22. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Lorelei
The elder members of Juniper Grove Church’s congregation are bright eyed and bushy tailed while the younger members yawn and slouch in their fold out metal chairs. The air is hot and sticky for six-thirty in the morning, and I notice that many of the ladies don dressy hats today.
That was a no for me, so of course, my hair is tied back in its usual low ponytail, even if it’s Easter Sunday.
“You are magnificent to behold in a flowy skirt. Be careful, Leilei, you may take down kingdoms looking like that.” Finley sits down on the chair to my right, a dazzling white smile highlighting his sparkly blue eyes. His blond hair is styled back, and paired with his dark gray slacks, sage green dress shirt, and the sharpest of jawlines, the man looks ready to take down kingdoms himself.
But of course I’m not brave enough to say those words out loud. Not yet.
Instead, I tune into my girly nature and preen under his praise. I wiggle my shoulders and tilt my head with a soft smile. “I’m feeling rather exuberant after Thursday’s big court win.”
“As you should.” He folds his hands together in his lap as he stares straight into my soul.
At least that’s what it seems like he’s doing.
He continues when I remain silent, startled by his intense expression. “I know I said it Friday evening at our celebratory dinner with our friends, but I truly am proud of you. You worked so hard on that case, put so much of your heart into it. And it paid off. You’re quite amazing, Lorelei Raine.”
The spring heat has nothing on the flush burning through my face at the moment. “Thank you,” I state, turning away from his attention and trying to find my twin somewhere in the small crowd that’s gathered for the sunrise service. I finally spot her in her pink floral dress that sits right above her knees, her white heels sinking into the damp morning grass. She’s chatting with Hadley, Braxton, and Pastor Rawls, and she’s wearing a plastic smile that only I can tell is falsified. Lucy’s been down for about a week, and when I ask her about her melancholy, she only replies that she’s PMSing.
Though I have doubts because I’m fairly certain she menstruated a week and a half ago, but I could be wrong.
“Hello, future love birds.” Karoline Wright stands on the outside of our row in a pretty sunset orange dress. Mason Kane stands next to her, his arm looped around her waist, tugging her close.
“Future? There’s no time like the present.” Mason sticks out a hand to Finley, who stands and gives it a shake before pulling him into one of those hugs all men do, complete with a few hearty pats on the back. Karoline waves at me from around the embracing men, and then she scoots past them to sit to my left where I was hoping Lucy would be.
“Hey, Lorelei. Having a good morning?” Karoline’s yawn breaks off the last word so she sounds like she’s saying “mawnin.” She shakes her head. “Oops. Sorry about that. It’s a wee bit early.”
I smile at her as if I understand, though I’m wired and awake like the elderly folks of the congregation. “My morning has been typical. Went for my run, drank my smoothie. Made a fruit dish for our breakfast this morning.”
Her eyes glaze over as I talk. “You are a different type of human species, my friend.” And as she nears the end of the sentence, she yawns again.
Mason excuses himself as he walks in front of me to sit on the other side of Karoline, then I finally catch Lucy’s eye. Her smile falls as her face softens; she makes her way to sit in the chair in front of me, Hadley and Braxton in tow.
We all exchange greetings as Pastor Rawls goes to stand on the long utility trailer where the sound system has been set up and the pulpit stand with a cross embedded on it now resides. “Good morning, Juniper Grove Church. And welcome to our sunrise service. What a blessing it is to wake up, gather together, and offer praise and worship to our resurrected savior, Jesus Christ.”
Music begins to play through the sound system, and I find I miss the gentle tones of the piano that we usually sing to. Grandma Netty arrives during the second song we sing and shuffles through the row in front of me to sit to the left of Lucy. She turns around, bounces her eyes between me and Finley, then nods her head once as if approving something.
“I think your grandmother likes me,” Finley, leaning down, whispers into my ear.
“She likes everyone,” I whisper back. But Finley must not hear me because when I glance up at him, his brows are knitted and he mouths “what?”
I stand on my tiptoes to get closer to his ear as he leans to meet me, but as I cup my hands around his ear, my balance wavers. Falling into his chest is like colliding with a rock, and when his arms hook around my waist to steady me, I’m fairly certain this is what standing in the middle of a bonfire would equate to.
“Careful, Leilei,” Finley whispers against my ear again, except this time, my head is pressed firmly against his chest alongside one hand that is perfectly splayed over a pectoral. My other hand is clutching his shirt in a fist.
I gasp in flustered shock and jump backwards, slamming into Karoline, causing her to fall backwards into Mason, who, judging by the fact I’m still standing, is the sturdy domino that doesn’t collapse. Though, Mason and I are making a Karoline Sandwich.
Finley wraps his large hands around my elbows and assists me to a straight position just as the music comes to an end.
But the melodies playing and the voices lifting didn’t seem to stop the entirety of the church rubbernecking to see what the commotion was towards the back of the rows of metal chairs.
“You all good back there? Don’t make me split y’all up,” Pastor Rawls says into the microphone in what I am taking to be a joking manner.
I casually smooth down my skirt and look down because my head is currently whirling faster than a fidget spinner in the hands of a child. In fact, I can feel every eye on me despite not actually seeing them. Panic begins to rise in my chest, but I close my eyes and focus on deep breathing while someone reads scripture from the makeshift altar. Guilt tugs at my conscience for disrupting the service and for not focusing on the passages.
Another song begins to play.
Suddenly, Finley’s low voice is in my ear. “This one time while I was attending a wedding for a prince of a neighboring country, the priest was in the middle of reading scripture when I sneezed eight times nonstop. The echo through the cathedral was insane, and by the time I stopped, over five hundred people were gawking at me in disbelief as if I could control the monster exiting my body through those sneezes.”
I slap a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing because all I can picture is eight little dark figures spewing out of the sunshine man’s mouth as he sneezed. I envision women clutching their pearls and men shaking their heads in disapproval at the human prince.
Human.
We are all human, and we all do embarrassing, weird things at times. Even in the middle of church services.
With that thought, I lift my head to find everyone has gone about their business, singing the next song. Moving my gaze to Finley, I flash a quick smile and mouth, “Thank you.”
The returning smile I receive is nothing short of heart-stopping. How did this man that I barely know understand exactly how to distract me from my spiraling thoughts?
“And I thought, ‘This is my moment. I can be the hero for once.’” Mason continues to recount what has now become known as MKL sandwich—Mason Karoline Lorelei—among our friend group. We all sit at a rounded table, plates full of gravy, biscuits, grits, and other various southern comfort foods. I opted for a slice of the breakfast casserole with a side of fruit since I had my smoothie earlier.
“Ha, ha. You’re such a stud,” Braxton remarks, unimpressed, before shoveling sausage gravy into his mouth.
Hadley elbows him before taking a bite of bacon.
Karoline rolls her eyes.
And I sit there, using my fork to play with my fruit, placing the melon, pineapple, and strawberries into a smiley face.
“Okay, that’s enough. Change of topic,” Finley says. I offer him a grateful smile.
Lucy speaks up. “What’s everyone’s plans for this upcoming week?”
“Imma have Roy come over and help me with some plumbing issues,” Grandma Netty says as she joins us at our table. She sets her plate down to the right of Finley though there is no spot there. Finley looks at me with a nervous glance, and then I chuckle when I notice he turns to his PPOs who have been captured in conversation with a couple of the older men.“They aren’t going to help you,” I tease.
Finley swallows but then moves his seat closer to me as Grandma Netty squeezes in with her long, floral dress that looks exactly like something a grandmother would wear.
“I wasn’t wrong earlier, right? She likes me?” This side of Finley, a little worried and anxious over an old lady’s opinion, is beyond adorable. He runs his hand through his hair and releases a breath.
“So, Finley, I see you took my advice and started to court the right twin.” Grandma Netty spoons grits into her mouth as she awaits a response. The table’s chatter about weekly plans has been suspended.
Everyone, myself included, focuses on Finley.
I want to offer him a funny out like he did me earlier, but also, I am curious as to what my grandmother means by her cryptic statement.
After a few seconds, Finley squares his shoulders and smiles. He meets every eye at the table—Hadley, Braxton, Lucy, Karoline, Mason, and lastly, me—before addressing Grandma Netty.
“Yes, ma’am. Turns out I was falling for Lorelei this entire time. Lucy graciously helped me to see that.”
“And are you dating my granddaughter officially?”
Finley laughs and then holds my eye contact. “If she will ever accept my intentions. That’s been the hard part. I’m mad about this woman, yet she’s giving me the race of my life to prove myself to her.”
The table erupts.
“Lorelei! Say yes to the handsome prince,” Hadley says.
“Dude. You’re not doing something right. Try writing her a song,” Mason says.
“Be patient,” Braxton says.
“I’m trying to talk you up to her,” Lucy says. I kill her with a glare.
Karoline, surprisingly, remains silent.
While Finley bickers back and forth with everyone, defending his efforts while also defending my reluctance, my phone buzzes in my lap. I pick it up and see a text from Karoline.
Are you okay? Do you want to escape to the bathroom with me?
That’s… oddly kind of her to offer.
I think I’m okay for now. But the offer is kind of you, and I appreciate it.
Though I am thankful, I have to ride this out. If I leave, it will look suspicious. I’m stable enough right now, and I trust everyone at this table has my best interests at heart.
“She will say yes to me if and when she pleases. There is no rush. She is in charge of her timeline, and I will not disrespect her needs.” Finley claps his hands together to end the discussion, and while I had tuned most of it out, I caught that last part, and…
Huh?
Did he just…?
What?
I stare at him, my jaw open and head tilted as I analyze the man sitting next tome. How in the history of this world does he read me so easily? And the pure respect and intentionality rolling in waves off his speech and actions…
Be still my heart.
Is this what security is supposed to feel like?
“How about a camping trip this weekend?” Mason says, yanking me from my thoughts. Immediately I want to shout that I’m in, but I have to contain myself. See who all is on board first.
“Oh, yes. Let’s do it!” Karoline says.
“I’m a no,” Lucy replies. “But my sister loves camping. Especially when there is a hike involved.”
“I’m down to go,” Finley casually says, his thigh rubbing against mine. I can feel the heat through his slacks, and though I should want to shy away from the feeling, though it should feel icky…
I don’t move.
In fact, I forget we are talking about a hiking trip.
I’m so tuned into this feeling—heat mixed with tingling pleasure—that I startle when everyone begins to stand from the table.
“Great. Finley and I will pick you two up from your apartments Friday morning. Sound good?” Mason looks at Karoline and then me.
“Huh?” I respond. “Erm, yes?”
“See you then! We are about to head out. Traveling to Nashville this evening for a show tomorrow.” Mason wraps his arm around Karoline as she gathers their empty paper plates. “Happy Easter, everyone.”
We all say our goodbyes to the couple, then minutes later, Lucy, wearing an enigmatic expression, decides to leave. Without even giving a reason.
What is going on with her? She’s acting all out of sorts lately.
But then I watch as Gabriel excuses himself from the table of old men and follows Lucy out.
Huh?
Maybe she’s got something going on with him.
Hadley and Braxton leave the table to go and socialize with his sister and brother-in-law, leaving me, Grandma Netty, and Finley at the table. And then it hits me: I’m going camping this weekend with Finley. My legs immediately vibrate at the thought of stretching them out, touching dirt, surrounding myself with trees and plants, and soaking in the mid-March sunlight. But I’ll be with Karoline and Mason and Finley. None of whom I am super close with. Will I be able to handle that?
I think I could…
But what if something happens and I’m triggered?
Oh, why did I say yes to this stupid idea?
Because you’re desperate for the outdoors and you have someone you feel safe going with sitting in front of you asking…
Safe. Despite not knowing Finley for very long, I do feel safe with him. Though the idea of it seems irrational, I can’t deny the logical fact that it’s true.
But what does that mean?
Lucy’s words flitter back into my mind unbidden.
Sometimes love is unexplainable.
No. This isn’t love. Safety does not automatically equal love. But while this might not be love, maybe the same applies to friendships, too. Maybe some souls are simply meant to be acquainted and befriended.
Maybe, at the very least, I’m meant to be really good friends with Finley.
Grandma Netty clears her throat, pulling me from my mental sparring. “You two behave yourselves while camping.”
I look aghast, especially because of the thoughts I was just having, but Finley laughs. “Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll be a perfect gentleman towards your beloved granddaughter.”
Grandma Netty clicks her tongue. “I said behave. I didn’t say don’t ruffle her feathers up a bit. She needs it, right, Lorelei?”
My grandmother’s hazel eyes glisten with mischief, giving her a youthful glow to counter the wrinkles on her face. I swallow, heat brushing my face. “My feathers are just fine, thank you.”
Finley and my grandmother laugh as if they are in on some joke that I’m not privy to, so I decide it’s time to leave.
Mostly because the idea of Finley ruffling me up in any way does something funny to my nervous system. And by funny, I mean… desired.
“Wait! Lorelei,” Finley says as he trails after me to dump my plate into the trash can.
“Yes?” I ask, looking him in the eyes as I shove the paper plate down into the black bag.
He follows suit, not bothered by my challenging scowl. Which is good because I'm more agitated with myself than him at the moment. “Are you sure you’re okay going on a hike and camping trip this weekend with me? If it’s too much, tell me.”
“Let’s talk outside.” I walk out the backdoors and out under the overhang. The temperature has risen alongside the humidity, but I bask in the feel of spring. Finley stands beside me, close, but not touching me. He waits for me to speak.
“For some reason, I’m okay. In the name of honesty, I feel safe with you.” Okay, that’s enough confession. After puffing out a breath, I smirk. “You aren’t going to mind camping? Sleeping on the ground won’t be an issue for Your Highness? There will be spiders.”
I can’t imagine this prim and proper man who jumps on chairs when he sees spiders laying underneath the stars with bugs and birds singing around us.
He chuckles and places a hand on my shoulder.
I don’t fidget away, though I’m totally aware of every inch of skin where his fingers heat through my shirt. It’s uncomfortable…
But not in a bad way?
I tap my feet, trying to distract myself from the feeling.
“I’ll have you by my side to kill the creepy crawlies. What is there to be afraid of?”
I glare at him, which only causes him to laugh harder. He gently squeezes my shoulder before growing solemn. “I’m still vested in going at your pace, but don’t be surprised when my antics ramp up. I meant every word when I said I see my future with you and you alone.”
His declaration is one of war.
And suddenly, I find myself wanting to lose the battle for once in my life.