behavior toward one another seemed markedly different.
As though reading her mind, Quinton slung an arm around Jake and laughed. “Looks like we all have it bad! Trish and Phil, Cooper and Nathan, Bryant and Jane, and hopefully, me and Gloria . . .” he trailed off, his cheeks flushed with anticipation. “I just have this feeling about her, like my prayers are being answered this very day! I’m going to call her the second I get home.”
Quinton waved good-bye and hastened out to his car. Cooper watched his jaunty gait and laughed when he turned to blow a kiss over his shoulder. As the rest of the Sunrise members departed, she collected her purse from its hook on the hall tree. Spying an unopened package of Valentine’s Day cards featuring Miley Cyrus, she groaned inwardly. Sooner or later, she was going to have to sort out what she felt for Edward. In the meantime, she owed Nathan a confession that she was feeling tempted by another man.
We need to talk, she thought. V-Day is creeping up and that’ll only put more pressure on.
She inserted the demo CD that Quinton and Jake had recently completed and allowed the first song on their Songs of Our Father collection to wash over her. Quinton sang back-up and plunked out some simple chords on the piano. Jake had taken over the role of lead singer. His gravelly speaking voice was utterly transformed by devotion—made smoother and deeper like a rock softened by the power of flowing water. His classical guitar echoed the melodies while a Mr. Faucet coworker handled the percussion.
Cooper sang along to the title track, her heart swelling with pride as her voice joined in with those of her friends.
Songs of Our Father,
Lift high on the wind,
To the edge of the oceans,
And where the rivers begin.
She had just begun to sing the second verse when her phone signaled a new text message. Lifting the phone to eye level, she glanced at the screen. The message was from Nathan.
WILL DROP BY 2NITE. MUST TALK. OK?
Paused at a red light, Cooper responded by typing “OK,” and then hit the send button. A second later, her phone beeped again. Assuming she’d received another message from Nathan, Cooper gave the screen a casual glance and then frowned in confusion.
SEND ME YR ADDY. WE NEED TO TALK. E.
E? Cooper thought and then realized who had sent the message.
WHEN? she typed back and then jumped as the driver behind her laid on the horn. She waved at the vexed motorist and shot through the intersection, where she’d clearly been holding up a long line of traffic.
She almost drove off the road when she read Edward’s reply.
2NITE.
“What’s wrong with you, girl?” Grammy asked as Cooper returned from taking Columbus out to the field for a rodent snack. “You’ve been runnin’ like my pantyhose today. Barely two words at supper and you’ve taken the bird out three times. He’s gonna think it’s Christmas all over again.”
Cooper sat down on Grammy’s bed and stroked Little Boy’s soft, orange fur. The rotund tabby purred in gratitude and rolled on his back, winking at Cooper with contented, amber eyes. “I’ve got men problems.”
“Men?” Grammy’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, this is gonna be better than Rachael Ray’s cookin’. Lemme get in position.” She settled down next to Cooper and popped a butterscotch candy in her mouth. Little Boy heard the slurping and slipped out from beneath Cooper’s fingers in order to sniff at the discarded wrapper.
“Well, you know Nathan. He’s sweet, smart, and cute, and everyone likes him,” Cooper began.
Grammy crushed the butterscotch between her molars. “I believe I’ve met the man a time or two. Don’t beat around the bush, child. What’s wrong?”
“It’s Edward. The man with the motorcycle who brought me to Ashley’s house when my truck got a flat.” Cooper wound a loose thread from Grammy’s bedspread around her middle and index fingers. “I went out with him last night. We were just trying to find out more about Miguel since the case is still unsolved, but we went to a dance club and—”
“I’m old, girl!” Grammy slapped the thread from Cooper’s hand. “Git to the meat of the matter before I turn ninety!”
Cooper flushed and blurted out, “I’m tempted by him! I keep imagining what it would be like to kiss him, to have his arms around me.” Her face burned. “I try not to, but I can’t get him out of my mind!”
Pressing a butterscotch into Cooper’s hand, Grammy eased