Jane glanced down at her and raised one eyebrow.
The little girl rubbed the top of her right foot against the calf of her left leg.“Okay.It doesn’t.”
“Billie isn’t too fond of church,” she explained to Charlene, careful to avoid looking at Adam again.
“I don’t mind it too much, but they make you sit still so long.”Billie drew in a deep breath and let it go in a sigh.“I like God and everything.The songs are okay.But there’s always some old lady telling me to sit still.”
“Charm school,” Charlene said, taking Billie’s other hand, and ushering her toward the front door.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Jane said.“She’s awfully young.”
“This is Orchard, dear.We strive to turn girls into ladies, at any age.”
“What’s charm school?”Billie asked suspiciously.
“You don’t want to know,” her mother told her, keeping step with them.Adam brought up the rear.
As they walked outside, toward the dark sedan parked in front, she tried not to think about him.It was only for one more night.Her furniture would be arriving sometime tomorrow.If she worked at it, she’d never have to see him again.
Yeah, right, she thought as he held the rear door of the car open.What about her plans for an eventual father-daughter reunion?She still owed them both.Before Jane could make her move, Billie had ducked inside the car, with Charlene quickly on her heels.
“You sit in front,” the older woman told her.
Jane swallowed uncomfortably.Adam closed the rear door and opened the front.She murmured her thanks as she slipped in past him.The scent of his body—soap, shaving cream, and some essence of male—taunted her.She wanted to breathe deeply and savor the fragrance.It made her think of sultry Southern nights and velvet-on-silk passion.
The door slamming shut with a bang caused her to jump slightly.In the back seat, Charlene and Billie chatted.Charlene spoke glowingly about charm school, but Jane could tell that her daughter was becoming more and more disenchanted by the second.
“Do I have to?”she asked, leaning over the front seat.“I don’t want to learn how to drink tea and dance.And I already know how to walk.”
“Not like a lady,” Charlene said.“You’ll like it.”
“I won’t!”
Adam slid into his seat.She half expected him to take part in the conversation, but he just started the car and shifted into gear.
“Mo-om!”
Jane drew in a deep breath.“Billie, you don’t have to go to charm school if you don’t want to.Charlene, sheisonly eight.”
“It’s never too early to learn how to be a lady.”
“I’m going to be a pitcher.”
Jane bit back a smile and tried to relax in her seat.The conversation between Billie and Charlene continued as they debated the merits of their positions.She didn’t glance to her left, but she was aware of him sitting so close.Except for asking if she were ready, he hadn’t said a word.Not that any of this was his fault.It had all been a big mistake and she only had herself to blame.
The drive to church took about six minutes.As they pulledinto the parking lot, Jane tensed and waited for the rush of memories to envelop her.
“Did you used to go to this church?”Billie asked.
“Yes, until I—” She cleared her throat.
“Moved away,” Adam offered helpfully.She knew she was the only one to hear the sarcasm in his voice.She didn’t dare look at him.
“That’s right,” she said softly.“Until I moved away.”
A large crowd mingled on the edge of the lawn.One woman glanced at Adam’s car as he parked it.She did a double take and nudged her neighbor.Jane couldn’t hear what was being said but she watched as the news rippled through the group.The prodigal daughter had returned.
Oh, no!She’d never given a moment’s thought to what it would look like if she arrived at church with Adam and Charlene.And Billie.What would people think?Say?She was doing it again!Acting without thinking and leaving Adam to deal with the consequences.
