful landscaped paths, enjoying the lovely scenery that also included his delightful companion. He should have brought a camera. That way he’d have more than just his memories to capture the moment.
At lunch Jaidon laid down an old quilt he had from his youth for them to sit on the grass beneath the shade of a bur oak tree. While they ate their sandwiches and chips, they sipped on bottled tea and chatted about the scenery. Jaidon stuffed their trash back into the picnic basket then lay on his left side, arm crooked to lean against his knuckles in order to better observe his lovely companion’s beautiful face—the cute way her nose tipped up slightly on the end. She was beautiful, both inside and out.
Catherine lay on her stomach, arms crossed in front of her and head resting on her forearms. “You know, it occurred to me that I really don’t know much about you.”
“I’m an open book.” Jaidon laughed. “Read me.”
“Read you?” Catherine raised her head and chuckled. “That sounds like a bad pickup line or something.”
“No not a line.” Jaidon shrugged. “You’ve been around me three times in the last week. What have you ascertained since we met?”
“You’re going to make this hard on me, aren’t you?”
“Is it that hard?” Maybe she hadn’t paid any attention to him since they ran into each other at the hospital. Had he only been getting his hopes up?
Her expression grew solemn. “Your sea-blue eyes convey genuine sincerity. And you have a very caring nature, which is evident in your love for working with youth. You light up around them at the center.” Catherine pretended to clear her throat. “Mind you, I’ve only observed you around youth at the center.”
“So you were observing me?”
“No.” Catherine’s eyes widened. Her cheeks blushed. She play-slapped him and laughed. “You have a deviant side, my friend.”
“Is that another observation?”
“Yes.” She chuckled. “So tell me what I don’t know. For example, we’ve never talked about what you do for a living. For all I know you may be a vagabond.”
“Really? Do I look like one?” Jaidon smiled.
Her expression grew stern, but a hint of playfulness danced in her eyes. “I thought we’d completed the obvious observations.” Catherine shrugged, a smile creasing her lips. “Besides I’ve never met a vagabond”—she wiggled her eyebrows—”that I know of. I wouldn’t know how they dressed.”
“Oh no you didn’t.” Jaidon reached over and tickled Catherine’s sides until she laughed uncontrollably. “I’m not a vagabond, and you know it. Take it back.”
“All right. All right,” she gasped between giggles. “I take it back.”
As their laughter subsided, they lay side-by-side on their backs. Jaidon clasped his hands together on his stomach, resisting the urge to reach over and hold her hand. “I’m a workers’ comp lawyer.”
She turned her head and studied him. “Hmm. I can actually see that.”
“Oh?” Jaidon smiled. “You can?”
Catherine nodded. “It fits with your caring nature.” She glanced at him, and he lost all train of thought, hypnotized by the warmth of her hazel eyes. “This is where you say something.”
“Huh?” Jaidon blinked. “Sorry.” He rolled to his side and smiled. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
Chapter 5
Catherine, following Jaidon through his church, bumped into a teenager. She looked over her shoulder as she continued walking in the direction she was being led.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Part of her wanted to turn around and follow the teenager out of the sanctuary, but Jaidon had a secure hold on her hand, guiding her toward their seats. When Jaidon asked her what she was doing Sunday, she had no idea he was going to ask her to go to church. Not even in the building ten minutes, and it was already proving to be the cultural learning experience he’d told her it would be, and not just because his church didn’t have hard wooden pews facing each other.
Taking a Sunday off from her church to visit another church couldn’t hurt. After all it was only one day. She hadn’t missed a Sunday since last summer, when she went to visit a college friend in California.
Catherine gripped his hand tighter as they maneuvered through the crowd. She silently prayed they wouldn’t get separated. She wanted to whisper, but Jaidon wouldn’t be able to hear her. Other people were talking; perhaps it was acceptable at this church. “There must be at least two hundred people here.”
“Closer to six if you count the kids in children’s services and nursery. Plus there are a couple adult Sunday school classes that take place during second service.” Jaidon pulled her closer to him, slowing his pace, and she followed toward the direction he pointed. “We can sit over here.”
They edged in front of two couples, passed down the aisle, and sat toward the middle of the row. She leaned over to whisper in Jaidon’s ear. “Why is everyone still talking? Shouldn’t they be quiet in the sanctuary?”
Jaidon smiled. “Because service hasn’t started yet.”
Catherine looked around at people greeting others on their way to their seats; some stopped to converse longer. How did they know when service started?
Jaidon nudged her gently with his shoulder. “Why are you frowning?”
“I’m sorry.” Catherine sighed. “I’m just used to my church. We always begin worship as soon as we come into the sanctuary.” “It’ll begin shortly.” Jaidon opened his church bulletin, something her church didn’t have.
Catherine wanted to close her eyes and worship but found the chatter around her distracting. She couldn’t wait for church to begin.
“Hello,” Roberto said and extended his hand for Catherine to
shake. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise.” Catherine smiled and shook his hand; then he shook hands with Jaidon. “Where is Josephina?”
Roberto nodded toward the first row of chairs in front of the sanctuary. “She’s sitting up front with the youth.” He pointed to the next row over. “That’s our senior pastor and his wife. Jaidon will have to introduce you after church.” He smiled and nodded toward Jaidon. “I’ll catch you later.”
Jaidon smiled and nodded back. “Will do.”
Catherine felt like she missed some kind of unspoken exchange between the two men. Probably a guy thing. She shrugged it off and sat back, quietly observing. A few plants and flowers decorated the platform. While they were pretty, they could serve as a distraction. A piano, drum set, and a couple guitars were on stage. This must be one of those programmed churches she’d heard about. She could visualize some of the elders’ eyes widening if they caught sight of instruments in a sanctuary. She did find the padded chairs comfortable; they would be a welcome addition to her church.
Catherine leaned closer to Jaidon. “Some people are getting on the stage. Does that mean it’s about to begin?”
Jaidon laughed. “You’d think you’ve never been to church before.”
“I have.” Catherine turned her attention to the front of the sanctuary and crossed her arms. “Next week you have to come to my church.”
“Oh do I?” Jaidon said. Amusement made his blue eyes glisten.
“Yes. As you said, it’s a great cultural learning experience.” Catherine smiled sweetly as she used his argument against him.
“It’s a date.” Jaidon stood and Catherine followed suit as the musicians began to play. “I’d be happy to go to your church with you.”
Her heart skipped a beat even though Jaidon didn’t mean it was an actual date. But if he did become a Friend… Catherine glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Wishful thinking. That’s all it was.
As the service proceeded, Catherine tried to process everything. The members of the church came in and sat down before church started. They stood for music, which was another thing her church didn’t have. They began with prayer, standing, and then they sat. They finished, on their feet again, before they sat for announcements and for the pastor to deliver the Word. No one who shared in the Quaker meetings spoke as long as Jaidon’s pastor did. And apparently, he was the only one allowed to speak—though Jaidon’s pastor said some interesting things.
According to the pastor, anyone who believed the Bible verse John 3:16 and accepted Jesus Christ as Savior became a Christian. That would make her one. Catherine smiled. For some reason that knowledge made her feel warm inside. Her father had never considered his family to be Christian. Perhaps because he’d been brought up more strictly, based on older traditions and his family’s heritage.
When service was over, Jaidon introduced Catherine to the senior pastor, Thomas Burnside, and his wife, Natalie. Catherine was surprised to learn that Nathan was the youngest of their three children. Especially since neither Roberto nor Jaidon had mentioned he was their pastor’s son when they’d introduced him to her at the center. He hadn’t said much, if anything, to her. She hoped she could remember everyone since these were Jaidon’s friends.
“I hope you’ve enjoyed visiting our church today,” Thomas said, “and you’ll come back again soon.”
“I’d like that.” Catherine smiled politely. She glanced from the pastor to Jaidon, who looked somewhat like a cat with a canary in its mouth and wasn’t quite sure if it should swallow or not. Obviously the pastor was trying to gain a new convert. Why not have a little fun, make him sweat that he could be losing one? If only, she wished silently. “However, I do have a church I attend regularly. Jaidon is coming with me next week.”
“He is?” Thomas’s eyebrows raised a fraction before he quickly regained his composure. “That’s nice of him.”
“Well we really should get going if we want to beat others in line at the restaurant.” Jaidon shook the pastor’s hand and said good-bye to Natalie before leading Catherine outside. “I’m sorry.”
Catherine laughed. “Maybe if our church was a little less subtle we’d have more members.”
Jaidon ran a hand through his hair. “It was that obvious, huh?”
Catherine nodded. “Do you think he’s afraid I’ll persuade you to become a Quaker?”
Jaidon stopped and stood close to her instead of opening the car door. The heat of his breath warmed her and yet sent a chill down her spine. “I don’t know. What does your church have to offer?”
“What—” Catherine swallowed hard, hoping to keep her voice from cracking further. “What were you hoping for?”
His eyebrows rose slightly, and his head tilted. He eyed her lips before staring into her eyes. “Besides the spiritual aspect of it, I’d like to meet a nice Christian woman that I could date and possibly marry one day.”
“Maybe you could expand a bit on your preferences.” The thought of Jaidon pursuing one of the women from her church made her stomach turn. Okay, so she was attracted to him. What woman in her right mind, and who still had breath in her, wouldn’t be? Not only was he sweet and kind and caring, but he also served as delicious eye candy she was finding hard to resist. “There aren’t a lot of single women at my church.”
“Hmm…” Jaidon moved closer. “But you go there?”
She nodded.
“And you’re single?”
Her heart beat faster. She looked from his eyes to his lips and closed her eyes in anticipation. She felt his arm brush hers, and then he stepped back.
“If you think of anyone who’d like to go out on a real date with me, and work on a lasting relationship, let me know.” Jaidon leaned against the door of the Hummer, waiting for her to get in. “Because changing churches is a big commitment.”
Chapter 6
M aybe he shouldn’t have put so much pressure on Catherine. He hoped he hadn’t scared her off. Jaidon resisted the urge to look at his watch again while he shot hoops with Nathan and a couple youth at the center. She said she’d be there. She would. Part of him wondered if the real reason she wanted to drive separately tonight had something to do with Sunday, not with having to work late. Especially since she’d turned down his offer to pick her up from work.
The phone in his pocket vibrated. “Hold on, guys.”
He reached in his pocket to retrieve the phone. Noticing it was Catherine, he motioned to the guys he’d be a second and walked off the court to take the call. “Hello. I was beginning to worry about you.”
Catherine laughed. “No need to worry. I’ll be there in less than ten minutes.”
“Good.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “I can’t wait to see you.”
“Me either.”
His heart skipped a beat; she couldn’t wait to see him. He hung up the phone. Nathan zinged a basketball toward him. He barely had time to jump out of the way before it grazed past him. “Hey. What are you guys grinning about? You missed me.”
“We were going to ask you the same thing,” Nathan said. “Have anything to do with a certain someone you brought to church Sunday?”
“It might.” Heat rose to his cheeks. Okay, so his grin gave him away. It wasn’t like he had anything to hide.
Catherine looked at the time on her cell phone. She’d gotten to the center quicker than expected. Good. She could surprise Jaidon by being a couple minutes early. Pulling the key out of the ignition, she grabbed her purse and climbed out of her car.
She collided with a solid object then swayed back against her car.
Even though he wore a hoodie, she recognized his face. “I’m sorry, Daryl. I wasn’t expecting someone to be standing there.”
“Just give me your purse, and nobody gets hurt.”
She felt something against her stomach and looked down. She swallowed hard at the sight of the gun. “Daryl, why are you doing this?”
“I got to.” Daryl glanced over his sh
oulder at an older black Ford Explorer. She could see hesitancy in his eyes and pain. “If I don’t, I’m dead, and so are you.”
“D-Dog!” Jaidon’s panicked shout rang out from the distance. There was nothing he could do, and nowhere she could go. She’d had to park down the street from the center. Even if he could reach her, what could he do, especially with the menacing guy in the black vehicle across the street from her?
“Sorry.” Daryl yanked her purse out of her hands then hit her in the head with the butt of his gun before he took off on foot.
Catherine staggered. She shook her head to try and clear it but was rewarded with pain and a wave of dizziness. Her knees buckled, and she fell, struggling to focus her eyes so she could identify the dark-skinned driver of the Explorer. The driver pointed at her, index finger and thumb poised, as if he were holding a gun and pulling the trigger. A cold chill went up her spine, and she shivered.
Jaidon rounded her vehicle and grabbed hold of her. She collapsed in his arms. Unable to resist, she gave way to the darkness that engulfed her.
Although the other volunteers came with him to the hospital, Jaidon hadn’t felt like talking to any of them at the moment. He let the police officers interview them first while he tried to calm down. The waiting room may have been large, but to Jaidon it felt like a cage as he paced, waiting to find out how Catherine was doing. He wasn’t family, so they hadn’t allowed him to go back with her. If it had been an accident and not a crime, they might have let him stay with her.
“Excuse me.” An officer paused near Jaidon. “Someone said you saw what happened.”
Jaidon nodded. He wanted to throw up every time he recalled the scene, D-Dog hitting Catherine with the gun and the look on her face as she collapsed into his arms. “Yeah, I saw what happened.”
“Do you mind having a seat so I can take your statement?” The officer motioned toward a couple of vacant chairs. They both took a seat. “Can you give me your name?”
“Jaidon Taylor. I’m a lawyer and do volunteer work at the Porter County Youth Center.” Jaidon folded his hands and leaned against his thighs, nervously jiggling his right leg. He should have insisted on picking Catherine up, and then this wouldn’t have happened.
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