Free Autumn Leaves by Barbara Winkes

of the moment, she made a U-turn and parked, not quite wanting to go home yet. Maggie would stay with David’s mother until the weekend. He’d bring her back when he returned from the current trip. Rebecca didn’t feel like facing an empty house yet, and going over to Callie’s didn’t seem like an option.
    The choir practice was open for everyone interested, whether they wanted to join or just listen for a moment. Rebecca quietly walked down the aisle as the women’s voices rose. Maria played the piano. She sang the most solos, and her voice never failed to send shivers down Rebecca’s spine, especially in this setting. Maybe it was a bit out of jealousy that Rebecca had never tried to carve out some time for this. It wasn’t like Maria hadn’t made the effort. She was always trying to get people to join. Maybe one of these days Rebecca would just get over herself and give in.
    Rebecca sat in the third pew, letting the music embrace and comfort her. She had always loved church, the idea that there was a place where she’d always be welcome, a place she’d always leave with the certainty that things would be all right in the end.
    Finally, she found the courage to seek out Callie in the group. She was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, her hair bound back in a ponytail.
    Rebecca thought she was beautiful. It didn’t even seem to be an inappropriate thought in church as the haunting tune continued.
    She left before the practice was over.

Chapter Four
    Choir practice was only a temporary reprieve. At least it until Rebecca showed up. That moment Callie wondered what possessed her to think that she could find peace in a place where a lot of people weren’t too kind about the lives of others. Autumn Leaves. This church. If Asha thought Callie had a masochistic streak, she might be right about it.
    When she came back to her house, Callie found herself unable to settle. There was the unpleasant conversation with Betty she’d tried her best to just forget about. Maria, Rebecca’s sister-in-law, seemed to be interested in practicing more than singing. Then there was Rebecca, not even knowing she was playing with fire.
    It was all too much.
    Callie sat down to work, but after an agonizing session of writing paragraphs and deleting them again, she picked up the phone. After two rings, it was answered.
    “I thought you made out with your gorgeous neighbor. Sorry. Made up is what I meant.”
    “About that. If you could just be polite the next time and not insult anyone?”
    “Ah, small town people are so sensitive,” Asha said disapprovingly. “Wait. What did you mean, next time?”
    Callie tiredly leaned forward, resting her head in her hands. “I really need you here.”
    “Oh, I understand. No making out, no making up either.”
    “It’s complicated.”
    “I bet it is. Look, I think I can justify this as checking up once more on our favorite author, so I could be there in a few hours. Would that be okay?”
    “Perfect,” Callie sighed. “I’m sorry. I owe you.”
    Asha laughed. “Don’t worry, baby. I plan to collect.”
    All of a sudden, Callie’s mood was greatly improving. She and Asha hadn’t made a very good couple, but at least there had never been any confusion as to what they could expect from each other.
    “Stay up all night, sleep all day? Oh, to be a writer,” Asha teased.
    “Stop that and get your ass over here already.”
    “Right. I can’t believe you’re complaining about my vocabulary.”
    * * * *
    Having dinner all by herself was strange, or at least it felt that way tonight. There were times when Rebecca wished for a moment like this, between playing chauffeur for the kids, keeping the house in order and meals on the table at the right time. It was like back in the days as a grad student, when she was losing time and forgetting the sandwich sitting on the table next to her over work. Rebecca genuinely looked forward to working on her commission for Father Langdon, but now, she