He found that he meant every word. It had been rewarding. Of course, he really started looking forward to practice once he and Nelly had started getting along better. And now, he looked forward to every single one. Even if Mrs. Tucker was still giving him suspicious side eyes, and Pastor looked disapprovingly at him every time he walked in the church.
There was nothing he could do about that. No way to prove hisinnocence. A person was supposed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt. All there were were shadows and doubts, along with unfounded accusations from Mrs. Tucker.
It irritated him, but again, he couldn't let it affect him. Otherwise, he would be angry and bitter and constantly trying to prove his innocence, which would probably only make him look more guilty.
"One more practice in the books," Nelly said as she came over, folding the last angel uniform and setting it down beside where he had set Lilly's on the front pew.
"Now all we have to do is get through the actual performance tomorrow." He smiled down at Nelly. How had he never noticed how beautiful she was?
Maybe she wasn't conventionally beautiful, but her smile was full of life and happiness, and it was liberally given to everyone. She hadn't gotten upset with a single child, and he was the only person that he could ever remember her being angry with.
Last night, he'd almost told her how he felt. Almost. Actually, more than that, he almost showed her how he felt. By kissing her. But that would've been taking unfair advantage of her. After all, she hadn't chosen to be grabbed by the waist and shoved up against the house wall, and even though he was doing it to try to protect both of their identities, he couldn't take advantage of his superior strength, and the situation that had worked exactly to his advantage. He would have felt bad about it.
Probably.
Although, the feeling that he most felt now was regret. Regret that he hadn't taken the opportunity to at least let her know that he thought he was falling for her. To see what she would say. If she could possibly return his feelings.
He didn't believe that feelings were necessary for a good marriage, but it seemed to be the prevailing notion of the day, and he definitely had them for her. But he also knew that she was honest and upright, and would keep her word once it was given. She wouldstay true to her husband and do her very best to raise her family and her children. Look at how she had taken care of her gram. Look at how she treated the kids in her classroom and even here in the Christmas program. And, she'd never wavered in her support of his innocence, no matter how unkind Mrs. Tucker had been.
"I'm ready," she said, and maybe it was just his imagination, but she seemed out of breath.
He took a step toward her, and started to raise his hand, but was interrupted.
"There's more money missing.” The Pastor's voice caused Nelly to startle and take a step back as her head swung around and her eyes widened. The pastor did not look happy.
"Roland, I'm going to have to ask you to show me the money that's in your wallet."
Mrs. Tucker, who was huffing behind Pastor, looked a little surprised at that request.
Roland didn't understand the request either, but he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket.
"I suppose I don't know why you're doing this, but you must have a reason."
"Someone's been messing with the camera. When I try to pull it up on my phone, all I get is static and I can't see anything." The pastor narrowed his eyes. "But I know there's money missing."
"I know there's money missing too, and I know that you have the know-how to figure out how to disable the camera," Mrs. Tucker stopped behind the Pastor, her bosom heaving, her arms crossed over her chest.
Roland had pulled his wallet out of his pocket, and handed it over to Pastor.
But before Pastor could do anything, Nelly said, "Mrs. Tucker, would you be so kind as to let me see your purse?"
"What do you want my purse for?" Mrs. Tucker asked, although at the same time she pulled the strap off her shoulder and handed it to Nelly. Nelly just inspired that kind of confidencein people.
"I'm curious," Nelly said, with a smile.
Then, to Roland's surprise, she gave him a glance, and a look that seemed to say that everything was going to be okay.
Then, Pastor glanced at Nelly, and kind of nodded.
The exchange was odd, but even odder was the fact that Nelly sat down on the pew, and started rooting through Mrs. Tucker's purse.
Pastor sat down beside her, and began to look through Roland's wallet.
Roland had to admit he was baffled, and Mrs. Tucker seemed just as stumped as they stood, almost side-by-side, and watched the odd behavior of Pastor and Nelly.
"Here it is." Nelly's voice did not hold triumph, but instead, it sounded a little subdued, and sad.
In her hand was a twenty dollar bill, and at first Tucker and Roland couldn't see anything odd about it. But then she flipped it over, and he could see a big red smiley face had been drawn on the back.
