church regularly since she’d been a baby, this was a different ball game. New town. New church. And in the fall, a new school. They’d waited to move until early summer so Finley wouldn’t have to start at the end of the year.
Now he wondered if that had been a mistake. Finley was already complaining of being lonely. His only hope was that she’d make a friend or two today at youth group. This morning she’d made it clear that she was only staying for the church service, but he still held out hope that he could change her mind.
To make this relocation successful, it was important they both reach out to the community. Gabe had already marked his calendar to attend the next Jackson After-Hours meeting, a chamber of commerce function for young professionals. But attending church was a first step in reaching out.
He realized that wasn’t exactly true. He’d met several guys at the Y yesterday. When they’d mentioned they attended this church, he’d decided he and Finley would check it out.
Not knowing how casual the service was, he’d forgone jeans for a pair of navy pants and a button-down shirt. As he walked into the church, it appeared he’d guessed correctly, although he did see some guys in denim and a few older men in suits.
The church appeared to attract a lot of young families. His heart twisted. He wished his daughter could have had the experience of having both a father and a mother. But Shannon had relinquished all parental rights when Finley was still an infant and had shown no interest in her since.
Her loss, he told himself for the millionth time.
He started to steer them toward a pew in the back until he saw all the parents with babies. Obviously the last few rows were reserved for those with small children.
Gabe continued down the aisle. He wasn’t sure what to feel when he saw a tall woman with long wavy blond hair a couple of pews ahead. He recognized her immediately. His neighbor. Michelle.
She was slender with long legs and curves in all the right places and big blue eyes. She appeared to be alone and he thought for a second about sitting beside her. But he wasn’t sure that was wise after what had happened in the driveway yesterday.
He’d almost kissed her. He’d wanted to kiss her. Yet, making such a move on a new neighbor could have disastrous consequences. After all, they’d just met. And while she’d said she wasn’t married, she hadn’t said anything about not having a boyfriend. A woman as pretty as she had to have some guy in the wings.
“Gabe,” a deep voice sounded behind him.
He spun on his heel to find one of the men he’d met yesterday playing basketball. There was a toddler in his arms. A pretty dark-haired woman and a girl about Finley’s age flanked him.
“Nick.” Gabe frantically searched for the last name. “Dela-court.”
“You nailed it.” Nick flashed a smile. “This is my wife, Lexi, and our daughters, Grace and Addie.”
They stepped aside to let the other members of the congregation pass while completing the introductions. After Finley’s comments outside, Gabe couldn’t help but notice that Addie, Nick’s oldest daughter, wore a denim skirt and red top.
He pretended not to see the pointed look Finley shot him.
“Most kids our age sit together during the service.” Addie focused on Finley and gestured toward a row of young teens seated just ahead of the babies and young families. “You’re welcome to join us. If you want, that is.”
Finley glanced at Gabe. “Is it okay?”
Gabe quickly assessed the situation. Normally he was very particular about letting his daughter be unsupervised with kids he didn’t know. But the church was small and she’d be in plain sight. “Fine with me.”
“Afterward we all go to youth group,” Addie added. “While our parents eat breakfast.”
Gabe could almost see the refusal forming on his daughter’s lips when Addie continued in a low tone, “Your dress is really cool. All the girls are going to be jealous.”
“You can pick me up after youth group,” Finley announced.
Gabe cocked his head and met her gaze. Even though this was exactly what he wanted, in their household, it was understood his daughter didn’t call the shots.
“If it’s okay with you, that is,” Finley quickly added.
He nodded. “Sounds like a workable plan.”
Finley squeezed his arm, then hurried off talking in low excited tones with her new friend.
Gabe refocused on Nick’s wife. “It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Delacourt.”
“Please, call me Lexi.” She glanced over his shoulder, then gestured with one hand. “Why don’t we sit together? Looks like there’s plenty of room.”
When Gabe turned to see where Nick’s wife pointed, it was the open area next to his neighbor. He hid a smile. Even in church it appeared he couldn’t escape temptation.
He followed the couple to the pew. Nick motioned for his wife to go in first, but Lexi shook her head. “Let Gabe.”
Her husband looked perplexed. “I thought you’d want to sit by Michelle.”
“Oh, we can chat later.” Lexi lifted a hand in a dismissive wave. “It’s best I sit by the aisle in case Grace gets fussy.”
Gabe had been the focus of too many matchmaking efforts over the years not to recognize one. Which meant Michelle didn’t have a boyfriend. Although for the next six months his priority was settling into his new job and helping Finley acclimate to her new surroundings, he might make time for a date or two.
Acting as if it didn’t matter where he sat, Gabe slipped into the polished bench next to Michelle.
She turned from the older couple on her left. “Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Hello.”
It wasn’t quite the enthusiastic greeting he’d expected.
“Good morning,” he said politely before shifting his attention to his basketball buddy. But Nick was talking with his wife in a low tone.
“I didn’t know you went to church here,” he heard Michelle say as the organ began to play.
“This is my first time.” Gabe reached for the hymnal at the same time as she did and their hands brushed. He felt an unexpected flash of heat.
If Michelle experienced the same sensation, she gave no indication. When they rose for the opening song, he ended up sharing the hymnal with her. He didn’t mind. But he caught her glancing around as if looking for an extra book.
His own singing voice was passable, but Michelle’s was, well, simply awful. He couldn’t decide if she was tone deaf or couldn’t read music. She appeared oblivious to how bad she was, singing loudly and with much enthusiasm.
Gabe cringed as she belted out the last note of the song in a higher pitch than everyone around her.
She closed the hymnal, smiled and sighed. “I love to
