Free Heartsong by Debbie Macomber Page A

pointedly, and laughed as Sally hung her head in despair.
    Several hours later, the apartment felt lonely and lifeless. Loud rock music blaredfrom the party across the hall. Involuntarily Skye tapped her foot to the beat of the slower ballads, which blared in equal volume. For the first time in years her feet yearned to dance. Without warning the image of dancing with Jordan rose to her mind, and she bit her lip at the appeal the image conjured.
    When the phone suddenly began ringing, Skye jerked around, caught off guard by the unexpectedness.
    Two rings.
    It had to be Jordan. He’d said he was going to phone, and he was a man of his word.
    Three rings.
    She stared mutely at the ringing phone, frozen in her chair.
    Four rings.
    She had made such a fool of herself this afternoon.
    Five rings.
    How could she have ranted and raved like that?
    Six rings.
    How could she have said those things?
    Silence.
    Skye breathed again.

Chapter Five
    Hauling her guitar, Bible, and purse from the parking lot to the church, Skye found Peggy waiting for her in the foyer.
    “Skye,” Peggy said, looking troubled and uncertain, “I like your hair. When did you have it cut?” she asked haltingly.
    “Yesterday afternoon … And thanks, I like it, too.” She accepted the compliment but wondered how long it would take Peggy to notice the real change.
    Tears shimmered in Peggy’s eyes. “I want to apologize for yesterday. I was blunt and rude. Will you forgive me?” It was apparent from her hurried speech that their conversation had weighed heavily on her mind.
    Tears misted Skye’s deep blue eyes as well. “Of course I will, Peg. But there’s no need to apologize. Most of what you said was true.”
    “Perhaps, but there were nicer ways of saying it.” Her fingers wiped away the moisture from her cheek, and she gave a half laugh. “We better get to class before we turn into Water Works, Incorporated, right here in the church foyer.”
    Skye was touched by the thoughtfulness of her sister-in-law. “I’ll talk to you later.” Impulsively she set her guitar down and gave Peggy an affectionate hug before making her way to the Youth Department downstairs.
    Working with the youth Sunday mornings offered Skye a challenge completely different from her kindergartners, one Skye enjoyed. She was the Sunday School teacher for the eighth-grade group and was also in charge of the opening Sunday services.
    She was met in the large room by several enthusiastic hoots and a couple of wolf whistles. The youths had always been known for their liveliness, and Skye responded with a ready smile.
    The songs she led were some of the standard ones the teens enjoyed. She wandered around the room, her fingers moving agilely over the guitar strings. She paused, seeing two of the younger teen girls passing notes. Past experience had taught her that if she brought pressure from within their own peer group, any behavior problems cleared up quickly.
    She stopped the song. “All right, girls.” She didn’t mention names but pointedly fixed her gaze on the offending class members. “This isn’t the
Woody Woodpecker Hour
.”
    The whole class burst into laughter.
    “Yeah, girls, shape up,” one boy shouted, and several girls responded by sticking out their tongues.
    Skye resumed the song before things got out of hand, and soon everyone was singing again. And there was no more note-passing.
    Skye left church feeling elated and cheerful. The pastor’s sermon had reinforced the insights revealed the day before, and she was amazed at how persistent her blindness had been.
    The aroma of meat and vegetables slowly cooking in a Crock-Pot met her as she entered her apartment. Skye usually ate her main meal at lunchtime on Sundays, a tradition her family had followed. Sundays were centered on the morning and evening worship services, and it was convenient to eat the main meal of the day at lunchtime.
    Skye had lingered over the morning paper and was changing her