Nelly couldn't disagree. She hadn't wanted to accept any of the ideas that he had brought to begin with, thinking that she did everything pretty well on her own, but a fresh voice, some fresh ideas, and someone who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty and help out wherever he could, had been invaluable.
Who was she kidding, she thought, as Lilly's hand slipped intoher dad's, and they turned and walked away. Roland had made a huge difference, and not just because she knew that he was the Secret Saint, nor because she felt like she was falling in love with him. But because... Working with him was fun. He had challenged her, helped her, and somehow made her better. The way iron sharpened iron.
It wasn't long until the last child walked out, and Nelly found herself tidying up and moving toward Roland.
They had just gotten close enough to chat with each other, when Pastor and Mrs. Tucker came into the sanctuary.
A heavy silence fell on the sanctuary as they waited for the pastor and Mrs. Tucker to walk over to them.
Pastor greeted them, but didn’t wait long to say what was obviously on his mind.
"I just wanted to give you an update. Mrs. Tucker and I have added a camera that looks directly at the collection plate. She and I are the only ones who have access to this camera, or who know where it is." He gave a little smile. "Although I did add an 'Under Surveillance' sign out front, since I understand that, even if we do catch the perpetrator, we can't prosecute him using the video unless we have the signs up, warning him that he'll be caught on camera."
"All right," Nelly said, not sure how she felt about prosecuting someone who was so desperate that they felt like they needed to steal from a church.
"I have my eye on you," Mrs. Tucker said, her knowing gaze narrowing at Roland. Then, her lips lifted a little, giving what looked to Nelly like an evil smile, almost as though she was sure that she knew exactly who was stealing, and it was clear that she was implying that Roland was the thief.
To Roland's credit, he let her comments roll off his back.
"I'm glad to hear it. I hope we catch the thief soon. It doesn't sit well with me that the church has been losing donations that have been earmarked for programs like ours. People will stop givingmoney altogether, if they don't feel like we're going to be using it for good, but instead allow it to be squandered or stolen away."
Roland spoke casually, and if he was upset about Mrs. Tucker's implied and barely veiled accusations, he didn't look like it at all.
The pastor nodded. If he agreed with Mrs. Tucker, Nelly couldn't tell by looking at him. She assumed he was trying to be neutral, but was understandably upset that the money had been stolen.
They talked about how the play was coming for a little bit, and then Mrs. Tucker and the pastor walked away.
"I don't know how you can put up with that. I wanted to rip her throat out," Nelly said as soon as Mrs. Tucker walked out of the sanctuary.
Roland grinned easily, and that grin made the hair on the back of her neck curl and it sent shivers down her spine.
"We'll find out who it is, and then she'll be the one embarrassed for blaming me."
"You're so sure we'll find them. How do you know that they'll steal again?"
"Typically if someone gets away with something, they get braver and bolder. Also," he gave her a mischievous smile, which she couldn't help returning. "I heard that Mrs. Tucker's son, who is a sheriff in a town just south of here, might be moving in with her. Apparently, he's having some trouble with his son, who is an early teen, from what I understood."
"I didn't hear that," Nelly said, lowering her voice and moving closer. Her antagonism toward Mrs. Tucker was almost forgotten in her concern for his son.
Roland nodded. "I'm not sure of the details. Something else might emerge, but I think it has to do with his wife running off with another man, and his son has started acting out. The dad resigned from the police force, and is moving back in with his mother to try to get his son away from the bad influences that he was around in that town. I just thought maybe as Secret Saints we could do somethingto maybe cheer them up a little, but I'm out of ideas as to what that should be."
"Let me think on it for a little bit. I'm sure we could come up with something. Although, it would be nice if we could have a magic wand to wave over the mom in the situation, to get her to come to her senses, and see how she's destroying her family."
"I could be wrong, but it might be too late even if we did have a magic wand. After someone has cheated, putting a family back together would have to be one of the hardest things that humans can do."
"But with God, all things are possible," Nelly couldn't help but say.
Roland grinned, full on. "I love that positive attitude."
They shared a smile that seemed to stretch between them. As the moment warmed and shimmered, Nelly was tempted to tell Roland how she felt. After all, she felt safe with him. Even if he didn't return her feelings, he wasn't going to make fun of her. But...they had been antagonistic toward each other for so long, maybe they should enjoy this newfound friendship that they had, before she tested it by dropping feelings into the mix. Or maybe she was just too scared to open her mouth. That was probably it more than anything.
They chatted a bit more about a few other things they wanted to do as Secret Saints as Christmas got closer and closer, and then, looking around the sanctuary, and seeing that everything was tidied up, and an entire hour had passed since the children had left, they strolled to the door and reluctantly parted.
Roland watched her leave, excited that they would be together again that evening to deliver gifts to a home. He couldn't wait.
He smiled as she reached her car, then turned around, ostensibly looking for him. She found him, and immediately her face lifted in a smile, as she waved a hand goodbye.
He lifted a hand, not even embarrassed to have been caught watching her, just leaning against the railing of the porch, enjoying the way she moved.
