Free Lone Star Holiday by Jolene Navarro

Katy...um...had a roomful of kids.”
    “She has Rhody, Abby and Paul to help with the children’s choir.” He grinned at her. “Man, you must really be scared if you’d rather spend the next hour with a bunch of kids than face the adults.”
    His words triggered a flash fire of outrage through her body. Her hands fisted at her hips. “Scared? I’ll have you know there is nothing these people can say or do to me—”
    Stepping back, he threw his hands up, palms out. “Just a little joke.” He tilted his head and looked her straight in the eye. “A vein looks like it’s about to derail from your neck.” He gently put his hand on her shoulder. His smile faded and compassion filled his gaze. “Don’t go in if it upsets you this much. But you could also focus on God instead of these doubts and fears.”
    He offered his strength, and she wished she could accept. She pulled back and wrapped her arms around her ribs. The blue door leading to the fellowship hall taunted her. “The last youth night I attended, Vickie told everyone I had parked under Hammond Bridge with Tommy Miller, the quarterback. I knew they had gone to the prom together, but I always thought she and Jake Torres liked each other. I know Jake liked her. I thought Jake and I were friends, but...” She bit down hard on her tongue.
    She glanced again at the moths dancing around the light. It looked welcoming and safe, but she knew how it burned if you got too close. “Then she started a rumor that I left with Jake. I can’t believe he’s a state trooper now.”
    She twisted her silver bracelets around her wrist. “Both those guys seemed to follow her around everywhere, so I never understood why she lied about me being with them. Jake and I were friends, but Tommy never even gave me the time of day until the rumors started. I should have ignored them, but everyone believed her.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell him what had hurt the most. She stood alone while Yolanda walked past her to join Vickie’s group. They turned their backs to her, giggling and whispering.
    The old pain felt just as fresh as it did then. She had become the outsider again. Unable to comfort the seventeen-year-old girl she had been, she closed her eyes.
    John approached her, his fingers warm and strong as he squeezed her shoulder. She turned her head away, not wanting him to see the weakness of her stupid tears burning her lids.
    She shrugged. “Without knowing why, I had been exiled from the group.” Her eyes burned and her voice sounded harsh to her own ears.
    How could something from twelve years ago hurt so much? This was why she never talked about the past.
    “Lorrie Ann, fear will stop us from living the life God meant for us to live.” He kept his gaze on her. “You don’t have to go in with me, but I think you’ll find it friendlier than your teenage memories.”
    The sincere concern in his golden-brown eyes jabbed at her self-pity.
    She forced a smile. “Truthfully, I had some very unchristian experiences in that building.” She tossed her hair and stretched her spine until she stood an inch taller. “But I’m a grown-up now and need to act like one.” Maybe this was why God had brought her back. With a firm nod of her head, she placed her other hand over his.
    John moved in front of her and waited until she made eye contact. “Lorrie Ann, people will hurt us. It’s unfortunate but true. We all have our weaknesses and insecurities.” He smiled. “God’s always true. You have to trust in Him...with all things.”
    “I just don’t want you to get caught in the cross fire. You’re a very nice man.”
    He rolled his head back and groaned. “Oh, no.” He fixed his stare back on her face.
    She stared back with a blank expression. What was he talking about?
    The corner of his mouth pulled to one side, giving her a lopsided grin.
    From inside the fellowship hall, Aunt Maggie tapped on the kitchen window. Sliding it open, she called to them.