Breathless by Kathryn J. Bain Page B

over the church.” Sheryl beamed.
    â€œNot once either. Twice.” Warren piped in.
    â€œAnd I’m not aware of him walking one other person out to their car.” Sheryl added with a large grin.
    â€œKnock it off you two. It doesn’t mean a thing.” Lydia struggled to hide the smile working its way over her lips.
    â€œOh my.” Sheryl rose. “You like him too.”
    â€œIf you continue, you’ll make her crimson.” Warren gave a quick eye roll.
    â€œLydia, it’s great you like him. After all, he’s a nice man, awesome looking, obviously very caring. And boy, what a bod!”
    â€œSheryl!” Lydia might have been thinking the same thing, but she wasn’t about to say it out loud.
    â€œWhat? He does.”
    â€œIs it blasphemy to say a preacher has a nice body?” Warren cracked in.
    They paused, looking at each other before laughter erupted. Sheryl returned to the stool next to Warren.
    â€œSo admit it,” Sheryl said. “You’re attracted to him. And he to you.”
    â€œBut whenever I’m near him I feel like I’m cheating on Justin.” Lydia turned and glanced out the kitchen window. The pink flowers in the endless summer hydrangea were blooming. A lump rose in her throat. Justin had planted them shortly after they moved in.
    â€œIt’s not cheating. Justin’s been gone a long time. You’ve got to move on.” Sheryl joined Lydia as they stared out the window. “And I have a feeling he and Matthew would have gotten on well.”
    â€œBut talking about Matthew, in this house, in our house, it doesn’t seem fitting.” Lydia ran her palm along the kitchen counter. “He refinished this kitchen himself, with his sweat and hard work.”
    â€œNow you stop that.” Sheryl pulled Lydia around and took her hands in her own. “This is your house, too.” Sheryl wiped at a tear on Lydia’s cheek. “This has nothing to do with you, with Justin, or with Matthew. This has to do with some weirdo out there trying to make you feel bad.”
    â€œIt’s working,” Lydia whispered.
    Â 
    ****
    Â 
    â€œIt’s him, again,” Phyllis said.
    Matthew had barely taken a step inside the church. He knew the “him” Phyllis spoke of was James Newman, III, who’d called several times regarding his son, Jimmy. A couple of appointments had been set for Matthew to meet with him, and so far Jimmy had avoided every one.
    â€œLet me guess, you forgot to turn your cell on again?” Phyllis let out a sigh. “I wish I could forget to turn on these phones sometimes.”
    â€œCould be a mistake.” Matthew grinned. “Or at the very least a Freudian slip.”
    Matthew liked Phyllis Baker quite a bit. As he stood before her, he recalled how, on his first day, she told him exactly what he could expect from her.
    â€œDuring football season, I will not be available for any Fridays or Saturdays the Georgia Bulldogs play a home game,” she said. “My husband and I tailgate, and since neither one of us really needs to work, we don’t allow it to interfere.”
    Her voice brought him back to the present.
    â€œIt’s funny you seem to forget that phone when James Newman is trying to reach you,” Phyllis yelled as Matthew strolled into his office. “Or it is because you were visiting Lydia Frederickson?”
    â€œHello, James. How are you today?” Matthew felt warmth rise into his cheeks. He did turn off his cell before entering Lydia’s. He tried to convince himself it was so he wouldn’t be rude by having a telephone ring while he checked on her. His real reason was his desire to keep distractions to a minimum, and he just chose to ignore James’s calls whether with Lydia or elsewhere.
    â€œI’ve called several times.” James’s irritation became evident as he spoke. “Everyone is aware of you being at