JD didn't know anyone. Maybe he'd seen a few people at church, but he certainly wasn't acquainted with them. How had he gotten so out of touch? Nothing to do but introduce himself. Except most of the people had already paired off. This felt so wrong, but how could he turn from his goal?
Tolvin was now at least thirty feet beyond him. JD scuffed his tennis shoe on the grass and stared at the ground.
A piercing scream from within the almond grove on his right caught his attention. He dashed down one of the rows as the frantic shrieks continued in succession. Was this the row where he heard the sound coming from?
About twenty-five yards down on the same row, a petite blonde danced around furiously, slapping at her shoulder-length hair. Her hands batted the air in front of her, and she sprinted in JD's direction, still waving her arms.
Before he could move out of the way, she whammed into him, swaying backward.
He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her upright. "Hey, are you all okay?"
Betty Ann Roberts looked up at him with sparkling blue eyes. "Oh. Sorry." She dashed past him.
JD jogged to catch up. "You looked like you were doing battle with an invisible creature in the air."
"They weren't invisible." She stopped running when she reached the grove's opening and pulled a couple of almonds out of her skirt pocket. I don't think this was worth going in there. A hundred bumblebees attacked me."
"I hate to tell you this, but bumblebees aren't dangerous." JD guffawed.
She shrugged and lifted her palms. "I'm still scared of anything that flies around my head." She lowered her shoulders. "But I feel like an idiot now."
He must have been at least a foot taller than the poor woman and ninety-five pounds heavier. "I didn't hurt you when we crashed, did I?"
"I'm fine." She stuck out her hand and flashed him a smile. "Betty Ann Roberts."
"Hi. JD Neilson. I remember seeing you at church last summer. You were with Richard Kingsley one night at Café Romagna, too. I don't know if you remember me."
"Hmm. I was in El Camino for spring break. Not sure I do."
JD chuckled. "Actually, I was afraid to tell you my name. I thought you might report me to Mr. Kingsley for almost knocking you to the ground. Anyway, it's nice to see you again, even if it is in the middle of an almond grove."
"I won't report you to Mr. Kingsley if you'll sit with me on the hayride. I hate to admit it, but I don't know anyone. I just graduated college and have been away for four years. I'm going to teach kindergarten in El Camino School District this fall." Betty Ann yanked the rest of the almonds out of her skirt pocket then plunked them on the ground. She smoothed a wrinkle out of her simple blue shirt.
"You've got it." JD cupped the side of his mouth. "I don't know anyone either. I've been a stranger to the singles' group, sorry to say."
Betty Ann didn't giggle like Aleece and Jayla. She was probably older, maybe twenty-three or so. But she was still several years younger than him. Joella and I are the same age. He brushed the thought away.
A green John Deere tractor attached to a rectangular flatbed with long bales of hay on the sides waited on the paved road about a hundred yards away from the farmhouse. Most of the other people had piled on, but an empty space toward the front still remained. JD extended his hand when Betty Ann strolled up beside him to climb on. She put her palm in his, glanced back with a playful smile, and eased down on the fragrant straw. Her fingers were small, not like Joella's longer ones. He scooted in beside Betty Ann.
"Hi, everybody. I'm Brother Langdon." The broad-shouldered man in the tractor's seat craned his neck around to them and waved. "Here we go."
The flatbed jerked, and Betty Ann bounced against JD's arm.
She blinked at him, pausing a moment without moving away. "Seems like I'm always crashing into you."
"I'm not complaining." He winked and leaned toward her with the next jerk. A breath caught in his throat. He'd just flirted with her. Well, wasn't that what he was here to do?
"Me, either." Betty Ann pulled the heels of her tennis shoes up on the bale of hay, smoothed her calf-length skirt down, and hugged her knees. "I love the sunset." She swept her hand toward the western horizon. "The shades of pinks and blues." Her feet touched the flatbed's floor again, and she ran her hand down a strand of shiny hair, twisting it at the end and releasing it.
The flatbed jostled again, raising a chorus of laughter from the crowded cart. Mr. Langdon steered the tractor in a wide circle, heading toward the almond grove. A dirt road curved toward the opposite end of the rows of trees where JD found Betty Ann and passed right through it.
Betty Ann scrunched down with her hands on her head. "No, I can't go in there again. They're too many bumblebees." A look of horror filled her face.
Tolvin, Jayla, and Aleece across from JD and Betty Ann paused from their three-way conversation and stared.
Moving closer to her, JD draped his arm around her shoulders. "Come on. I'll protect you." He tried to ignore the memory of another time he'd sheltered a woman in his arms.
"I'm sorry I'm such a baby, but I hate those bugs." She scooted closer, leaned into his chest, and wrapped her arms around herself.
The aroma of flowers filled his nostrils. Joella's hair always smelled like apricots. JD ground his molars hard. Would he stop comparing Betty Ann to Joella?
Mr. Langdon slowed the tractor and towed the flatbed through the grove with plenty of bumps and jostles. The canopy of trees overhead prevented light from illuminating the secluded area.
JD could barely see the woman beside him as she nestled under his arm.
The bumblebees must've retreated to their nests for the night. "We're in luck. No more insects," he said as the tractor came through on the other side and stopped near the tables.
The sky had grown dark, and bright globes on metal poles illuminated the picnic tables and the surrounding area. Betty Ann accepted his hand again and hopped down from the trailer.
Instead of releasing her, he grasped her petite fingers, which seemed lost in his large grip. She held on tighter and smiled as they followed the noisy crowd.
Sister Kingsley stood next to a smaller cloth-covered table arranging three ice cream makers, the toppings, paper bowls, plastic spoons, cups filled with lemonade, and napkins.
Brother Kingsley raised his hand. "Okay, folks. Next stop. Homemade sundaes."
What was JD doing? He had only met Betty Ann a couple of hours ago and already he was holding hands with her. If he were to guess, she didn't mind. She probably liked his attention … a step in the right direction.
Betty Ann followed him as they balanced a sundae in one hand and a plastic cup of lemonade in the other. The picnic table farthest from the others would be a good place to sit, to talk privately. They scooted in side-by-side at the long bench facing the grove and took a few bites of the creamy, sweet vanilla ice cream. JD chuckled. The attention Betty Ann lavished on him was more sugary.
He would never have guessed he'd meet someone this fast. When the evening waned and they headed back to the bus, JD didn't sit with Tolvin this time. To hold Betty Ann's hand on the trip back seemed like a natural thing after all the handholding during the evening.
The bus stopped in front of the church. Tolvin smirked and rolled his eyes when JD passed him in the aisle, JD's hand on Betty Ann's shoulder. He gave Tolvin a shrug and helped Betty Ann down the stairs. Let the kid think what he wanted.
The well-lighted circular overhang in front of the church illuminated her pretty face. The next step became obvious, and he had to take it. "Would you like to attend services with me tomorrow?"
Gleaming azure eyes gazed up at him. "I'd love to, JD."
"Give me your address, and I'll pick you up. I'd like to take you out to lunch, too."
He walked with her to the white Honda Civic and waved good-bye as she drove off. Dad could stop worrying. His father would be pleased when JD told him he wouldn't be going to church with the family. But not to worry. He'd
attend services with a nice EB girl.
Chapter Twenty One
New Life parking lot was packed-out tonight. Must've been a lot of interest in Dave's youth event. Joella pulled into the last slot nearest the street.
Dave. His words had remained with her since college. "When life isn't going in the direction you think it should, when you're feeling tired, lonely, discouraged, or any of the other myriad of emotions we find in our human hearts, the best cure is to reach out to others. Focus on how you can help someone else. Seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be granted you." She'd start tonight by honoring her promise to help him with the high school meeting.
Dave Reyes, she'd discovered, had a reputation as one of the best youth ministers in their denomination. He truly loved people and desired to serve others. Hadn't he jumped at the opportunity to pray with her the other day at Starbucks?
But she couldn't get the moment out of her mind, at the end of the prayer, when JD stood on the sidewalk peering in through the window, his mouth gaping. What had he thought? Maybe he realized how sad she felt and how she hadn't taken their relationship lightly.
Joella clicked the locks on her car and headed for the church entrance. Though she wanted to help out tonight, she needed to first get her mind off her broken heart and JD—the arduous thoughts she'd endured since the night at Smith Point three weeks ago. Though she still loved him, a long-term relationship would never be possible. It had been a decision she had to make by faith, not with her emotions. In time she'd be able to say the words JD Neilson without ravaging her heart.
The long corridor past the main entrance led to the fellowship hall, empty except for Dave. A table covered with a white paper tablecloth and a dried arrangement of white daisies sat at the front by the kitchen.
Dave taped a pink balloon on the wall and turned to her. "Hey, Joella. Thanks for coming. As you can tell, the Tuckers and Garcias have been busy. Couldn't do without my parent volunteers."
Gold and silver stars dangled from the ceiling, intertwined with twinkling lights. Pink and blue latex balloons with crosses hung on the walls. A banner strung on the opposite wall said, "We are new creations in Christ."
"Wow, Dave. This place looks gorgeous." It didn't seem like there was much left to do.
"The theme of this evening is 'heaven.' I hope to get these kids thinking." Dave taped up another balloon. "The food will go up there on the table at the front." He set the tape container on a chair and gazed at her. "I was thinking you could help me with the ministry part. There're a few who always seem to stand on the sidelines."
Joella knew how that felt. "I'd be happy to." If she were a teen tonight, she'd steer away from the crowd. Everything within her said she wanted to hibernate … to hide her aching heart from everyone. Lord, allow me to serve You tonight without constantly thinking about myself … and JD.
Dave adhered another balloon to the wall. "First we're going to play some games—Cross the River and Balloon Buzz." He rolled his eyes. "I know what you're thinking, but the teens like them. Then we'll eat, followed by a ministry time in the sanctuary."
The sound of laughing and loud conversation came from down the hall.
Dave grinned. "Get ready. Our young people are done with the warm-up rally with Pastor McNeely in the sanctuary."
Teenagers strolled into the room in groups of twos and threes, some setting a dish on the serving table. The noisy bunch congregated around Dave until he poked two fingers under his tongue and blew a loud whistle. "Okay, guys. Let's get started. We're playing Cross the River." He pointed to the open space on the other side of the tables. "Tom and Jess. Space these rubber mats in random fashion on the floor."
After Dave gave the order for the girls to line up on one side and the boys on the other, Joella spotted a girl standing against the wall like Dave had mentioned. The thin teen didn't look to be much older than thirteen or fourteen. She stared at the floor and edged toward the door of the fellowship hall.
The girl's nametag on her worn tee shirt said Brenda.
"Hey, don't you want to go out there and join the group?"
Brenda shook her head, not returning Joella's smile.
"I've got a feeling you're like me tonight … you want to back-off from the crowd."
"I guess. I don't fit in with those kids. In fact I'm thinking of leaving and not coming back." Brenda's chest rose and fell as she pressed her lips together.
Joella's heart went out to her. The young teen's face already reflected the heaviness of her life. Her gaze avoided Joella's. "I'm sorry, Brenda. I can remember what it felt like. I probably seem ancient to you, but I used to be a teenager. By the way, my name's Joella." She pointed to her nametag.
Brenda looked up with a half smile. "Nah. You're not that old, Joella."
Twenty-eight seemed old when Joella was fifteen. "Hey, come sit down and tell me about yourself. Does your family go to this church?"
Brenda followed her to a couple of folding chairs near the door. "No. I started attending after Dave and some kids knocked on doors in my neighborhood and invited me to the youth group." Her face brightened. "They send the bus for me now."
Joy swelled in Joella's heart. This teen further displayed Dave's love of God and youth. "So your family doesn't attend church?"
Brenda studied the lines on her palm. "No. Sometimes I wonder why I call them my family. I feel like a slave."
Joella braced, anticipating the story Brenda might relay. "I'd like to hear about it."
The girl tilted her head and gazed at Joella as if testing her sincerity. "I live with my mom and four brothers."
"You must have a lot of responsibilities at home." Joella crossed one knee over the other.
"Yeah, I'm lucky to be here tonight. Usually on weeknights I have to baby sit." She stared at the kids attempting to walk from one mat to the other, some of them falling on the floor and returning to the starting line.
"Are your brothers small?"
She nodded. "Yeah, two of them, but the other two are teenagers. My mom doesn't think boys have to help around the house. I couldn't believe my oldest brother said he'd keep the little kids tonight." Brenda fiddled with the buttons on her shirt. "Mom makes me do everything. I'd like to get her to church, but I don't see her much cuz she's a waitress and works a lot."
Joella's heart sank into her toes. Brenda's circumstances compelled her to grow up too fast. Joella lowered her voice. "I guess you feel resentful about having to do so much."
"Yeah." Brenda stared at her toes as if reluctant to go on.
"Has Dave taught you anything that's helped?"
She nodded. "Sometimes I feel like I'm not very important, but Dave tells us about God—how much He loves us. I don't know if I believe that. My life is pretty pathetic compared to a lot of the girls at my school." Brenda lifted her eyes. The laughter, giggles, and shouts of the boys and girls must have alienated her even more.
Lord, help me to know what to say to her. "God never said our lives would be easy. Believe me, life without problems doesn't mean He loves you more. Or when you have difficulties, it doesn't mean He loves you less." Joella gave Brenda's shoulder a pat. "I agree with Dave. The Bible says you are valuable to God."
Joella prayed Brenda would understand. "Maybe you don't feel important at home, but you are in God's sight." The room quieted as Dave gave instructions for the next game.
Brenda raised radiant blue eyes to Joella. "I've heard that message before in our youth meeting on Sunday morning. It's hard to get it from here to here." She pointed to her head and then her heart.
How well Joella knew what she meant. "God cares more than either one of us could understand. Brenda, have you asked Him to come into your life?"
Her lips formed a soft upward bow. "Yes, I did when Dave talked to us the other night. I didn't know exactly what it meant, but I want God in my life." A tear escaped on her cheek, and she brushed it away.
Joella patted her hand. "People may let you down,
but God never will." She wiped her own stray tear away.
A smile beamed on Brenda's face. "I'm going to try to remember that the next time I'm doing wash and changing diapers."
Joella laughed. "Your circumstances may not change, but how you go through them will if you give God a chance. You can do anything with His help. And when you come out on the other side, you'll be refined as gold, with the peace of the God in your heart."
Brenda smiled and scratched her head. "Wow, Joella. That's a lot to understand, but I'm not going to forget what you said."
A thrill careened down Joella's spine. The words she'd uttered to Brenda … Joella knew. Deep within her. The words were meant for her own inner ears as well.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Face uplifted, Joella welcomed the warmth of the morning sun. A smile broke free when a bird twilled and offered a greeting from a towering elm beside the walking path through NCU on the perfect June day. The muscles tugging at her mouth felt strange, unused. Happiness had eluded her since the night at Smith Point.
This is the day which the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it. The scripture from Psalms soothed the ache. How could a person not be glad on a day like today? Happiness might be fleeting, but joy came from the Lord.
Was it smart to continue down the same walkway where she'd first met JD? The trail's bend, the notorious crash site, appeared ahead yet she continued on, not in a run, but a slow pace. She could do it.
With the overdue library book returned, Joella had time to take the long route through campus—from one end to the other. The new tennis shoes squeaked as she picked up the pace. No need to hurry back home. The final class ended last Saturday. Perhaps another course in the fall would help fill the loneliness.
The buzz in her lightweight backpack signaled a call, jangling every one of Joella's nerves. When would the foolish hope end? JD had made it clear he wouldn't call again, and she had to remember they had no future. But her heart fluttered when she glimpsed at the display screen. The word Nielsen sent her pulse on a wild race. Then she glanced at the screen again … Glorilyn.