Free Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis

was certain her walking in on Brand’s arm had caused a bit of a stir. She could feel folks watching them with interest. Embarrassed, she tried to focus on the stage where the choir would perform.
    She left the seat on the aisle for Brand and settled into the one beside it. Head down, lost in thought, she tried to forget that Bryce Botsworth was in her dining room, and that she’d just used Brand to escape.
    You shouldn’t be here
, she told herself.
He deserves better than you.
    A hushed whisper and a few giggles came from backstage and she was reminded that she wasn’t here just for Brand, but for his children. She was here so as not to disappoint them.
    He startled her when he leaned close and whispered, “Duty calls. I’ll be right back.”
    He mounted two low steps to the stage and walked to the lectern. There, he greeted the assembly. He spoke of the need for choir robes and the fact that not only had everyone donated, but a generous benefactor had made up the needed difference after the masquerade fundraiser. Then he asked them all to bow their heads in prayer.
    Laura remained silent, staring at her gloved hands. She clutched them tightly in her lap and tried to keep her mind blank. She couldn’t stop chiding herself for panicking and coming with him tonight. What right had she to sit among these good people? What right had she to lead Brand on?
    She rubbed the thumbs of her gloves against each other and remained silent as the sound of prayer swelled. If God existed, if He cared at all, He would have saved her. Or at the very least, He would have saved Megan.
    But she had been forced to save herself, to survive alone and hope that her sisters were not lost to her.
    “Laura?”
    While she’d been mired in thought, head down, the prayer had ended and Brand had slipped into the seat beside her. Everyone was waiting expectantly for the performance to begin.
    Charity McCormick appeared on stage and walked up to the lectern. Tall and thin with blonde hair, Charity appeared far more nervous than Laura felt. Brand’s sister was obviously forcing a smile as she thanked everyone for their help in raising funds for the choir robes.
    “Since they are anxious to begin, not to mention wiggle worms, the children will perform first.” She waved her hand toward the side entrance, and twelve boys and girls of all ages filed onto the stage. They were followed by Amelia Larson, who’d apparently been assigned the task of keeping them in line.
    When Amelia turned to take a seat, she spied Laura and smiled.Even seeing her friend didn’t help to calm Laura’s nerves. She scanned the children’s faces and located Janie and Sam. Janie was, indeed, wearing her hair in bobbing ringlets. She smiled at Laura and wiggled her fingers in greeting. Laura flushed with embarrassment but managed to hold her smile. Sam was too busy tugging on the braids of the little girl in front of him to pay any attention to Laura or Brand.
    A few chuckles came from the audience, a few hushed whispers as everyone settled down. Charity took her place, lifted her hand, and the children began to sing “Rock of Ages.” The song started on a shaky note but leveled out. All in all, the future citizens of Glory did a credible job of performing the rest of a half dozen songs.
    When Charity turned and asked the congregation to stand and join in, Laura felt Brand step closer. Again her body reacted to him. A sudden rush of awareness flooded her when his arm pressed against hers.
    She couldn’t find her voice. Mute, she couldn’t even mouth the words of the song. She glanced over to see if he noticed she wasn’t singing. For far too long there had been no song in her heart.
    His own voice was strong and melodic. When the song ended, she found him watching her intently. There was such warmth, such caring, in his eyes that she was forced to look away and take a deep breath.
    “Are you all right?” he whispered.
    She nodded. “I don’t sing,” she said