Page 63 of Lee

“The good part of having a baby is that there are always wipes around these days,” Charli said as she handed them out to everyone who’d had a s’more.

Once they were done with the dessert, Lee got to his feet and picked up the guitars. He made his way to the other side of the fire and handed one to Jay. The two men strapped the instruments on, then tuned them.

Lee wasn’t a short man, Rori didn’t think, but still, Jay was taller than him by two or three inches. She’d thought she’d heard someone saying he played basketball, perhaps professionally.

“Too bad your drums aren’t portable, Gareth,” Will said.

“I suppose I could bring a cajon to play,” Gareth replied. “Maybe next time. If we make this a regular thing.”

“It took Lee coming back to Serenity for Jay to agree to play,” Charli reminded him. “We could have been doing this sooner.”

“You both know that Lee is better than me,” Jay said as he strummed the strings. “It’s better to have him to lead.”

“Well, what are we going to start with?” Lee asked.

“This Is the Day!” Layla called out.

“How about we follow that up with I Will Enter His Gates?” Charli suggested.

Lee turned to Jay. “We’ll do This Is the Day in C, then G for I Will Enter.”

Jay nodded, but he waited for Lee to start playing first. When Lee began sing, the kids enthusiastically joined in and the adults did as well, though a little less energetically. Lee had a nice voice, and he did a good job leading the group.

Gareth had his son on his lap, and Timothy clapped his tiny hands as his dad bounced him on his knee. Rori recalled seeing Gareth seated at the drums during the worship service the previous Sunday, so clearly, they were a family of talented musicians.

Though Rori didn’t know any of the songs they sang, she still enjoyed herself, clapping along with them. Since they repeated parts of the songs, she was able to pick up on some of the lyrics.

There was joy in the songs they sang, and it amazed Rori how they knew all the words by heart. And as she’d noticed previously, the songs revealed their love for God and the hope they had in Him. Maybe if she heard the songs enough, she too could sing as freely and joyfully.

But as much as she enjoyed the music, she also enjoyed watching Lee as he sang and played the guitar. His whole body moved, swaying as he strummed the strings. His talent was apparent in how he led them from one song to the next as suggestions were called out, pausing only to let Jay know the key for each song.

It was just one more thing that drew her to Lee and made her wish that she had something to offer him. He was musically gifted, smart, and so friendly and caring to those around him.

And there she was… barely qualified to answer telephones and sleeping on an air mattress.

He’d definitely get the short end of the stick with her—even as a friend—and Rori really didn’t like that thought. Who she was hadn’t been enough for anyone in her life yet, and she wasn’t sure that would change once Lee and his family had a chance to get to know her.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Lee dropped the guitars off in his room, then went to the spare bedroom where Charli had taken Rori. The other ladies were gathered there too, and they were all trying to convince Rori to take some of the furniture in the room.

“You’re sure you don’t need it?” Rori bit her lip as she looked at Charli, who sat on the daybed.

“Yep. Layla had this in her room for when friends would stay over, and then Amelia used it after Blake and I got married and they moved in. However, when the girls moved to their room up here, we got them each a new bed. This daybed is extra, and really, it’s just taking up space. As you can see, we have an actual bedroom set in here already. We don’t need this.”

“You’d be doing Charli a favor,” Janessa said. “If you agreed to take it.”

Rori glanced around at them, clearly reluctant to accept his sister’s generosity, and Lee wished he understood why. Was she too proud to accept it? He didn’t think so. She’d never come across as prideful. It was possible she was ashamed of needing help.

“If you’re sure,” Rori finally said. “I guess I’ll take the bed.”

“Perfect!” Charli exclaimed with a smile. “I’ll have Blake and Lee bring it to your place tomorrow.”

Rori looked over at Lee when Charli said his name. He smiled at her and nodded, letting her know that he was on board with what his sister was planning for him the next day. He was glad that he wouldn’t have to show up unannounced at her door with the bed.

Though he would have done it, if necessary, this way was definitely better.

He waited to see if Charli would offer anything else, but she didn’t. Instead, they all left the room and headed back downstairs. The others, including the kids, were in the kitchen, indulging in more brownies and cookies.

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