Read Online Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong - Free Book Online

the service as the preacher closed his Bible and around her people shuffled to their feet. The pianist had slipped onto the bench and was playing softly, and everyone started singing again. The tune was haunting and wistful and reminded Lainie of something. She couldn’t quite remember what it was, but it caused a fist-sized knot of sadness to settle in the pit of her stomach. She was glad when, after a few verses, the preacher raised his hand and the music stopped. With his hand still lifted, he looked out over the church and smiled his warm smile.
    â€œAnd now, may the Lord bless you and keep you,” he said. “May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
    The pianist started playing again, something happier sounding,and a buzz of conversation filled the room as people gathered their belongings and moved toward the aisles. Lainie stood where she was and looked around. Someone had claimed Elizabeth with a monologue that seemed to be about an upcoming circle meeting, whatever that was.
    â€œGood morning, Lainie. I’ll bet you don’t remember me.” Juanita, still in her choir robe and showing every one of her teeth in a big smile, leaned in from the other side of the pew and took one of Lainie’s hands in both of hers.
    â€œYou’re the lady from the diner, right?” Lainie pulled her hand back and tugged at the hem of her shorts.
    â€œBless your heart! You have a good memory. So glad you came this morning. I have to apologize for the choir, though. It’s usually better than it was today, but one of the altos is out of town.”
    Lainie shrugged. “It was okay.”
    This clearly was not the response Juanita expected, because she stopped smiling and her mouth got a pinched look. She seemed to swell as she took in air though her nose.
    Elizabeth finished her conversation and turned around. “Good morning, Juanita. Fine service, wasn’t it?”
    Juanita’s teeth-baring smile returned. “Yes it was, even if the choir was only ‘okay.’”
    Elizabeth looked puzzled as she took Lainie’s arm. “I hope you’ll excuse us, Juanita, but Brother Parker is still greeting folks at the door and I want to introduce him to Lainie before he heads downstairs to the fellowship hall. Why don’t we meet you down there?”
    As Elizabeth led Lainie up the aisle to meet Brother Parker, Lainie wished she could pull at the hem of her shorts to lengthen them a bit before she met the pastor, but she could feel Juanita’s eyes on her back and wouldn’t for a million dollars give her that satisfaction.

7

    W hat in the world did you say to Juanita to get her tail in such a knot? She was about ready to snatch you bald-headed.”
    â€œShe apologized for the way the choir sounded, and I said it didn’t sound that bad.” A warm, mixed-up casserole aroma enveloped them, and Lainie could hear the sound of people talking and laughing in the fellowship hall.
    â€œOh, well, there you have it. That choir is the pride and joy of the church—of the whole town, really. They’ve won all sorts of competitions and gone on tours as far away as Oklahoma and Texas and I don’t know where all. They even sang in Branson once.”
    â€œI’m not the one who said it sounded bad. She did.”
    â€œAnd that was your tip-off to fall all over yourself telling her how great it sounded.” Elizabeth shifted her purse to the hand that had been clutching the stair rail and sighed. “Well, she’ll get over it. Come on, if we don’t get in there, there’ll be nothing left but chili mac and Juanita’s specialty.”
    It may have been Lainie’s imagination, but the room seemed to get a bit quieter when she and Elizabeth entered it. A few people already sat eating at rows of long tables stretching the length of the room, but