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More Than A Garden

Chapter One   Chapter Two   Chapter Three

Dedication

To the late Otis Compton, the love of my life, who loved to live in his oilfield worker's clothes, but when coerced into a suit was as dashing and handsome as a movie star. I wish you were here, my love, to share in the joy of seeing my books published.

Chapter One

Kevin saw the big yellow cat scampering across the floor to the store room, with a toddler in hot pursuit. Close behind the toddler was a tall woman with arms outstretched as she called, "Meri Lee, stop. Meri Lee, stop!" The cat took a direct route to the open door of the store room, with child and woman close behind. The woman followed the small child into the storage room and Kevin saw the stacks of fertilizer, wood chips, and peat moss begin to lean precariously. He closed the space between himself and them in three long steps, grabbed the woman and child, hauled them out the door, lost his footing and fell over backward as woman, child and some not too pleasant materials from the split sacks, fell on top of him.

He saw with horror that the lady's luxurious blonde hair was powdered with some of the not nice mess. "Darn," he sputtered. "Are you okay, lady?"

He looked into large brown eyes that were blinking rapidly in an effort to clear them. Outside of being smudged with the dusty material, they were gorgeous eyes. Deep brown eyes fringed by lashes of darker brown were framed by tiny laugh lines; her long blonde hair, which was highlighted by strands of silver, tumbled over him, and he had the strongest urge to reach up and run his hands through it.

"Are you alright, lady?"

"I think so, but where is Meri Lee?" She looked around and said, "Oh, there she is." The woman squirmed a little to try to disentangle herself from Kevin. He put his arms around her and rolled her to his side and then sat up and pulled her to a sitting position. Meri Lee giggled as if she thought it a fun game the grown-ups had concocted for her entertainment.

"I think it's certainly careless to have anything that dangerous where a child can get to it. If you hadn't pulled us out of the way we might have been seriously hurt."

"I know that and I'm sorry. I mean--well I'm glad you weren't hurt, but I'm sorry that stack of--uh, stuff fell on you."

"I want to see the owner of the store and let him know what I think of such carelessness."

"No one is supposed to go into that room," he snapped. Kevin was feeling pretty disgruntled. "There's even a sign over the door." He then wondered who had been so careless about leaving the door open. He had seen a man placing the material in the storage area, but his attention had been diverted by a customer needing help.

"Unfortunately Meri Lee can't read yet. She was chasing a cat."

"There's also signs all over the place telling people to leave the cat alone."

"She can't read those signs either."

He got to his feet and pulled the woman with him. She was still pretty well covered with peat moss; he was grateful it was mostly the peat moss that had showered down on her. She really would have been mad if the sack of manure had completely split. As it was, only a little of that had leaked out of the heavy bag.

His big hands brushed her across the back. He was innocently trying to rid her of the clinging material, but the lady glared at him and hissed, "Get your big paws off me." They had attracted a small audience, but Kevin was out of patience with her-- even if she was the most attractive woman he'd seen in years.

"I was just trying to help you get cleaned off. Are you always so huffy?"

"Only when I have been nearly smashed by a stack of--ugh, farm material."

"Here, kitty, kitty. Here, kitty, kitty." Meri Lee was bending over with her hands on her knees trying to coax the kitty from the fallen sacks. "Nanna, the kitty won't come. I wanna play with the kitty."

"Leave the kitty alone, Meri Lee," the woman said.

"Do you want me to call a doctor, ma'am?" Kevin's son Tim had arrived on the scene.

"No, I'm fine. Just my dignity has been disturbed. This fellow broke my fall." She slapped at the dusty material that still clung to her. "Are you the owner?

"Yes, and you---?"

"I'm Lenora Deakins and this is Meri Lee."

"I'm sorry for that mishap, Ms. Deakins. Would you like to use that little bathroom just off the hall to tidy up?" Tim asked, indicating a small hallway that led to the offices at the back of the building.

"Yes, thanks. I believe I'll just do that. Come, Meri Lee."

Meri Lee was still pursuing the kitty. Kevin coaxed the kitty, which was actually a rather old mouser, out of the storage area for the child. "Here she is. You can pet her for just a minute while I hold her. She has been mistreated by some children who aren't as nice as you so she runs back in there to get away from them."

"Poor li'l kitty. " Meri Lee patted the old cat on top of the head and smiled benignly on her. "Let me kiss you, nice kitty." She bent over and placed a kiss right on one of the cat's ears. Kitty didn't like that very well and twisted away from Kevin, disappearing among the sacks. He closed the store room door and took Meri Lee's hand and handed her over to Lenora. He rubbed his back where he had landed with people and sacks on top of him, and with a little self-pity thought someone should ask after his health. After all he had fallen pretty hard, and even though he thought of himself as a tough old bird, he admitted to a few reservations about tumbling about on the floor--even with a pretty blonde lady.

The customers went back to shopping; Kevin and Tim became busy checking their purchases. Soon Lenora and Meri Lee emerged from the bathroom looking none the worse for their experience.

Kevin smiled as he saw a little brown woman make her way to the counter to pay for a tray of pansies and some seed packets. She looked so pleased with her purchases that it gave him an inordinate amount of satisfaction to be able to write up her order and send her happily on her way. The beginning of the spring planting season excited Kevin and filled him with anticipation. It reawakened him along with the dormant plants. God is in charge and all is well with the world.

After brushing bits of peat moss and dust from herself and Meri Lee, Lenora walked purposefully back into the store. She picked up the child and sat her on the end of the counter knowing from experience that Meri Lee's tendency to pick any flowers that came under her little hands made it expedient to keep her firmly in tow.

She watched Kevin as he finished with his customer and couldn't suppress a little frisson of excitement. This was one handsome guy, if a bit sloppy looking, but his country look couldn't disguise the ripple of muscles pushing the cloth of the old flannel shirt. She wondered why a pair of old overalls looked so stylish on a young guy, but managed to look a little hickish on a middle-aged man. He sure felt solid when I landed on him. I'll bet he is as strong as a young mule. She gave herself a little shake and scold before turning her attention to ordering the supplies she needed.

Kevin turned to Lenora and asked. "Now, may I help you, Mrs.--uh, Dixon, was it?"

"Close. I'm Lenora Deakins. I've recently bought a small house in the Crown Heights district and I must completely re-landscape the yard. I have made some tentative plans, but don't know exactly how much material to buy."

"We can certainly help you with that," Kevin said. He ducked his head and looked up over his eyebrows. He remembered his daughter told him it was his Will Rogers' look.

"You have a mighty pretty little girl here, Mrs. Deakins. What did you say your name is, sweetie?"

"I'm Meri Lee and this is my Nanna."

He interpreted this to mean that Lenora was the child's grandmother, but it didn't pay to make assumptions these days. There were some very mature looking mothers out there and some very young grandmothers. For some reason he sincerely hoped this lady was Meri-Lee's grandmother.

He looked into Lenora's big brown eyes and felt himself get the nervous jitters. Her golden hair was highlighted by silver and it hung loosely down her back just touching the neck of an enormous white sweater. An electric blue scarf was draped around her shoulders. He vaguely wished he had not snapped at her earlier. This lady was causing feelings in his body that he had believed were gone forever.

Meri Lee and Lenora discussed the relative merits of grouping pansies of all one hue together or having a variety of colors. Meri Lee couldn't decide on any one color so they ended up with a tray of flowers that imitated the rainbow.

"She says she wants all of these colors," Lenora said, by way of explanation. "I'm sure one or two colors would be more dramatic, but I guess I enjoy spoiling her."

"Perhaps"

She set the tray of pansies down by Meri Lee. "Will you watch these for me, Sweetie? I need to order quite a few more things before we go home." She then took out a page of notebook paper that had a long list of material she needed for her backyard project. After a few minutes she was satisfied she had all she would need for a while. Meri Lee began to sigh dramatically as though watching pansies was more work than she could handle. "I think that will be all right now. When can you deliver these things?"

"I believe we can get them to you this afternoon. We make two deliveries a day and our afternoon delivery hasn't gone out yet." Kevin smiled down at her and felt another jolt of something resembling electricity.

"Wonderful. I certainly didn't expect them so soon. Thanks."

"Thank you, Mrs. Deakins and--uh--I'm real sorry about that problem a while ago."

"There was no harm done. Bye."

* * *

Lenora buckled Meri Lee in the car seat and smiled at her excitement over the pansies. She insisted that the tray of flowers be brought home in the car instead of being delivered with the rest of the order.

"Can we go plant 'em now, Nanna? I wanna plant 'em right now."

"I know you do, sweetie, but your Mom and Dad are expecting you home soon. Besides the little flowers have to set outside for a few days before they can be planted."

"Why?"

Now how to explain to a tot why plants that look perfect, need to be set outside to harden off.

"You know how when we go to the swimming pool and the water is cold and you go in a little at a time so you will not feel chilled?"

"Ya-as."

"These little plants need to do the same thing. They've been in the warm greenhouse and if they are chilled too soon they will feel bad and may even get sick. Now, we don't want that to happen, do we?"

Meri Lee slowly shook her head from side to side in puzzled agreement.

When they arrived at her home she kicked her feet impatiently while Lenora released the belts from her car seat and lifted her out and was impatient when Lenora held her close for a few seconds. Her squirming to get out of her grandmother's arms won her release. Meri Lee skipped up the walk. A young woman with a baby resting on her left hip opened the door.

"Mama, Mama, we gots some soft flowers."

"Some soft flowers?"

"Ya-as. The little leaves are so soft. They feel like the baby's cheek. They are pretty colored too."

"What kind of flowers are they, sweetie?"

"What'd you call them, Nanna?"

"They're pansies, honey, and they are soft and colorful. How're things going with you today, Cynthia, and how's our little guy?"

"Fine and okay. A little cranky today, but I think he's cutting a first tooth."

"Oh my! Now this is an occasion. A fellow has a right to be fussy if he's sprouting a new tooth." Lenora patted the baby on his plump little behind.

"I have to run. The Garden Center is delivering my supplies right away."

"Okay. Thanks for keeping Meri Lee for a while."

Lenora waved in a dismissive gesture, got into her little car and drove away.

* * *

The dazzling sun glared through the dirty window of Kevin's pickup as he followed the delivery truck to Lenora's house. He would have had a hard time explaining why he was supervising the delivery of materials. He usually didn't bother unless there was a problem. He told himself he had to go to extra trouble to see that Lenora's order was taken care of because of the problem she'd had in the store, but he hadn't quite convinced himself. Whatever the reason, he turned into the drive beside the truck and quickly dropped to the ground and sprinted up the front steps to the door.

Lenora was talking to the delivery men as she held a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Hello, Mrs. Deakins. I thought I'd come and see that the fellows put this material exactly where you want it." What a lame excuse! He knew she would see right through him, but for some reason he simply had to hang around her a little longer.

"Thank you. I'm sure that wasn't necessary. I'll tell them where I want things."

"I know, but it's a rather large order so I just thought I'd check to make sure." He knew the order wasn't as large as some his store filled, but it sounded reasonable. He stood just off the edge of the porch, feeling foolish, but unwilling to move away. "Uh, you and Mr. Deakins are going to have a real big job here. I hope you have some help."

"I'll do most of it myself, but my son, Cameron, has found a couple of men to help me with the heaviest work."

"Good, then I guess I can just go back to the store--uh, is there a Mr. Deakins?" Kevin blurted the question and then ducked his head in embarrassment, wondering how he could be so forward, but he really wanted to know. He could tell by the look on Lenora's face he had simply gone too far by asking about her personal life. Now why in the world had he done that?

Lenora stared at Kevin. Despite his "ah shucks" demeanor Lenora resented the question. He had to be one of the strangest men she'd met in a long time. At the very least one of the pushiest. She stepped back a few inches, "I can't see why that is any of your business, Mr. Wilkerson."

Kevin prayed for the earth to open up and swallow him, but since the earth didn't oblige he had to answer.

"I was just wondering about you doing all this work by yourself. I guess it was a bit nosy. Excuse me. I'll just go back to the store now."

Lenora's look softened when she saw how embarrassed he was. "I'm going to offer the men a soft drink or coffee. Would you like a cup?"

Kevin didn't really want coffee, but he grasped at any idea which allowed him to hang around a little longer. He went around the house to the patio where Lenora had told him to meet her.

"Would you fellows like a cup of coffee or a soft drink?" She asked the delivery men.

John looked at her and then glanced at Kevin and said, "Oh, no thanks, ma'am. We'll just get finished here and then go to our next delivery. We have three more to complete before quitting time."

"Looks like you've just moved in," Kevin said as he looked around at the empty boxes piled around the yard. He dropped into a lawn chair that sat invitingly on the patio.

"Yes, and it's been a job. I sold our family home. It was just too much house for me. I was tired of rattling around in all of those rooms. This little house is perfect, but it's going to take some time to get it decorated and the yard landscaped.

"I don't know much about decorating, but I've been landscaping yards for years--maybe I can help."

"Mr. Wilkerson, aren't you needed back at your store? I'm really tired. I hadn't thought about hiring a landscaper and really don't feel like making any more decisions today."

"Mrs. Deakins, goodness! I wasn't trying to sell you a job. I just want to be helpful." He backed off the patio, finally deciding he had made a big enough dunce of himself and had better get out of there.

"I suppose you could come and help if you can spare the time." Now why did I say that? She asked herself and immediately regretted it. She hoped he didn't get fired. She also hoped once he was gone he would forget about coming back. He appeared to be uncommonly interested in her yard, but then that was his business. Maybe he was simply a little strange and offered to help all of his customers with their yards.

"H-m, I have quite a bit of free time these days. I'll be back over when there's a lull in business." Kevin said. He turned to walk away and his dark hair tumbled over his forehead in a rakish manner. The white at his temples was attractive and it was obvious that he was well-built under those farmer john overalls. He flashed a disarming grin at her and went briskly around the house to his truck.

Lenora had felt sure the only way she was going to be rid of him was to agree to his offer and send him away. She'd figure out how to deal with him later. She couldn't help admiring the man. He looked to be in his fifties but he had an energetic air about him that was attractive. Watch it. You are pretty vulnerable these days. James has been gone quite a while and you're getting lonely. You sure don't want to tumble for some down-at-the-heels guy that works for the local nurseryman.

After Kevin left she brought the pansies from the car and set them out on the patio and took a small watering can and watered the flowers a bit.

She went into the house and almost turned around to flee from the mess she encountered. She thought it just possible she might never get the place in livable condition. She had lived in her former home so long she had forgotten how much work was involved in moving into a new house and turning it into a home.

* * *

Tim carried two trays of flowers to a customer's car and placed them on the back seat. He held the front door open for her and bid her a cheery goodbye.

As he went behind the counter, the intercom buzzed and the secretary said, "Tim, there's a young lady who would like a word with you when you can spare the time. She's waiting in your office."

"Thanks, Melba. I'll be there in just a few minutes. I've a few things to wind up here before I can get loose. Make her comfortable for a few minutes, will you?"

He finished the order he was assembling, asked a young clerk to attend the counter, and went back to his office. Sitting in a rickety old chair across from his equally disreputable desk was a stunning young woman with long black hair. He thought it quite possible he had never seen such a beautiful woman and here she was right in his place of business. He embarrassed himself by appraising her from her stylish suit to her feet, which looked dainty in spite of being encased in a clubby looking pair of shoes. She was slowly turning the pages of a large black note-book, but stopped when he came in, stood up and held out her hand while introducing herself, "I'm Suzanne Lippot. I work for the Northside Tribune. I would like to talk to you about your advertising."

He left off appraising her beauty long enough to blurt out his name. "I'm Tim Wilkerson. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"A cup of coffee would be very nice, thank you." She smiled at the secretary and said, "Black, please."

Tim and Suzanne eyed each other across the cluttered desk, coffee cups cradled in their hands as though to derive comfort from their warmth. Tim vaguely regretted that things weren't neater. He was very conscious of the young woman's professional appearance and was sure her desk didn't hold months of old bills, canceled checks, bank statements, numerous loose paper clips and rubber bands.

Suzanne broke into his thoughts to ask, "What are you doing about advertising your business? I haven't seen many ads and heard only one radio announcement."

"We don't do much advertising because we've been in business so long. My dad thinks it's a waste of money. I'm not sure I agree with him, but he has been running the business for years and has been quite successful."

"Of course. That's obvious, but you can be more successful with the right kind of advertising. Will you let me show you what I mean, when you have more time?"

"I suppose so." Tim wasn't sure he wanted more advertising, but he was sure he didn't want to just dismiss this gorgeous woman with no chance of seeing her again.

"One reason to increase your advertising is new competition," Suzanne said. "There's a store coming in that's part of a chain and they do all they can to undercut the local people at first."

"We've had that happen before, but most of our customers either stay with us or come back when they realize they get special attention and advice from us. Most of the people who work here have some knowledge of horticulture."

"And that's a good selling point. We can use that in a very effective way."

"Okay, I'll talk to you again, but I'm not making any promises."

They made arrangements to meet in his office at four on Thursday. Suzanne noted the time in her appointment book. Tim made some notes on the large calendar he kept on his desk.

"Until four, Thursday then. I need about an hour. Will that be suitable?"

"Oh, yes. I can be free the rest of the evening if we need it."

Suzanne arose and a faint scent of her perfume teased his senses as she left without looking back. Her head was held high and silky black hair flowed over her shoulders.

* * *

Another false spring spent the next day in Oklahoma City. The morning at the Northside Garden Center became chaotic. Everyone who had been sitting around reading seed catalogues all winter showed up, and everyone was sure their business was the most important and wanted immediate attention.

Late in the afternoon the tempo slowed and the store became quieter, giving Kevin an opportunity to make his getaway. He grabbed a sandwich and told a clerk he would be at Mrs. Deakin's the rest of the afternoon. He hoped that was true. He wasn't sure after their initial confrontation. Lenora was decidedly put out with him, but he was hoping she would soon realize what a really great guy he was.

He sauntered around the house to the back yard and looked around. The first thing he saw was a pair of long legs that extended from a pair of loose fitting shorts which he soon determined belonged to Lenora. She was sitting at the edge of a small ditch and was busily excavating it. She looked up, a little startled, "I didn't know you were coming today. Why didn't you call?"

"I was afraid to. I thought you might not let me come."

Lenora looked a little guilty and Kevin knew he had been right. If he had called her she would have told him to get lost.

"It's nearly dark," Lenora said with a trace of impatience in her voice.

"I know. We had a big run of customers today. Always do when the weather turns nice." He looked around the yard with a practiced eye. "What are your plans?"

Lenora sat back on her heels and gestured to the back part of the little yard. "I'm going to have a few raised vegetable beds back there with perennial shrubs at the back and annuals or bi-annuals around the border. Decking will extend from the house into most of the rest of the yard."

She appeared to forget she was put out with him and became enthusiastic as he paid attention to her every word. Maybe she's beginning to think of me as a friend.

She turned to see Kevin watching her face as she animatedly described her mental picture. His eyes followed the gesturing of her arms. "Mr. Wilkerson, I don't see how you can know what I'm wanting to do with this yard when all you do is look at me. Do I have dirt on my face?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact you do, but I was just enjoying your excitement. Your enthusiasm is inspiring." He breathed a little prayer asking to be forgiven for the small untruth. He was interested in her garden project, but he was even more interested in Lenora. He was sure God would understand if a fellow bent the truth just a bit.

"Thanks, I think."

"Where's your help? I thought you had two men lined up to do the heavy work," he asked.

"I do. They'll be here tomorrow. They had other commitments before Cameron hired them."

She turned back to her work and Kevin started digging a ditch for her asparagus bed. She protested, but he just kept on digging.

"I feel a little closer to God when I'm down on my knees working in a garden, don't you?" he asked. "It's really more than a garden, you know? It's a way to renew your spirits."

"I haven't thought of it just that way, but I know I thoroughly enjoy it," she answered and a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

He was really enjoying the yard work, but he also enjoyed getting to know Lenora better. He discovered that she was a dance teacher and had her own studio where she taught tap dancing, aerobics, and some modern dancing. She hired younger women to do most of the teaching, but she took care of the business and kept the place running efficiently.

Lenora acknowledged that she had been a widow for several years and had two children and two grandchildren. It was difficult for him to think of her as a grandmother, but she didn't seem to have a problem with it.

Dark forced them to stop and Kevin reluctantly said good bye and drove slowly home trying to decide if Lenora had thawed a bit or if she had merely tolerated him.

He worked at the nursery until nearly closing time Thursday evening and when he drove to Lenora's he entered by the alley because he had some sacks of wood chips he wanted to spread between the raised beds. He had also brought a plastic fish pond liner with him and was unloading it when Lenora came out the back door. She was dressed in very tight purple Capri pants with a skimpy, black leotard. Her hair was pulled to the back of her head with a large purple bow holding the mass of golden hair away from her face. A small plastic, athletic bag dangled from her left arm and swayed two and fro as she strode across the yard. Kevin's eyes followed her as she moved gracefully towards him. Her movements were fluid and controlled. One of the hired men, a burly looking fellow by the name of Pete, watched also and his look was predatory.

He turned to his companion and said, "Hey, Bud, how'd you like to get a little of that?" Bud looked up and leered, "That's pretty special stuff. Too rich for the likes of us."

"You just wait, you just wait," Pete said. "Nothing's too rich for me. I intend to be rich in every way before very much longer and that little beauty will only be the beginning."

Kevin jerked around and saw the men leering at Lenora and his usually mild manner changed. He was sure they didn't know he was there or didn't care. However, he soon made his presence known as he straightened to his full height and bellowed with full voice. "Get out of here you two! You're fired. Get now!"

"Why? What'd we do? We have another hour's work before we're supposed to quit."

"I said get out, pronto." Kevin stood over them and he looked so menacing that it would have taken a very brave person to defy him.

"What about our pay?"

"It will be sent to you. Now get out of here while you can still walk."

The two men scrambled up, dusted off their hands and left in a trot.

Lenora came over to Kevin and her sweet face looked like it had suffered some kind of transition. Where she usually had a quiet, serene smile she was frowning with deep creases in her forehead.

Maybe two grown men wouldn't defy this big bozo, but Lenora was not about to let him push her around.

"Mr. Wilkerson! Did I just hear you fire my help?"

"Yes, I did and they hadn't better come back if they know what's good for them," he said. His chin jutted out and a deep frown creased his forehead.

"Mr. Wilkerson, did I appoint you boss of this job? Did I?"

"No, Mrs. Deakins, you didn't. But those guys were saying some very insulting things about you. I just couldn't stand it."

"Mr. Wilkerson, you've gone too far. You arrive here nearly every day and work like I had put you on my payroll, and then have the audacity to fire my help. Help my son hired for me. Maybe you're the one who ought to leave. I'm sure I can get this work done without you."

"He surely didn't check them out very thoroughly or he wouldn't have hired such men to be alone in your back yard. It's dangerous." He turned a concerned frown on her and had a strong urge to draw her into his arms to protect her from any hint of harm.

Lenora noticed the sacks of wood chips and the fish pond liner Kevin had unloaded and her expression became even more menacing.

"What are those things? I don't remember ordering anything like that."

"Well no, you didn't. But I just thought you would enjoy having a fish pond and you have to have something between those beds."

"I'm going to put white rock between the beds and I simply won't have a pond of any kind because of Meri Lee. She is only three years old and I don't want her to fall into a pond and drown. I also have a baby grandson who will be toddling around this yard before long and there will not, I repeat, not be any water traps for him."

"I'm sorry. I'll just take them back to the store." He loaded the sacks of chips and then the fish pond liner before he turned back into the yard. Lenora was still standing there with her hands resting on her hips.

"I hope you won't let those men come back to work. I think one of them is dangerous. That one called Pete."

"Mr. Wilkerson, why don't you just go back to your job and leave this yard to me? I've been taking care of myself for quite a while and doing very well." She wasn't exactly shouting, but her voice was louder than usual and the frown was still firmly in place.

"Aren't you afraid you're going to get fired?"

Her look was more quizzical than belligerent. The frown was gone and her face resumed its normal serene expression. Kevin had one hand on the door handle of the truck. He then looked down at his worn overalls and faded flannel shirt. The dirt under his nails had only been there a few hours-dirt from her yard, but he realized he actually looked pretty scruffy. He heaved himself up into the truck, leaned out the window and grinned at Lenora, "No, I'm not afraid I'll be fired. I own the place, you see."

Lenora stared at him and then her face turned bright red. "You own Northside Gardening Center? Why didn't you say so before?"

"I don't own the entire business now. My two children are part-owners. Tim bought his share and my wife willed her share to my daughter. It's a family owned business and always has been."

"But why didn't you let me know you are the owner? I feel very stupid."

"You didn't ask me and I just assumed you knew. Does my being the owner of the store make a difference? Will you let me bring a crew here and finish this work and not hire those thugs again?"

"Yes, I guess it does make a difference. I'm relieved that you aren't doing something behind an employer's back, but I'm still hesitant to let you take over this work. I didn't hire you and you have to admit it's a little strange for you to just volunteer for so much."

"I've been enjoying it. I haven't had a yard to work in since I sold our home in the country and moved into my town house, and I miss it. As I said before I feel a certain communion with the Almighty when I work in the soil. And I thought I'd just try to make up a little for that nasty experience you had in the store."

There was a call from the house and a tall young woman came through the gate and to the back of the house. She was trailed by Meri Lee who was dressed in Capri pants and a skimpy leotard, similar to that worn by Lenora.

"That's my daughter Cynthia with Meri Lee. I have to go. I have to teach the Little Duckies class this afternoon. Sabrina called in sick and it's too short notice for anyone else."

Meri Lee skipped up to her grandmother and then stared at Kevin. She had one finger in her mouth--a mouth that looked very much like Lenora's. Her hair was blonde and tumbled around her head in loose curls. She was such a miniature of Lenora that it was a little comical.

Lenora made the introductions and then turned back to Kevin and said, "To answer your earlier question. Yes, I will appreciate your bringing a crew and finishing this job before the weather turns bad, which it's supposed to do soon. However, I insist on paying you."

"Oh, Mrs. Deakins that isn't necessary."

"Yes it is. I must at least pay for your crew and the materials. Otherwise the answer is no--and for goodness sake call me Lenora."

"Okay. I guess I can do it that way. My name is Kevin." He flipped a little salute and drove off.

"What was that all about?" Cynthia asked.

"Oh, it's a long story. I'll tell you some time. Right now I must get to the studio."

They parted at the driveway. Cynthia drove off in an ancient station wagon and Lenora boosted Meri Lee into the child's seat she always kept in her Dodge Shadow.

"How's the sweetest little girl in the world?" she asked.

"Jes' fine. Who was that man? The one in the back yard. He was looking at you kinda funny like."

Oh my, Even Meri Lee has noticed the way Kevin looks at me. I guess I'm a snob because it doesn't bother me so much since I realize he owns the business.

"Nanna, you went past the studio. Are we gonna go for ice cream?"

"We will after class. I didn't mean to drive past. I was just thinking of something else." She turned around and drove back to the strip shopping center on Western Ave. where her studio was located. The studio occupied most of one corner of the strip with parking spaces to the south. She pulled into one of these spaces and lifted Meri Lee out of her car seat, took her hand and they ran laughing into the building. They only had five minutes to spare; the other Little Duckies were already assembled and the noise was overwhelming.

Teaching three-year-old children how to dance was not one of Lenora's favorite activities. It was like trying to hold ping pong balls under water. They just never stayed where you put them. Meri Lee tried to take on a leadership role because her grandmother was the teacher and that caused friction when the other little ones resented it.

Meri Lee came to stand beside Lenora, making faces at the other Little Duckies.

"Meri Lee, get back in line and dance with the other children."

Much to Lenora's relief Sabrina arrived. She was late, but Lenora welcomed her and happily turned the class of Little Duckies over to her.

Lenora took Meri Lee for the promised ice cream at the Braums on thirty- ninth street, and then delivered her home.

Her thoughts turned to the problem of Sabrina. The woman had been missing a lot of work lately and it was causing some problems with her classes as well as disrupting the smooth flow of the other ones. I'll talk to her tomorrow and find out if she has any unusual problems that are causing her to miss work so much, she thought.

She ate a light supper and went to bed early. Visions of Kevin haunted her mind as she tried to fall asleep. He was certainly an enigma.

Chapter Two

Little Duckies. Kevin chuckled as he drove back to the store. "Little Duckies," he said out loud and then gave a hearty laugh. He just couldn't picture the rather reserved and somewhat sophisticated Lenora teaching a class of tiny tots, called Little Duckies. It was apparent that she doted on her three-year-old granddaughter Meri Lee, but a room full of children of Meri Lee's size was a whole different ball game.

The thought of Lenora as she looked in her dance costume made his heart beat a little faster and caused his body to remember feelings that he had been pushing to the back of his mind for several years. The pushing wasn't difficult until he saw Lenora, but her elegant figure and thick golden hair along with those dark eyes penetrated his subconscious in spite of his efforts to suppress such wayward thoughts. Just the same it was glorious to feel so alive again, but he could wish for a little more encouragement from Lenora before he allowed himself to consider how far he wanted to go in pursuing her. He caught a picture of himself as he must look to her and decided the first thing he needed to do was to let her see him looking a little less like a hayseed.

He turned into the parking area behind the store and asked one of the men to unload the things he had returned. He then went into Tim's office where he found him sitting behind the desk puzzling over a bill that was almost undecipherable.

"I just returned a load that will need to be put back into inventory," Kevin said.

"All this would be a lot easier if you would let me buy a faster computer. Everything would go smoother," Tim said, with a slight whine in his voice. "I know what you're going to say, but I think you're wrong. I think it's time to update our bookkeeping system."

"I know we're going to have to update someday, but I'm just now learning to deal with this one. It's like learning a foreign language. It needs to be done a little at a time." Kevin said.

"I could enlist Marsha's help and go over your head, you know? I don't want to, but we need a better way to keep track of inventory and billing if we're going to be competitive."

"I suppose you could, but I doubt you'll do that. Give me a little more time to think about it," Kevin said as he cast a startled look at his son. It wasn't often Tim defied him so it gave him something to think about. Maybe it was time to give Tim more authority and he'd promised himself he would let go, but he'd run the business so long it was difficult to turn the business over to his son. Not that he'd intended to completely retire, for goodness sake. He had too much energy for that, but it was nice to have help. That's what he told himself, but found himself reluctant to trust anyone else to handle his successful business.

* * *

Lenora had a few misgivings about seeing Kevin that afternoon. But he was finishing the work in the back yard and she would send him on his way. She refused to analyze the sad feeling she had about that. He was a big pain in the neck, wasn't he? So why did she feel her life would be less exciting with Kevin out of it?

Kevin was just finishing up as she opened the door. He grinned at her with an impish look on his face, no doubt remembering their last encounter.

"Are you through?" She made an effort to sound disinterested and quite businesslike, but the big man standing there with dirt on his hands, and a rather boyish look on his face caused her body to suggest a completely different scenario.

"Almost, and I'm sorry."

"Sorry! I'd think you'd be glad."

"Not really. I've enjoyed the work and now I'll have to think up some other reason to see you."

"Can't you just call me? I think we might be able to be friends even if you aren't working out here." Now what made her say that? Wasn't she just congratulating herself that he would be gone after he had finished this job. Now she was behaving like a kid who didn't really know what she wanted.

His face brightened. "Great! Maybe we can even go on a date, huh? But I'm not sure I even remember how."

"Let's give it a try," Lenora said. There she went again ,encouraging the man. Drat!

"Let's plan something right now. I don't want to take a chance on you changing your mind." He dipped his head and looked up through a lock of hair that refused to remain in place.

"I don't think I can right now. I don't know exactly what my schedule is. Just give me a call. I promise I won't change my mind."

"Okay. I'll call you soon then." He turned and started towards the alley where he had left his pickup.

"Wait, Kevin. I want to pay you."

"I'll have Tim send you a bill."

"Okay." She felt a little tug of regret that she hadn't made a date with him, but it was the truth that she didn't know exactly when she would be free. Strange! An hour ago she felt like she wanted to send him on his way, but now she hoped he wasn't just promising to call her and then forget. I'm certainly getting changeable. Must be because it's spring.

"I'd better go and inspect some of the work inside before the men go home."

She stood at the back door and watched him take the back path to the gate at a near run. He moved with the ease of a much younger man. He turned just as he opened the gate and jauntily tipped his hat.

She stood thinking about him long after his old pickup was lost to her sight. Why did she feel guilty that she was attracted to Kevin? From what she had been able to learn he was a highly eligible widower and she was a widow -- so what was the problem?

The problem, she knew, was because of James. James had been dead for over five years and she was getting on with the rest of her life so why was she reluctant to let other men into that life? Reason told her that it was okay. Emotionally it felt wrong. She opened the kitchen door slowly and went in to confer with the contractor. The problem of Kevin would take some thought, and right now her thoughts had to be elsewhere.

* * *

Kevin awakened the next morning to a cold drizzle, with a few snow flakes mixed in. The wind blew from the north and a more miserable day was hard to imagine. He got up, hunched into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee.

"I wish I could sleep late," he muttered. "But old habits are hard to break."

He poured himself a glass of orange juice and sat in his attractive little breakfast nook.

Oklahoma weather has sure done its usual number on the plans of gardeners, he thought. No one will be able to work in a garden for some time now. He tried to think of a reason to go to Lenora's home, but couldn't conjure anything that sounded plausible.

His picture window looked out on a well terraced yard. The grass wasn't green yet, but there were evergreen shrubs edging the walkways. Blooming tulips and jonquils were bending under the rain and snow. They looked a little sad. His thoughts went to Lenora, "My thoughts are always on Lenora," he mumbled to himself. "Darn, she won't have any tulips or jonquils this year unless I put in some that are already blooming."

After some thought he decided against doing anything without Lenora's specific permission. His thoughts were reasonable, but the urge to just take over the backyard project so he could be close to her was almost too strong for him to ignore.

The telephone broke into his ruminating. It was Tim. "Dad, I don't think you need to go in today. I doubt we'll have enough business to keep the clerks busy, and I'm going to do the books. Oh yes, I'm going to take out some more advertising. You remember that beauty with the long black hair?"

"Yes, I remember her."

"Well, it seems she's taken over old Jim's advertising accounts. He decided to retire. I'm being wined and dined by my advertising executive. This time it will be a real pleasure."

"You'd better watch it or you'll end up buying more advertising than we need. Young gals these days are pretty crafty." Now why do I try to sound like I'm in my dotage. Tim certainly is old enough to look after himself. Didn't I just pay for his college work in horticulture?

He hung up the phone and decided this lull in the activities would be a good time to call Lenora, but she said she had a paper hanger in the house and that he was a bit too creative for her and she didn't dare leave him alone. He began to pace the floor being very sure she had decided she just didn't want anything to do with him. She has probably decided I'm just too much of a pain in the neck.

However, Kevin hadn't become a successful business man by being easy to discourage. The weather cleared and he was busy in the store for several days and couldn't stop to call Lenora. After a flurry of activity, things settled down and the clerks were able to handle what few customers there were.

He took advantage of a lull in activities and quickly made his way to Lenora's house. He felt she would have a much harder time putting him off if he was face to face with her. He was delighted when he went through the gate to the back yard, and discovered Lenora and Meri Lee planting a border of petunias.

"Afternoon, Lenora, Meri Lee," he called.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Wilkerson. How are you?"

"I'm fine now that the sun is out again. I thought we were going to be on a first name basis."

"We've sure had a long spell of nasty weather, haven't we, Kevin?" Lenora asked. "I hope it stays nice for a while now."

Kevin wondered how long the weather could hold their attention, but he was reluctant to say anything that might get Lenora's back up.

She got up and brushed dirt off her slacks, pushed her hair back with a dirty hand, leaving a smudge across her forehead and one ear.

Kevin thought she looked adorable. There was only a small space between them and he closed that with one step. He took out an immaculate handkerchief and said, "May I?"

"What? Oh, did I get dirt on my face?"

"I'm afraid you did."

Kevin gently stroked her face with the handkerchief and then reluctantly pulled back even though he could feel her lean into him, looking up in his face with a half-smile. He wasn't sure what was happening between them, but he knew it wasn't all on his side.

"I've had paint in my hair and wood shavings down my back, so I guess a little dirt can't be any worse."

Kevin could hear noises coming from the house which he accurately interpreted as a carpenter ripping a piece of wood.

"How's the interior work coming along?"

"Slow. I'm certainly getting tired of it, but it has to be done."

Meri Lee stood and twisted her little body this way and that trying to brush the dirt off her bottom. She had on an outfit that looked like a miniature clown suit. It was long legged and loose. The legs were gathered at the ankle which allowed them to blouse over her shoes. A belt defined where the waist line should be. Multi colored polka-dots played over the entire garment. Underneath it all she wore a pink shirt.

"Here darling, let me brush you off," Lenora said.

"How are the Little Duckies?" Kevin asked and then felt foolish. Surely he could think of something better to say.

However, it proved to be a good opening for Meri Lee, because she pulled away from Lenora and went into a comical imitation of a duck and then giggled happily.

"We're gonna have a 'cital. We'll dance and tumble and do all kinds of things."

"Sounds like fun. May I come?"

"Nanna, can he come to the 'cital?

"Of course darling. if he wants to."

"I didn't mean to interrupt your work, Lenora," Kevin said. "I just came over to see how things have fared after the nasty weather. Oh yes, I brought some materials. I'm going to bring a crew out tomorrow and we can finish your outdoor work by evening, I think. That's if the weather stays nice."

"I thought you'd already finished. What else is there to do?" she asked. However, her expression was pleasant and he suspected she wasn't too unhappy about his being there a little longer.

"There are just a few finishing touches that will make everything look much nicer. It won't take long. I hope you don't mind." Kevin held his breath. He was very sure she would tell him to get lost. How did a middle aged man conduct himself with a woman who had simply knocked him off his pins? He still had the handkerchief in his hand and he cupped his left hand under her chin and tipped her face up with his only inches from hers. He pretended to flick another bit of dirt off her cheek. His lips were close enough that he could feel her warm breath.

"Kevin," she whispered. "Surely you've wiped all the dirt away by now."

He slowly let his hands fall and his green eyes held her brown ones. He saw his own desire reflected there for a minuscule moment. He raised his right eyebrow and a look of mischief replaced the one of passion. A safer reaction in his books.

"I think I finally got it all," he said.

"We were just about to quit for this evening. Come up to the house and we'll have a soft drink."

He trailed her to the patio and she turned as she started into the kitchen. "I'd ask you in but the place is in such a mess I think you'll be happier to stay out here."

He watched her open the door and move into the house with an ease of movement that was fluid and seductive. She probably had no idea how cute her behind looked as she walked. But then perhaps she does. She's a dance teacher and is very aware of how her body moves. He felt Meri Lee looking at him and smiled.

"Here, let's go sit in a chair 'till Nanna comes back," she said. She took his hand in her tiny one and pulled him towards a chair. She then climbed up in one of the large wood lawn chairs with her feet only reaching to the edge of the seat. She tapped her little feet to the tune of some song that was running through her head. She sighed a big sigh sounding for all the world like the weight of the universe was resting on her shoulders.

"Why the big sigh?" Kevin asked.

"I don't like this house like the other one. Nanna had lots of toys and things she doesn't have here. I miss the rabbits and the cats and horses and everything."

"I expect you would miss those neat things. I know I would. I miss my house where I used to live in the country. It had a big garden, flower beds, a swimming pool and lots of things I don't have now."

"Then why'd you move?"

Lenora came out of the door with a tray of drinks and Kevin jumped up to help her set them on a table at the center of the chairs.

"I expect he moved for the same reason I did, dear. He just didn't need so much room now that his family is grown. Isn't that so, Kevin?"

"Yes, but I find I don't like living in a condo. Too limiting."

"I guess you need to buy a little house and do it over as I've done. I know I'm going to be as snug as a bug in a rug when I'm finally through with this place."

"Do we have bugs in our rugs?" Meri Lee asked, pulling her mouth down as if she'd tasted something bad.

She looked very indignant when Kevin and Lenora laughed at her.

"It's just an old saying, honey. I just mean that I'm going to feel very comfortable here when I get all of the work done and can settle down to just living here."

Meri Lee looked thoughtful as she sipped her drink. Kevin was thirsty and took a big swig of the drink and looked over to catch Meri Lee studying him with an embarrassing intensity. He hadn't been around children for years and had forgotten how their direct looks could seem so penetrating. It made him a little uncomfortable.

However, Meri Lee had only begun. She wiggled off the chair and came over to him and climbed up in his lap. She leaned her little blonde head against him and let out another big sigh.

"I think I'll let you be my grandpa," she said.

Kevin choked on his drink and Lenora threw her head back and laughed so heartily that he wanted to throttle her.

"You've just been paid the ultimate compliment. She only says that to a few men."

"You mean she goes about picking out grandpas?"

"She's done it before."

Meri Lee seemed perfectly content to let Kevin and Lenora discuss the suggestion while she finished her drink. She set her empty glass on the arm of the chair and turned on Kevin's lap and patted him just above the waist line.

"You feel good to set on. I like you better'n' anyone else."

Kevin was speechless. He looked over at Lenora and their eyes met. He saw a small mischievous smile cross her lips and a speculative gleam sparkle her eyes.

"Thank you, darlin'," Kevin said, as he hugged her to him. She squirmed around in his arms, put a wet kiss on his cheek and jumped down to race around the yard.

So many feelings were disturbing Kevin that he would have been hard pressed to analyze them. He felt like he could walk on air and was scared to death at the same time. He hadn't allowed himself to feel deeply for anyone, except his children, since his wife had died, but Lenora and Meri Lee were rapidly putting that all in the past.

"Does it disturb you to be cast in the role of grandpa?" Lenora was still grinning like a Cheshire cat. Kevin decided she needed a little set down.

He got to his feet slowly, jammed his old felt hat on his head and strolled down the path. He turned at the gate, pushed his hat forward at a rakish angle and said, "No-o, I don't think it does." His eyes danced. "Especially if there's a possibility of datin' grandma."

As the gate closed he heard something hit it and splatter. He hopped into the truck and chuckled as he drove off.

"Why'd you throw that stuff at the gate, Nanna? It sure did make a mess."

Meri Lee looked at Lenora and her expression was so comically concerned that Lenora laughed, even though she thought the child deserved an answer.

"I don't know, darling. I was just a little aggravated at what Kevin said. It doesn't mean anything. Shall we go get the mess and put it in the trash?"

"Don' you like Kevin, Nanna? I like him. I think he's fun and he looks at you like you're an ice cream cone."

"An ice cream cone? Whatever put that kind of notion in your head. You eat an ice cream cone."

"That's how he looks at you."

Lenora looked at Meri Lee and wondered if she was mistaken about this little granddaughter of hers. Perhaps she's really a midget. She laughed at herself and then reached over and picked Meri Lee up and sat her in her lap. She stroked her bright blonde hair, pushing strands of fluffy curls out of the little girl's face and then kissed her on top of her head.

"To answer your question, yes, I like Kevin. He is a little pushy at times and I get a little angry with him, but I think he's a good man."

Meri Lee sat still for a few minutes -- actually longer than usual -- and she had a very studious frown on her face. She abruptly changed the subject and asked, "Are we going to finish planting the petunias this afternoon?"

"I think we'd better. It's supposed to rain again in a day or two and the garden will be too wet to put baby plants in."

As they worked, Lenora thought of Kevin and what an enigma he was. Sometimes he seemed so simple that she might wonder about his intelligence and then he would solve a troublesome problem in a flash. Sometimes he was shy and almost tongue tied and at other times he was quite forceful. She had to admit that at all times he was an enormously attractive man.

"Nanna? Nanna?" Meri Lee broke into Lenora's thoughts by tugging at her shirt. "I need you to dig another hole so I can put this little baby plant in it."

"Oh, excuse me, darling. I forgot for a moment what we were doing."

She turned her thoughts towards finishing planting the border and they were through just about the time Meri Lee's mother arrived.

Meri Lee skipped over to Cynthia and took her hand and tugged her into the yard where they were planting the petunias.

"See, Mama. We are makin' a border of baby plants and Nanna says they will grow up and have all colors of flowers on them. Won't that be pretty?"

"Indeed it will. Have you been a good girl?"

Meri Lee looked indignant. "I'm always a good girl, ain't I, Nanna?"

Lenora put her hands on her hips and looked as though she had to ponder the question for some time before she could agree. Meri Lee began to look anxious and Lenora said, "Of course you are. Well, sometimes better than other times, but that's how it is with all of us."

"Like when you threw gunk at the gate?"

"Yes, something like that. That wasn't very smart of me or good, but it made me feel better to do it."

"Gunk at the gate?" Cynthia looked from Meri Lee to Lenora. "What are you two talking about?"

"Oh, Kevin was over here and he said something I didn't like just as he was leaving and I threw a bag of stuff I was saving for the compost pile at the gate. Unfortunately he was out of it so it didn't hit him like I intended. "

"Mother! You mean you meant to hit someone with a bag of vegetable scraps. Why I'm shocked." Cynthia laughed.

"I din' know you wanted to hit Kevin," Meri Lee said with wonder in her voice. "I thought you were throwin' it at the gate. You hit the gate. I'm glad you didn't hit Kevin. I like him."

"I'm glad I didn't hit him, also," Lenora said. "I like him a little, but he really sets me on edge sometimes."

"Could you tell me what this is all about?" Cynthia asked.

"Not right now. I'll tell you later when there aren't so many ears listening."

Meri Lee put her hands behind her ears and wiggled them a little and giggled.

"I just have two ears. I don't have many ears. Are you 'fraid to tell Mama what happened 'cause you think I'll hear with my two ears?"

"I know you would hear with your two ears. I think you have some extra ones somewhere. You hear such a lot of things and I think that's just fine. I love you just like you are, but I'm a little tired of this subject right now, okay?" Lenora said.

She bent over and hugged Meri Lee and took her little hand to lead her back to the house. "We had fun planting the petunias, didn't we, sweetie?"

"Um-hm. Will they have flowers when I come back?"

"I'm afraid not. It will take about a month, which doesn't mean much to you, but that's quite a while."

She watched them get into Cynthia's old station wagon and waved as they drove off. Her thoughts turned again to Kevin and how he had become a part of her life without her realizing it was happening. She smiled and thought that wasn't so bad.

* * *

Several days after Kevin had run him out of Lenora's back yard Pete sat outside the Deakin's dance studio watching for Sabrina to leave work. He chewed on a toothpick and occasionally picked at a tooth with a fingernail. He squinted at the bright sun and muttered a few swear words decrying his lack of sun glasses. If his latest plan worked he'd have designer sun glasses, clothes, new cars and lots of women. Sabrina finally emerged from the building, pushed a pair of sun shades over her eyes and looked around. She had walked the ten blocks to work, but after teaching classes of jazzercise, step aerobics, and the Little Duckies, she was exhausted. She had decided to catch the next bus going north on Western when she saw Pete's battered old pickup pull away from the curb. She felt some excitement, mixed with fear.

Pete was handsome, she'd give him that, but there was a hard quality about him that created a small warning in her mind. However, she was tired and a lift, even from Pete, would be welcome. He pulled up beside her and smiled, his large mouth revealing a row of perfect teeth.

"Hi, Sabrina. Wanna lift?"

She heaved herself into the pickup and Pete pulled away from the curb before she could completely close the door. He gunned the old truck, causing the gravel along the shoulder to rattle on the underside of the bed.

"Take it easy, Pete. I don't even have my seat belt fastened."

The truck slowed to a steady pace, more because of the evening traffic than any desire on Pete's part to accommodate Sabrina. It wasn't long before they arrived at the apartment building where Sabrina had a small, one bedroom apartment. She opened the door and got out.

"Thanks for the ride. I was going to wait for a bus."

"Ain't you gonna ask me in? I wanna talk to you."

"The place is a mess, and I'm too tired to be good company right now. Can't we talk some other time?"

"Tell you what. I just got paid for a job. Let's go to the Village Deli and get a hamburger." Pete said.

"Pete, I'm not going to have a repeat of the last time you bought me a meal. You ask too high a price."

A leer spread over Pete's features and he lifted his left eyebrow. "If I remember that, you enjoyed it as much as I did."

"I'll admit it was all right after we started, but you certainly scared me. I just don't want that to happen again."

"Okay, if that's how you feel." He held up both hands as though in surrender. "I promise."

"I'll have to get out of this leotard. I'm tired and sweaty. I don't think I can enjoy a meal until I bathe."

"It's early. Get a shower and change. I'll sit here and read."

"Okay."

Pete didn't sit. He wandered around the cluttered room, picked up a section of paper and glanced at it only to discard it. He was like a tiger in a small cage. His mind was working on his newest scheme which depended on Sabrina's cooperation to go smoothly.

Sabrina emerged from the bedroom dressed in a pair of tight jeans and a sloppy white cotton sweater. She had shoved her tired feet into a pair of loose canvas shoes.

"I'm ready. Let's go."

They drove north on Western to Britton road and then west to the deli. A booth in a far corner was empty and they took it after placing an order for hamburgers and fries. Sabrina ordered a lite beer. Pete was on a health kick and drank water.

He had the body of a lightweight boxer. He was of medium height with powerful shoulders and a flat belly. He worked out strenuously, didn't smoke or drink alcohol. On the surface these appeared to be very desirable traits, but Pete had his reasons for staying very fit. He had spent several years in prison, and learned early on that he had to be able to defend himself. With his broken nose, sandy hair and cruel blue eyes Pete could stop an adversary just by the way he looked. He looked dangerous. Most people didn't want to find out the truth. Better to just avoid a confrontation.

He looked at Sabrina, trying to judge when would be the best time to enlist her help. He watched her eat and relax a little. Her dyed black hair and olive skin, which was covered with heavy make-up, made her look hard and tough. Pete knew she was more vulnerable than she looked, which was the reason he thought of enlisting her help.

"Honey, wouldn't you like to make a lot of money and get out of that dingy little apartment?" he asked.

Sabrina stopped eating and stared at him. "Are you crazy? Of course I would. When I came to Oklahoma City, I thought all of my troubles were over. I had a rich oil man and he promised to marry me."

"There ain't any rich oil men anymore. How'd you get suckered into that idea?"

"Oh, it happened several years ago. I was dancing in a show in New York City, and he came back stage. We dated a lot and then he asked me to come to Oklahoma City. When I arrived he was gone and his company was bankrupted. No one knew where he was. I had to start teaching dancing to make a living and I've been at it ever since. I hate it."

Pete grinned and said, "Your troubles are over. I've a scheme that will make both of us rich."

Sabrina looked a him with skepticism written all over her face. "How'd you think you can do that? You've got a worse job than I have. All you do is muck around in people's back yards." There was an ugly sneer on her face.

Pete was furious, but didn't allow it to show. "I learn a lot about people that way and I know of some people who have a little girl they would pay a king's ransom for if she disappears."

"Kidnapping! Are you talking about kidnapping?"

"Can you think of any quicker way to get a large amount of money?"

"That's a capital offense. You can get the death penalty for that if you're caught."

"But we're not going to get caught."

"We certainly are not because I'm not going to have anything to do with a dumb idea like that. I want money, but I don't want it that bad."

"I'm not going to hurt anyone, Sabrina. Hear me out before you decide."

"I don't have to hear you out. I'm just not going to have anything to do with such a thing." She pushed away from the table and left. Pete followed her and grabbed her arm.

"Let's go back to your apartment and talk about this."

"I don't need to talk about it."

He jerked her around and growled, "Get into the car, bitch. We're gonna talk about this."

Sabrina tried to pull free, but his hand was like an iron band on her wrist. She whined a little, but got into the cab of the pickup, trying to stay as far away from him as she could. It was only a few minutes' drive to where she lived. He followed her into the apartment, closed the door and locked it.

"Now, we'll talk."

"I'm simply not going to do anything as crazy as kidnapping someone. There's just no way you can make me help you in something like that."

"You'd rather spend a few years behind bars?"

"W-why-what are you sayin'?"

"I happen to know you've been taking money from the dancing school for quite a while. All I have to do is tell Cameron and he will tell his mother. You'll go to jail. Get it?"

Sabrina turned pale under her makeup. She started to tremble and looked at him with horror. "How'd you know I've been taking money. No one knows." She then clapped her hands over her mouth, knowing for sure he had tricked the confession from her.

His leer was even more evil than before if that was possible. "I see I guessed right. If you don't help me, Cameron will know tonight what has been happening to the money they've been missing."

Sabrina slumped into a chair. "What do you want me to do?" she whispered.

"That's better." He pulled a chair close to hers in a conspiratorial manner. "I want you to pick up Meri Lee Winters and take her to a house I've found. Then you will have to stay with her while I get a ransom note ready."

"Meri Lee Winters? That's Mrs. Deakins' granddaughter. What good would it do to kidnap her? They don't have any money. Her dad is a high school principal and history teacher. They live on just his salary because Cynthia wants to stay at home with their two children while they're small. If you're going to do something like this, why not someone rich?"

"You've missed the point. I know her old man don't have much money, but her grandma does. And if I read things right, ole' granny will do just about anything for that little girl."

"I don't think Mrs. Deakins has a lot of money either."

"She just sold an expensive property south-east of Edmond. She's bound to have made quite a bit of money on that. She also owns her business. She can raise the money. I know she can. She's lived in this area for years. She'll get it somehow."

"My car's broken, and I can't afford to fix it."

"I'll fix your car. My old man was a top notch mechanic and tried to get me to go into the business. That's just too hard a way to make money, but I did learn to repair cars pretty good."

"When are you going to do all of this?"

"We're going to do this soon. Real soon. It will depend a lot on how soon I can get your car fixed. I already have a little old house located east of town."

"You aren't going to hurt her?"

"Certainly not. I may threaten to in order to get the money, but I wouldn't hurt a little girl." He had an indignant look on his face, but Sabrina knew not to trust him. She had seen how cruel he could be. She heartily wished she had never gotten mixed up with him.

"I'll go to jail before I let you hurt that child. I'm not much, but I wouldn't hurt a child." Sabrina said with her chin jutting out defiantly.

"Then it's settled. I'll let you know when I want you to get her." He leaned over Sabrina and took her chin in his hands. She pulled away and he laughed. She glared at him and he grabbed her and pulled her close to his hard body.

"Pete, I'm too tired for this tonight. Leave me alone." She slumped in his arms feeling totally overwhelmed by everything that had happened. She knew if he decided to have her, there was nothing she could do. It would be easier to simply cooperate.

"Okay, it's no fun unless you fight and I can see the fight has gone out of you."

He turned her loose and, before she could turn away, slapped her soundly across the face.

She jumped back, holding her hand to her face, trying to keep the tears from coming. He'd love to see her cry. "What was that for?"

"Just want you to know who's boss."

Chapter Three

Kevin returned to the store, jauntily jumped out of the pickup, and sprinted the few feet to the door. He felt very macho, a veritable Tom Selleck. He wondered what she had thrown at him that had made such a splatter against the gate. He really wanted to just turn around and go back to her house and -- do what? He hummed a little of "Let There be Showers of Blessings," and wondered if Lenora was a blessing that had come in the latest shower. He felt she was, but he knew she didn't feel that way. He was spared further speculation by the flurry of closing time activities when he entered the store.

Tim tossed some bags of wood chips carelessly on a stack inside the door and locked it as he let the last customer out.

"Dad, can you finish closing up? I have to take a shower and dress for dinner. Suzanne is coming by for me at 6:30."

"Sure, I can close. But what is this? Suzanne is coming for you? Isn't that doing things a little backward?"

Tim looked at Kevin without any apparent comprehension of what he was talking about. Older people sure have some strange notions.

"It's a business dinner, Pop. I'm still trying to decide whether to buy advertising for the whole year. It's more economical that way and we're going to go over some layouts and figures while we eat."

"Oh, I thought you had -- well, started dating her."

Tim grinned and he looked like a younger Kevin except his hair was brown with red tints and his eyes bright blue. His hair tumbled over his forehead and his eyes crinkled at the corners.

"She is finding me a pretty hard sell. It's taking several dinners to make up my mind." He gave his dad an exaggerated wink.

"She's a very pretty young woman. I hope you don't let that influence you too much."

"She's absolutely gorgeous and I'm afraid she's influencing me in a whole lot of ways. I'm going to ask her for a real date tonight. Wish me luck."

"Good luck," Kevin said as he playfully pushed his son towards the door. "Now go on and get your shower, but try to keep your business head on straight."

Tim quickly left by the back door and Kevin heard his car pull out of the parking area.

"I've got a lot of nerve giving him advice," he muttered. "I've done nearly $2000.00 worth of landscaping for Lenora and I probably won't charge her over $200.00. I hate to even charge that, but she'll insist on paying something."

Several days of beautiful Oklahoma springtime weather gave gardeners the opportunity to carry out their winter dreams. There was a steady stream of customers in and out of the store. Kevin enjoyed the busy bustle and the opportunity to advise people, helping them solve their problems as well as seeing the eager joy on their faces when they found exactly the right rose bush, ornamental shrub, packet of seed or flat of petunias for their homes. It was a business he had always enjoyed. His pulse never failed to quicken when spring came and with it the hopes and promises of the season. God certainly endowed Oklahoma with interesting seasons. Sometimes they changed while a person stood watching. He chuckled, thinking how fast a beautiful day could turn into a rip-snorter.

He was placing a Clematis in a protective box for a young woman when he saw Lenora. She had a look that belied springtime. She resembled a rip-snorter of a storm cloud.

"Kevin, I want to talk to you -- privately."

"Lenora, it's so good to see you. It's been a while, but I haven't had a chance to call. We've been awful busy."

"That's not why I'm here. Can we go into your office?"

"Sure. Is something wrong? You look mad." He escorted her back to the office that was his -- more or less. Nearly everyone used it, but he closed the door and knew that the clerks would respect the closed door.

"Now what is it?" he asked, basking in the delightful sight of her.

"It's this!" She held out a statement. "What's the meaning of sending me a statement of $200.00."

"I'm sorry, Lenora. I just told Tim to bill you for the materials. I didn't know how much it was. I'll have him adjust it if you want me to."

"Kevin Wilkerson, you must think I'm a ninny. You know and I know that the work you did in my yard was far more than $200.00. I'll bet the materials came to more than that. For shame and you call yourself an upstanding, honest citizen."

"You mean you don't think we charged you enough?" Kevin looked the very picture of masculine indignation and innocence.

Lenora wasn't fooled. "You know very well that work would have come to well over $1500.00. I had some estimates made before I came to this store. The lowest bid I got was for $1500.00 and you did a lot more than was listed on those bids."

He inched close to her and could smell her faint perfume. It was strange that he could always detect that faint perfume of Lenora's. His sense of smell was assailed by many odors, some not so nice, but Lenora had a delightful essence that overcame other fragrances.

His big hand reached out and cupped her chin, lifting her face up to his. He was just about to kiss her pouting pink mouth when he caught himself. What in the world was he thinking of, and him a bible school teacher, of all things? Teaching young people how to restrain their natural urges and here he was ready to kiss Lenora silly.

"Lenora, I'm just not going to charge you for that job. You know I almost forced it on you and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It isn't just a job to me. As I told you, it's like communing with God to work in a pretty garden, and with my own special Angel in residence."

"Oh, Kevin, that's sweet," she said, "but I don't want charity. I can pay my way. I'm managing very well. You don't need to feel sorry for a little ole' widow woman." She turned away, but not before he saw the hurt reflected on her face with her eyes moistened by tears.

"Is that what you think this is about?" Kevin asked. "I never once doubted you could pay for the work. To tell you the truth --"

Lenora whirled around and storm clouds dispersed the tears. "The truth would be refreshing. Let's hear the truth. For several days I thought you were some slightly daffy hired hand and -- and --"

"And now you know I'm just some daffy store owner. I'm sorry, Lenora. I started to tell you that I don't know exactly what has come over me, but I find I'll do nearly anything to be near you. Is that a crime?"

The frown lines relaxed in Lenora's face. Her mouth turned up in a little smile. "You don't have to give away your business to be near someone, you know? There are other ways."

"I promise you I've never done anything like that before." He closed the space between them and took her in his arms. His mouth came down on hers with a gentle, hesitant kiss. When she didn't pull away he tightened his arms and deepened the kiss. She reached her hand up to stroke his face and Kevin turned his lips into the soft palm. So much for the Sunday School lesson, he thought and then gradually released her.

"I'm not being very professional in many ways. Here I am making a pass at a customer. I'm just not totally sane when I'm around you."

Lenora looked into his troubled face and his earnest eyes. She could see flecks of gold in the green eyes, which were framed by long black lashes. His mouth was full with smile creases at each corner. A few wrinkles marred his brown complexion. She felt the strength in his body when his arms were around her, and the rather timid, little-boy way he had, seemed incongruous with the power she sensed was more natural to him.

"Kevin, I'll pay the $200.00 and we won't worry about it anymore. Okay?"

"Yes, I suppose."

"We are both a little confused right now. I'll send you a check in a couple of days."

"Okay. Are you still mad at me?"

"A little. I know you mean well, but I've just never had anything like this happen before. I'm not sure I know how to handle it."

"Can I come see you?"

"I said you could several days ago. As soon as I get my kitchen and dining room complete, I'll cook you a dinner you'll never forget."

"Wonderful." He draped an arm lightly across her shoulder, slightly fingering one of her silver-blonde curls, and opened the door to escort her out. He didn't trust himself to be in the office alone with her any longer. Every time he had felt attracted to some woman he had suppressed his urges advising himself that he was getting too old to be bothered by that sort of thing. However, he hadn't met a woman that really stirred all of his emotions since his wife died. He thought all his desire for intimacy had burned out long ago. Gone forever. It seemed it was only a flame that had been banked and was waiting for Lenora to fan it to a roaring fire.

"I have to go now. I'm past due at the school. I'll see you soon," she said as she opened the door.

* * *

Lenora's feelings were equally confused. When Kevin had kissed her she wanted to wrap her arms around him and return kiss for kiss, embrace for embrace, but there was something still holding her back. She had been looking out for herself for a long time and it was difficult to allow herself to feel the need for anyone else, especially an attractive, highly eligible man.

There was no denying that Kevin had stirred up a longing in her that she found disturbing. It wasn't as though she was actually lonesome. She had children and grandchildren in and out of her life continuously, and the dancing school demanded a large portion of her time, so what was the problem?

It was late morning when she arrived at the school and the ballet class for adults was under way. The aerobics group was milling around in the big room, some stretching, some gossiping and some simply looking bored.

"What's the problem?" Lenora asked.

"Sabrina hasn't showed up yet. I asked in the office and no one seems to know if she's coming or not," Mrs. Smoother said.

Lenora called them all together, turned on the tape recorder and started them on their exercises. She went to the office and asked a young secretary-typist to step into the aerobic class while she tried to locate Sabrina.

She let the telephone ring ten times before she finally heard someone pick up the telephone and grunt, "Yeah?"

"I'm Mrs. Deakins and I need to locate Sabrina. Do I have the correct number?"

"Yeah," the surly voice answered. "I'll see if she can talk to you. Hey, Sabrina. Phone."

Lenora waited a few minutes and finally Sabrina answered.

"Sabrina, why aren't you at work? This makes the third time you've missed your classes this month. This time you didn't even call. Are you sick?"

"Yes, I have a bad cold. I'm sorry I didn't call. If I'm better, I'll be in tomorrow. If I still feel sick, I'll call you, I promise."

"Very well, but I must talk to you when you do. Please come a little early and we'll talk. Okay?"

"Okay."

Lenora suspected Sabrina was either drinking or taking drugs, but until recently she hadn't missed much work. The situation was getting out of hand and something had to be done. If she was on drugs or alcohol she probably needed help -- if she would take it. Lenora sighed and returned to the class. It would be a difficult day. Sabrina had four classes, two of them young children. It was a tiring routine, but a younger woman should have no trouble with it. Lenora wasn't so sure about herself.

* * *

"If you keep coming over here and pestering me I may get fired," Sabrina told Pete. "If I get fired there's no way I can help you with your nasty little get-rich scheme."

"I only have a little more to do to your car and then we can work on some details. Just see that you make the Deakins dame believe you've been sick."

Sabrina felt that wouldn't be too hard to do because the entire scheme she was being forced into was making her sick. She was fairly sure she wouldn't get rich like Pete kept saying she would, but she didn't know how to get around doing his bidding. He could see that she spent a few years in jail. She had been stealing small amounts of money from the school and from patron's purses for several months. She knew it wouldn't be difficult to prove. No matter what she did she knew she was going to have to get out of the area before someone caught on to her activities.

Pete rolled himself up from the couch where he had stretched out. He'd been working on Sabrina's old car for several hours and was tired. Not necessarily physically tired, but just tired of the hated chore. He knew he was cut out for better things. He hated getting his hands dirty, and he had had to get under the car for some of the work so more than his hands were dirty. He vowed by this time next week or the week after that he would be somewhere stretched out on a beach with a young blonde woman rubbing suntan oil on him and admiring his powerful physique.

He grabbed Sabrina's wrist in a hurtful twisting motion and turned her around so she had to look at him.

"Don't you do anything to blow this deal. You hear? I may not get everything arranged for a few days. I'm gonna trade my old truck for a motorcycle. I can get out of town a lot faster on a motorcycle."

"What about me? What do you expect me to do?"

"If you work it right no one will know anything about you being involved--or me either. You can stay here a few days and then quit your job and go on to better things."

Pete knew very well he would never give Sabrina a penny, but he had to keep her hoping. He only hoped he didn't have to kill her or the child. If everyone cooperated he would have $200,000 and be long gone before he was suspected of anything. He smiled at the thought as he left.

* * *

Kevin changed from his usual work clothes into a pair of dress slacks and short sleeved cotton shirt. He hummed a little of the music he would be practicing in choir that evening. He always enjoyed singing in the choir and the director told him his deep baritone voice richly enhanced the little group.

He greeted the already assembled choir members and took his place. Mrs. Thomas, the director, smiled a greeting and handed him a copy of "The Lord's Prayer" by Malottee.

"Kevin, will you take the solo in this?" she asked. "I think you already know the music and there are only a few solo lines."

He looked at the music before he answered. "I'd be glad to, but when are we singing this?"

"Next Sunday. I have a group who will do interpretive dancing while we sing. We have never had this sort of thing here before, but it is becoming quite popular in churches."

The members of the choir whispered among themselves. Some liked the idea, some did not. One gentleman asked if that wasn't going a little far--dancing in church. A young lady expressed how much she liked the idea.

"Dancing was a part of the worship services in the very first churches," said Mrs. Thomas. "We are simply reviving it in our modern churches. The lady who is bringing this group assured me that the dancing will be sedate and costumes modest. There are several referrals in the new testament of praising God through dancing. The very last verse of Psalms says, "praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

"Who is the lady bringing the group?" asked another member.

"Lenora Deakins of The Deakins School of Dance. She is dancing also, and any of you who have seen her know she's wonderful."

Kevin felt his stomach develop butterflies. He'd have to concentrate on singing while Lenora was dancing. Could he do that?

"Are they coming to practice with us tonight?" he asked.

"Yes, they will be here at eight. I want us to go over the music a few times before they arrive. So let's get busy." She signaled to the organist to begin and they spent several minutes working out a few rhythm problems. Kevin handled his short solo with efficiency and beauty. Just as he was finishing, Lenora and six young girls who appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years of age, arrived.

Kevin's voice faltered when he saw them, but he quickly recovered. It was then that Lenora noticed who was singing the solo. She smiled at him and nodded her head.

The girls wore loose dresses of soft pastel cotton with a decorative rope defining their waistlines. Lenora wore a long gown of shimmering white tied with a golden cord that was wrapped around her, reminiscent of a Greek Goddess.

"We wore our costumes tonight so you can tell us if they are acceptable," she told Mrs. Thomas.

"I think you all look lovely. I can't see how anyone could object to the way you look."

"We will wear white cotton hose and no shoes, but we didn't want to wear them tonight. They are sometimes difficult to get clean."

"That will be just fine. Are you ready to begin?"

"Yes, we practiced with the tape before we came as a warm up exercise. We are ready when you are."

The chancel, which was elevated a few feet, was reached by a set of three long steps. Lenora positioned the girls on these steps with herself centrally at the top. The beautiful music began and the girls moved with gestures of praise and supplication. Lenora lifted her arms toward the ceiling as though reaching for heaven, and her blonde head, with its silver streaks, reflected the lights, giving her an ethereal glow. No one could miss the celebration the little group was portraying. The slim, fresh faced young girls dressed in their modest, pastel gowns and the lovely mature woman moving gracefully to the powerful music was a heart-stopping sight. Especially for Kevin.

He managed to get through his short solo part without faltering, but it took all of his concentration. He couldn't take his eyes off Lenora except when he had to glance down to see what he was supposed to be singing. He knew that if he hadn't already been nearly in love with her he would have tumbled head over heels tonight.

When the number was over Lenora beckoned to the girls and made for the door. Kevin excused himself from the choir for a minute and followed her. She had almost reached the door when he called out. "Lenora, wait."

She turned and a faint smile tugged at her mouth as she waited for him to catch up with her.

"I didn't know you sang, Kevin. You have a very fine voice."

"I knew you must dance because of the way you move and the fact that you run a dancing school, but I didn't know how wonderful you are."

"Oh, not so wonderful now. That isn't very demanding dancing. In fact it's hardly dancing at all, but I enjoy doing it."

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"I didn't know you belonged to this church. We haven't talked about that very much."

"I know. Where are you headed now?"

"I've got to deliver these girls to their homes."

"Can you wait a little while. Maybe they'd like to go to Braums and get some ice cream?"

"Are you sure you want to surround yourself with six giggly young girls?"

"No, but I'm sure I want to be with you."

"I think the girls would enjoy a trip to Braums. They aren't expected home for at least an hour so we have time. How much longer will choir practice be?"

"I'm not sure, but I know the other music and I'll just excuse myself. I'll be back in a minute."

He trotted off before she could answer. He could hear the girls giggling and then chanting, "Mrs. Deakins has a boy friend." He heard her say "sshh" and they choked off a few more giggles, but were quiet.

Kevin soon returned and led them to his big car. The youngsters piled into the back and he drove to the Braums on May Avenue. The girls ordered ice cream and soft drinks, took a booth to themselves and left Lenora and Kevin at a table by themselves. They giggled behind their hands and shot knowing looks at Kevin and Lenora. It apparently was amusing to see two people close to the ages of their parents behaving like young people out on their first date.

Sooner than Kevin liked Lenora looked at her watch and said, "I've got to get these kids home." They quickly drove back to the church where Lenora and the girls piled into her car. "Thanks for the ice cream. See you Sunday." Kevin leaned into the car and asked, "Will you have dinner with me Sunday?"

"Yes, but it will have to be a little late because I'll have to change clothes and deliver these gigglers back to their parents. That is if the parents don't come to see them dance. They may do that. If so they'll go home with their folks."

"Good," Kevin said.

They drove off amid more giggles and waves.

* * *

Kevin awoke Sunday morning when a bright shaft of sunshine suddenly intruded on his sleep. He quickly rolled off the bed and stumbled into his small kitchen to start a pot of coffee percolating. He sang "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" as he showered. He wasn't really conscious of what he was singing. He nearly always sang in the shower--being perfectly sure he had missed his calling of an operatic baritone.

As he sat eating his breakfast he gazed out the window. The morning was a glorious celebration of life. The trees were almost leafed out, birds were singing and his green thumb was itching. "I'd love to get into a garden this morning," he muttered into his coffee. His soul longed for the outdoors, but his sense of responsibility nagged him into his suit. He couldn't let the choir down, and then he remembered Lenora would be there and felt more content. He loved his little church, but wasn't sure he wouldn't have succumbed to the urge to skip services in favor of driving over to Enid to his brother's farm if he wasn't obligated to sing a solo. Of course he had a date with Lenora, also. At last! A date! Oh! God was good.

There was the usual hustle and bustle that goes on in any active church between classes. The hall was full of people. Some were leaving; some were gathering up children from Sunday School classes; others were catching up on the latest gossip. It was a lively bunch. The choir members wove themselves in and out of the exuberant groups and into the choir room where they donned maroon colored robes with collars of white satin.

Soon the organ boomed out the processional music and they made their way down the center isle and into the choir loft. Young girls and boys lighted the altar candles. A young woman stepped to the podium and read a few lines of scripture which was followed by the pastoral prayer.

Before anyone realized where she had come from Lenora was standing in the middle of the chancel. Her head was bowed and her hands were clasped in front of her just below the waist. The organ played a short, soft introduction to the glorious music of How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings, and Lenora lifted her hands in a gesture of praise. The sunlight filtered through the beautiful stained glass window, and bathed her in rainbow colors. If she had had wings attached to her shoulders she couldn't look any more other-worldly. The organ music continued with a heart stopping swell of sound and Lenora moved in slow graceful movements giving the music a meaning that simple sound could not portray. The movements were ethereal as well as sensual.

Kevin watched and was awe-struck. He had never seen anything so sensual, but at the same time totally innocent. There was a quality to the music and Lenora's dancing that was so spiritual that he suspected God Himself had come through the sun-drenched window and taken up a place in the church. Kevin was at a loss to explain what was happening, but this must be what others were talking about when they said the spirit of the Lord had visited them. It transcended time and place and any known religious belief. It was an all-encompassing spirit that the world needed desperately. He wanted to shout for joy with his new-found awareness.

This spirit could free people of the barriers often raised against each other. In their effort to capture the spirit of God, people said and did some ridiculous things. They established strange religions, radical cults, but they were all trying to bring God into their lives. He longed to be able to pick God out of that confusion and present Him to the world, but he knew he didn't have the ability to do that. God had sent His son, Jesus, and that was enough for him, but others didn't seem to understand. He speculated on what would happen if the world could see Lenora and hear the magnificent music. Perhaps then the message would be understood.

The music ended and the hush over the congregation revealed that he wasn't alone in his feeling of the presence of God. Was it possible for Lenora to know what she had created? She must--else how could she have poured herself into the moment as she had.

The introduction to the music of "The Lord's Prayer" began and the six young girls entered from the side aisles and took their places on the steps to the chancel. The following interpretive dancing was beautiful and spiritual, but didn't capture the same other-worldly feeling that Lenora's had.

It was a relief when the more mundane aspects of the service resumed. The tension had been so palpable that it was painful to hold for many minutes.

"How wonderful," sighed the woman next to him.

"Yes," he answered.

Lenora was waiting for him at the door. She was being regaled with compliments on her 'performance'. She thanked everyone politely. I'm not very religious so why do I feel as though I'm communicating with some higher power when I dance to such glorious music?

He took her hands in his and said softly, "You were wonderful. I have never felt anything so spiritual in my life. I think I now believe in angels. I have always, before, considered them the results of a good imagination, but now I know angels really do exist."

"Thank you for understanding that it's more than a performance, but you know as well as anyone that I'm no angel. I never perform in a church. If I can't feel that it's a worship experience for both me and the congregation I simply won't do it."

"It was the most worshipful thing I've ever experienced." Kevin felt awkward and unable to express his real feelings. They simply went too deep to express in mere words. Therefore he turned to a less tedious and easy-to-handle subject. "When will you be ready to go to dinner?" he asked.

"Soon. The girl's folks are here and they have rides. I'll just go on to the house and change quickly."

"I'll be over there in a few minutes. I saw my son and I want to speak to him." He turned back to the church and caught Tim as he was leaving. "I was glad to see you in church today, Tim."

"Hi, Dad. Have you met Suzanne?"

"I don't think we've been introduced, but I know who you are, Suzanne. It's so good to have you here."

"I've never been in a church where they had dancing. I loved it. Mrs. Deakins is wonderful."

"This is our first experience with it. I'm not sure how it will go over with the rest of the congregation, but I liked it very much," Kevin said, wondering how he could understate anything so much.

"Mrs. Deakins and I are going to dinner in about a half hour. Would you like to join us?"

Tim looked at Suzanne with lifted eyebrows. She said, "I'd like that."

"We are going to the steak house, but I have to pick Lenora up. She had to change clothes. Can we meet you over there?"

"Sure," Tim said. "See you."

As they went to Tim's car, he said to Suzanne, "I'm so glad you're going to get to know my dad. He's a great guy. Still a little in the last decade, but pretty great anyhow."

She laughed a soft throaty laugh and said, "I think we really don't like our parents to be too much like us. It's probably a good thing they cling to some of the past. Helps keep us anchored, you know."

"That's very profound. I hadn't thought of it like that--I'll bet you're right. You sound so serious."

"I have my moments. Let's go. I'm hungry."

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