Felicia Mason - Sweet Accord

“Everybody,” Reverend Baines said, “this is Matt Brandon, the new choir director at the church. I know some of you haven’t met him yet.”

Calls of “Hi, Matt” and “Welcome, Brother Matt” went around.

“No hug for me for guessing the right answer?” he murmured as she went by.

Her eyes widened and she gave him wide berth. She didn’t take a seat back in front, but made her way to the edge of the group. Matt watched her fold her arms and watch him. His game card read “blue moon.” It took a while, but he was finally able to pantomime enough for someone to guess.

The rest of the evening went by with a couple of other games and then a video that someone put together of Eric Nguyen’s adventures while in Wayside. Matt watched Haley interact with the teenagers and was impressed at her ease and their camaraderie. She’d obviously been a good choice to lead the church’s youth department. Throughout the night he’d seen her making the rounds, talking with everyone, drawing the shy ones into conversation. She’d made no such friendly overtures with him.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he told her.

He’d stalked her to the buffet table. She paused in midreach for celery sticks.

“I’ve done no such thing.”

“You did a great job with your turn at charades.”

Haley glanced at him, but didn’t address the compliment. “I didn’t know you knew Eric.”

“I don’t.”

“So you crashed a party at the pastor’s house?” The censure came through loud and clear.

“I was invited.”

She looked skeptical.

Matt turned his attention to the hearty spread Nancy had set out. He helped himself to some salmon then offered some to Haley.

“Thank you.”

“I’m not going to bite,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

He put his plate down and faced her. “Haley, you look and act as if I’m a wolf preying on your flock of lambs.”

She lifted an eyebrow.

He sighed. “I’m here to do a job, Haley. We have to work together, so we may as well get along while we do it.”

Before she could answer, Reverend Baines called for everyone to gather for a special tribute to the guest of honor.

Later when Matt looked for Haley he couldn’t find her.

“Have you seen Haley?” he asked Mrs. Baines.

“She left about twenty minutes ago, Matt. She said something about a headache.”

Matt had no doubt that he’d caused it. And he was sorry he’d chased her from the party where she’d clearly been having such a good time.

Haley didn’t sleep well at all that night.

“And it’s all his fault,” she said, petulance lacing her voice. Since she was home alone, she could get away with the whining, something she rarely indulged in and never let her students do.

She’d truly had a headache when she’d left the party. After a long soothing bubble bath, she washed down three aspirin and climbed into bed. But sleep proved to be an elusive partner. For a long time she stared at the ceiling in the darkness of her bedroom.

Even though her clock flashed that it was after eleven, her thoughts tumbled over each other in disarray that left her too keyed up to settle down. Why had Matt come to the party? She’d been having a great time until she’d heard his voice call out the answer to her pantomime. Her heart beat double time from the moment she spotted him.

She punched her pillow and turned to her side, clutching the pillow to her body in a comforting embrace. It was bad enough that Eric Nguyen reminded her of her long-forgotten dreams. Once upon a time, she’d wanted to be a foreign missionary, working in Central America or Asia. But those dreams hadn’t come true, so she’d created another life for herself and pursued other dreams right here in Wayside. Now Matt threatened the peace of mind she’d so carefully cultivated.

When she finally drifted to sleep it was on the thought that Community Christian’s new choir director had been taking up an awful lot of space in her thoughts lately.

Sunday morning dawned as a perfect late-spring day. The sun shone bright in Wayside, and Haley felt much better than she had the night before.

Haley took another deep breath of the fresh air and deliberately shut down thoughts of Matt, focusing instead on her Sunday morning meditation and quiet time.

By grace she had a place to call home and every day she thanked God for that. But Sundays were special. While she walked in grace and thankfulness each and every day of the week, Sunday afforded the opportunity for communal worship and fellowship. Sanctuaries had always soothed her, and the one at Community Christian never failed to fill her with such reverent peace that she always found a moment during the week to sit quietly in the presence of God. And she usually found a few minutes between Sunday school and the start of the eleven o’clock service to meditate before the church filled with morning worshippers.

She’d do it again today, too…if only Matt didn’t spoil it.

She huffed in exasperation. He was invading her world and now he’d invaded her quiet time.

“Focus, Haley,” she coached herself. She closed her eyes, again trying to turn her attention to the things she had to be thankful for.

“School’s out,” she said. That was another thing. She loved her job, but by the time the academic year ended, she was ready for a break.

With the official start of summer just around the corner, today seemed even more blessed. She’d completed her fourth year teaching at Wayside Prep and was looking forward to the full-time volunteer work she’d begin next week. Before she knew it, her days would be filled with activity, the sorts of things that left her little time or energy for the pangs of loneliness and longing that sometimes crept up on her.

But right now, she wasn’t lonely. She couldn’t be as she basked in the joy of nature. Taking another deep breath she filled her lungs with the clean Oregon air before slowly exhaling. After watering her flowers, she picked up her purse and her Bible, and with a bounce in her step as bright as the day, she headed to church.

That’s where the day took a definite downward turn.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re here,” Eunice said the moment Haley stepped in the door.

“What’s wrong?”

“Three teachers have called in.”

Haley winced. “Three?” The Sunday school staff consisted of just seven teachers, including Haley. “Who?”

“Linda, Bob Thompson and Alicia Gordon.”

Haley did some quick thinking. She normally taught the middle grade level. For today, she could combine Linda’s elementary kids with her class. But with both the high school and young adult teachers out, that gap posed a significant problem. The first week after school let out and before family vacations kicked in usually meant a small upsurge in the number of teens at Sunday school.

“I can fill in in a pinch,” Eunice offered.

“I think I’m being pinched.”

Mrs. Gallagher patted her arm as they made their way down the hall toward the classrooms. “Just point me in the right direction.”

“If you can take my class and Linda’s, I’ll handle the teens and young adults.”

“Deal.”

Twenty minutes later, the church bustled with the sound of laughter and talking.

Cindy came in, the hemline flounces on a bright yellow and blue sundress billowing behind her. Dainty matching sandals and a handbag completed the ensemble. Cindy looked like summer on parade. Haley couldn’t help smiling.

“Do you have a moment, Cindy?”

“Sure, Haley. What’s up?”

“I’m going to be filling in with your class today. But I need to get Eunice settled with the younger kids. I’ll be with you guys shortly.”