Free Her Unlikely Family by Missy Tippens

after all. And he seemed to be working so hard. How could she not like a guy who kept trying to win over a girl who loved to torment him? “Hang in there, Mike. You’re doing better already.”
    â€œYeah? How’s that?”
    â€œYou didn’t blow up when she grumbled there in the backseat.”
    â€œOnly because she was trying to talk to herself. She just needed to let off some steam.”
    Josie laughed and opened her door. “I’m sure we all need to pray for patience while we’re here.”
    Â 
    Josie sure had the part about praying for patience right, Michael thought as he slipped into the second pew from the front—thanks to Josie who insisted that if they were going to worship, then they needed to sit close to the choir.
    He also needed to do some repenting because his thoughts hadn’t been exactly pure as Josie had studied his hands, had whispered in his ear, had touched him. He could have sworn he’d even seen her inhale when she was close to him, as if she enjoyed the smell of his aftershave lotion.
    Heavenly God, direct my thoughts. Keep them focused on You. Keep them on my mission here. I may not understand Your plan for me, how Lisa plays into that, but I know Josie’s face shouldn’t keep intruding in my thoughts….
    The friendly congregation settled in. Lisa, with her arms crossed in their usual position, sat between him and Josie. As Josie put her arm around Lisa and whispered something in her ear, Josie’s fingertips rested on his shoulder. When the pastor welcomed everyone, drawing her attention away, her fingers remained, warming him through the wool.
    Her mere fingertips had the power to send his train of thought awry. How could this unusual woman affect him so? Gloria had never given him a moment of trouble. She was calm, controlled, dignified. He’d never worried what she might say or do. She knew exactly what to do in every situation.
    Then again, Josie seemed to know what to do in every situation as well. So what was the difference? Why did he find her so disturbing?
    He picked up the hymnal as they sang the opening hymn. Along about the second verse, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
    Josie seemed entranced. Her face tilted heavenward.
    There was his answer right there. He found her disturbing because she was so unpredictable. The woman who had talked about being intimidated by crowds had settled in the midst of this crowd as if she’d been born to it. Without a whit of self-consciousness, she sang at the top of her lungs.
    Maybe that adaptability was what made it so easy for her to connect to God. To connect with Lisa.
    Could she teach him how to do that? Possibly even how to love?
    Whether she could or not, he needed to remember that he could never consider a relationship with someone so unpredictable. He enjoyed a planned and orderly life. Lisa would cause enough turmoil. He certainly didn’t need to add the chaos that was Josie to the mix.

Chapter Five
    â€œW ow,” Josie said as they drove away from the church. “That was the most uplifting service I’ve ever gone to.” Joy still warmed her.
    Lisa leaned her chin on the back of Josie’s seat. “You said that last week. And you know, Josie, it could get a little embarrassing to have you belting out songs like that.”
    â€œI couldn’t help it. The joy of the music just bubbled out of me.”
    â€œThat’s cool, I guess. As long as it’s not for show.”
    Michael cocked his head back in surprise. “That was a quick about-face, Lisa—from embarrassing to cool.”
    â€œHey, as long as Josie’s being honest, I can live with the wacky.”
    â€œAnd is your choice of Sunday clothes a statement of your honesty?” he asked.
    Josie tensed, waiting for Lisa’s explosion.
    But Lisa chuckled. “I guess you can say that. I honestly love black.”
    â€œAs long as it’s not just