Page 24 of Look for Me

Corinne looked up when she heard a truck door slam. She watched the woman get out of the bright red Chevy.

“Pilar!” Corinne waved, pointing to an empty spot near her. Corinne wanted to be friendly with new hires at work. She didn’t know for sure where Pilar stood spiritually, but she had accepted Corinne’s invitation to church, and that was a good start.

Today there were maybe fifty people in attendance at the church service. The nursery workers had taken the kids down to the beach for their children’s church.

Corinne would rather Dahlia stay with her throughout the church service, but this was how Wanda’s church worked. Some day, when Corinne found a place to settle down, she would find a church where families worshipped together.

Wanda went to sit with her friends in the front row so they could hear the preacher better. They weren’t the only ones who missed Pastor Butler when he took his family to the Grand Canyon on a summer vacation to celebrate the high school graduation of his firstborn son.

Corinne also missed his preaching, but it looked like he was going to pick up where he had left off two weeks ago.

His wife, Chiyoko, came over to see Corinne just as Pilar reached her as well. Corinne introduced them to each other.

“I’m on diet, but I always make an exception for chocolate,” Chiyoko said.

As Pilar chatted with the pastor’s wife, Corinne heard another vehicle door shut. She turned, and froze.

What is he doing here?

How does he know I attend this church?

Her mind went blank.

Truly, she should have expected Martin to hang around. He had arrived on Thursday and visited the chocolate shop. She had called in sick on Friday.

On Saturday, Sandra had called Corinne into her office to ask about Martin’s application for job at the chocolate shop. Corinne had come clean—mostly—with Sandra, telling her that Martin was an ex-boyfriend who was probably just passing through town.

And yes, even though he was harmless, Corinne explained that she would feel uncomfortable if Sandra hired him to work in the office.

Sandra then rejected Martin’s application and tossed it in the trash can.

Now he is here. In my church.

Who told him about this church?

Could it be Pilar? She had arrived in Key Largo two days after Martin did.

Corinne glanced over at Pilar.

Who is she, really?

The only thing Corinne knew about Pilar was that she was a fast learner, and would be filling in this afternoon for her and another worker who didn’t work on Sundays.

Someone played a hymn on guitar, and Chiyoko said she had to go. Pilar sat down on the grass. She hadn’t brought a chair.

Someone tapped Corinne on her shoulder. She turned to find Old Man Pete offering up his seat on the bench to Pilar.

“Thank you. That’s very kind you.” Pilar sat down behind Corinne.

Old Man Pete walked to the back of the gathering, and stood by the trees where several other men were standing, sipping coffee and eating doughnuts that someone had brought.

Corinne looked over the lyrics she had folded and stashed into her Bible. She and the other four women only had to sing once, but it was one of her favorite hymns.

Of all days, Martin would hear her sing it.

Would he have many questions?

She couldn’t offer him any answer—not the ones he probably sought.

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