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She noticed that a family of three had taken the empty spot on the other side of her on the pew. “Excuse me,” she whispered. She stood to get around them, smiling casually like she’d only forgotten something in her car and she’d be back. “Excuse me.” She moved around their legs, finding it difficult. Now she was really attracting attention. She shouldn’t have let herself get trapped. Her face burned as she finally freed herself from the pew and headed down the aisle.
Cadence quietly ducked out the door to the foyer, feeling close to tears as she reached the sanctuary outside the chapel. Every part of her was trembling. She’d felt so good about her decision to come here today that she’d braved strangers, even when she felt so vulnerable. For an instant, she let herself believe that she could become a part of this congregation, but no… it was easier to do this alone than have others look down on her.
She pushed outside, immediately embracing the sounds of birds as they greeted her again. Rushing for the stairs, she let out a surprised cry when she almost ran into an older woman with hair so blonde that it almost seemed white.
Cadence stepped back. “I’m so sorry.”
At another glance, she realized that the woman wasn’t so old, only sick. The woman’s pale knuckles clutched to the railing like she’d stopped for a breather. Cadence wasn’t so sure that she’d make it up the stairs without some help. “Ma’am?” Cadence said. “Do you need a hand? I’ve been told that I’ve got very strong arms.”
The woman smiled, a little sheepishly, but also gratefully. “Do you now? Are you sure?”
Cadence didn’t hesitate. She tucked her arm under the woman’s, who gripped Cadence with the frailty of a baby bird. Cadence readjusted herself to support the woman’s back while she guided her footing up the stairs.
The woman was in sandals, so at least she was close to the ground. Cadence had on the heels that she’d worn to the party. None of Emily’s shoes fit her, but she’d navigated her world in heels since she was a teenager, so no problem there.
As they defeated the last stair together, the woman turned appreciatively towards her. “Oh, my dear, I do not know what I would’ve done without your help. Silly me… I thought that I could do this, but well… I… I’m fighting a heart condition, but I wanted to come here today. I just felt compelled, but my husband is out of town on business. He didn’t know that I’d try to come today without him. My sons would’ve helped me, too, but sometimes, well. I just wanted to do this on my own. You know what I mean?”
Cadence did—more than the woman knew. Cadence always bit off more than she could chew herself.
“I mean, how hard is it to get in a car and drive, right?” the woman asked. “But the stairs?” Her eyes drifted back to the ascent that might seem impossible to someone in her condition. “Anyway, thank you.” She sighed. “You lose so much in sickness,” she seemed to be talking to herself now, “and… I want to hold onto my independence while I still have it.”
Cadence could sense that the woman had a will as fierce as her own. Admitting defeat was probably killing her, so Cadence changed the subject. “Well, I’m glad you came. I’m happy to meet you.” She hurried ahead to the door and opened it for the woman. “What’s your name?”
“Lily.”
Of course it was. That had been the name of Cadence’s favorite school teacher in elementary. That woman had believed in her so much that she’d changed the trajectory of her life. Ever since then, lilies had been Cadence’s favorite flower.
“What’s yours?” Lily asked.
Cadence’s own name trembled on her lips until she remembered that she was going by “Angel” at the moment. Somehow it felt important to go incognito. Porter knew that she was here, of course, but so far he hadn’t said anything to Lacy. She wanted it to stay that way. After what had happened at church, she wondered if she should try to skip town.
She wasn’t scared of Lacy necessarily. His temper had astonished her, but she was still more wary of his silver tongue. He’d somehow gotten past her defenses the first time. She didn’t want to go up against him until she felt very sure that she had the strength to keep him out of her life forever. Cadence didn’t want to lie to this sincere lady, but she really didn’t know what else to do. She cleared her throat, hating herself for the lie. “I’m Angel.”
“Angel.” Lily smiled at her. She settled into a soft sofa in the foyer, arranging the silk of her burnt orange skirt around her. “Youarean angel, you know that?”
Not really.
Cadence had thought of the name off the cuff because that’s what she’d told Porter yesterday. Of course, Porter knew who she really was, but Cadence was being flippant. Angel was what Lacy liked to call her. She bit her lip at the stupidity. Why had she taken on Lacy’s pet name for her? If he heard about it?
He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.
Glancing over at the closed doors to the chapel, Lily gestured her closer. “I don’t believe I’ve met you before.” Lily had lowered her voice. It wouldn’t do to disturb the meeting. “Are you new in town?”
What would it be like to live in such a small town that you could figure out someone was new at a glance? Cadence nodded. “I’m housesitting, just keeping my friend’s plants alive mostly.”
Lily’s face brightened. It did wonders for her chalky complexion. “You’re good with plants?”
Cadence laughed. She’d lived with a family who’d had her gardening and planting all summer. She’d grown to like it… after she’d grown some calluses. That was her only experience. “I try.”
“Well, if you’re looking for more work, I could use some help with mine. I’d pay you for your time! I–I find I lack the energy to really give my roses some good attention, and my sons, well, they’re always out. My garden is dying, I’m afraid.”
Like she was.
Cadence’s heart dropped like a stone. Maybe she felt more sentimental because she was pregnant, or perhaps she’d never felt so understanding until she’d gone through her own hardships, but more than anything she wanted to rescue this woman’s garden.
“I can help you.” The words tumbled from her tongue before she could stop them.
Was this wise? Cadence didn’t know how long she’d be in town, but the expression of joy on the woman’s face was enough to convince Cadence that she should try to stay at least another week to resurrect this poor lady’s garden. She’d give Lily a beautiful retreat when she felt under the weather.
