Father's House Prelude

“I’m here.  The Boss said it was important?” “Yeah, I think we might have a lot of work to do over the next little while.” “Really?  Howso?” “Just watch.  You’ll see.”

“I’m here.   The Boss said it was important?” “Yeah, I think we might have a lot of work to do over the next little while.” “You mean…?” “Yes, it’s almost time.”

The final chords of the last song in the set faded to silence, and the congregation sat quietly, some shuffling in their seats, as Pastor Justin Jacques stood and took his customary position behind the pulpit.

“The other day, as I was preparing to write this message, I happened to look out my office window. The garden is looking quite lovely this year, thanks to Jill and Don Carter.”

There were murmurs of assent, congratulations, and thanks amongst those sitting in the pews.

“But then I noticed that several of the bushes the Carters planted this spring had been broken, vandalised. The new flowers had been stolen, right off church property.”

A collective gasp rewarded this statement, and he continued. “My text today, therefore, is taken from Exodus, chapter 20, verse 15: ‘You shall not steal.’”

Aisling Powell shifted in her seat. Pastor Jacques was always forming his sermons based on some personal vendetta, and more often than not lately, they were based around only one verse. She sighed, certain that she already knew most of what he was about to say regarding theft, and began her customary sanctuary-watch.

The music team sat in their usual places, at the front of the room. Aisling watched Evania Jacques, the Pastor’s wife, rearrange some music on the piano. The drummer, Wendell Kane, was leaning back against the wall, but at least he was watching the pastor. Ed Swift (the guitarist) and Warren Bradley (the bassist) were whispering something, and the triplets, Galiena, Sabana, and Danya Carter (on vocals this week), were giggling as they passed a note amongst themselves.

Aisling wondered what the girls were talking about. Then Brenda nudged her and pointed across the aisle.

“Look, it’s Leal. What’s he doing here?”

Aisling looked across at the young man and then turned back to her friend. “I have no idea. I thought he’d never come back, after what he did to me!”

Brenda nodded. “I know! How dare he show his face?”

Aisling shrugged and pretended to focus on the pastor’s words once more. When they stood to sing during the offering, she stole a glance at Leal.

He looked amazing. Still. The soft brown hair with that longish wavy bit in the front that always fell in his eyes… a lean athletic body that invited contact… she shivered slightly at the memory of his touch.

 ~*~

After the service ended, Aisling followed Brenda into the foyer. The usual sign-up tables were there. Everything from coffee to Sunday School teachers to committee members and Bible Studies this week, it seemed. Brenda stopped to check the roster for Sunday School, but Aisling shrugged and continued on her way to the hall for fellowship. She was too busy with work and school to be able to take anything more on commitment-wise. It was enough that she played on the music team once a month and came to church every week, anyway.

In the hall, the small cliques had already formed. Aisling got a donut and a cup of tea and joined the triplets. Maybe she could find out what they’d been giggling about during the sermon.

“Hey, guys.”

The girls, slim with olive skin and long, straight black hair, turned their heads towards Aisling at the same time. Aisling felt, as always, large and pale with her average build and light red hair (complete with freckles and cream complexion).

“Oh, hey, Aisling. We were just talking about you.” Galiena, the eldest of the three (by two minutes), spoke first, smoothing her violet sarong over perfect hips. The skirt fell to her ankles and revealed manicured feet shod in silver heeled sandals. All three girls wore a variation of the same outfit.

Even their clothes were perfect. Aisling shifted uncomfortably in her knee-length denim skirt and closed-toe slip-ons.

“Really? What were you saying? And do I really want to know?”

“Actually, we were wondering if you’d gotten back together with Leal. Or at least forgiven him?”

The three girls watched Aisling expectantly. She smiled brightly.

“Well, we’re not back together by any means, but of course I’ve forgiven him!” She glanced over her shoulder and turned back to the girls. “Oh, there he is now. I should go over and say hello.”

Aisling made her way over to Leal, her heart pounding. Why had she said that?  Now she had to talk to him… and the confrontation was definitely not on her list of things to do.

“Aisling?”

Great. She’d almost run into him, and he was holding her shoulder now. She pulled free, angry at herself for reacting to his touch, then remembered the triplets.

Glancing back at the girls, who were watching intently, she smiled at Leal and tossed her head flirtatiously. Her right shoulder tingled where he’d touched her, and she twitched it a little to try and make it stop.

“Leal, what are you doing here?”

Leal had dropped his hands when she pulled away, and both were now tucked into his pants pockets. He watched Aisling with a steady, level gaze.

“It’s Sunday morning. I generally go to church on a Sunday morning.”

“Not here. Not anymore.” Aisling pulled her right arm across her waist and tucked her thumb into the waistband of her skirt. She reached up with her left hand and rubbed her shoulder, which was still tingling like mad.

Leal opened his mouth, then closed it. His eyes searched hers for something, but she wasn’t sure what.

“Well? Why did you suddenly show up this morning?” She pulled her arm down and crossed her arms over her chest, feeling defensive. Leal had the power in this encounter, and she was sure he knew it.

“I – I thought I’d see how you were doing, that’s all. I felt that maybe you could use some help. I’m not sure…”

Aisling blinked. He’s nuts, she thought, certifiably insane. “What would I possibly need you for?”

He shook his head and shuffled his feet. Aisling realized that he was actually nervous. She dropped her hands to her pockets and relaxed a little.

Leal looked up at her again, those blue lasers that pierced straight to her very soul. But they were softer this time, and somehow more friendly.

“I’m sorry, Aisling. I think I was wrong. Forgive me for coming this morning, please. You and this whole place are still the same as before.”

“Um, yeah… what’s wrong with that?” Aisling frowned. Leal had changed.

“Nothing, I just… you’re missing so much, Aisling! You could be so much happier if you’d just –“

Aisling backed away. He hadn’t changed, not in the least. “Go away, Leal. I can’t believe I almost fell for that line. You can’t make me happy, I can’t make you happy… we definitely covered that.”

“That’s not –“

But Aisling turned and fled, grabbing Brenda as she went.