“Did I pass the driving test?” he asked, closing the door and
tossing the keys to me over the car.
I smiled and tossed them back to him. I liked the idea of him having
my keys. Maybe he would have rather gotten a ride back to the church
with a more engine savvy member of the band but he put the keys in
his pocket. As we walked down the grassy green embankment into the
quaint church picnic, I pretended we were a couple. Children cheered
and chased each other. Men laughed heartily and discussed golf
swings. Women chatted about their children and said things like “Dear
worlds!”
I saw his bandmates across the way and I was suddenly paralyzed with
fear. I had just been a means to an end. He would pry himself away
from me and take off to them and I would be alone with nowhere to go.
Who would I talk to? Why had I given him my keys?
“Hello Mrs. Winter,” he greeted and she clutched his arm. “Have
you met Hope?”
“Oh sorry, hun, I thought your name was Honey.”
“That’s my nickname,” I smiled graciously.
“Well, Hope, it’s lovely to meet you.”
We shook hands.
“Are you two an item?” she asked.
My heart fluttered and sank simultaneously.
“Now Mrs. Winter, are you on the hunt for gossip to report back to
the church council?”
“Christian, I would never!”
He winked at her and her scowl melted away. It seemed incredulous to
me that he would wink at an old lady but she seemed to appreciate the
gesture.
“How was your move?” he asked. “You must be glad to be living
with your daughter.”
“I like it,” she said reluctantly. “I’m not so sure her and
her husband like it as much.”
“I’m sure they love having you,” I said stupidly. “I know I
would love to have my parents living with me again. I miss them.”
I could physically see Mrs. Winter warming up to me.
“That’s nice.” Her eyes twinkled at me. “Christian, you have
found a lovely girl here.”
“Don’t take that back to the church council,” he teased.
She ignored him and shook my hand
again. “We’re so glad you’ve joined our church, Hope. You’ll
stay with us, won’t you.” It wasn’t a question. I nodded and
smiled and she let my hand go as she pulled me into a hug. I think
that was when I understood the term “church family”.
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