Read Online Something of a Storm (All in Good Time Book 1) by Brooke St. James - Free Book Online Page A

of me through those glasses. "I'm an artist, not a teacher. I'm great at what I do and I really don't need anyone standing over my shoulder asking what's what and who's who."
    My eyes widened. I suddenly got the feeling that he wasn't going to let me in. Up until now, I had assumed everything was all set and he was okay with me coming. I got very nervous thinking I'd just drug my sister to San Francisco for nothing.
    Then, just like that, he stuck his hand out and ruffed up my hair. "Rita's a dear friend and she said I'd like you, so I'll just have to take her word for it," he said. He gave a flick of his head for me to follow him inside, which I did.
    "Just stay out of my way, and don't ask any stupid questions."
    I brought some of the sketches I'd done for window designs, but I didn't dare offer to show him any of those. I knew Mrs. Williams had already emailed him some photos of work I'd done, and that would have to be enough. I decided that for now I'd be better off keeping my mouth shut.
    "It took me over a year to make the windows you'll see today," he said. "They're being installed in a church across town and I'm going to oversee it."
    "I'll bet they're beautiful," I said.
    "Of course they are," he said. "If they weren't I'd lose my job." His tone carried a little humor, but he had not cracked a single smile since I arrived. I wondered if that's how he always acted.
    His studio was beautiful. At first glance, it seemed glass and tools were scattered everywhere, but the more I looked around, the more I saw that it was highly organized. The selection of glass was overwhelming, and I hoped I'd be able to use some of it one day.
    We didn't say much to each other as he finished up some things around the shop. He glanced at me every now and then, but he'd just go back to whatever he was doing. We stayed there for about thirty minutes before heading to the church.
    He drove an old Volvo station wagon that had obviously been restored. He was odd enough that I wondered if he'd let me sit in the front seat with him, so I got in slowly, but he didn't say anything to stop me. It took us over thirty minutes in traffic to get to the church. We made a little small talk about how I was still getting used to driving in a big city.
    After a little conversation, he turned on the radio, which was tuned to classical music. He cranked it loud enough that any further talking was out of the question. I didn't mind. I just stared at my new city with Beethoven or Bach or whoever it was as my soundtrack. I wondered what Lexi was doing. I couldn’t help but hope she decided to stay home with the door locked till I got back.
    He turned down the music as we pulled into the parking lot of the church. "This place is smaller than you'd think," he said. "The glass projects I do are usually for grand cathedrals but this one's more like a little chapel you'd find in Sherwood Forest or something."
    "I think it's charming," I said, getting my first look at it.
    "It's charming all right, and so are the windows. They're not your typical church windows."
    "How so?"
    "The guy who hired me commissioned them for his mother and father. His dad is the pastor here and apparently his mom has always wanted stained glass. She was a fan of some of my earlier, art deco inspired stuff, and they gave me free reign to interpret the gospel as I saw fit. I've never had a church give me that sort of freedom before."
    "Have they seen them?" I asked.
    "No. The son is meeting me here today to get a glimpse, but the pastor and his wife are intentionally staying out of the sanctuary until the installation is complete."
    The place was as charming on the inside as it was on the outside. I felt a sense of peace the moment I stepped foot in the door, and I thought it must be a feeling that comes with entering a holy place. The construction crew already had the first window underway. The old window was out and they were working on cleaning the space for the new one.
    "I'm glad you got