Page 29 of Rescued Faith

She was as relentless as her brother. Poor Jude never had a chance. Not that it looked like he cared as he stared adoringly at his bride from across the room.

It was sickening and…sweet. Maybe the sooner they finished the meal, the sooner she could make her excuses to leave. Someone else could take Bryce to get his truck.

“So, did you finish your big case?” Andi asked.

Cases. Yes! That, she could talk about and keep it professional.

“Yeah, what case was that again?” Jude lifted one dark brow. “The one that kept you busy last month.”

The one that’d kept her away from their wedding was what he meant. “It wasn’t big as much as it was time sensitive.”

“Did you have to find a missing kid or something?” Andi asked as she set a tall glass of iced tea in front of Penny on the granite countertop.

“Uh, no.” She didn’t take those kinds of cases anymore. “Just tracking down a suspect. So, tell me, how was the wedding?”

Bryce hung his head back and moaned. “Don’t get her started. Next thing you know, we’ll be forced to watch the wedding video. Again.”

Elizabeth laughed and steered Bryce away. “Go get your father and let him know it’s time for dinner.”

Bryce left, which somehow made the room feel a little bigger. But she couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not. Jude grabbed the stack of plates on the counter and started setting the table.

Good idea. Stay busy. “Can I help?” She reached for the pile of silverware someone had set on the counter.

“Oh no you don’t.” Bryce’s mother scooped the utensils up and handed them to her daughter. “That’s Andi’s job.”

“Surely there’s something I can do.” She always hated not doing her share.

“Do you mind slicing a few veggies for our salad?”

“Not at all.” Penny settled at the counter, where Elizabeth passed over a cutting board with some tomatoes and cucumbers. They all settled into an easy rhythm as they prepped for the meal. Elizabeth went on about the governor’s family, his wife and son who were arriving in a couple days. Apparently, she was part of the welcoming committee.

Soon they were seated together, Bryce’s father at one end, Elizabeth at the other, with Andi and Jude across the table from Penny and Bryce.

Before she realized what was happening, Bryce and Elizabeth both grabbed her hands, and they were joined in a circle. Elizabeth asked Jude to pray.

Penny tried not to squirm as everyone bowed their heads. Bryce sent her a playful shrug, like he played along but didn’t necessarily put a lot of stock in what they were doing.

“Lord, thank You for Your provision and protection. Bless us as we gather here. May this meal bring nourishment to our bodies, and may the conversation be encouraging and uplifting. Amen.”

Elizabeth gave Penny’s hand a light squeeze before letting go. “It’s so nice to have a full table again.”

“A full table?”

Andi speared her salad. “You’re sitting in Logan’s spot. It’s been vacant since he left for Montana last year.”

“Oh, right. How does he like it out there?”

“He seems to enjoy it. And with the dry spring they had, it sounds like their fire season is supposed to be a bad one.” One didn’t have to be an observant PI to recognize the lines of worry in his mother’s eyes. “So, dear, tell us what you’ve been up to.”

“Oh, not much. Tracking down bad guys. You’ll never guess how I found the last one.”

“How?” Bryce asked.

“I did a face search and found him on a dating app.”

Everyone laughed.

Andi batted her eyes at Jude. “I guess even criminals are looking for love.”

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