Free Prelude: Prequel to The Lewis Legacy Series by Joann Durgin

strayed to Sam, as they’d done quite a bit in the week since his return. What she’d told him was true—she’d missed him. More than she’d realized. In the past few years, her studies, working at Perry’s Diner, teaching the kids in Sunday school, playing softball, and helping her mother with household chores occupied nearly every hour of her day. Most nights, she fell into bed exhausted.
    In high school, Sam had never seemed motivated by the need to be the best at everything, but he was highly proficient at most things. Although he wasn’t the top student in his class, he’d been asked to make the graduation speech because his classmates voted him the best public speaker. Football practice had gobbled up a lot of his study time. He was well-liked and managed to find a good balance between his academic and social life. “A well-rounded fellow” as her grandmother would have said.
    From what Sarah knew, Sam had only gotten in trouble once—skinny-dipping with his buddies at the creek one hot summer night—but that incident was nothing more than speculation. She hated rumors, but working at Perry’s, she heard most all of them. Boring, straitlaced boys—especially upstanding Christian boys—didn’t skinny dip. Sarah secretly hoped the rumor was true and suspected it was.
    Maybe she couldn’t help thinking about Sam because she’d always considered him her first love, if she could even call it that. Well, her only love, and he didn’t even know it. A one-sided love. How pitiful was she? At fourteen, when she’d awakened to the fact that not all boys were complete toads, she’d developed a massive crush on him when he’d returned to Rockbridge for Christmas break. Sam’s eyes were the most gorgeous shade of blue, alive with excitement and energy. What a travesty that all of his thick hair was cut so short, but hair could always grow hair back.
    On Christmas Eve, she’d run into him at Johnson’s Market in the produce section. They’d both been sent by their mothers to pick up some missing ingredient for their holiday meal. He’d hugged her and taken the time to share an actual conversation. No other boy had ever made her feel so special without even knowing it.
    Her girlish daydreams had been soundly squelched when Mom chastised her for staring at Sam in church, of all places. Mooning over boys was frowned upon as a matter of principle but especially when worshipping in the house of the Lord. Throwing spitballs hadn’t been much better, but mooning was apparently the bigger sin.
    “God helped make Sam Lewis, and I’m admiring His wonderful creation,” she remembered telling her mother. Serious and pragmatic as a general rule, Mom failed to appreciate her humor and had not been amused.
    Two days ago, on Sunday morning, Sam sat three rows in front of her at Rockbridge Community Church, sitting with his family on their customary pew. Seriously tempted to throw spitballs at the back of his head for old time’s sake, she’d refrained. She didn’t wish to spoil his illusion that she’d actually grown up.
    Something short-circuited inside her, and Sarah’s nerves went haywire whenever Sam was near. Which was nearly every day when he stopped in at Perry’s. A couple of times, he’d asked her to share her break with him. After Myrna encouraged her, she’d joined him. They discussed world events, books and other things most people her age could care less about since they’d prefer to talk about the newest dance craze or Hollywood couple. She’d talked with Sam until Patti tapped her on the shoulder and told her she needed to get back to work. Embarrassed, Sarah had excused herself, but not once did she regret spending time with him.
    “Mind if I join you?”
    Sarah startled and brought her hand to her chest. Sam. What was he doing here? Not that she minded the least little bit. “Not at all. Please do.” She tried to calm her pulse, but it was a lost cause.
    “Sorry if I scared you. I tried to