Read Online The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots by Karla Akins - Free Book Online Page B

his usual calm, delayed manner, Aaron climbed slowly down the ladder.
    “How are you Miss Bernice? It’s lovely to see you this morning. Is there something I can help you with?”
    “You know good and well there’s something you can help me with.” I peeked out the door in time to see Bernice shake her finger in Aaron’s face. “I cannot allow this biker catastrophe to happen. I just won’t stand for it.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that, Bernice. I wish you’d reconsider.”
    “I will not.”
    Aaron folded the ladder.“Well, that’s a shame. That’s a real shame, because I wanted to ask you to be in charge of—well—never mind.”
    “What? In charge of what? Go on. What is it?”
    “I looked forward to you being in charge of organizing the food and refreshments for the event.”
    Bernice sighed deeply and glared. I’d heard Bernice tell people before that she was the only one in the church who knew how to get things done.
    Aaron moved the ladder to the next chandelier, climbed to the top, and continued screwing in light bulbs.
    “We have no idea how many will be here, and Kirstie and I aren’t sure what type of food we should serve that would make for good leftovers and…”
    “Well, that’s true.” Bernice sniffed. “Kirstie’s gift isn’t in the kitchen. We both know that.”
    I wanted to march in and give Bernice something else to talk about, but I held back.
    Aaron didn’t say anything. With one quiet motion, he moved the ladder to the next chandelier and started changing lights again.“What do you suggest Bernice?”
    “For what?”
    “For food. What should we serve?”
    I chuckled and watched as Aaron hooked and reeled in Bernice. She talked about how serving egg salad wouldn’t be appropriate because it would spoil, but on the other hand, a fruit salad could keep for quite a while, and a person could always re-heat hot dogs and eat them later, but serving sandwiches would mean the bread would dry out.
    “I’m so glad we can depend on you, Bernice.” Aaron flashed her a smile. “Your help will be invaluable.”
    “I live to serve, Pastor. You know that.” Bernice turned and hollered toward the office door. “Kirstie, tell Opal I’ll need a sign-up sheet for Sunday. I’ll call with the details in a few hours.”
    “OK, Bernice. Opal should be here then. She stepped out to get supplies.” I choked back a giggle. When my husband shifted into pastor gear, he never failed to impress me. He had a patient way with people I hadn’t mastered.
    “At least they’ll get a good meal.” Bernice sniffed and began to walk toward the door. “Never let it be said that this church doesn’t know how to take care of folks. You hear me, Pastor Donovan? If we’re gonna do this, we’re gonna do it right.”
    Aaron climbed down the ladder and winked at me.
    I smiled back.
    “Yup. We’re gonna do it right. I can’t have my name associated with something done willy-nilly. People will be talking about this for years.” Bernice’s voice trailed off as she walked through the foyer doors and out to the parking lot.
    Aaron walked into the office and began to tickle me. “You better get busy, Mrs. Donovan. We have some hungry bikers to feed.”
    “Aaron, stop tickling me!”
    He grabbed me in a big bear hug. “OK.” He buried his nose in my hair. “Please, God, please don’t let anything go wrong at this event.”
    “It’ll be fine.” I looked up at him. “Really. Don’t worry.”
    “I sure hope we don’t live to regret this, Kirstie.”
    I walked to the desk and sat down at the computer to email Opal about Bernice’s sign-up sheet. “It’ll be fine. If it doesn’t go well, we can always live in the van.”
     
     
     
     

11
     
    Finally the day came, and the thunder of motorcycles filled the air. I trembled with anticipation as people riding everything from Harleys to scooters to sport bikes filled the parking lot. I must admit Bernice pulled off a beautiful spread of BBQ and