Page 50 of Better Watch Out
Thick red carpet muffled their steps as they entered the cathedral that arched over long pews. At the front, the altar was decorated with twinkling trees, poinsettias, and an empty manger off to the side.
“Mr. Bishop.” An older lady in jeans and a Christmas sweater with cats on it stepped out of a hallway. Her eyes moved to Frannie and then back to Andrew. “We weren’t expecting you tonight.”
“I know.” He hugged the woman in a familiar way before he put his hand near the small of Frannie’s back. “Loretta, this is my friend Frannie. She’s from Georgia and wanted to see St. Patrick’s but I told her that place was overrated. St. Augustine’s is where the real spirit of Christmas exists.”
Loretta’s face squished into a smile that made Frannie smile too. “The Holy Spirit dwells wherever His children are.” She turned and waved at them to follow her. “Come, we’re just getting set up for the kids.”
“Is this where you go to church?” Frannie whispered as they followed Loretta, who was humming “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
“When I can.”
Frannie felt guilty. Today was Sunday and he’d probably missed church because of her. “We could’ve come here this morning.”
“You would’ve come to church with me?”
Even though the hallway was dimly lit, she could still see the flicker of interest in his eyes that was becoming more recognizable the more time she spent with him. “Yes.”
He smiled and it was the kind of smile that turned her insides around. She’d lost count of how many times that had happened since meeting Andrew and quite frankly she wasn’t sure how to react.
Frannie didn’t have a chance to entertain the thought further when they were ushered into an open space that looked like a gym. It was decorated for Christmas with trees and long tables covered in red cloths where several adults of all ages were wrapping gifts.
“Are you two hungry? We have some soup, fresh bread, and hot chocolate.” Loretta pointed to a kitchen pass-through where a few senior adults were enjoying dinner.
Andrew looked at her and she nodded. Soup and fresh bread on a cold day sounded wonderful.
“We’ll take two bowls and then”—he looked at Frannie again—“we’d like to help.”
“Yes.” Frannie answered the question lingering in his blue-gray eyes. “We’d love to help.”
Loretta got them settled at the table with their soup, a creamy chipotle chicken, with a side of the yummiest-looking rolls that gave her no shame when she asked for two. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until they started eating. From their companionable silence, it appeared Andrew was just as hungry.
Frannie wiped her lips. “Are these for the kids here at the church?”
“No. St. Augustine’s runs a prison ministry and these gifts”—Andrew set his spoon down—“were donated by church members for the children with a parent who has been incarcerated.”
Stacks of gifts were lined up on tables marked by signs indicating appropriate age groups. Another long table at the back held rows of laundry baskets containing boxed and canned food items.
“What are those for?”
“Those are for the families to take with them.” Andrew collected their bowls. “Are you still hungry?”
“No, I’m good, thanks.”
After Andrew dumped their trash, Loretta led them to a table to help with wrapping. For the next thirty minutes, Frannie listened to stories about the children who would be arriving and the inmates who had come to know the Lord through their ministry.
When they had finished wrapping all the toys, Loretta directed everyone to their stations for the arrival of the children and their families.
“Will you two be able to stay?”
“I’m sorry, Loretta, but we have somewhere to be.”
Frannie frowned at Andrew.We do?But all he gave her was a charming half-smile before heading off to collect their coats and bags.
“Thank you so much for the wonderful soup and bread.” Frannie looked around the room at the excited faces of the volunteers. The kids weren’t the only ones being blessed tonight.
“Well, it’s our way of thanking you for helping us tonight.” Loretta released a happy sigh. “Let me go get you and Andrew some hot chocolate to take with you.”
Andrew walked over and started to help Frannie into her coat when she looked down at her shopping bags at his feet. Instead of reaching her arm into her coat sleeve, she reached for the bags.
