She could see the determination on her face, but she could also see the frown. Why the frown? Shouldn’t making Buddy happy make her happy, too? It’s not like she didn’t know the church or the people in it. She’d grown up there just like her mother and Buddy had. Everyone she knew there had always treated her well, with love and kindness.
She supposed the hesitation came from entering a “house of God.” She’d told Brad that she didn’t believe in God anymore; however, she knew that didn’t really encompass what she truly believed. Maybe some part of her believed in some kind of a god. Maybe not. She hadn’t examined it for a long time. However, she certainly didn’t believe in the God of her uncle, the One for whom her parents had abandoned her. If He existed, a big if, then He certainly didn’t deserve any regard from her, did He?
But most of her didn’t believe in any kind of supernatural being. Most of her believed in nothing. Nothing protected her in her relationship with Tyrone. Nothing healed her. Nothing helped her feel safe and secure inside the walls of her own home.
Walking into the church did not mean she had to give up her belief in nothing. Walking into the church meant she loved Buddy desperately and wanted to make him happy in a way she had the power to do. No one forced her or manipulated her. She would walk in with eyes wide open and try to keep her words polite.
Pep talk completed, she stepped back from her dressing room mirror and surveyed her outfit. She wore a light blue, sleeveless top with a black lace collar and a black and white striped skirt. Heeled sandals the color of her shirt and a thin black sweater complimented the outfit. She added black and light blue earrings that dangled, and pulled her hair up, letting the ringlet curls fall where they may.
The heels would hurt her hip if she stood too long in them, but she knew most of the time she would sit. Instead of wearing them out to the car, she carried them by their straps, intending to put them on in the parking lot, and wore flat black dress shoes out to the car.
In no time, she found herself driving toward the church. The last time she entered that building, she’d received her graduation gift from the congregation. How many people that she knew still went here?
She found a parking space and took the time to secure her heels, then grabbed her purse and walked toward the building. As she walked up the steps of the sanctuary, she heard someone call her name.
“Is that little Valerie Flynn all grown up?”
Turning her head, a grin spread across her face at the sight of Mabel Cunningham, her fourth grade Sunday school teacher. “Miss Mabel,” she said, accepting the hug from the rather stout woman, “I am so happy to see you!”
“Girl, you look amazing. I can’t believe how beautiful you are.” They walked in together and somehow, Valerie felt very much at home. “Let’s find that uncle of yours.”
They stopped and talked to half a dozen people Valerie remembered from childhood. The telltale signs of age surprised her in a way. In her memories, this building had stopped in time and everyone remained exactly the same, which clearly did not reflect reality.
When she entered the sanctuary, she noticed they’d replaced the pews with chairs and the carpet beneath her feet was new. Modern electronics graced the sound system and screens adorned either side of the large stage. Mabel led her in that direction, down the aisle of chairs and scattered congregants to the stage, then out a door to the side of it. She found herself in the administration hallway. They passed the pastor’s office, and next door, Mabel stopped at the door marked “Pastor’s Study.” She rapped on the door with three quick knocks of her knuckles then opened it.
Inside, she saw Buddy, Phillip, and a young black man she didn’t recognize. When Buddy looked at her, his eyes widened and his grin lit up the room. “Well,” he said on a breath, “look at you. Come in. Come in.”
She looked at Mabel and thanked her, then went toward Buddy, hugging him then hugging Phillip. “I couldn’t stay away today. Thank you for the invitation.”
“It’s a special day.” He took her hand and led her to the younger man. “Danny, this is my niece, Valerie Flynn. Valerie, our pastor, Danny Brown.”
The door opened again, and a blonde woman entered the room with a caramel-colored baby against her shoulder. She rhythmically patted its back and it snuggled against her neck. “Fifteen minutes, honey,” she said to Danny.
“Great. thanks.” He took the baby from her and she adjusted her shirt. “Madison, this is Valerie, Buddy’s niece. Her parents are being honored today.”
Madison’s eyes widened and she turned to Valerie with a smile. “Oh, I wish I’d known you were going to be here. I would have made sure to include you.”
Valerie held up a hand. “Please, no. I didn’t know I was coming until this morning. I don’t need to be included.”
“Well, know that you are so very welcome here.” She looked at her watch. “I need to get. Praise team is waiting. I’ll see y’all later.” She rushed out and Buddy put a hand on Valerie’s waist.
“Let’s get you settled before all the good seats are gone.”
She waved at the men remaining in the room and let Buddy guide her back into the sanctuary. There, she saw Rosaline and all the Dixon brothers sitting in the third row, center aisle. He led her that way. “Rosie, look!” he said, grinning. “Val’s here!”
Valerie hugged Rosaline and said hello to each of the brothers. It took a second for her to pick who was whom, because they all three wore shirts and ties. But she managed to get it right. “Hi, Ken. I heard you finished a house last week.”
His eyes widened, as if surprised that she recognized him in a suit outside of work. “I did. It went on the market Monday morning.”
“That’s fantastic.” She looked at Jon. “Jon, I’m surprised to see you.”
He smiled crookedly. “I’d do almost anything for Buddy.”
“Oh? What does he have on you? Must be pretty good.”
Jon’s grin showed some teeth. “I’ll never tell. You look amazing, by the way. Beautiful as always.”
“This old thing?” She teased, holding the skirt out. She felt a little nervous flutter in her stomach when she turned to Brad. “Hey, Brad. Thanks for inviting me.”
