regret as she thought of leaving Meridia—and Garrett—behind.
At the front of the room, the branch president stood up to begin the meeting. Among the announcements was the news that the pianist had just had a baby. Immediately following the announcement was a plea for anyone who might be willing to fill in for her.
Janessa glanced around the room. Barely forty people were seated in the chapel, half of whom were children. When no one stepped forward, Janessa stood and walked to the piano. The branch president smiled and gave her a nod of gratitude before announcing the opening song.
She winced as she messed up on the very first chord, but somehow she muddled through. To her relief, nobody seemed to care that her talent at the piano was limited. After the sacrament hymn, she slid into the seat next to the piano. From her seat on the stand, she looked out at the congregation. The members of the branch were dressed simply. They did not appear impoverished, but neither did they appear to have much beyond their needs.
The meeting seemed to speed by as Janessa listened to the talks about the temple. The Spirit filled the room as the speakers expressed their appreciation for the fact that they would soon have a temple
in their country. From what Janessa had been told, the Church was in the difficult process of obtaining the necessary building permits.
After sacrament meeting, the branch president introduced himself to Janessa. She agreed to fill in for the pianist during her stay, however long that might be. As the chapel transitioned into the gospel doctrine class, she moved down from the stand to take a seat before being asked to introduce herself.
“I am Gianessa Rogers. I am here visiting friends in Bellamo.”
The sister who was teaching the class studied her for a moment, her eyes widening as she recognized Janessa from the various newspaper articles that had been floating around over the past several days. “You are staying at the chateau?”
Reluctantly, Janessa nodded.
“I see.” The sister stared a moment longer before adding, “We’re happy to have you here.”
As the meeting progressed, Janessa felt numerous branch members look over at her. She told herself that she would be curious too if someone who was constantly in the newspapers showed up in her home ward. Though she was nervous about how she would be received by the other members of the branch, when Sunday School was over, three women approached with warm smiles to welcome her. One ventured to ask how long she had known Prince Garrett, but the others seemed too timid to broach the subject. Only a handful of sisters were in Relief Society, and Janessa was pleased that the small class size gave her the chance to meet all of them.
By the time Enrico arrived to pick her up, Janessa found herself looking forward to attending church the following week. She just hoped she could find some time to practice on the grand piano she’d seen at the chateau.
* * *
Where was she? Garrett stalked through the entryway and headed for fresh air. He had sent for Janessa nearly two hours earlier only to be told that she wasn’t in the chateau. A member of the kitchen staff had told him that she had asked Enrico for a ride, but no one seemed to know where they had gone or when they would return.
Surely she wouldn’t be so careless as to go gallivanting through the countryside while the climate toward Americans was still so hostile. She of all people should know that her association with him made her a possible target, particularly since several articles had noted her nationality.
Garrett yanked open the door with every intention of going out looking for her himself when he saw the car pull into the drive. The wave of relief was quickly swallowed up by annoyance.
“Where have you been?” he demanded the moment Janessa climbed out of the car.
Her eyebrows rose at his tone, but to her credit, she moved forward anyway. “I went to church.”
“Did it occur to
At the front of the room, the branch president stood up to begin the meeting. Among the announcements was the news that the pianist had just had a baby. Immediately following the announcement was a plea for anyone who might be willing to fill in for her.
Janessa glanced around the room. Barely forty people were seated in the chapel, half of whom were children. When no one stepped forward, Janessa stood and walked to the piano. The branch president smiled and gave her a nod of gratitude before announcing the opening song.
She winced as she messed up on the very first chord, but somehow she muddled through. To her relief, nobody seemed to care that her talent at the piano was limited. After the sacrament hymn, she slid into the seat next to the piano. From her seat on the stand, she looked out at the congregation. The members of the branch were dressed simply. They did not appear impoverished, but neither did they appear to have much beyond their needs.
The meeting seemed to speed by as Janessa listened to the talks about the temple. The Spirit filled the room as the speakers expressed their appreciation for the fact that they would soon have a temple
in their country. From what Janessa had been told, the Church was in the difficult process of obtaining the necessary building permits.
After sacrament meeting, the branch president introduced himself to Janessa. She agreed to fill in for the pianist during her stay, however long that might be. As the chapel transitioned into the gospel doctrine class, she moved down from the stand to take a seat before being asked to introduce herself.
“I am Gianessa Rogers. I am here visiting friends in Bellamo.”
The sister who was teaching the class studied her for a moment, her eyes widening as she recognized Janessa from the various newspaper articles that had been floating around over the past several days. “You are staying at the chateau?”
Reluctantly, Janessa nodded.
“I see.” The sister stared a moment longer before adding, “We’re happy to have you here.”
As the meeting progressed, Janessa felt numerous branch members look over at her. She told herself that she would be curious too if someone who was constantly in the newspapers showed up in her home ward. Though she was nervous about how she would be received by the other members of the branch, when Sunday School was over, three women approached with warm smiles to welcome her. One ventured to ask how long she had known Prince Garrett, but the others seemed too timid to broach the subject. Only a handful of sisters were in Relief Society, and Janessa was pleased that the small class size gave her the chance to meet all of them.
By the time Enrico arrived to pick her up, Janessa found herself looking forward to attending church the following week. She just hoped she could find some time to practice on the grand piano she’d seen at the chateau.
* * *
Where was she? Garrett stalked through the entryway and headed for fresh air. He had sent for Janessa nearly two hours earlier only to be told that she wasn’t in the chateau. A member of the kitchen staff had told him that she had asked Enrico for a ride, but no one seemed to know where they had gone or when they would return.
Surely she wouldn’t be so careless as to go gallivanting through the countryside while the climate toward Americans was still so hostile. She of all people should know that her association with him made her a possible target, particularly since several articles had noted her nationality.
Garrett yanked open the door with every intention of going out looking for her himself when he saw the car pull into the drive. The wave of relief was quickly swallowed up by annoyance.
“Where have you been?” he demanded the moment Janessa climbed out of the car.
Her eyebrows rose at his tone, but to her credit, she moved forward anyway. “I went to church.”
“Did it occur to
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