LITMIR.BIZ

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      “I thought you were going to have dinner with me. You know, we have to at least put forth some sort of effort at compromise.”

      Haley paused.

      While her mind had been running along another track entirely, Matt remained focused on their mission.

      Inexplicably, Haley felt on the verge of tears, her emotions raw and on the surface. Something about Matt brought out a soul-deep longing in her while at the same time a fear of the very thing she longed for. He wasn’t afraid to embrace life, while Haley preferred the comfort of things she knew best.

      “I can’t,” she said. And then she fled.

      From his door, Matt watched her leave. Something had frightened her. He glanced back in the house, not sure what it could have been. He finished the conversation with his grandmother, apologizing for keeping her waiting, then, unfortunately, turned his attention to an evening meal for one.

      After grilling steak and vegetables for dinner, he spent the rest of the evening in the room he’d been using as a makeshift studio. Upstairs, it had the best light and a decent view of the town square. If he stood just so, he could see the gazebo where, he assumed, bands played during the summer. That’s the sort of small-town activity he’d seen on television. And Wayside, at least its downtown area, looked and felt as if it had been towed straight out of a studio back lot.

      Matt had been in Wayside for all of two weeks. He’d been in Oregon, though, for several months. He loved Portland and took every moment he could get to go into the city for books, good coffee and record stores with extensive gospel selections. He liked large cities because a person could be as anonymous as he wanted to be. And for a long time now, Matt had reveled in anonymity.

      Lord, why did you lead me here? He’d been praying the same prayer, asking the same question…and inevitably getting the same response. Silence.

      But Wayside had called to him. And long ago Matt had learned to listen to the still, small voice inside him. The one time he hadn’t had cost him everything. That had been three years ago, time enough to do penance, time enough to reflect on how he should have handled the situation with Melanie.

      Sitting at his favorite keyboard, his fingers moved over the keys and he sang of lost youth and innocence, of finding the way home, of being a prodigal son. As it had so many times before, time passed without his being aware of it. When he looked up, it was because shadows chased across the room as evening fell.

      Matt prayed. There were a lot of things he could have asked for, including a return to the public glory and adoration he’d thrived on. Even after three years, a part of him still yearned for all he’d lost. But he had a different life now. He’d been given a clean slate and a new beginning.

      Grateful for that gift, one he knew he didn’t deserve, his prayer was one of thanksgiving and praise.

      Friday dawned misty and cool in Wayside. The rain, as much a part of the environment as the community’s hospitality to newcomers, always took Matt by surprise. His hometown was renowned the world over for embracing strangers, but it had been a long time since he’d actually lived in New Orleans, the place he called home.

      “Have a good morning,” the town baker called as Matt left with a dozen mixed doughnuts. He’d never tell his grandmother, but these doughnuts rivaled her beignets.

      “You, too,” he said with a wave.

      He’d traded in his red BMW for a four-wheel drive SUV before starting his cross-country trek to Oregon. In the rain today, the truck made much more sense than the motorcycle he usually drove.

      As he headed toward Community Christian, he took in the small shops and businesses along Main Street. The town boasted sixteen churches, a synagogue and two temples.

      A small, private college lent the town an additional appeal, but with students gone for the summer, Wayside apparently didn’t offer much open beyond nine at night. In the daytime though, people were out and about, another fact that always seemed to take him by surprise.

      He sure wouldn’t have picked it himself, but Wayside was as good a place as any he might choose to completely start over. As he pulled into the parking lot at Community Christian, Matt’s thoughts turned to the ever perplexing Haley Cartwright. Without a doubt he knew he was attracted to her. Was that why she was so skittish, sometimes hostile toward him? Did he emit “I’m trouble” vibes?

      Since he didn’t see her white Honda, Matt figured it a safe bet that he’d have a quiet morning. Today was the first rehearsal he’d have with the choir. Until that gathering at three, he planned to further familiarize himself with the church’s big pipe organ.

      “Good morning, Eunice,” he said. Hoisting the doughnut bag high, he added, “I brought a treat.”

      “I just put a pot of coffee on,” she said. “I’ll get us some cups.”

      Before long, they sat in Eunice’s office enjoying the late-morning repast. She’d taken a fresh cup of coffee and two jelly doughnuts in to Reverend Baines, who was working on his sermon.

      “So, what do you think of Wayside so far?”

      Matt smiled. “I was just comparing it to New Orleans on the drive over here.”

      “It must be exciting to be from somewhere as famous as New Orleans. Me, I’ve never been beyond Portland.”

      “There’s a great big world out there,” Matt said. “Have you ever dreamed of seeing it?”

      Eunice waved a hand. “Heavens, no. All that I’ve ever wanted or needed is right here. All my family is here. And I have good friends and a wonderful church family. No, I leave the traveling to you young people.”

      He chuckled as he sipped his coffee. He very much wanted to ask Eunice about Haley, but thinking of an opening that wouldn’t seem contrived escaped him. As it turned out, he need not have worried.

      “So, have you and Haley come up with a plan yet?” He detected a definite twinkle in her eyes when she asked the question.

      “Not exactly. Did you have a suggestion?”

      “Haley’s a good girl. And even though she’s a stickler for rules, we love her dearly. She’s been hurt. So kid gloves are a good idea. She needs someone who will cherish her.”

      Matt cleared his throat. “I was talking about a suggestion on the music.”

      She looked at him and winked. “I know. But I thought you might want to know the other, too.”

      Wisely, Matt held his tongue. He finished off a doughnut and excused himself. “I’m going to the sanctuary to practice on the organ.”

      “All right,” Eunice said. “And Matt.”

      At the door, he turned to face her. “Yes?”

      “She’s allergic to roses, but she loves lilies.”

      “I’ll keep that in mind.”

      Haley overslept. She’d planned to clean her closet and do some baking Friday morning. While she couldn’t claim to be a gourmet chef like Amber, she was hardly a slouch in the kitchen. But a restless night filled with shadow dreams left her tired and a bit cranky. Bagging her plans for the early part of the day, she decided on a little gardening. A peek outside, though, squelched that plan. Right now, the rain, which would undoubtedly clear up later, fell as gray and blah as she felt.

      The telephone rang before she made a decision to just fling the sheet over her head and go back to sleep.

      “Good morning, dear,” Eunice’s cheery voice rang through the line.

      Running a hand through her hair, Haley sat up in bed. “Hello.”

      “Oh, my. I hope I didn’t wake you. It is after ten.”

      “That’s all right.” She’d truly planned to be up at eight-thirty. “What can I

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