The Color of Hope - By Kim Tate Page 0,9

the ministry thing on your heart, or did you ‘figure’”—he smiled—“that was the best way to make a difference?”

The question struck her.

“And while you’re thinking about that,” he said, “could there have been a slight thought that it would be easier away from here, after the breakup?” He raised his hands partway, easy smile. “Just food for thought. You don’t have to answer.”

Charley gave a playful smirk. “Right. Just food for thought.”

Marcus was right, of course, about the breakup. She’d spent all those weekends in Charlotte because she hadn’t wanted to run into Jake or his family. But the decision to move was something else. Or was it?

“Sounds like you’re saying I should stay.” Charley raised a wary brow. “But aren’t you a little biased, since you need a coaching spot filled?”

“Nope.” Marcus sat back. “Administrative hat is off. I’m talking to you solely as a brother in Christ. And I have no idea whether you should stay or go. I just don’t want you to think you have to work for a nonprofit ministry to be part of what God is doing. God is at work everywhere.” He gestured toward the door. “He’s at work in what you do with those girls, because He’s in you.” The smile returned. “But if you’re bent on getting out of Hope Springs, that’s another matter.”

Marcus’s words rang in her ears as she entered the gym—and a volleyball sailed with force straight into the net.

“You’ve got the power down,” Charley yelled. “Just gotta work on getting it over. You can do it.”

Sam stood behind the baseline, head full of thick sandy-brown spirals bunched into a ponytail. Her hair, dominating her slight, five-foot-four frame, seemed to make the biggest statement. She nodded with a quick glance at Charley and focused on the ball in hand. Then she bounced it a couple of times, tossed it up a couple of times, and pounded it—into the net.

“That is so dumb.”

Charley turned around. Three other girls had entered with Kelsey, talking among themselves.

“All that bouncing and tossing won’t help you get it over the net,” Tia said.

Sam lowered her head slightly. “I see other people doing that.”

Tia looked at the others, mumbling, “Yeah, and those other people have skills.”

Kelsey caught Charley looking at them and whispered to Tia. They moved on.

More girls arrived, and the chatter rose quickly as the girls talked end-of-summer pool parties and back-to-school shopping trips. Charley looked for Sam, wondering whether she’d found a pocket of conversation to at least listen to.

It took Charley a few seconds to spot her . . . practicing her hitting, alone. And for the first time this summer, she processed the scene differently, wondering if she was already where she belonged.

CHAPTER FOUR

Who would’ve thought Ladies’ Night Out would mean a Bible study?” Stephanie stepped out of the car in the parking lot of the Main Street Diner, noting the number of cars that had already arrived. “I remember hitting the clubs on Thursday nights.”

“After all that driving and helping you move in, the only thing I was ready to hit was the bed,” Cyd said. “But I’ve heard so much about Soul Sisters that I wanted to check it out while I’m here.” She wagged her eyebrows at Stephanie. “Plus, I had to see where you used to work.”

“Don’t remind me.” Stephanie walked toward the door. “Craziest couple of weeks of my life.”

Janelle was at her side. “I wish Libby had come. Haven’t been able to get her here yet.”

Stephanie nodded. “Yeah, I tried to sell the whole Ladies’ Night Out thing, but she wasn’t buying.”

Pastor Todd’s wife, Becca, had ridden with them. The Dillon and Sanders families had lived next door to each other for generations, and Todd and Becca had also moved “back” to Hope Springs from St. Louis only the year before. “I’m trying to get Libby to come to the joint service on Sunday,” Becca said, “and not just because it’s being boycotted. I think she’d like—”

“Wait, what?” Stephanie’s head whipped around. “Who’s boycotting?”

“From what I understand, it’s—”

“Hey, Stephanie’s here! Welcome back, girl!”

They all turned to see Trina, Beverly, and Allison, all New Jerusalem members who had been attending Soul Sisters since the group’s very first meeting.

Stephanie waved big, smiling. “Hey, good to see y’all!” She hugged each of them. “This is my sister, Cyd.”

“I remember,” Trina said, hugging her. “We met briefly at your grandmother’s funeral.”

“Sure did.” Cyd hugged the others. “I remember your faces. Good to see you again.”

The group walked