Page 75 of Love in the Storm

Lyric looked up at Asa, but the panic from a moment ago was gone, replaced by a genuine excitement. “Okay then. I guess you can show me around.”

Jacob reached for Lyric’s hand, and she let go of Asa’s to switch to his son’s. He had a lot of reasons to be proud of his son, but the kid was kicking things up a notch today.

Asa followed Jacob and Lyric inside where Jacob did just as he’d promised. He introduced her to everyone he passed. It wasn’t lost on Asa that his son introduced her as his friend. Jacob truly thought Lyric was his new friend. They played games together, she’d helped him with his homework a few times, and Asa had even found the two watching a football game together yesterday. Lyric probably didn’t care one bit about the sport, but Jacob had explained everything that happened just as well as the commentators.

They finally made it to the pew their familynormally chose, and Jacob pointed to a seat. “Lyric, you can sit here. I sit there, and Dad sits there.”

“What if I want to sit by Lyric?” Asa asked.

Jacob studied the pew. “Well, I guess she could sit here, and I’ll sit there.”

“But I want to sit by her too,” Granny said, sliding into the conversation with a mischievous grin.

Scratching his head, Jacob frowned as he looked at the empty seats. “Well, I guess you could sit behind her.”

Asa’s mom laughed and nudged Lyric toward the pew. “Y’all go ahead. I’ll sit on the end.”

Ms. Landry stopped next to them and rested on her cane. The woman glared at Lyric with narrowed eyes and scooted closer. Her words were high-pitched and scratchy as she said, “I know you from somewhere.”

Lyric’s eyes widened, and she froze.

“Yes, I do. How do I know you?” Ms. Landry asked, leaning on her cane and tilting her chin up to get a closer look through her bifocals. “Who do you belong to?”

“I—” Lyric stammered and pierced Asa with a pleading look.

No, no, no. He had to get her out of this. Ms. Landry only left her house to come to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, but she somehow had her finger on the pulse of everything happening in Blackwater. If she caught a whiff of Lyric’s past, wordwould make its way through her phone tree like a bolt of lightning. “Ms. Landry, this is?—”

“She’s Lyric,” Jacob finished. “My friend.”

“Lyric?” Ms. Landry practically shouted. Though, the volume probably had more to do with her hearing loss than surprise. “I would remember that name. I guess I don’t know you.” She looked up at Asa and gave him a single nod. “Good to see you, Asa.”

He breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped an arm around Lyric’s waist. “Good to see you too.”

As soon as the older woman walked away, Lyric melted into Asa’s side. “I just knew she was going to say something,” she whispered.

Asa pressed a kiss to her hair. “So what if she does? The past doesn’t matter anymore.”

Truly, it didn’t. No matter how many times they were reminded of it, as long as they agreed the past should stay behind them, they could look forward to the future together.

Jerry Lawrence stepped into the row in front of them and gave Asa a quick nod. His daughter, Olivia, was right behind him, and her smile had enough wattage to light up an underground cave. If Lyric spent any amount of time with Olivia, the two would probably become fast friends.

“So, you must be Lyric,” Olivia said as she sat and turned all the way around to prop her forearms on the back of the pew.

Lyric’s shoulder tensed beneath his hand. “I am.”

“I’ve heard so much about you,” Olivia said.

“Only good things,” Asa added. “Lyric, meet Olivia Lawrence.”

If only he could transfer thoughts to Lyric right now. Olivia had been a family friend for as long as he could remember, but the relationship was strictly platonic. What were the chances Lyric would think he’d ever been involved with Olivia?

“Of course. Asa is one of the good ones, which I’m sure you’ve figured out by now.” She pointed a finger and moved it between Asa and Lyric. “So, you two are?—”

“Together,” Asa added. “You can post that on the community chat.”

A jolt of recognition ran up his spine. Was that the first time they’d openly admitted their relationship?

Olivia rolled her eyes. “You know I don’t gossip like that. I’m just glad to see the two of you happy. Y’all are adorable together!”

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