Page 39 of Steadfast

All the preparation in the world had not softened the blow of seeing Dallas at church the night before. It was just asdifficult as she had imagined it would be, but she had certainly dealt with worse heartache.

“Please Lord, send a little light in all this darkness,” she whispered. There wasn’t much time to spend in prayer that morning, as she was interrupted by footsteps down the squeaky staircase. She lifted one of the mugs off the coffee table and handed it off to a very groggy eyed Oakleigh as she shuffled past.

Oakleigh plopped down on the sofa. Drawing the fresh brew to her lips, she took a long swig.

“Thanks,” Oakleigh muttered, barely over a whisper. She curled up and laid her head on the armrest, clearly still struggling to wake up.

“Oakleigh?” Maeve said gently.

“I know, Maeve,” Oakleigh mumbled. “Just five more minutes, and I’ll leave for the shop. I promise.”

Maeve took a sip of her coffee, “I’ve actually got something else for you today.”

“Oh?” Oakleigh perked up. “And who’s making coffee?”

Maeve steeled herself for what she knew would be a burst of frustration from Oakleigh when she heard the news.

“Audrey’s working today.”

“Of course she is,” Oakleigh slumped back onto the armrest of the sofa, rubbing her temples as though she was preparing for a migraine.

“Talk to me, Oakleigh, what’s wrong with Audrey?” Maeve opened the conversation, waiting patiently for Oakleigh’sresponse. She already knew the answer, though. It was simply a clash of personalities.

“She’s just so—” Oakleigh stumbled to find the appropriate description.

“Peppy?” Maeve offered with a shrug, attempting to stifle her amused smile.

“Annoying.” Oakleigh bluntly corrected her before spinning into the thoughts she had obviously been turning over all night. “Is this because of the Amos thing? Because I feel like I’ve got things under control, and I’m pretty good with hiring if you want my feedback next time.”

“So—just out of curiosity.” Maeve took a slow sip from her mug, “after what happened with Amos, would you hireyou?”

Oakleigh pressed out an exasperated exhale, reluctant to give Maeve the satisfaction that she had been nudged back into her place.

The crackling fireplace filled the silence between them.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Dallas?” Oakleigh finally blurted out, using her words like a sledgehammer through the stillness.

Maeve attempted to steady herself under Oakleigh’s scrutiny. “What about Dallas?”

Oakleigh’s silent expression told her she saw right through the thin deflection.

“As you like to say all the time,” Oakleigh answered, appearing completely unamused, “I have eyes, Maeve.”

Resting her elbow on the armrest of the couch, Maeve looked away into the dancing flames in the fireplace.

“I have some things to figure out,” she admitted. “When I do, you’ll be one of the first to know.”

Mia’s footsteps down the stairs were a welcomed interruption. When she swept into the room, she was bright eyed and ready for the day.

“Good morning!” Mia’s voice bobbed as she took her travel mug from Maeve’s offering hand.

“Talk aboutpeppy,” Oakleigh mumbled. Bitterness had crept back into her voice.

Maeve purposely glazed past Oakleigh’s attitude and went straight to business. “Now that we’re all up and about, I need you ladies to start nailing down interior decisions at the church.”

Mia let out a little squeal of delight, doing a few small claps as she bounced excitedly.

“Oaks, this is going to be so fun!”

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