Her mouth opened, then she grimaced. “You have me there, don’t you? I can’t really in good conscience say no to you going to church with me.”
He eyed how her cheeks flushed, how her breath had quickened, how she was twisting the hem of her sweater. “But you want to?”
“I don’t think I’d pay much attention to what was being taught if you were there.”
“Because?”
Sighing and not meeting his gaze, she spoke so softly that he barely heard. “You distract me.”
Not allowing himself to analyze why her admission made him happy, Zach touched the tip of her nose. “You distract me, too, wifey.”
*
Isabelle’s heart thunderedat Zach’s teasing. He didn’t mean a thing by it, and yet… and yet, his comment had her spinning. Or maybe it was how complicated her relationship with him was. They were a pretend couple pretending to be a married couple. No wonder she felt off-kilter.
“I am not a sit-on-the-sidelines-while-these-three-are-on-stage kind of woman,” Rosie informed the music teacher.
“I hate to break it to you”—Maybelle’s tone said she relished every word—“but you’ve been sitting on the sidelines of our lives for years.”
Rosie stamped her foot. “Ooooh, you take that back, Maybelle Kirby.”
“Nope. Facts are facts.”
“There is another part.” Trevor looked uncertain of what he was going to say. “I’d thought to have the performance without recasting that role, but if you were willing… It’s a speaking part.”
“Speaking?” Rosie perked up. “I’ll take it. Whatever it is, I’m sure I’m perfect.”
Ten minutes later and wearing her Mary costume, Isabelle slapped her hand over her mouth. She fought looking at Zach as his chest convulsed a little from suppressed laughter in response to in-costume Rosie stepping out from behind the changing area.
“Oh my.” Isabelle wished she could pull the blue cloth covering her head over her face. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold in her laughter.
“Yep.” Zach’s hand covered his mouth as if his half-strangled chuckle were actually a coughing spell.
Three Butterfly wise men’s jaws dropped.
Isabelle wasn’t sure she’d ever seen Maybelle double over with laughter before, but she cackled to the point her ribs were sure to be sore the next day. Ruby and Aunt Claudia were right there with her.
Maybelle hit her thighs. “That’s priceless.”
“The greatest thing I’ve ever seen.” Ruby howled, grabbing hold of Claudia’s arm as if she thought she might topple over from her amusement.
“Legendary.” Aunt Claudia reached for her phone.
“Do not, and I mean do not, take a photo of me in this”—Rosie’s nose curled as she glanced down at her fuzzy gray attire—“this ridiculous get-up.”
“Now, Rosie, you’re going to be in the spotlight for an entire song that’s dedicated to you.” Isabelle did her best to keep a straight face. “You look adorable.”
She did, although not in her usual fashion. “Well, of course I do, dear. That’s a no-brainer. But even with me tucked inside, this suit leaves a lot to be desired.” Rosie lifted her chin, causing an ear to flop over.
Three Butterflies roared with laughter again.
“Who knew the concert was a comedy?”
“Sure has me laughing,” Aunt Claudia agreed, with her and Ruby still clutching each other’s arms in their merriment. “You think anyone will try to pin a tail on her?”
Isabelle pressed her lips tightly together, determined not to laugh. Next to her, Zach turned his head away from the women in an effort to contain his own mirth.
“Or better yet…” Maybelle’s eyes twinkled. “They may think she’s a piñata and give her a good whack.”
