Lone Star Holiday

by Jolene Navarro

  Yolanda snorted “Vickie? She’s an awesome seamstress, but organizing and directing? She doesn’t know the first thing about music.”

  Lorrie Ann thought of any suggestions she could make. “What about Mrs. Callaway, the high-school drama teacher? I remember her directing the pageant when I sang.”

  “That is Martha.” Yolanda made it sound as if she should have known Mrs. Callaway’s first name. “Her sister’s having health problems, so she went to Houston to stay with her.”

  Aunt Maggie pointed her knife at Lorrie Ann. “Someone with the experience of organizing big music events is sitting right at this table.”

  Lorrie Ann gripped the knife, beating down the frustration. Disappointing her aunt seemed to be her forte. “No one in this town would want me anywhere near the pageant.”

  “Oh, pish-posh, that is just nonsense. The committee has been praying for someone to step up and lead the pageant.” She looked at John as she poured Yolanda more iced tea. “Don’t you think God is at work here?”

  He took the opportunity to fill his mouth with his fajita. She watched his throat as it moved with each swallow.

  The poor man needed to be rescued. “Aunt Maggie, I organized rock concerts not...church plays,” Lorrie Ann tried to explain one more time.

  “I can do it,” Yolanda offered. “I’ve helped with the set and props for the last few years.”

  “You’ve done a great job, mija, but we need someone with a big vision. It is the pageant’s hundredth-year anniversary.”

  Yolanda’s salad became an innocent victim, each stab fiercer than the last. Her eyes stayed focused on her plate.

  “Lorrie Ann played Mary when she was eleven. Remember?” Aunt Maggie looked back at John. “She’s gifted with a voice so sweet.” Her hands waved upward. “Her singing brought everyone to tears. You know she went to Los Angeles to start a singing career.”

  John smiled at her, eyebrows raised. “So that’s how you got into the music industry.”

  Under his gaze heat slipped up her neck. “During college I discovered Hollywood was full of good singers waiting tables.” She shrugged. “On the other hand, people who could organize musicians, not as common.”

  Yolanda pushed her beans around, talking to her plate. “I played Mary the following year.” Another stab. “But Martha didn’t let me sing.”

  “Oh, mija, you were born with your daddy’s voice.” Maggie patted Yolanda on the arm before looking back to John. “You might have noticed in church, he couldn’t carry a note if I stitched a handle on it.” She chuckled at her own joke.

  Uncle Billy shook his head and took another bite of his fajita.

  “Aunt Maggie!”

  “I don’t think she wants to—” John started.

  “Daddy, I’m supposed to be Mary this year!” Rachel interrupted. “But with my leg I can’t walk with Joseph.”

  John took a deep breath before answering. “Sweetheart, we’ll find something for you to do.”

  Now Lorrie Ann wished she had let him sit next to his daughter.

  Celeste bounced in her chair next to Yolanda. “Can I be Mary? Can I?”

  “No! You can’t—you’re too young,” Rachel bit at her sister. “Daddy, I’ve been waiting to be Mary all year!”

  Lorrie Ann struggled with placing an arm around Rachel’s shoulders. Maybe she should just talk to her. “There are other parts just as important to the story.”

  Lorrie Ann’s heart broke at the sight of the girl fighting back tears.

  The ponytail bounced with a nod. “I can be in the choir again.” She leaned forward to see her father and blinked her eyes before forcing a smile on her face.

  Lorrie Ann gave in and placed her hand on Rachel’s arm. “What about a narrating angel? Talk to the shepherds and warn the wise men. We could use one of the farm’s cherry pickers to lift you above the audience. Then you wouldn’t even have to walk—you’d be flying.” She gave Rachel a tentative smile. “You’d make a perfect angel.”

  Aunt Maggie flashed an I-told-you-so grin. “Look, she is a natural—already solving problems.”

  Lorrie Ann rolled her head back. “No, I just—”

  Celeste sat on her knees and clapped her hands. “Please, Miss Lorrie Ann. I want to be in the play.”

  Rachel snapped at Celeste again. “You’re too young.”

  Lorrie Ann softened at the sight of the small drooping shoulders. Her tiny kindred spirit pulled at her. Against her better judgment, she threw out another idea. “Maybe the kinder group can open the pageant with candles.”

  John’s sharp intake of breath gave her the first clue that this might not be her best idea, the look on his face her second.

  “Celeste with fire...real fire?”

  The tiny shoulders popped up and the clapping started again. “I could do it.” She practically stood in her chair. “Oh... Oh... What about Jenny, Mark and Carlos? We could all do it!” She threw her arms over her head. Yolanda encouraged her to sit back down and glared at Lorrie Ann.

  “See, I can’t do this.”

  Rachel looked at Lorrie Ann with steel in her eyes. “Kindergartners are too young to be in the pageant.”

  Lorrie Ann turned back to John. “Sorry.”

  His warm smile made her feel worse. “We’ll work it out. God has a plan.”

  “What about you, Pastor John? You could lead the music part.”

  Rachel glared at her again. “Daddy doesn’t do music anymore.”

  Uncle Billy tapped his watch, drawing all their attention.

  Aunt Maggie jumped up from the table. “Oh, my, look at the time. We need to head over to the church for the prayer meeting. Pastor John, you’re going to be late.”

  Lorrie Ann started gathering dishes.

  “Oh, don’t worry about those. Lorrie Ann, you go with Pastor John. Yolanda, we have to pick up Dolly.” Without another word, she followed her husband out the door.

  Chapter Seven

  Lorrie Ann watched the screen door bounce shut with Aunt Maggie’s quick exit. She sighed.

  A heavy trepidation fell on her shoulders. The thought of going to the church and facing all the people from her past made her want to curl up under her quilt and never come out.

  Her hands had a slight shake to them as she carried bowls to the counter and started covering them with foil.

  She closed her eyes and drew in a slow deep breath. Feeling calmer, she turned back to the table and gathered more dishes. “I’m not going. I’ll stay here with the girls and clean up.” She focused on her voice sounding casual and nonchalant, throwing a smile over her shoulder for good measure.

  John had started to scrape the dishes, and his light chuckle caused her to think she wasn’t as successful as she imagined.

  “Oh, no, you don’t. After the Wednesday-night prayer meeting, the girls have choir. The committee meets while they’re singing.” He leaned a hip against the counter. “You can get information on the pageant. No commitment just information. I promise.”

  John took the glasses out of her hands and placed them in the sink.

  “Someone once told me, we always do what Aunt Maggie says.” He ended that sentence with a wink.

  “Smart man.” Unable to resist his charm, she smiled.

  Celeste giggled while she held the door open for Rachel. “Lorrie Ann, you get to ride with us.”

  She needed a way out. “I can bring the girls home for you.” She opened her eyes wide. “Don’t you have some kind of vow to help damsels in distress? Come on. Please, give me an excuse to leave the committee meeting early. You would be rescuing me from the dragons roaming the streets of Clear Water.”

  His laughter rumbled deep from his chest.

  “I think you’re confusing me with a fairy-tale her
o. Besides, the dragons aren’t bad. Their intentions are good, even if a bit meddlesome at times.” He looked her straight in the eyes. “Anyway, helpless is not a word I would associate with you.”

  A grateful smile eased across her face. “It’s nice that you think that of me.”

  * * *

  John cleared his throat and moved to the door. “We need to leave.” She ran across his mind more than he would ever admit.

  “Come on, Pastor John—taking the girls home will give me a good way out. Please?” She placed a hand on his sleeve.

  He focused on her face. “Okay. You bring the girls home.” He held the door open. “Come on, Lorrie Ann. Rachel’s beating us to the truck. Can you manage in those boots or do you need help?”

  With a flip of her hair, she rolled her eyes and passed him to walk through the door.

  John tried not to be aware of the exotic-smelling perfume mixed with sunshine. It had danced through his dreams all night. He popped a green Jolly Rancher in his mouth and followed her to the truck.

  Sliding behind the steering wheel, he noticed Lorrie Ann as she glanced over her left shoulder at the girls in the backseat. She then leaned toward him and whispered in a hushed voice, “I just want to warn you, taking me to the church is asking for a disaster in your chapel. Don’t be surprised if lightning strikes.”

  He felt one eyebrow pop up as he bit back another laugh. Man, she was fun. Leaning in, he winked at her and whispered back, “God never actually struck anyone down with lightning, not in the Bible, anyway.” That was so lame. He had to stop himself from groaning aloud.

  It had been years since he’d flirted, but really, was that the best he could do? How had he ever managed to get Carol’s attention?

  He closed his eyes briefly. The images of his wife sitting on the floor and listening to him sing flashed in his mind. She had loved his music. Up until the point his music had become more important than her or God. Opening his eyes, he stared at the hand that used to wear his gold band. He had put those mistakes behind him along with any thought of starting another relationship.

  With locked jaws he put his truck in gear and headed to the church. He needed to focus on his daughters and work.

  * * *

  Pulling into an empty parking spot on the main street, John slipped out the door with just a smile and wink. Lorrie Ann sat frozen as she watched him trot across the small manicured lawn in front of the town’s picturesque church, complete with white clapboard, steeple and beautiful stained-glass windows. He greeted people at the large double doors that stood open.

  If she had her way, she would have stayed in the truck. Instead, Celeste grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the safe cocoon of the cab. So with a deep breath, she reminded herself to smile, stand tall and fake it as long as she needed to.

  Rachel, already out, swung her crutches and looked back with a scowl. “Hurry, we’re late.”

  Lorrie Ann decided to ignore the curious and shocked faces as Celeste led her through the doors and to the front pew.

  “This is where we sit,” Celeste whispered. She turned and waved to a little boy a few pews over.

  Rachel gritted her teeth and pulled her sister down. “We’re already late, so behave.”

  Lorrie Ann closed her eyes. Great—a few days in my company and the pastor shows up late to his own prayer meeting.

  Sitting up front worked out well because she could focus on God and ignore the peering eyes behind her.

  The prayer meeting only lasted about thirty minutes. People took turns reading assigned scriptures. Requests and praises were shared, and finally John led the group in one last prayer.

  As people started moving around, Lorrie Ann saw her aunt slide out the back door of the church.

  Lorrie Ann looked down at the girls, not sure where to go. “What now?”

  Rachel rolled her eyes and started pulling herself up. “We go to the children’s building for choir. You need to head to the fellowship hall for the committee meeting.”

  Celeste grabbed her hand. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

  John joined them as they passed the back doors. “Hey, thought you three beautiful gals could use an escort.” He winked at Lorrie Ann.

  “Daddy, you’re so silly.” Celeste giggled as he tickled her. They moved out the back door and walked across the small courtyard. Celeste held her father’s hand then reached over and grabbed Lorrie Ann’s fingers.

  She relaxed when Katy Norton, now Buchanan, opened the door for them. It had been nice to reconnect with her friend from high school. Now Katy corralled a group of boys into the next room. “Rhody! Paul! Take these boys outside.” She turned to Lorrie Ann with an all-encompassing hug. “I didn’t get to greet you earlier. I’m so glad you came. Maggie came by the store and said you would be taking charge of the annual pageant.”

  John gave Katy a quick hug. “Well, we got her here, but no agreements yet.”

  Katy patted Lorrie Ann’s arm. “Oh, it’ll be good. I was so excited when Maggie told me you might do the pageant. I love the mysterious ways God works.” She hugged her again. “I’ve got to go. Poor Abby has all eighteen girls by herself. I’ll introduce you to my boys later.”

  Together she and John headed to the fellowship hall. Lorrie Ann’s knees started to feel rubbery, and it had nothing to do with the stone walkway or her high heels. As they approached the back door, nausea rolled down to the pit of her stomach. She stopped.

  Lorrie Ann could already feel the heavy judgmental stares like stones thrown at her soul. Why had she let them convince her going to church would be okay?

  Whispers screamed her unworthiness. She didn’t belong in this community. She could be a Christian without going to church.

  “Lorrie Ann?” John’s fingers gently braced her wrist, bringing her back to the present. The concern in his voice mirrored the worry in his eyes. “Are you okay?”

  She turned from him to study the moths fluttering in the security light at the corner of the building. She could march in there with all the confidence she carried in L.A., but she didn’t feel like pretending tonight. She’d made a huge mistake coming here.

  Moving away from John, she shook her head. “I’m fine. I’m going to the car.” She closed her eyes. No car...trapped. “I’ll...help the girls. Katy...um...had a roomful of kids.”

  “She has Rhody, Abby and Paul to help with the children’s choir.” He grinned at her. “Man, you must really be scared if you’d rather spend the next hour with a bunch of kids than face the adults.”

  His words triggered a flash fire of outrage through her body. Her hands fisted at her hips. “Scared? I’ll have you know there is nothing these people can say or do to me—”

  Stepping back, he threw his hands up, palms out. “Just a little joke.” He tilted his head and looked her straight in the eye. “A vein looks like it’s about to derail from your neck.” He gently put his hand on her shoulder. His smile faded and compassion filled his gaze. “Don’t go in if it upsets you this much. But you could also focus on God instead of these doubts and fears.”

  He offered his strength, and she wished she could accept. She pulled back and wrapped her arms around her ribs. The blue door leading to the fellowship hall taunted her. “The last youth night I attended, Vickie told everyone I had parked under Hammond Bridge with Tommy Miller, the quarterback. I knew they had gone to the prom together, but I always thought she and Jake Torres liked each other. I know Jake liked her. I thought Jake and I were friends, but...” She bit down hard on her tongue.

  She glanced again at the moths dancing around the light. It looked welcoming and safe, but she knew how it burned if you got too close. “Then she started a rumor that I left with Jake. I can’t believe he’s a state trooper now.”

  She twisted her silver bracelets around her wrist. “Both those guys
seemed to follow her around everywhere, so I never understood why she lied about me being with them. Jake and I were friends, but Tommy never even gave me the time of day until the rumors started. I should have ignored them, but everyone believed her.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell him what had hurt the most. She stood alone while Yolanda walked past her to join Vickie’s group. They turned their backs to her, giggling and whispering.

  The old pain felt just as fresh as it did then. She had become the outsider again. Unable to comfort the seventeen-year-old girl she had been, she closed her eyes.

  John approached her, his fingers warm and strong as he squeezed her shoulder. She turned her head away, not wanting him to see the weakness of her stupid tears burning her lids.

  She shrugged. “Without knowing why, I had been exiled from the group.” Her eyes burned and her voice sounded harsh to her own ears.

  How could something from twelve years ago hurt so much? This was why she never talked about the past.

  “Lorrie Ann, fear will stop us from living the life God meant for us to live.” He kept his gaze on her. “You don’t have to go in with me, but I think you’ll find it friendlier than your teenage memories.”

  The sincere concern in his golden-brown eyes jabbed at her self-pity.

  She forced a smile. “Truthfully, I had some very unchristian experiences in that building.” She tossed her hair and stretched her spine until she stood an inch taller. “But I’m a grown-up now and need to act like one.” Maybe this was why God had brought her back. With a firm nod of her head, she placed her other hand over his.

  John moved in front of her and waited until she made eye contact. “Lorrie Ann, people will hurt us. It’s unfortunate but true. We all have our weaknesses and insecurities.” He smiled. “God’s always true. You have to trust in Him...with all things.”

  “I just don’t want you to get caught in the cross fire. You’re a very nice man.”

  He rolled his head back and groaned. “Oh, no.” He fixed his stare back on her face.

  She stared back with a blank expression. What was he talking about?