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on the world. Lisa included.
    But first, he needed to call home. He dialed his parents’ house.
    â€œHello?” his dad said.
    â€œHi. It’s me.”
    â€œAre you and Lisa coming home today?”
    â€œNo, sir. It’s going to take some work to make her come along with me.”
    â€œWell—Hold on, you mother’s saying something.” He put his hand over the phone, muffling the sound, then removed it. “Your mother says to tell Lisa to call her. She wants to talk with her.”
    Which meant that Grandmother wanted to lecture Lisa, trying to list all the reasons she needed to return to Charleston. He could just picture Josie’s reaction to his mother’s newest demands. “Tell Mother that we’ll be there as soon as we possibly can.”
    â€œMichael, I expect you back at the bank to tie up the Mason account.”
    â€œI’m in touch with Gary on that. He can handle it.”
    â€œI’m not so sure. We need you back here.”
    â€œAs soon as I’m finished dealing with Lisa.”
    â€œYou can’t reason with the child. Bring her back whether she wants to come or not.”
    Up until last night, he would have been inclined to agree that would be the best way to handle the situation. Now, he knew better, but he wouldn’t be able to convince his dad.
    â€œI’m sorry, Michael, your mother is signaling that we’ve got to hurry to be on time for Sunday school.”
    â€œI’m so off schedule, I had forgotten today was Sunday.” And he hadn’t thought to make plans with Josie and Lisa.
    He ended the call and donned the one suit he’d packed back when he’d had hope of making Saturday’s dinner meeting—the dinner he’d planned to have with Tom Mason at Magnolia’s. The one he’d missed while eating surrounded by shrieking kids.
    At least Gary, who’d filled in for the engagement, had gotten to enjoy the shellfish and grits.
    As he dialed Josie’s phone number, he hesitated. Would they welcome him to attend church with them? Would Josie even insist that Lisa go?
    The phone rang.
    â€œâ€™Lo?” a froggy voice croaked.
    â€œGood morning.”
    Josie cleared her throat. “Mike?”
    â€œI’m calling to invite myself to church.”
    â€œChurch? What time is it?”
    â€œIt’s ten o’clock. I wasn’t sure what time the service would start.”
    She groaned. “Oh, no. We overslept.”
    â€œDoes worship start at eleven?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIf you don’t mind, I’d like to join you and Lisa this morning.”
    â€œIt was pretty rough last week when I forced her to go. It won’t be easy, especially with you in the picture.”
    â€œI’m willing to try.”
    She sighed, and he heard sheets rustling. “Okay. We’ll be ready in a flash.”
    Â 
    As Josie and Lisa hustled out of the house, Mike opened the car door for his niece. Josie could tell by his wide-eyed look that Lisa’s black dress, black boots, multiple metal belts and black lipstick horrified him. Lisa’s pleased smile, and the devious sparkle in her eye, fairly shouted her victory. But Mike’s determined glint as he opened Josie’s door said that Lisa hadn’t yet won this war.
    Both confirmed that Josie was dealing with some major stubborn genes here.
    Mike hopped in his side. “Where to?”
    â€œNot that mausoleum we went to last week,” Lisa said.
    â€œThat’s not nice, Lisa,” Mike said, though Josie understood why Lisa would say it.
    â€œI didn’t fit in at all there. The average age must be ninety.”
    Josie laughed. “More like seventy. But I know a few teenagers, one who lived with me for a while. I’ll introduce you this time.”
    â€œWhich way, then?” Mike asked as he started his car. “Is it that big church I saw up on the hill in town?”
    The one that