Breaking Point (Drew Ashley 1) (29 page)

"It's cold, isn't it," Kale whispered. He removed his jacket and passed it to me.

"Thanks." There were only about twenty people in the massive hall. "Is everyone late?"

"No this is about the usual crowd, although it isn't much of a crowd." Kale grinned. "Churches the size of yours are rare."

A man wearing a clerical collar got up at the front and said a prayer to start the service. After the prayer, there was a Sunday school type session.

The service seemed to drag. Even the worship time, which was usually very lively in my church, was cold. At first, I was hopeful because the lady that got up with a microphone was a young blond who looked like she was going to belt something out and wake everyone up. But she sang three hymns, very slowly, accompanied by an organ that was too loud. Everyone remained seated while she sang. I thought it might go on forever. Mercifully, it eventually ended, but the organ still rang in my ears. A few people clapped.

I looked at Kale. His eyes were closed. I wondered if he was meditating on the hymns or something. He was more spiritual than I was. Maybe the hymns really moved his spirit. I felt guilty for my boredom. Some people, deep people like Kale, didn't need drums and dancing to stay interested in God.

Ten minutes later, Kale's eyes were still closed. The pastor had started preaching. "Kale," I whispered. His head drooped to the side. I knocked him with my knee and his eyes shot open. "Thanks," he said sheepishly.

To be honest, I didn't blame him. This church would cure an insomniac! You couldn't possibly sleep when Pastor Eddie was preaching. You might get a headache. But you wouldn't sleep!

I looked around at the members. An older man with hair that was greying at his temples was staring at me. I looked away quickly. He looked vaguely familiar. I gave it a few seconds then stole another look at him to see if I could work out where I knew him from. He was still looking at me. I looked down at my Bible, disgusted.
He might not be a sleaze. He might just be wondering where he knows me from, too.

At the end, Kale introduced me to the pastor. He seemed nice enough. He was pretty old and shaky, but his eyes shone with a light that warmed you. He said a prayer for me and Kale, that God would keep the road to the altar smooth for us.

Kale then took me around introducing me to a few other people. The man that'd been staring at me came over. "Hi, Kale," he said, his eyes on me.

I noticed that Kale's mouth tightened. "Gordon."

Gordon smiled. "Drew Ashley, I believe?"

I extended a hand. "Yes."

Gordon's beefy hand enclosed mine. "I thought I'd come and introduce myself since Kale was being so possessive of you. I'm Gordon Lamb. I must say you're much more beautiful in person."

"Thank you."

"Gordon is one of our church elders," Kale said.

"Oh, that's nice."

"I preach in the pastor's absence," Gordon said, releasing my hand. But that only happens a few times a year."

I wasn't sure what to say. "That's nice," I repeated.

"We have to leave now," Kale said, placing an arm around my shoulders and steering me away.

"Nice to meet you, Gordon," I said.

"You too, Drew."

"What's up with him?" I asked Kale chuckling when we got outside.

"He just annoys me," Kale said under his breath.

"He looks really familiar. I think I've seen him before."

"You have. It was the night that I caught you out with Harvey."

I glared at Kale. "You didn't 'catch' me."

Kale just laughed. "Where shall we go for lunch?" he asked, changing the subject. "Nandos?"

"Sure." I got into his car, a feeling of contentment washing over me. Who needed Le Frasca? Nandos was good enough for me!

***

It was Monday and my stomach was roiling again. Rosie joked that maybe I had Monday-itis. I found that pretty annoying. I wasn't the kind of person to pull sickies.

The only thing that kept me at work was the report I was doing for Harvey. It was due tomorrow.

"When you email Harvey the report," Rosie told me at half four, as she shrugged into a light denim jacket. "Copy me in. He wanted me to do it, but I don't have time."

"Okay," I said trying not to sound too sullen. Rosie was leaving early while I did her work.

I finished the report at five forty-five and emailed it to Harvey. He replied immediately saying I should print off a hard copy and bring it up to his office. I rolled my eyes but obeyed. Kale was already outside waiting to take me home, so Harvey had better not try to delay me.

The director's suite was empty of PAs and all the other directors when I got there, so I left Harvey's door open when I entered his office. He was fiddling with his printer, which was flashing a red light. "Sorry to make you come up," Harvey said. "My printer's acting up again."

"It's fine." I dropped the report on his desk. "Ask IT for a new one."

"This is a new one." He turned from his printer and his dark eyes met mine. "Did you do this report? I asked Rosie to do it."

"She had a lot on."

Harvey picked up my wad of papers and leafed through them, inspecting the work as if he wasn't quite sure of my abilities. "I have to present this at a board meeting tomorrow night."

"Well, go through it and change anything you don't like."

He placed the report in a plastic wallet and tossed it on the floor beside his briefcase. "You weren't in church yesterday."

"I've moved churches."

"Why?"

"I go to Kale's church now." I wondered if Jazz had told Harvey that Kale and I were engaged.

Harvey raised his eyebrows. "I hope you weren't in trouble with Kale last week?"

I wiggled my fingers at him and my diamond sparkled. "Yeah, but he says I'm forgiven."

A slow frown spread over Harvey's features. He looked slightly lost for a moment. "You're engaged to Kale?"

I nodded.

Harvey's eyes shuttered and his face went neutral. "Congratulations."

"Thanks."

The door to the director's suite opened, and we both turned. It was Brea. "Oh, hi Brea," Harvey called. "Come in."

Brea smiled as she entered Harvey's office. Could her skirt get any shorter? She placed a notebook on his desk. "Hi, I managed to get out a little early."

"Great," Harvey said, giving me a pointed look.

I left Harvey's office feeling cold. So Brea had made good on her promise of an afterhours meeting.

I felt better when I got outside and saw Kale. He gave me a tired smile that made me want to put my arms around him and soothe away all the stress of his day. Kale was the right man for me.

"Ready to see your room?" he asked.

"I guess."

Jazz's car was outside my house when we got there. I tensed and Kale reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. "There's nothing to worry about."

It was easy for him to say. He wasn't the one that was going to be labelled a man stealer.

God please help me,
I prayed internally as Kale and I walked up the driveway. I unlocked the door and stepped into the house. I found my mum in the kitchen with Jazz and Destiny.

"You're home," my mum said. "I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind about coming back."

"Any updates from the police?" I asked.

"No. They're still investigating."

I smiled at Jazz and Destiny, hoping it didn't look forced. "Hi girls."

"We've heard the news," Destiny said padding over in a pair of my house slippers. "I've been dying to see the ring. Let's see."

I let her take my hand. My mum and Jazz craned their necks over her shoulder.

"Nice," Jazz said. I noticed that her hair was different. She'd had some highlights put in, and it was all straight and fell half way down her back. She smiled. "Congrats, guys."

"Thanks, Jazz," I said.

My mum grinned at Kale, who was hovering behind me. "Well done, Kale. That's a decent sized rock."

Why did she have to sound so surprised that Kale had bought a nice ring?

"I'm no Casanova," Kale joked. "But I know how to turn on the charm when I need to."

"Turn it up some more," my mum replied. "Because I want grandkids sooner rather than later."

"Ground, please open up and swallow me," I said with sarcastic sweetness.

"I'll see what I can do," Kale said lightly. "Come on Drew; let me show you your room."

I gladly followed Kale out of the kitchen. "You see, Jazz is fine," he whispered as we climbed up the stairs.

"Shh!" I hissed. We could easily be overheard.

Kale grinned. "Ready?" he asked, stopping outside my room.

I nodded.

He opened the door. "Voila."

I entered the room cautiously. Everything had changed. Completely. It didn't even seem like the same room because the layout had been changed. There was a new bed on the opposite side of the room from where the old one had been. I had blinds now instead of curtains. A buttercream carpet lay in place of the white carpet I'd had before.

"Instead of getting a new wardrobe, we had a walk-in closet built," Kale said opening a door that never used to be there.

"How was it done so quickly?" I asked.

Kale's smile slipped a little. "Harvey builds stuff and he offered his services. He built the closet."

I was surprised. I'd have to thank him later.

Some of my artwork hung on the off-white walls. All the furniture in the room was dark brown and fuchsia pink. It was an odd combination that worked surprisingly well. I jumped onto the bed. "I love it."

"I'm glad."

"I really love it. Thanks, Kale."

"Your mum helped with decorating."

"I can't believe all this was done on Saturday."

"I started on it on Wednesday."

The day he caught me kissing Harvey? Heat flooded my cheeks. Kale had a big heart.

"Kale, are you staying for dinner?" my mum yelled from downstairs.

Kale looked at his watch. "No, but thank you," he yelled back.

"Why not?" I asked.

"I'd rather not put myself through that."

I pouted. "So you're leaving me to face Jazz alone?"

"I've already faced her. You and her need to sort yourselves out."

He was right. I doubted we could talk tonight with Destiny and my mum around, though.

It turned out that I didn't need to worry because Jazz picked up her bag as soon as I walked into the kitchen after seeing Kale out.

"It's time I got going," she announced tossing her newly-highlighted hair. She looked incredible, although I didn't understand why anyone who had Jazz's rich burgundy hair colour would want to colour it. Well, this new blondy-brown still suited her.

"Stay for dinner," my mum said.

"I can't," Jazz said. "I start work tomorrow. I want to have an early night."

"You got the job?" I asked.

Jazz gave me a guarded look and I knew our friendship had changed, probably forever. "Yeah," she said, meeting my gaze with difficulty.

"Good luck," I told her.

She smiled tightly. "Thanks."

Destiny hugged her. "Say hi to your mum for me. Tell her I'm sorry I haven't been to see her yet. I'll probably go this weekend."

"Okay."

Usually, Jazz and I would have hugged too. But Jazz moved to the door, her hair catching the light and shimmering as it bounced against her back. "See you guys when I see ya's," she said, walking out.

"Is she okay?" my mum asked. "She was a bit quiet this evening."

Destiny seemed to take deep interest in a jar of mixed herbs. "I'm not sure," I mumbled.

"Well, dinner will be served in ten minutes," my mum said, lifting the lid off a pot on the cooker and shaking some spices into it.

"I'll be upstairs," I said. "Shout me."

Destiny followed me out of the kitchen. "Have you spoken to Jazz yet?" she asked.

"No." I took the stairs two at a time and went to my room. I switched on my laptop.

"I thought you liked Harvey," Destiny said, coming into my room and sprawling out on my bed.

"Well, you thought wrong."

Destiny's eyes narrowed. "I can't believe you're saying that."

I was not in the mood to be interrogated. "Destiny, I have the right to make my own decisions. And if I decide not to be with someone, I expect that people respect that decision and not try to force me to change my mind."

Destiny shook her head. "You're so judgmental, Drew."

"How am I judgemental?"

"Just because he's got kids."

"It's my decision to make, Dez."

"And just because he's thirty-two."

"That's an eight-year age difference," I stated flatly. I wanted a guy closer to my own age.