Page 39 of Running to You

“It’s fine.”

Oh. Apparently, he was taking the whole religion thing seriously.

“I’m going to read my Bible and pray, and then I’m going to get some work done. Can you entertain yourself for a little while? There’s a TV in your room. There’re books—”

“Do what you need to do. I can take care of myself.”

By his grunt, he disagreed, but he didn’t say so. He walked out of the kitchen and down the hall. A moment later, she heard the faint thud of a door closing.

Shutting her out completely.

Apparently, not everything had changed.

* * *

Jeanette’s church was nothing like Eliza had imagined—not that she knew much about churches in general. But where was the white siding, the tall steeple with the church bell? Except for the sign out front, this building could be a private school or a YMCA.

Eliza directed them to the door with a sign that read Children’s Worship Center. According to the website, the service had begun at ten thirty, and it was nearly eleven, so the lot was full of cars but mostly empty of people.

Sam parked and killed the engine on his truck. He’d let Daniel and Camilla take the Audi, since they planned to pick up Sam and Daniel’s parents to go house shopping with them. The pickup was too high for Mom and Dad to climb in and out of easily.

At least that was Daniel’s reasoning, but Sam had laughed and punched him in the shoulder. “You just want to get the Audi on the open road.”

Daniel hadn’t disagreed.

Sam didn’t seem to find any humor in the current situation as his gaze darted around the rows of cars. “This was stupid. We should have come when there were more people around.”

“You really think those guys are watching the church?”

His lips quirked at the corner like he was attempting a smile. He’d been much less belligerent after the Bible reading and praying that morning, so maybe there was something to the habit. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was making an effort to be nice to her, an effort she appreciated.

“What do you think? Any bad feelings about being here?”

She took the question seriously, closing her eyes to let it resonate. “I think we’re okay.”

“All right, then. I trust your judgment.” He climbed out of the truck, and she did the same, thankful for the step that kept her from having to jump. She met him by the tailgate, and they walked beneath the thick clouds to the entrance.

She stepped across the threshold and stopped to take it in. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been inside a church. Certainly before Dad’s death, and she’d never felt anything but impatient.

But this felt different. Comfortable, like an old friend.

The small foyer was all bright colors and happiness, filled with the sound of children squealing, crying, and laughing from nearby rooms. A rainbow was painted on the wall straight ahead above a little cartoony ark with animals sticking out from every window. A tall desk was flanked by hallways that led deeper into the building.

Behind the desk, a redheaded grandmotherly type talked to a teenage boy, who was nodding and yes-ma’aming her. “On it.” He disappeared down a hall, and the redhead turned to them.

“You must be the Smarts. Do you need to stay together, or is it all right if I split you up? We could use one of you in the toddler room, but the four-year-olds need another helper.”

“Actually,” Sam said, “we’re here to see Jeanette. Is she around?”

“Oh. Uh… Yeah.” She looked from him to Eliza. “You’re not here to volunteer?”

“Sorry,” she said.

“Don’t worry. Jeanette’ll suck you in. It’s her superpower. Names?”

Sam spoke before she could answer. “Sam Wright.”

If the woman was surprised he didn’t offer Eliza’s, she didn’t say so, just picked up a walkie-talkie and pressed the button. “Jeanette?” She turned and walked a few feet away.