let her steer the conversation away from personal questions and back to neutral topics. Before long she found herself enjoying his company and laughing at his lame jokes. When he checked his watch and stood to leave, her disappointment surprised her.
“I can’t believe what time it is. The guys are coming over to practice tonight, and I have to get my groceries put away before they get there.”
She escorted him to the door.
“Goodnight, Celeste. Will I see you again on Sunday? I’d like to pick you up, but I have to go early to set up.”
Her answer came without thought. “Yes, I’ll be there.”
“I’ll be looking forward to Sunday more than ever, then.”
Adrian smiled and left.
After his car had rounded the corner, Celeste returned to the kitchen to clean up. However, when she entered the kitchen and looked at the fridge, she skidded to a halt.
Adrian had forgotten his bag of groceries in her freezer.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the bag, and ran out to coax her mother’s car to start.
Three cars were parked in Adrian’s driveway. Adrian’s car was on the street, telling her that his friends had arrived before him.
Bag in hand, Celeste headed up the sidewalk.
Paul Calloway leaned against the corner of Adrian’s table. He crossed his arms and watched his friend shoving his groceries into the cupboards with no concern for organization.
“I can’t believe you forgot we moved up the practice time. In fact, it was your idea.”
“I was busy with something else,” Adrian mumbled, but didn’t elaborate.
Adrian measured some coffee beans into the grinder, then filled the coffee machine with water. “You know, I’m positive I’m missing something. I’m sure I bought more than this.”
The doorbell rang. Paul looked back over his shoulder. “You expecting someone?”
Adrian checked his watch, and shook his head. “No, I’m not. I’m kind of busy. Can you get that?”
Paul left Adrian in the kitchen and answered the door.
“Celeste? It’s good to see you again. What are you doing here?”
“This is Adrian’s. He forgot it. It’s got to go in the freezer.”
Paul couldn’t hide his grin. He didn’t know what was going on or why Celeste had Adrian’s groceries, but he intended to find out.
“He’s in the kitchen. Come on in.”
Paul wished he had a camera to catch the expression on Adrian’s face the moment Adrian saw Celeste in his kitchen. More than ever, it made Paul wonder what was going on. He’d never met Celeste before Sunday, nor had Adrian ever mentioned her, which made him even more curious.
Adrian recovered quickly. He mumbled a quick thank you as he accepted the bag from Celeste, and shoved it into the freezer.
Paul crossed his arms and turned to Celeste. “How did you like the services on Sunday? It was nice to see you there.”
“I really like Faith Community Fellowship. I’m looking for a new church home, but I guess Adrian already told you that.”
“Actually, no. He didn’t.”
Her cheeks flushed, which Paul thought quite endearing.
“As you can see, we’re about to start practicing for next Sunday. Would you like to stay and listen?” He smiled, and didn’t voice his next question. Or hang around to watch Adrian?
“No, I think I’d better go.”
Adrian stepped forward to stand beside Celeste. “That’s too bad. You’d probably be able to give us some constructive criticism.” Adrian turned to Paul. “She wouldn’t play anything for me, but you should see her electric grand.”
Paul tried not to flinch when Randy’s voice piped up behind him. He hadn’t heard Randy coming, but now that Randy had discovered the action, anything could happen.
“Electric grand?” Randy asked. “You play? Are you any good?”
Celeste’s face suddenly paled, which Paul thought odd.
“I’m okay,” she muttered. “I really think I should go.”
Randy blocked her path. “Wanna see my new electric piano? It’s probably not as nice as yours, but it’s got some really neat features.”
Paul tried to bite back his grin. He never tired of watching Randy in action, especially around women.
Celeste looked doubtful. “But you’re supposed to be practicing. I’m interrupting.”
“You’re not interrupting. We haven’t started yet.” Randy jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “It’s in the other room.”
Adrian cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Randy, didn’t you hear the lady? She doesn’t want to stay.”
Randy covered his heart with his palms and turned, making direct eye contact with Celeste and Celeste only. “But I’m not very good. If you could give me some tips, I’d be forever in your debt.”
Celeste’s face flamed. Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
Paul tried not to laugh. He was having more fun now than he would have if they had been practicing.
“Okay. I suppose I can at least look at it,” Celeste mumbled. “Is it the same one you had at the church?”
Quietly, she followed Randy into Adrian’s den, where everything was set up, ready to begin their practice. Randy’s new electric piano and Bob’s drums sat in the back corner. The guitar amps were pushed against the wall. Paul’s bass guitar lay in its case on the floor, as did Adrian’s guitar.
Celeste played a few notes with one finger, reset a number of the effects buttons, and played a few chords.
“Yes, this is very nice. Now I think I’d better be going.”
Randy shook his head so fast his hair flopped onto his forehead. “No. Wait.” He fumbled with a handful of music and pulled out a song the group had been struggling with. “Can you play this for me? I’m not quite getting it. I’m not really good at this. I’d rather be working the sound system, but Paul said we needed someone on the keyboard.”
Adrian cleared his throat. “Randy, will you move and let the woman go home?”
Randy batted his eyelashes at Celeste again. “Puh-lee-eeeeze?”
“Uh… It’s okay, Adrian. I guess…”
Randy turned to everyone else. “Can you guys play this one once, and I’ll peek over Celeste’s shoulder?”
Paul nodded. It was true that Randy wasn’t very good on the keyboard, but he was all they had. Up until recently, they’d only used the guitars. When they’d added Randy on the keyboard, as poorly as Randy played, he’d filled a hole in the music they hadn’t previously realized was there—when he wasn’t fooling around and making mistakes.
Paul cleared his throat. “As long as she doesn’t mind, and she’s volunteering, I’m not going to refuse. Let’s get started.”
Bob parked himself behind the drums, and Paul and Adrian plugged in their guitars.
“Three, four!”
And they began to play.
They sounded better than they’d ever sounded in the entire time they’d played together.
After the last chord ended, silence permeated the room.
“I’ll