Page 103 of Relentless

“I’ll be right with you.”

“You can wait a minute, sir,” Oakleigh said, putting up her hand and ignoring his agitated expression. “Audrey, I was wrong, and I’m sorry.”

“It's fine,” Audrey deflected.

“No,” Oakleigh shook her head. “It’s not, though.”

“I get it, really,” Audrey responded, crossing her arms to her red apron. “You’re in charge and shouldn’t have to do this type of work anymore.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Oakleigh remarked, raising a sharp eyebrow as she tied her red apron around her waist, cinching in tight. “Making coffee is the most important job I’ve got.”

Relief overtook Audrey’s confident facade, and Oakleigh decided then that she would never again repeat her mistake. Audrey was her employee, but most importantly, she was her friend.

They went to work as a cohesive team. Oakleigh filled carafes with steaming hot coffee while Audrey boxed up cinnamon rolls. There were still a few lingering customers drinking down their last gulp of coffee when Oakleigh announced,

“I think we’re ready to go.”

She hung her apron back on the hook and grabbed two sloshing carafes by the cardboard handles, while stuffing a roll of paper cups under her arm. Even with their combined efforts, hauling the items across the icy pavement to the church would take more than one trip.

Praying earnestly that neither of them would slip on the ice, they made it across the street safe and sound.

Entering the fresh white church lobby, Oakleigh found the table was already set to her strict specifications. Taking in theclean, modern rustic aesthetic, she felt a touch of satisfaction as she stepped back to admire her work.

“It’s perfect,” Audrey praised, stacking the last box of cinnamon rolls. The bounce in her voice signaled the return of her contagious spark of optimism.

“I couldn’t have done it without you, Audrey,” Oakleigh said, putting an arm around her shoulder.

Maeve appeared from the sanctuary, giving everything one last scan before opening the doors.

“Everything ready?”

“We’re ready,” Oakleigh acknowledged, glancing nervously past her into the empty church. “Isshehere?”

Maeve gave her a knowing look and quietly nodded.

“Okay,” Oakleigh acknowledged, fortifying her walls. “Let’s get on with this.” Pulling out her phone, she pushed open the church’s double doors and stepped outside, blending into the excited crowd gathering there.

The moment had been years in the making, and Oakleigh was determined to capture every moment.

She tapped on her screen and held up her phone as she wentlive.

Maeve propped open the doors, and Dallas joined her side, taking her hand in his.

The loud cheer from the crowd accompanied Oakleigh’s skyrocketing viewer count, driving a smile to her face. She loved foisting Maeve into the spotlight whenever she could.

If anyone deserved to be admired, it was Maeve.

“For all those who couldn’t make it here in person,” Oakleigh relayed to her online audience with a tinge of pride in her tone, “I want to welcome you to White Bridge Community Church — we couldn’t have done any of this without your prayers and generosity.”

Dallas shook hands while Maeve generously hugged each and every friend, neighbor, and follower who wanted one. Some of the young people looked as though they had journeyed all the way to White Bridge for just the glimmer of acceptance that Maeve offered without partiality.

“I love this,” Oakleigh smiled. She couldn’t help but let the words overflow.

Looking at her screen, she noticed Maeve giving her a subtle gesture to join her side. Oakleigh shook her head and mouthedno.She was determined to preserve the moment for them, fearing that her presence would draw from what she deemed the focus of the day.

Maeve clearly disagreed.

Responding with a look that Oakleigh knew well, she snapped her finger at the place beside her.

---