Page 59 of Spiritwarrior

Frowning, she thought back to when she had first met Ginny and remembered how she seemed familiar.

Before she could ask any more questions, Ginny started singing “I’ll Fly Away,” and Jody lifted the fiddle to his shoulder and started playing along. It was stirring hearing Ginny’s melancholy voice as she sang while Jody kept up with her effortlessly.

“That was beautiful,” she said softly when the song ended.

“You haven’t heard anything yet.”

Joel was right; Ginny sang another song that was much more modern, which she easily recognized.

“OMG!”

Joel started laughing at her reaction. “You didn’t know?”

Sophie wanted to cry in embarrassment. She had a top-rated Indy singer working as a cook in her restaurant for free.

“Why on earth is she helping me out at my restaurant?” she asked, still in shock.

Joel only shrugged at her. “I’ve wondered the same thing myself. I don’t think it’s for the money. Not only did she make money singing until she stepped back from performing, but she makes big bucks songwriting. Her husband isn’t hurting for money, either. He’s one of the owners who are building that big housing development.”

“This just gets better and better. I am so embarrassed. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize her.”

“Why? Her hair color has changed, and you’re used to seeing her in jeans and sweatshirts.”

“I’m just surprised someone who is as popular as Ginny is also kindhearted. All of the Colemans are,” she added.

Joel, who was taking a drink of his soda, started choking.

Sophie started patting him on the back. “You okay?”

“Yes … it’s just what you said about the Colemans. They aren’t known for being kindhearted.”

“They are to me.” Glaring at him, she went back to listening to Ginny sing.

Sophie joined along, clapping with the others in the park when Ginny stopped singing.

Joel opened the cooler. “Hungry yet?”

“Yes.”

He took out all the sandwiches.

“I should go take Jody’s to him.” Sophie prepared to get to her feet.

“Let me. Which ones are his?”

She was showing Joel when his cell phone started ringing.

“Excuse me.” He answered his phone. From his expression, Joel didn’t appear happy at being called.

“Can’t you call someone else to work?”

She guessed they couldn’t from the way Joel put the sandwiches back in the cooler.

“I’ll have to cut our evening short. Baylin’s ankle monitor is glitching, and I’ve been called in to make sure she’s at her apartment.”

She looked at Joel in surprise. “Baylin has an ankle monitor?”

“The sheriff made it a condition to keep her out of jail.”

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