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“I’m glad I’ve been able to be here for you. You and Ciara have given me a focus, and I’d do anything for you.”
“Even move to a completely new place?”
“I guess so.” Her mom smiled at her. “It’s not so bad here.”
“Have you found anyone to hang out with yet?”
Her mom shrugged. “I’ve met a couple of moms who live around here with little ones.”
“Though I know you get along with everyone, I think you need women who are closer to your age.”
“I’m sure I’ll find some, but I’m not going to force myself on anyone.”
Misha hated to think that her mom considered her friendship a burden on others because Misha knew that was absolutely not the case. She was a loving and caring person who gave more of herself than she ever asked of anyone else.
“Well, I’ll be praying that you find some friends that are closer to your age because you need them.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
She and her mom had been a duo for a long time, so they didn’tneedothers, but it also meant that they wanted the best for each other. And the best was to have friendships that went beyond just the two of them. It was something they both wanted and needed after they’d had to leave their friendships in Atlanta behind.
If they were able to find those types of friendships in Serenity, it certainly would feel like it really was their home.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Jay was the last one to leave the Sunday school room where he’d taught the teen boys’ class that day. It was something he was still getting used to, but thankfully, he’d only be doing it for a few more weeks.
When the previous teacher had to step down because of health issues, the person in charge of the Sunday school ministry had asked Jay and Will if they’d consider taking on the responsibility until the end of the Sunday school year, which coincided with the end of the school year.
Considering he already knew most of the boys, it hadn’t been a hard decision for Jay. Will had been a little more reluctant because he didn’t want anyone to get the idea that he was going to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
To Jay, it felt a bit weird to be teaching these boys because he’d never envisioned himself as much of a spiritual leader. The coaching he did was different. That was a natural extension of something he excelled at.
He’d never really felt that he really excelled at being a Christian. Most days, he actually felt like he really only excelled atpretendingto be the strong Christian that some of his siblings were.
Some decisions and choices he’d made in the past had left Jay with an internal struggle that often ate away at him. How was he supposed to offer advice and guidance to the next generation?
The good thing, he supposed, was that he’d sat through enough Sunday school classes and sermons that he knew what he needed to share with the teens. But there was a part of him that wanted to tell them just how much of a flawed man he was and how many mistakes he’d made.
Except he didn’t want to draw attention to those mistakes because they would disappoint his parents. His birth mom had told him that he needed to grow up to be an honorable man, and he wasn’t sure that he’d managed to do that. Maybe on the surface it appeared that he was, but he knew what lay in his past.
He hadn’t broken any laws, but he’d done things he knew his parents wouldn’t have approved of. However, since returning to Serenity, he’d tried to make better decisions, not wanting to add to the regret he already carried.
As he made his way down the wide hallway to the foyer and then into the sanctuary, Jay nodded and smiled at the people he passed. Because Casey’s family still attended the church, he was braced to see her that day. She wasn’t a huge fan of church, but she usually attended when she was in Serenity. Plus, she probably figured it would mess with him to see her.
In the past, she would have been right. Seeing her while they were broken up might have filled him with dread. But that day, he just didn’t care.
As he stepped into the sanctuary, he glanced around to see where Will was. He spotted Gareth and Aria standing near the front, which meant that Gareth was drumming with the worship team again. His gaze also found other members of his family scattered throughout the sanctuary.
“Good morning, Jay.”
He turned to smile at Denise. “Good morning. How are you today?”
“I’m doing well, thanks. How about you?”
“I’m doing good.” His gaze flicked past her for a moment. “Misha not with you today?”
“She’s here,” Denise said. “She just took Ciara to the nursery.”
