A Valentine for Kayla (10 page)

“Here goes nothing.” He pulled the glass door open and stepped inside. A counter straight ahead blocked all access to the doors beyond.

A smiling woman stood. “Hello, may I help you?”

“I was hoping to speak with Pastor Miller. Is he available?”

“Let me check.” She stepped over to a closed white door only feet from her work area and knocked.

The pastor's deep voice rumbled, and she went in. A moment later Pastor Miller popped his head out. “Derek, great to see you. Come on back.” He motioned toward a door next to the counter.

Derek followed his instructions and found himself whisked into the pastor's office. The receptionist closed the door softly behind her.

“I'm glad you stopped in. Have a seat.”

Derek sat down and looked around the space. The cozy room had only one small window, which looked onto the parking lot. If anyone had been outside the window, they would have been able to see only people's feet as they walked past. He tried to ignore the closed-in feeling the room evoked by focusing his attention on the man seated before him.

Pastor Miller's round face and bald head reminded him of his dad—a good memory. He wore a gray sweater-vest over a long-sleeve button-up shirt that did little to hide his paunch. The smile he wore was the real deal. Not the fake ones he'd been getting from Estelle.

“How are you, Derek?”

“Fine.”

“I spoke with your mother yesterday. She's sounding a lot better.”

Derek grinned. “Yes. She's improving a lot now that she has a houseguest. I guess it's motivation to work harder.” At least Estelle's presence had brought about one positive thing.

“I heard about that guest.” He raised a brow as if to ask for an explanation. “But I imagine you didn't stop in to talk about Estelle Rogers.”

Though tempted to share his trouble with the pastor, he decided against it for now. “I'm here about the position. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to stop in. My life has been…nuts.”

Pastor chuckled. “So I've heard, but don't worry. I have a good feeling about you.”

A comforting balm washed over Derek, and he breathed easier. “How about you tell me what your expectations are?”

“Sure. You'll work with me to come up with a list of songs. There's a worship band in place—we are only missing a leader. I've been doing it for months, and to be blunt, it's not my calling.”

Derek grinned. He'd heard Pastor sing and it
really
wasn't his thing.

“If I may ask, why the change of heart about leading worship? Your mom originally told me that you weren't open to the idea. I was so surprised by your phone call I forgot to ask what changed your mind. By the way, I was pleasantly surprised to hear from you.”

“Thanks. Sorry it's taken me so long to get in here to talk in person. For the record, I never said I wasn't interested, but I didn't know how it could work. Actually, I'm still not sure it will work considering that I've been outed as DJ Parker.”

The pastor smiled. “I've heard, which makes me wonder all the more why we are having this conversation.”

Derek swallowed the lump in his throat. How could he tell the truth without sounding shallow? “Here's the deal. I don't want to continue on the path my professional music career was taking me on. I came here because I wanted to leave it all behind. Unfortunately, it caught up to me.”

“In the form of Estelle Rogers?” Pastor raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. She refuses to leave town unless I agree to accompany her to Los Angeles. Which puts a serious crimp in my life and my love life, or lack thereof.”

“I assume you are referring to Kayla Russell.”

Derek nodded. “You really
are
in the know.”

“You were spotted together on several occasions. I put two and two together. I imagine having Estelle at your mother's house isn't helping, either. I'm curious about something.”

“What don't you know?”

“Why you decided to say yes.”

“Leading worship is a dream of mine from way back, but I got sidetracked. I've been praying about it and feel this is what the Lord wants for me. To be completely honest, there's another reason as well, and it's not very spiritual. Kayla thinks I'm going to leave town. This is the best way to prove to her that I'm here to stay.”

“I see.” Pastor's face was unreadable. Had he said too much?

“I only have one concern.” He waited until Pastor Miller made eye contact. “Are you sure about
me
leading worship? I tend to create a circus atmosphere.”

“I'm not worried. I trust the people of this church to behave themselves. Tell you what—you can start this Sunday. Let's do a one-month trial. If at that time either of us is dissatisfied, I'll find a replacement for you. Deal?” He rose and held out his hand.

Derek's stomach leaped. He bolted to a stand and grasped the outstretched offering. “Deal.”

* * *

Kayla slid her key from the lock of the flower shop with a sigh of relief. She'd made it through one more day at the store. The added responsibility of the festival along with her normal job made her wish she'd taken that vacation Jill had suggested. At least she had her part of the festival planning complete and now all that needed to be done was the float. Derek seemed convinced he would have it finished in time, and rather than worry about it, she decided to trust him—at least where the float was concerned.

Too tired to cook dinner, she headed toward the Deli on the Rye.

“Kayla!”

She stopped and looked around for the familiar voice and spotted Derek waving from across the street. Her heart skipped, and she waved back. It was difficult to stay angry with the man. He couldn't help his past, and he
was
doing her a huge favor by building the float. It was time to move past her disappointment that he wasn't the one and treat him as she'd treat any other good friend. “Hi,” she called out.

“Hold on. I'll be right there.” He looked both ways, then stepped into the road after a car passed and jogged across. “I have news.”

His face practically glowed. She steeled herself for the news she expected to hear when she found out his true identity—he was leaving.

“I was offered a position as the worship leader at Oak Knoll Community Church.”

“Isn't that kind of a step down from being a famous musician?” She scooted closer to the building to allow a mother and her children to pass.

“Not the way I see it. I've been fortunate enough to have followed
both
of my dreams.”

Kayla shook her head. “You lost me.”

“Where are you headed?”

“The deli.” She gestured at the restaurant nearby.

“How about we grab a bite, and I'll fill you in on the details?”

She hesitated. Her gut response said no, but that was not how a friend behaved. “Sure. I'm not in any hurry.”

He pushed the door open. “After you.”

“Thanks.” They placed their orders, then found a table. “You said you followed both of your dreams.”

“Right. When I was a young teen, I felt called to the ministry as a worship pastor, but then the chance of a lifetime was handed to me, and I went in a different direction.”

“I had no idea. Then again, how would I? It's not like I was a groupie.”

He chuckled. “You are nothing like a groupie. Besides, that bit of information was between the Lord, me and my parents.”

“Are you sure you're up to being out of the spotlight for good?” Although he seemed sincere, she couldn't help doubting he'd actually be content as a worship pastor. “You won't be traveling or singing in a different venue every night.”

“I'm thankful for the experience I had and that I was so successful, but I'm through with that life.” A thoughtful expression covered his face. “Tell me, what is it about me that makes it impossible to convince you that I'm not returning to my singing career?”

Kayla blinked. “Uh—”

Nick, the owner of the deli, placed two plastic baskets that held their meals on the table. “Bon appétit.”

Kayla waited until Nick was out of hearing range, then cleared her throat. “I guess I'm questioning you because I would have a difficult time leaving fame and fortune behind, so I expect that you would, too.”

He shrugged. “But I'm not you.” He bowed his head.

Kayla followed his lead and prayed a silent blessing over her meal. They looked up at the same time. Her gaze rested on his kind eyes. Was she making a mistake shutting her heart to him? He was as close as any man had ever come to meeting all the requirements on her list. But the one thing he lacked was a big one—she couldn't trust him. There were too many unknowns where he was concerned.

“Why do I have the feeling I've failed some kind of test?” Derek's brows furrowed as he bit into his Reuben sandwich.

Kayla shrugged. “Beats me. I've always wanted to travel. Someday I want to go to Venice and ride in a gondola.”

He chuckled. “That was a rough transition. I take it you don't care to answer my question.”

Her cheeks burned. She'd hoped to change subjects without him noticing.

“Don't worry—I don't mind. You'd love Venice. Would you believe I spent five months in Italy this past year?”

Her eyes widened. “No way. I'm officially jealous. I have wanted to go there for as long as I can remember.”

“Do you have a passport?”

“Yes.” She thought about the little blue book sitting in her dresser drawer that contained no stamps. She hadn't even been to Canada, which was an easy drive. Maybe that was where she should take the vacation Jill encouraged her to go on.

“Then why not go?”

“Venice is meant to be enjoyed with someone else.” She bit into her ham and cheese on rye. She couldn't tell Derek about her silly girlhood dream of visiting Venice on her honeymoon. Going there alone would spoil the dream.

“I don't agree. I went to Italy alone and enjoyed myself a lot. Granted, I was running from everything and everyone and all I wanted was peace and solitude.”

“Did you find it there?”

“For the most part.” He took another huge bite and chewed slowly.

Kayla wondered what it would be like to walk the cobbled streets of the ancient city and visit the famed Saint Mark's Square. “What was your favorite part of Italy?”

“That's easy—the food.” He grinned and tossed the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth.

“You were going to tell me about the details of your dream?”

“Right.” He wiped his hands on a napkin. “The church position is on a one-month trial basis. If Pastor Miller or I feel it's not a good fit, I walk away.”

That was exactly what she feared would happen. “Are you concerned about drawing the paparazzi into the church?”

“No. They won't go in there. I was more concerned with being a distraction and taking away from worship.”

She nodded. “I can see why you'd have that concern, but that's not for you to worry about. You have no control over people and where their minds are at church.”

He grinned. “Great point.” He tilted his head. “What's different? You're being nicer.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, sorry about the way I acted before.” She reached for her cup of water and gulped down a few swallows, then set the cup down slowly. “I realized I was being silly. You had a right to keep your past private. Although I'm not sure how you expected that secret to stay hidden forever. It's not like we are on another planet.” She shook her head. “Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude. It's just that—”

He reached across the table and grasped her hand. “Relax. I think I understand. You didn't like that I deceived you and didn't get why I wasn't up-front about my past, since it was bound to come out eventually.”

“Pretty much.” The feel of his touch sent tingles rippling up her arm. Derek might think he was sticking around, but time would tell. How much time would pass before she was convinced he was staying? What if she waited too long, and he found someone else?

K
ayla waited in the foyer of the church a few feet from Derek as a couple of women a year or so younger than her fawned over him. She'd gone to high school with these ladies, and their behavior knotted her stomach. From the strained look on Derek's face, he was desperate to escape.

Surely he was used to this kind of thing, but she couldn't bear to see him so uncomfortable. She marched up to the threesome. “Hey, girls. How's it going?” She offered her best smile and motioned for Derek to make a run for it.

“If you ladies will excuse me.” Without waiting for a reply, Derek fled across the foyer and down the stairs leading to the church office.

She returned her attention to the women. “That was a great service.”

“Uh-huh,” the duo said in unison.

Kayla pointed. “Oh, look, my mom is waving for me to hurry. She likes to get to the restaurant before the church across town lets out. See you.” She hustled through the foyer and caught up with her mother at the doors leading to the sidewalk. They'd walk to Bridget's Diner since it was only a block away.

“Your Derek did a fine job this morning,” Mom said as she clipped along beside Kayla. “I heard a lot of folks talking and they were pleasantly surprised.”

“About what?” She'd let it go that Mom called him
her
Derek since even though it wasn't a reality, she'd like to secretly think of him as hers.

“Some of them doubted his ability to lead worship, but I must say he did well.”

Kayla's insides warmed, and she walked with a little bounce in her step. “I agree. I'm afraid I was one of those doubters, too, but not anymore. I'm really proud of him.”

“I have a surprise for you at the diner.”