Thirty and a Half Excuses
Page 51

“What exactly do you think I’m gonna do?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ve got your back.”
I shook my head. Neely Kate’s imagination had run wild again. Ignoring it seemed the best option. “Hi, Ronnie.” He stood behind his wife, surveying the parking lot. “You look quite handsome today.”
He tugged at this neckline. “Thanks.” Ronnie was a mechanic, and I knew he hated dressing up. Neely Kate must have done some serious bribing to get him in a suit.
I suddenly wondered what Joe looked like in a suit. I’d seen him dressed up in nice shirts and even a tie, but never a suit. Like Ronnie, Joe seemed more comfortable in casual clothes.
A wave of melancholy washed over me. I hated that we’d had a disagreement the other night, especially when he was in a dangerous situation. The thing was, I understood why Joe was upset when I stepped back to look at the situation. I didn’t blame him. At the same time, I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong. How could we both be right? Or wrong.
Neely Kate and Ronnie followed me into the church foyer. Violet and Brody were still in the foyer, waiting with Rhonda, who had a clipboard tucked in the crook of her arm and a frown tugging at her mouth. “You’re late.”
I clutched my purse to my side, feeling defensive. “Jonah said to be here at 10:15.”
“And it’s now 10:16.” If possible, she scowled even more. “And it’s Reverend Pruitt to you.”
I kept the fact that he insisted I call him Jonah every time I saw him to myself. She already hated me enough.
A harried-looking guy wearing a headset came over. “Rhonda, we’re having problems with camera two.”
She put a hand on her hip. “Why are you telling me? That’s the production manager’s job.”
His shoulders scrunched up around his ears as his face reddened. “I only know what I was told.”
Rhonda turned her evil glare on me before she started to walk way. “Wait here and don’t be wandering off,” she called over her shoulder.
Neely Kate leaned into my ear. “Is it my imagination or does that woman not like you?”
I sighed. “That’s Jonah’s secretary. I told you that she thinks I’m a jezebel.”
Neely Kate giggled just as Bruce Wayne walked through the door into the foyer. His eyes widened as he looked around. He’d been in the building multiple times over the last few days, but he looked as lost as I felt. He caught sight of me and headed for us.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” He wore a long sleeve dress shirt that was too big for him and a poorly knotted tie.
I offered him a welcoming smile. “Bruce Wayne, what are you doing here?”
“Reverend Jonah invited David and me, but David couldn’t make it.”
I was fairly certain David couldn’t make it because he was either still sleeping or he was hungover. Or both.
“Well, I’m glad you came. You two did the hard work.” I looped my hand around his arm and pulled him aside. “And I have some good news. I have another job for you. Probably starting Monday.”
His eyes widened. “You do?”
“Jonah asked us to work on his parsonage.”
“Oh.” He seemed hesitant. “Okay.”
“Does that bother you?”
He paused. “No. A job’s a job.”
Rhonda came back, looking more irritated than ever as she cleared her throat. “We need to get you seated.” She opened one of the big wooden doors to the sanctuary and waved us in.
The parking lot was full, so I wasn’t sure why I was surprised that the church was already packed to the brim. Rhonda waved to a half-empty pew toward the front. “We hadn’t planned on all y’all. I’m not sure you’ll fit.”
We walked down the aisle, and I glanced up at what was supposed to be the altar. Instead of a pulpit or a choir section, there was a stage with lights hanging from the ceiling. I stopped in shock when I saw a man wearing a T-shirt and jeans playing an upbeat rock-sounding song on an electric keyboard on the right of the stage.
Jeans and a T-shirt in church. Momma had to be rolling over in her grave.
Violet gave me a little push, and I continued toward the pew, taking in the cameramen stationed around the church. They wore headphones with mikes extending around their cheeks.
No matter what I thought of Jonah Pruitt, this was proof that he was a big deal.
When we reached our row, Violet brushed past me, dragging Brody by the arm. She scooted in, making sure she didn’t get set somewhere else. Bruce Wayne and I followed with Neely Kate trailing in behind us. We all fit, but it was cozy, and Violet didn’t look pleased.
The rest of the band joined the keyboard, and my mouth dropped open in surprise. I’d heard them practicing the night I’d stopped by for the deposit, but this went against everything I’d been raised with. I was used to “Amazing Grace” sung by a choir, not a rearranged rock version played by a band, complete with swaying backup singers.
Over half the church was filled with younger couples and families, and I could see why. No wonder Jonah was doing so well. If I didn’t suspect him of one or possibly two murders, I might have considered joining his flock as well. What surprised me was the group of older people sitting in a section in the middle, all focused on what was happening on stage. Smack dab in the middle was Miss Opal. And Mildred sat with her.
After fifteen minutes of music, Jonah came onto the stage, his megawatt smile lighting up his face as well as the crowd. The people broke into loud applause as he moved front and center, waving and smiling. “Good morning! Welcome!