Page 62 of When Cardinals Appear

“Anyway,” Mrs. Carlisle continued, and I was grateful for the subject change, “we need some help with the set changes the day of the play. If you could put the word out for volunteers, I’d greatly appreciate it.”

“Sure, I can do that,” I said. “I’ll go make some calls.”

With a smile, she turned and began making her rounds to the different groups of children. I stepped backstage, knowing exactly who to call first.

“Hey, Lanie, what’s up?” Nate’s cheerful greeting washed away the awkward conversation with Mrs. Carlisle.

“I have news to share and a favor to ask. Which would you like first?” I still hesitated to tell him about the offer, but I couldn’t see a way around asking for his help without doing so. What other reason would I have to be working so closely on the play?

“Hmm, how about the news? That’ll tell me whether I should say yes to the favor.”

I laughed. “I was offered Mrs. Carlisle’s job at the middle school.”

The silence on the other end wasn’t encouraging. I tapped my foot as I waited for him to respond. Had I made a mistake? He’d been the one to encourage me to apply, after all.

“Lanie, that’s amazing, and I’m proud of you.”

“But?” I asked, hearing it in his faked enthusiasm.

“Are you going to accept?”

I stifled a sigh. He didn’t want to sound too happy in case I didn’t stay. While I wished I could give him a more definitive answer, I wouldn’t lie to him. “I haven’t decided yet, but it does lead into the favor. The school asked me to help with the Presidents’ Day play, and we need some volunteers to help with the set changes. Would you be willing to assist?”

“Of course,” he said, and that time, there was no hesitation in his voice. “When do you need me?”

I gave him the details for the dress rehearsal and event, and he promised to be there. As I walked to the stage to help the children with their memory games, his question about whether I’d accepted weighed on my mind. I knew I would have to say goodbye to Nate for good if I stuck to my plan to move to California. We’d tried long distance before, and it hadn’t worked. His life was in Cedar Haven, and I would never ask him to give up what he’d built. But I also wouldn’t allow myself to base such an important decision on a man, no matter how much he meant to me.

Chapter Twelve

Sunday afternoon, I stood backstage with the children, preparing for the dress rehearsal. In addition to Nate, I had roped in several of my friends to help with the set pieces. Trudy and her husband had painted a replica of the White House on a mural, and Steven had worked with Nate to build different platforms on which our presidents would speak to the children.

I went up behind Nate and Steven as they were putting the finishing touches on a set of stairs. “This looks great! How about you both let me take you out tonight as a thank-you for all your hard work?”

They exchanged a glance, and Nate suddenly seemed very interested in hammering a nail. Steven wiped his hands on his pants and gave me an easy smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Thanks, sis, but I’ve got plans.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip to hide my disappointment. “Wedding planning with Rose?”

He scratched the back of his neck. “Ah, something like that.”

What a weird response. I turned to Nate. “What about you?”

Before he could respond, someone tugged on my shirt. “Miss McAllister?”

I looked down with a smile. “Yes, Robert?”

“Can you help me run through my questions again?”

With a quick glance at Nate, who refused to meet my eye, I nodded and led Robert to a quiet part of the stage. But Nate’s behavior needled me. What was up with him? Had I done something wrong?

I tried to ignore the uneasy feeling growing in my stomach as I helped Robert with the subject matter, giving him pointers on how to remember the questions he would ask. But I couldn’t stop myself from staring across the room, where Nate and Steven were still hammering away at the stairs.

After I finished up with Robert, I headed over to Nate. He was alone that time, as Steven had moved on to work on the wheelchair for President Roosevelt. I cleared my throat, and he jumped, spinning around, eyes wide.

“Everything okay?”

He gave a quick nod. “Yep, totally fine.”

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