“Thanks for beingmy Mary.” Trevor pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and smiled at Isabelle. “Thanks to you and Sophie everything is covered, except the wise men and a few animals.”
A burst of green bubbled to life in Zach’s belly. The music teacher was sweet on Isabelle. Too bad the man was wasting his energy because he couldn’t have her.
The thought had Zach taking a mental step back. Isabelle didn’t belong to him. If asked, she’d say she wasn’t really dating him and claim to not even like him.
She laughed at something the music teacher said that Zach missed. More green bubbled.
You’re leaving as soon as the holidays pass, he reminded himself. Isabelle would be there and deserved to be loved. The music teacher appeared to be halfway there already. They probably had a ton in common. Did Zach and Isabelle have anything in common?
Then again, they were still pretend dating so he shouldn’t just stand there while Trevor Reeves made googly eyes at her.
“Actually, she’s my Mary.” Zach moved closer, placing his palm against Isabelle’s lower back.
Frowning, Isabelle’s expression seemed to ask,what are you doing?
“Come on, Joseph,” she told him, grasping his arm. “We’ve got to go find some wise men.”
Zach followed her back out into the half-full auditorium, not surprised when she headed toward where Lou and Rosie sat up front. Maybelle, John, her Aunt Claudia and Uncle George, and Ruby and Charlie were all already there. Great choice, he thought, when she told the guys what she needed.
Her Uncle George’s eyes widened. “We got here early to get good seats not to participate. As much as I love Annabelle, I’m not an on-stage kind of man.”
Nodding, Isabelle didn’t seem surprised at her uncle’s refusal.
“I’m not sure about standing in one place for an extended time,” John claimed, rubbing his side for emphasis. “My hip fracture from last year is healed, but I try not to tempt fate.”
Lou outright refused, claiming stage fright. “Christmas choirs are spectator events.”
“Now, honey, you know this is your opportunity to let the world know how brilliant you are,” Rosie chided him, patting his cheek.
“They already know better than that,” Maybelle stage-whispered to the others.
Rosie’s gaze cut to her friend.
“He married you, didn’t he?” Maybelle continued, a smile on her coral lips.
“Ha-ha.” Rosie slapped her thigh. “I’m surprised you remembered that in your advanced age. Your mind seems to be slipping so much these days.”
Maybelle’s gaze narrowed. “I remember lots of things.”
Her face failing to hide her disappointment, Isabelle sighed. “I understand you guys don’t want to do this, but we can’t have Annabelle’s last high school Christmas choir concert be anything less than perfect.”
“It won’t.” Maybelle stood and tugged on Ruby’s sleeve. “Come on.”
Ruby stared up at her friend. “Come on where?”
Rather than answer, Maybelle pointed a look at Claudia. “You, too.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Rosie demanded.
Maybelle made her way out of the aisle, the other two Butterflies right behind her. “Saving the day, as usual.”
Rosie jumped up to follow her friends. “Not without me, you’re not.”
Chapter Twelve
“They’re going tokill each other, aren’t they?” Zach whispered ten minutes later.
Although he still wasn’t crazy about how the guy made googly eyes at Isabelle, he felt sorry for the music director as the Butterflies argued over which three would be his wise men.
