Free One Cuppa Brew: Book 1 in The Thyme for Tea Series by J. Louise Powell Page A

aren’t getting any younger, you know.”
    “I think it was a car accident. Nothing suspicious, really. It’s just… I didn’t know she played tennis. I know that’s a little thing, but you think you know someone, then they surprise you. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other; of course, she’s a bit different. I guess Jack hadn’t mentioned that I moved down here, so she was surprised to see me when she got here. It’s probably nothing. But, when you can play tennis from a young age, you play differently, you know?”
    Pastor did know. She had never played. She had taken it in high school gym class, and since she’d never had an affinity for sports involving chasing balls around small spaces, she had never taken to it. She wasn’t fond of sports or games involving chasing balls around big spaces for that matter; she wasn’t a fan of soccer or baseball, either. Maybe kickball. They taught kids how to play kickball while they were still young enough not to care about how well they did. Maybe they should teach all sports at younger ages, she thought briefly. Then again, kids were already overloaded with input. Maybe less was more. She was glad her boys hadn’t had any reserves about being comfortable with who they were. Two of the three had enjoyed most team sports; they had been above average but nothing great. Her thoughts had strayed again. She brushed a loose hair from her face and nodded at Mr. Winthrop, “Yes, I know all about not being able to play.”
    William smiled a little, “Oh, Pastor, that wasn’t what I meant. I meant, if you had learned to play after your kids were gone, it wouldn’t have been the same as if you had played beforehand.” He looked at her face and winced. “Am I being completely insensitive? Perhaps I never married for a reason: no tact.”
    Pastor smiled. “You’re fine. I was agreeing with you, and just needed to think about it. Was she naturally athletic? Maybe tennis just came to her? Would you have known her well enough to know?”
    William thought for a minute, “Lois wasn’t a sports person. The girls were involved in Girl Scouts and all that, but I don’t remember them being involved with anything other than swimming at the beach during the summer. Not that they were fat, they just weren’t jocks. Jack did say he made sure they could defend themselves, so maybe they did martial arts, but no true team sports.”
    “Like me,” Pastor teased him lightly.
    William laughed, “Well, now that YOU say it, that’s it exactly!”
    Pastor sighed a little. “Well, all jokes aside, I would tend to agree with you. People don’t generally change so radically as to become athletic when they’d never been before. At least, not generally. Good luck to you. This game sounds interesting.”
    William chuckled, “You know me, always looking for mysteries that aren’t there. I should just follow Joe’s lead and relax while we play some tennis. It’s a bit creepy having your new friend go after your old friend’s widow though.”
    Pastor nodded. “Relaxing sounds like a good plan. It’s healthier to have fun then to worry. I know you’re so used to overthinking every detail due to your former employment as a…” she trailed off as she spoke, and raised one eyebrow, hoping he would fill in the rest.
    “Nice try, Pastor, I haven’t admitted to anything about my past career yet, and it won’t happen today.” William said with a smile. “I will be back in a bit, I’m looking forward to a nice turkey on rye today, but keep it light, since I won’t be working too hard!”
    Pastor smiled as he walked out and she heard the Hallelujahs again. Somehow she always heard them when William was coming in and out, though when other customers were coming and going, they sometimes faded to the background. She smiled, because while William had not told her about his past career, she now knew that he had a friend named Jack with twin daughters and a second wife, and this