“You think Caleb is right?” Grace whispered softly.
“I’m afraid I do,” she said gently. “I’ve been meaning to discuss the same thing with you, but I didn’t know how.”
“You think I’m rigid.”
“I think you’re a wonderful, loving young woman who has very definite ideas on what is right.” Her shoulders heaved with her indrawn breath. “I wish more young women had your principles and your unshakable belief in God.”
Grace wrapped her arms around herself. All this time she had thought she was doing what the Lord wanted, what the church wanted. “Perhaps I should resign.”
“Grace Ann Thompson, if you say something so idiotic again I’m not sure what I’ll do to you,” Mrs. Sims said, the brim of her hat bobbing in agitation. “That kind of talk is one reason I hesitated in speaking to you. You’re the best music director this church has ever had. We’re blessed and proud to have you. We would be lost without you. Don’t make me lose my religion.”
Grace found herself smiling at the affronted expression on the other woman’s face. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Well.” Mrs. Sims pulled her lavender gloves snugger on her hands. “I’ve had my say and expect you’ll be able to give us a report at choir practice Tuesday night.”
Grace didn’t look forward to facing Caleb, but she didn’t see how she had a choice. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. I better get back out there. Goodbye, Grace.” She turned to go.
“Mrs. Sims, if you can make sure Terry is at our practice and his Thursday night, I think he’ll be surprised,” Grace said.
Understanding and appreciation lit the older woman’s eyes. “He’ll be there and so will his friends if they want to have that pool party he planned at my house for Saturday,” Mrs. Sims told her and reentered the sanctuary.
Grace continued to the nursery. She had a lot to think about. One thing she didn’t want to dwell on was facing Caleb.
Later that afternoon, Grace found herself unable to settle. Since talking with Mrs. Sims, Grace had thought back over the past years and remembered her vetoing any programs that had any inkling of secular in them. Even the music for the kids’ lock-in party she reluctantly agreed to were songs she picked out. In the past year the youth choir had gone from thirty to eleven, and they were children or grandchildren of the members of the deacon board.
Grace stared out the window in the music room to the stakes in the backyard for her deck. If her father worked on this as quickly as he did on the other projects, he’d be finished in a week. She might not have counted on him while she was growing up, but as a contractor, he was the best.
He just wasn’t the best father. He loved his music and his dream too much. He’d always been singing, trying out new songs, trying to get just the right sound to take the Mystics to the top. Because it had taken her father away from her she’d gotten to the point where she hated that type of upbeat music.
And she had let that hatred close her mind to anything remotely similar.
The stinging reality of what she had done hit her. Hard. She was as sanctimonious as Caleb had accused. She had judged him on superficial issues. God looked at the heart, not what a person wore. Who was she to say what type of music to worship Him was acceptable and what was not? All she could do was make sure her heart and reasons were in order.
She hadn’t done that.
Dropping to her knees, Grace bowed her head in prayer. Lord, forgive me for my transgressions. Thank You for opening my eyes and my heart. Please give me the strength and the courage to stay in Thy perfect will and not my own. Amen.
She came to her feet. Tomorrow wouldn’t be easy, but her heart felt lighter than it had in a long time.
Just open the door and do it, Grace admonished herself as she stood outside Music Room C on Monday afternoon. Caleb’s secretary had said he was there working on the gospel musical. Obviously he was going ahead with his selections. It still rankled that none of her selections were acceptable, but she just had to accept it.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stopped. Her mouth gaped as much from Caleb’s deep rich voice as from what he was playing. “Blessed Assurance.” Only it wasn’t the slow, soulful music she was familiar with, but with a faster, upbeat tempo. She wasn’t aware she had made a sound, but she must have because he glanced up. Their eyes met.
Again she felt the strange sensation in her stomach. Nerves. She let the door swing shut and walked farther into the room. “Your secretary told me where to find you.”
“Hello, Grace.” Caleb came to his feet. “I’m glad she did. We need to talk.”
“That’s why I’m here.” Grace glanced away from him to the sheet music on the baby grand. “That’s one of my selections.”
“I know what you’re going to say, but I just want you to listen to it first. I’ve been working on it all weekend.” He picked up several sheets of music from atop the piano and came to her. “I haven’t been able to get anywhere with any of the rest. Revelation will just have to use sheet music.”
Grace was a bit stunned. “You’re willing to use some of my selections?”
“Yes. I was so busy talking about you being rigid that I wasn’t looking at myself being the same way. I was wrong and I apologize.”
She hadn’t expected this turn of events. “I’ll accept yours if you’ll accept mine.”
“Done. Now, what do you think of what you heard?”
“It’s different,” Grace said slowly.
“At least you didn’t slam the piano top down on my fingers,” Caleb said, his mouth curving into a smile.
Before she knew how it happened, Grace smiled back. “I think I was too stunned.”
“Come on. Sit down and I’ll give you another chance.” Taking her by the arm he sat her on the bench, joined her, then began to play and sing.
Grace found herself clapping her hands. Her eyes widened as she realized what she was doing. She tucked her head and placed her hands in her lap.
Caleb stopped playing. “If the tempo makes you uncomfortable, we won’t do it. Revelation can accompany your gospel choir on ‘Stand,’ and then bow out and your choir can do the rest.”
Her head came up. “That isn’t fair. They were so excited. Nor is it what the city council had in mind.”
“They’ll have to accept what they get,” he said firmly.
He was serious. He’d give in to her rather than make her uncomfortable. President Jenkins would be disappointed, but he’d accept Caleb’s decision. He respected him too highly not to. Grace thought of all the times she’d had such very uncharitable thoughts about Caleb and realized she had been wrong about him and a lot of other things. “We’ll do the concert together or not at all.” Opening her purse, she drew out new sheet music to “Stomp.” “The president of the choir convinced me that it might not be a bad idea to have some of your songs.”
“Thank you.” His hand closed around the pages.
With him sitting so close to her and staring at her, she felt a bit nervous and rose to her feet. “I recall Revelation also did ‘We Fall Down’ and I think that should be included.”
“They’d like that,” Caleb told her.
“The choir has wanted to sing that song for a long time.” She adjusted her purse strap over on her shoulder. “Well, I should go. I have a class.”
Caleb went with her to the door. “Did you skip lunch again?”
“I wanted to get the music.” She reached for the door handle.
“There’s one thing I need to say before you go.”
“I thought Revelation and the choir could practice together Tuesday night at the church,” Grace said.
“That wasn’t it,” he said. “I needed to apologize for that remark I made. Any man would count himself lucky if you allowed him to kiss you.”
Grace felt heat suffuse her face. Her lashes swept over her eyes in an unconscious flirtatious gesture. Not knowing how to answer, she slipped out the door, but
she was smiling before she went two steps.
Chapter Seven
When Grace arrived home that afternoon her parents were waiting for her just as she had requested. She watched them holding hands as they sat side by side on the portion of the deck her father has already finished. She’d known they would be together.
Opening the half-glass door, she stepped onto the stone path that led to the deck. They stood together, their hands still locked. Grace had never understood her mother’s unconditional devotion to a man who swept in and out of her life so easily. Yet, looking at the lines time and defeat had etched in her father’s face, perhaps it hadn’t been easy for him, either.
“Thank you for coming, Mama,” Grace said, trying to figure out where to begin.
“You said it was important,” her mother answered simply.
To her mother it had always been important to see to the needs of her children…except in one instance. “I really need to talk to you about my feelings toward both of you.”
Both parents tensed, but as usual, it was her mother who spoke. “We know, sweetie. We always have.”
Grace was shaking her head before her mother finished. “But you don’t. Not really.”
“You tell us, then. We’ll listen,” her father said.
Grace swallowed the lump in her throat. “It was important to me that you stay at home, Daddy.” She bit her lip before she could continue. “I used to beg both of you, but you always went anyway. Mama, you should have made him stay.”
Her mother left her father’s side and came to Grace, her eyes softly pleading. “I loved him enough to let him go. Keeping him would have been wrong.”
“But we needed him.” Grace fought tears that threatened. “I needed him.”
“I know that now.” Mrs. Thompson’s hands were as unsteady as her daughter’s when she took them in hers. “You weren’t independent and outgoing like your brother. I thought it was because you were a girl and that you would eventually grow out of it. I kept thinking that until…” Her voice trailed off.
“Until I began avoiding him,” Grace finished.
Tears pricked her mother’s dark-brown eyes. “Yes. It hurt him so bad and I hurt for the both of you. He loves you.”
And I turned my back on him, Grace thought. She had been so wrong.
Grace finally looked at her father, his hands clenched, his face unbearably sad, and asked the question that had been burning in her heart for years. “Why didn’t you sing inspirational songs?”
“Perhaps because I grew up in Memphis and not a day went by that I didn’t hear the wail of my daddy’s sax or my uncle’s guitar. Music was in my blood, but it had a different beat.”
Grace recalled the fun visits to her father’s parents in Memphis and the wonderful times they’d had together. The rambling house her grandparents lived in would be full of music and the smell of good food. “Why wasn’t singing in the church choir enough?”
“I enjoyed some of the songs, but not all. Loving the Lord doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy other types of music. It does mean that wherever I go, I hold myself in such a way that His light will shine in me.”
More than she had done. She might have turned her back on her father, but he had never turned his back on her. “Daddy, I’m sorry.”
He met her more than halfway, his strong arms going around her. “It’s all right, baby girl.”
Her tears fell faster. He used to call her that when she was a little girl. “I was so angry at you for leaving us, for loving your music more than you loved us.”
“Never.” Stepping back, he palmed her face and stared into her eyes. “Sure I wanted it for myself, but also for my family. I wanted all of you to have the best.” He cast a brief glance at his wife. “Your mother has worked ever since we got married until two years ago. I wanted to sit her down, give her a fancy car, diamonds, trips.”
“As long as I have you and the children, I’m content.” Mrs. Thompson came to stand beside them. “Material possessions don’t mean anything if you don’t have love. We have love.”
With one hand he pulled her to him. “You’ll always have that.”
Grace brushed the tears away. “Let’s go inside and eat. I made your favorite meal.”
Caleb almost kept on going when he saw Grace’s father’s truck parked outside her house, but he was too hyped not to pull into her driveway. Grabbing the black zippered case, he slammed out of the car and bounded up the steps. It took two rings of the doorbell before the door was opened.
Grace’s dark eyes widened in surprise on seeing him. “Caleb—Professor Jackson, what are you doing here?”
“You were right the first time. It’s Caleb.” He lifted his zipped case. “I finally worked out all the music for ‘Blessed Assurance.’ I wanted to run it by you before I share it with Revelation at tonight’s practice.”
Her face glowed. “I can’t wait. Please come on in.”
Caleb entered the house and followed her to the music room. Her father was there with an attractive middle-aged woman who Caleb could tell from the resemblance was Grace’s mother even before she introduced them.
“I didn’t mean to interfere, but I wanted Grace to see if she approved of the revised music before the students hear it.”
“Not at all,” her mother said. “We’d love to listen, too, if you don’t mind.”
Caleb looked from Grace’s mother to her father. “I’d like your opinion.”
“Daddy used to be a singer with the Mystics,” Grace said, lifting the lid of the baby grand.
She didn’t see her father’s chest swell with pride and love, but Caleb did. It appeared as if Grace had forgiven them both. Another prayer his Heavenly Father had answered. He took a seat on the bench and opened the music. “Grace, sit here where you can see the music and come in where I want the choir to join in.” He angled his head over his shoulder. “Feel free to join in, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.”
Caleb began playing. He knew the instant Grace sat beside him. They both knew, and her parents probably did as well, that she didn’t need to be beside him to read the music. He liked having her close, even when she was annoyed with him.
Grace joined in and Caleb almost hit the wrong key. He simply stared. She had a clear, soul-stirring voice. She caught him staring, but this time instead of stopping she smiled and kept on singing and clapping her hands.
Caleb returned the smile and they continued singing. Her parents joined in and although her mother’s voice was a nice alto, it was her father’s moving tenor that reminded Caleb so much of Andrea Crouch’s. Caleb could see why he had taken his talent on the road. It always amazed him when some artists made it and others with just as much talent didn’t. But the Lord had His reasons and to question Him was to waste a lot of time.
“In my opinion, you’ve done a fine job, Caleb,” Mr. Thompson said when they finished.
“I think so, too.” Grace turned to Caleb. “Now, if only your students will agree.”
“I’ll let you know.” Caleb rose to his feet and glanced at his watch. “I better take off. Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, and thanks for joining in.”
“Thank you,” Grace’s father said. “It’s been a long time since I heard Grace sing. Isn’t she something?”
Caleb stared down at Grace who had come to her feet, a shy smile on her pretty face. He felt a little tug in the region of his heart. “Yes, she is.”
Grace blushed. “I’ll show you out.”
Caleb followed her to the door. “I didn’t mean to stare.”
Her lashes briefly swept down. “If you can, please call me tonight if you have time and let me know what they thought.”
“I’ll make time,” he told her. “By the way, have you ever thought of doing a solo? You have a beautiful voice.”
“I also get nervous singing by myself. I’m more comfortable directing. Good night,” Grace said.
“Night, Grace.”
Whistling, Caleb bounded down the steps and vaulted i
nto the car without opening the door. He wasn’t showing off, he told himself as he pulled out and waved to Grace who was still standing in the doorway. He was just saving time.
It’s a go. I’ll meet you tomorrow in the cafeteria during your lunch period to discuss the joint practice tomorrow night.
Grace was nervous remembering Caleb’s words. She kept looking at the double doors of the college cafeteria to see if Caleb had made it yet. She’d come straight from her class. Hurried, in fact. It was no longer possible to deny that she was attracted to him. And, from the way he looked at her sometimes, he felt the same way.
Picking up her tray with a grilled chicken salad, she headed toward the area designated for the staff. Through the bank of windows in front of her she could see the other white buildings on the rolling hills of the five-acre campus. She loved teaching and she loved her life here, since she and her father had settled their differences. He’d been there that morning before she left. They’d shared a cup of coffee and a hug.
She put her tray on the small table just as Caleb came through the door. As usual her heart did a little dance. As usual, he was surrounded by several students. He was a popular teacher. She didn’t have to think long to realize students never crowded around her. It had always been her practice to hold a part of herself back for fear of being hurt. God’s children didn’t live with fear.
By the time she’d removed her food from the tray and put the tray away, Caleb was there. “Hi. Sorry I’m a bit late.”
“That’s all right,” Grace told him, wishing her nerves would settle and that she didn’t want to look around to see if everyone in the cafeteria was watching them. Caleb unloaded his tray and took a seat across from her. She had to smile at the amount of food. “Mrs. Roberts really loaded your tray.”
How Sweet the Sound Page 14
