She continued to vent the rest of the way to Tim and Leah’s house. Wade listened and prayed for direction. For how to counsel Joel and Mel. And for what to do with the attraction he felt for Kristy. He parked in front of the house. Before getting out of the truck, she squeezed his hand. “Thanks to you. I can do this now.”
His heartbeat quickened, and he followed her up the sidewalk. He’d need to get his dog and get out of there because he was more confused about how to handle this whole situation than he had been before the day started.
* * *
Two days later, Kristy pulled down the visor and looked at her reflection as she applied light pink lipstick. She patted her cheeks, wishing she could do something to cover the freckles that splattered across her face and gave her a more youthful appearance. She bit back a laugh. Only a teen mom who’d spent her adult life avoiding comments like “you don’t look old enough to have a kid that age” would understand Kristy’s need to appear more mature.
After scooping her briefcase out of the passenger’s seat, she stepped out of the car and then smoothed out the wrinkles in her peach pencil skirt. As she walked toward the community college, she hoped the rhinestone she’d hot glued back on to the top of her favorite sandals stayed in place. Even though Leah and Tim were determined to pay for the wedding, Kristy planned to help foot the bill or at least help with some of the baby costs. She wouldn’t have extra money for new wardrobe pieces for quite a while.
Once in her classroom, Kristy turned on the laptop and pulled up the presentation software. She took the syllabi and first-class assignments from her briefcase, and then looked over her notes.
A knock sounded at the door, and Kristy motioned for a young woman to come inside. She glanced at the clock on the wall, realizing the summer writing class would begin in fifteen minutes.
“Hi, Professor Phillips.” The woman ducked her chin and waved with her free hand. The other held on to a small boy, probably three years old. The little guy’s hair was a mass of red curls. His eyes were big and puffy from being awakened, and his mouth was turned down in a frown. “I’m sorry I had to bring my son. I hope it’s okay.”
Kristy looked back at the young woman. Her light red hair was pulled back in a haphazard ponytail. Her expression appeared just as fatigued as her son’s.
“My mom couldn’t watch Jonah today. Normally, it won’t be a problem. I would have emailed and told you I couldn’t make it…” She lifted one shoulder. “I just didn’t want to miss the first class.”
Kristy’s heart tightened as memories washed over her: missing class when Mel had been sick, asking family and friends to watch her when schedules had changed, begging one particularly grumpy professor to allow them to simply sit in the back of the auditorium. She’d promised to leave right away if Mel had fussed. The man had stood by his no-children-in-the-classroom policy.
Kristy smiled at the young woman. “I completely understand. You’ll normally have child care?”
The woman nodded. “My mom always watches him. She just had a doctor’s appointment today.”
Kristy pointed to the back of the room. “Why don’t you just have a seat in the back beside the door? That way if he gets fussy, you can slip out without any disturbances.”
“Thanks.”
“What’s your name?”
“Hannah Akers.”
Kristy passed her a syllabus and the first assignments. “I’ll go ahead and give you these in case you have to slip out.”
Hannah sighed. “I appreciate it. It’s not easy being a single mom and going to school.”
Kristy nodded. She understood better than Hannah knew. Opening the top desk drawer, she pulled out a couple of suckers and handed them to Hannah. “These might help keep him occupied.”
Hannah thanked her again and then made her way to the back as several students entered the room. Throughout class, Kristy tried not to look at Hannah and her young son, Jonah. She tried not to remember her own struggles getting through college while caring for a toddling daughter. She tried not to allow worry for Mel and her unborn grandchild to seep through her thoughts and distract her from the lesson.
She exhaled a sigh of relief after she passed out the assignments and dismissed the class. Intellectually stimulated and emotionally overwhelmed, she contemplated going home, changing into shorts and a T-shirt and taking a walk through the White Tank Mountains.
“Professor Phillips?”
Kristy turned. One of her students, a dark-haired young man, leaned against the door frame. “Yes?”
“I’m Curt Earlywood.”
He pushed away from the jamb and extended his hand. She shook it, but when he held her grip for a moment longer than necessary, Kristy pulled back. “How may I help you, Mr. Earlywood?”
“Call me Curt.” He chuckled, but the sound came out more like a snort than a laugh. “My buddy took your class last semester. He said you were pretty hot.”
Kristy raised her eyebrows and glared at him. “Excuse me?”
“I mean, he said you were pretty. And he said you were a really nice lady. And…” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. “I wondered if I could treat you to lunch.”
Kristy’s initial anger simmered as she realized the boy must not have intended to sound disrespectful. “Thank you for the offer, but I’ll have to decline.”
“How come? It’s not as though we’re not adults.”
Kristy blinked at the immature response. With a firm word and a narrow gaze, she would have reprimanded any other young man, but Curt seemed truly hurt by her refusal. She folded her hands together. “It would be highly inappropriate for me to go on a date with one of my students. Additionally, I’m much older than you realize.”
He sneered. “I know lots of professors who go out with students.”
She shook her head. “Not this one.”
He released an exaggerated sigh, then shrugged. “Well, okay. It was worth a try.”
She bit back a grin and nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He turned to leave, then stepped back through the door. “Just out of curiosity, what are you? Like twenty-six?”
“Try adding a decade to that number.”
Curt’s eyes widened, and he left in a hurry. Kristy shook her head. Not only was Mel unprepared for mothering, Kristy was unable to fathom being a grandmother.
Chapter 7
Wade walked into Marley’s Restaurant and Bar, one of Surprise’s favorite restaurants. He’d been here before for lunch and enjoyed a turkey sandwich. The catfish dinner with fried potatoes and coleslaw had looked so delicious, he’d determined to try the meal for the church’s monthly men’s dinner out.
He had still been moving into his house during the previous event, so he wasn’t sure what to expect. Chad Whalen, the church’s music minister, had assured him Wade would have no responsibilities. Whoever wasn’t busy came for the meal. They’d fellowship and eat, and then they’d go home.
Wade spied Chad in the back corner. The youth minister, Greg Rogers, stood beside him. Wade swallowed a chuckle at the visual contrast between the two men. Though only a few years apart in age, Chad looked much older than Greg. Chad’s copper-colored hair was short and styled, his beard full but neatly trimmed. He wore a red polo shirt tucked into a new pair of jeans with a brown leather belt around his waist.
In contrast, Greg’s black hair had been cut to look messy and even spiked out from various angles. Thick black glasses would have given him a Clark Kent appearance if not for his ultrasmall frame, which he’d covered with a hipster T-shirt and skinny jeans. When Wade had first seen Greg, he’d instantly stereotyped him to be a semi-Gothic, probable junkie. Until Wade heard him talk about Christ. Greg was sold to the Lord, 100 percent, and his unthreatening appearance and zeal for God drew in the teenagers of the community.
Wade shook Chad’s hand, then Greg’s. “Hey, guys. Just the three of us?”
Chad motioned to the rest area. “Fred
dy’ll be right back.”
Greg pointed to the door. “Here comes Ron.”
Ron Rice, one of the older deacons of the church, grabbed Wade’s hand in a death grip of a handshake. “Evening, Reverend Wade.”
“Please. Just call me Wade.”
Ron teased, “Take some getting used to if I call my minister just by his first name.”
“Times are changing,” said Greg.
Ron furrowed his brows at the younger man and humphed as he plopped down in a chair.
“How’s Wilma tonight?” asked Chad. He winked, and Wade had a feeling the music minister had just averted an argument between the two men.
“She and Dortha went to dinner together, since Freddy and I are here.” He looked around the restaurant. “Where is Freddy?”
“I’m here, old man.” Freddy patted Ron’s back. “Just had to use the men’s room.” He plopped down beside his friend.
Wade glanced at the time on his smartphone. Fifteen minutes past the agreed-upon time. “Looks as if this is all of us.”
Greg nodded. “A lot of people go on vacation in June.”
“Usually twenty or so men show up,” added Chad.
“Michael Preston was parking when I pulled up,” said Ron. “Poor guy looks exhausted.”
Chad wrinkled his nose. “I’ve heard Noah’s not sleeping well.” Michael walked in, and Chad motioned him to the table.
“Mel said she and Kristy kept him, and he cried most of the night,” responded Greg.
“That was really nice of them to keep the baby,” said Wade.
“Carrie only allowed it because Kristy’s her sister,” said Michael. He nodded to each of them, then sat across from Ron. “It was the best sleep ever.”
Wade sat beside Michael. “I didn’t know they were sisters.”
“Yep. Another sister is stationed in Japan. And her parents are missionaries in Brazil. With my family living in Kentucky, Kristy is all the family we have.”
The waitress arrived for their drink orders, and since each of them knew what he wanted, she wrote down their meals, as well. Wade wondered if Michael and Carrie knew about Mel’s pregnancy and upcoming wedding. He imagined that while taking care of her fussy nephew, Kristy had worried about how Mel would handle the same situation. He itched to call and check up on her, but his attraction for her made him hesitant.
“Now, you know Wilma and I would watch your little guy anytime you needed us,” said Ron.
“That’s very kind of you,” said Michael. He turned to Chad. “I meant to mention it on Sunday and forgot. That new song you presented during worship was awesome.”
“It’s one of my favorites, too,” added Greg. “The students begged to sing it at youth group.”
Freddy shifted in his seat. “It was a bit too upbeat to me.”
“And too loud,” added Ron. “And I’m hard of hearing.”
“I don’t have a problem with clapping and raising your hands at the service,” said Freddy, “but there was a girl a few rows in front of us actually shaking her rear end.”
Ron shook his head. “Not appropriate.”
“I agree we don’t want people dancing provocatively,” said Chad, “but even David danced before the Lord when the Ark of the Covenant was brought back to Jerusalem.”
“I bet he wasn’t shaking his rear end,” snorted Ron.
“I want to hold the hymnal in my hands,” said Freddy. He turned to Wade. His expression implored Wade to agree. “What’s wrong with the old hymns?”
“Nothing,” said Greg. “But there isn’t anything wrong with the contemporary songs today, either.”
“It’s like the different translations,” said Ron. “I finally get used to the NIV, and now the reverend is reading from the ESV.”
“Wade,” Greg responded.
Ron narrowed his gaze at the youth minister, and Wade cleared his throat. He looked at Ron. “Yes, please call me Wade.” He opened his hands. “I’m sure we can come to some compromises.”
Freddy leaned back in his chair. “The older generation doesn’t like all these changes, especially when they’re not brought before the church for approval. And let’s face it, the bulk of the financial support comes from—”
Wade lifted his hand. “I’m sorry, Freddy. I’m going to have to stop you there.” He swallowed the knot in his throat. He had no desire to upset members when he’d been pastoring the church only a month. After a quick prayer for guidance, he continued, “I never want to know who contributes what to the church’s treasury. A person’s giving is between him or her and God. As long as I’m pastor, I won’t support a single decision that is made on the basis of appeasing those who give the most money.”
Freddy lifted his eyebrows and looked at Ron. “Guess we’re under new management.”
“I’m not your manager,” said Wade. “I’m your pastor. My job is to lead this church in following God’s will. God’s will only. No person.”
Ron’s lips parted into a slow smile. He patted Wade’s hand. “That’s good to hear. I think we should look into forming a committee to help us old folks—” he pointed to himself, then motioned to Greg “—and the young folks compromise in the way worship looks.”
Greg nodded. “I think that sounds like a great idea.”
Michael clasped his hands. “We have a business meeting tomorrow night after Wednesday-night prayer meeting. We’ll bring it up then.”
Wade forced a grin as the men changed the subject to baseball and the weather. A committee to help them all get along. Wonderful. He needed to add more meetings to his calendar like he needed to add more marriage-counseling sessions. But at least it was a first step.
* * *
Kristy leaned forward in the pew, rested her elbows on her knees and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. “What just happened?”
Carrie chuckled as she nudged her forearm. “You just agreed to be on the unification committee. You’re going to help get all of us on the same page for worship.”
Kristy sat up and glared at her sister. “Why did you nominate me for this?”
“Michael told me to.” She shrugged. “And I’m glad I did. You’re a terrific negotiator, mediator, debater.” She flipped her wrist. “Whatever the correct term is. You were always the one to keep the peace between all us sisters.”
“But I don’t have time to be on a let’s-make-everyone-happy team.” She shook her head. “Why can’t I just learn to say no?”
“Quit being such a drama queen.”
Kristy glowered at her sister.
Carrie laughed outright and nudged her again. “Come on, sis. It’s not so bad. You’re only teaching one class this summer, and Mel won’t be moving out for a couple months.”
Kristy bit her tongue. She hadn’t shared the big news. Noah was only two weeks old, and only a few days had passed since his digestive system had seemed to settle into his new supplemental formula. Carrie still nursed him, having adjusted to a bland diet to keep from upsetting Noah’s tummy. Today was the first time Carrie had left the house, except the times she’d taken him to the doctor.
Carrie looked at her smartphone. “We need to get going. Noah’s gonna want to eat in about half an hour, and I don’t want Michael to give him a bottle.” She glanced down at her chest. “I need some relief.”
“Okay.” Kristy stood. “I just need to say one quick thing to Wade.”
A sly expression wrapped Carrie’s face as she leaned close. “He’s kinda cute, don’t ya think? You’ve always liked dark-haired men, and those deep blue eyes of his are perfectly dreamy.”
Kristy rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you married? Just had a baby, even?”
“Michael really likes him. Feels like he’s gonna be good for the church.”
Kristy tsked. “I hope so, since we just voted him into the pulpit.”
“He thinks Wade’s a great all-around kind of guy. You know, down to earth and all.”
Kristy nodded.
“And he�
��s single,” Carrie singsonged.
“And he’s our minister,” Kristy mumbled, and then made her way toward Wade before someone heard their conversation.
He looked up and smiled when she approached. Her stomach tightened as she took in the five-o’clock shadow wrapping his strong chin. Deep blue eyes drew her nearer, and she swallowed trying to remember what she wanted to ask him.
“Thanks for agreeing to serve on the committee,” he said.
Standing so close to him, she noticed how broad his shoulders were. He wore a yellow polo shirt, which appeared to be just a tad small. Either that or he worked out more than any pastor she’d ever known. He picked up his Bible, and his biceps flexed with the motion.
“I think we have a good group. Very diverse,” he continued. “Greg and Becca, Chad’s wife, represent the younger generation. Freddy and Eustace represent the seniors.”
“Guess that means we represent the middle.”
“Yep.”
Forcing her thoughts away from his straight white teeth and full smile, she said, “I wondered if you’d met with Mel and Joel.”
“Tomorrow.”
Kristy frowned. “Doesn’t our committee meet tomorrow?”
He pointed to her, then himself. “We meet at seven. I meet with Mel and Joel at four.”
“You must like meetings.”
“They’re why I became a pastor.” He winked, and Kristy couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up inside her. He studied her for a moment. “Would you like to go for a walk with me and Bo?”
“Bo?”
“My dog.”
“Oh, yes. I remember him now.”
“Dalmatians like attention, and they thrive on regular exercise.” He tilted his head. “You could join us. We could confabulate a bit about Mel or whatever you’d like.”
Kristy chuckled. “Confabulate? Really?”
“It’s just a formal meaning for talk or converse.”
“Oh, I know. I’m just wondering if you’re studying a dictionary in your spare time.”
“Only when I’m not in meetings.”
Arizona Pastor Page 5
