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I waved awkwardly. “Hey, Pastor Lee. Good sermon.”
“Thank you.” Pastor Lee turned to Charles. “Charles King. So glad you are in town.”
Charles shook his hand. “It’s good to be home for a bit.”
The pastor looked back and forth between us. “Are you both coming to the date for charity on Tuesday night?”
This took me completely off guard. “Um, I’m not sure.”
The pastor looked concerned. “Charles, as you know, the church can’t compete with the kind of fundraiser your family does, but this charity event is how the church earns our portion of the money we want to donate to your family’s cancer wing at the hospital.”
“Oh.” Charles looked surprised. “Well, that’s kind of you, pastor.”
The pastor put on a big grin. “Charles, we were hoping you would be in it.”
Charles shook his head. “Um, no.”
I couldn’t help it; I laughed.
Charles gave me a surprised look, which made me laugh harder.
Pastor Lee turned to Charles. “Listen, we could really use your name recognition.”
“Yes,” I sang out, half surprised that I was acting this way, but it was really nice to tease Charles. “They need theKingname.”
Charles stared at me like I’d sold him out. I had to cover my smile.
Pastor Lee put his hands into the air expectantly. “What do you say, Charles? Will you be one of the dates that can be won?”
Charles hesitated, then grinned at me. “I will if you can talk Melody into being one of the dates, too.”
Shock coursed through me. “What? Wait. No, no, no.” How had this turned so upside down?
Pastor Lee let out a light laugh. “What do you say, Melody?”
He probably wasn’t aware of the drama between Charles and me all those years ago. Of course he wasn’t. How could he be? He’d only become the pastor in Jewel Cove five years ago.
“I don’t think so.” I turned to walk away. I needed a getaway car.
“Melody, please,” Pastor Lee said. “It’s a cancer wing, after all. I would think that would be something near and dear to your heart.”
That was a low blow. I paused, then sucked in a long breath, thinking of the struggle I’d had with my mother and her cancer from the time I was fifteen.
“We should leave Melody alone.” Charles looked down, as if he knew the pastor’s statement had been harsh.
“Pastor Lee!” someone called out.
Pastor Lee looked puzzled. “I’m sorry if I upset you, Melody, but I need people. I’m going to put the two of you down, and if you change your mind, that’s fine.” He turned and greeted the person calling to him.
I was frozen to the ground. What had just happened?
Charles reached out and placed a hand on my wrist. “Melody, you don’t have to do it.”
My mind caught up to the problem at hand. “Oh, I’m not doing it.” I turned and began walking toward the street.
He was at my side, falling into step with me. “Wait up. Why are you always running from me?”
“Because I’m busy,” I said, picking up my pace.
