smile.
Chandra walked to the front of the classroom. “Morning everyone. Time to settle down and get started. We’ve got a lot planned today, but first I want to remind you about the auditions for our summer musical on Saturday morning. We’ll be doing Anne of Green Gables. ” She took a stack of papers from the desk and sent them around the room. “Auditions start at 9:00 a.m., so read all the info, and be sure to take this sheet home to your parents.”
“Ms. Wetzel?” Ten-year-old Gabriel waved his hand to get her attention. “That sounds like a girl’s story. Are there any parts for guys?”
“Yes, Gabe. There are twelve parts for guys and fifteenfor girls. Plus we’ll need lots of help on the stage crew, so there’s something for everyone who’d like to be involved.”
Gabe grinned and nodded, looking pleased.
Chandra rounded up the ten youngest students and sent them with Amy. Rachel shot off a silent prayer, asking the Lord to give the timid girl courage.
“I’d like the rest of you to come with me to the auditorium.” Chandra lifted her finger and waited. “And remember, we need to be quiet in the hallway.”
“We know the drill, Ms. Wetzel—keep a lid on it, or else!” Steve’s perfect imitation of Rachel’s daily mantra made them all laugh.
“Okay. Glad you got the memo. I don’t expect to hear a sound until we’re settled in the auditorium.”
The chattering faded as they walked out of the classroom, leaving Rachel alone to make her call. She pressed in the number to the storage company. Lord, please help me reach the right person. You know I can’t afford to waste this money. But she got an answering machine—again. With a sigh, she pressed the off button and slipped her phone in her pocket. She’d have to try again later.
“Rachel?”
She turned as Cam approached her classroom doorway.
Uneasy lines creased his forehead, but he looked as handsome as ever. “Do you have a minute?”
A shiver raced up her back. “Sure. Come on in.”
He shuffled over to the desk. “Kayla has barely spoken since her mother dropped her off. She spent most of yesterday shut up in her room. And this morning she announced she was not going anywhere—especially drama camp.”
Rachel’s stomach dropped. “So what did you say?”
“I told her staying home wasn’t an option.” He crossed his arms. “I don’t get it. Shannon said she liked the idea ofgoing to drama camp. Why would she change her mind now that she’s here?”
“She’s probably just upset about her mom.”
“I’m sure she is, but I can’t let her sit home alone all summer.”
“So did you talk to her?”
“What’s there to talk about? She said she won’t go. I told her she either goes to camp or she has to sit in the shop with me all day. She can’t stay home.”
“How did that go over?”
“Not too well.”
“I can imagine. So where is she now?”
He glanced toward the door. “In the shop, sitting on a stool, looking like the world is coming to an end.”
“Poor kid. She must be really miserable.”
He cocked his head and sent her a confused look.
“Try to see it from her perspective, Cam. She’s probably frightened about her mom being sick. She might feel abandoned by her parents. But she can’t get mad at them, so she’s focusing her anger on you.”
His shoulders sagged. “I’m sure you’re right. But I don’t know how to help her.” He lifted his gaze to meet Rachel’s. “Would you talk to her?”
The S.O.S. flashing from his blue eyes grabbed her heart and she nodded. “Okay. I’ll try.”
He released a deep breath. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
A flash of blue in the hallway caught Rachel’s attention.
A young girl with long curly blond hair, large blue eyes and a slim figure looked in the door. This had to be Kayla. The family resemblance was clear in the shape of her chin and high forehead as well as her hair and eye color.
Cam froze, and Rachel could easily
Chandra walked to the front of the classroom. “Morning everyone. Time to settle down and get started. We’ve got a lot planned today, but first I want to remind you about the auditions for our summer musical on Saturday morning. We’ll be doing Anne of Green Gables. ” She took a stack of papers from the desk and sent them around the room. “Auditions start at 9:00 a.m., so read all the info, and be sure to take this sheet home to your parents.”
“Ms. Wetzel?” Ten-year-old Gabriel waved his hand to get her attention. “That sounds like a girl’s story. Are there any parts for guys?”
“Yes, Gabe. There are twelve parts for guys and fifteenfor girls. Plus we’ll need lots of help on the stage crew, so there’s something for everyone who’d like to be involved.”
Gabe grinned and nodded, looking pleased.
Chandra rounded up the ten youngest students and sent them with Amy. Rachel shot off a silent prayer, asking the Lord to give the timid girl courage.
“I’d like the rest of you to come with me to the auditorium.” Chandra lifted her finger and waited. “And remember, we need to be quiet in the hallway.”
“We know the drill, Ms. Wetzel—keep a lid on it, or else!” Steve’s perfect imitation of Rachel’s daily mantra made them all laugh.
“Okay. Glad you got the memo. I don’t expect to hear a sound until we’re settled in the auditorium.”
The chattering faded as they walked out of the classroom, leaving Rachel alone to make her call. She pressed in the number to the storage company. Lord, please help me reach the right person. You know I can’t afford to waste this money. But she got an answering machine—again. With a sigh, she pressed the off button and slipped her phone in her pocket. She’d have to try again later.
“Rachel?”
She turned as Cam approached her classroom doorway.
Uneasy lines creased his forehead, but he looked as handsome as ever. “Do you have a minute?”
A shiver raced up her back. “Sure. Come on in.”
He shuffled over to the desk. “Kayla has barely spoken since her mother dropped her off. She spent most of yesterday shut up in her room. And this morning she announced she was not going anywhere—especially drama camp.”
Rachel’s stomach dropped. “So what did you say?”
“I told her staying home wasn’t an option.” He crossed his arms. “I don’t get it. Shannon said she liked the idea ofgoing to drama camp. Why would she change her mind now that she’s here?”
“She’s probably just upset about her mom.”
“I’m sure she is, but I can’t let her sit home alone all summer.”
“So did you talk to her?”
“What’s there to talk about? She said she won’t go. I told her she either goes to camp or she has to sit in the shop with me all day. She can’t stay home.”
“How did that go over?”
“Not too well.”
“I can imagine. So where is she now?”
He glanced toward the door. “In the shop, sitting on a stool, looking like the world is coming to an end.”
“Poor kid. She must be really miserable.”
He cocked his head and sent her a confused look.
“Try to see it from her perspective, Cam. She’s probably frightened about her mom being sick. She might feel abandoned by her parents. But she can’t get mad at them, so she’s focusing her anger on you.”
His shoulders sagged. “I’m sure you’re right. But I don’t know how to help her.” He lifted his gaze to meet Rachel’s. “Would you talk to her?”
The S.O.S. flashing from his blue eyes grabbed her heart and she nodded. “Okay. I’ll try.”
He released a deep breath. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
A flash of blue in the hallway caught Rachel’s attention.
A young girl with long curly blond hair, large blue eyes and a slim figure looked in the door. This had to be Kayla. The family resemblance was clear in the shape of her chin and high forehead as well as her hair and eye color.
Cam froze, and Rachel could easily
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