Third Time's a Charm (25 page)

Ryan ducked his head to hide his smile, and risked a glance at Tori. She was looking at their substitute teacher as though she couldn’t decide whether to laugh or scoff. Behind Tori, Joan let out an audible groan. But Ken nodded and said encouragingly, “Go on.”

Gordy set the booklet on the table and held out his hands, palms up. “Now, I know it’s weird, but stay with me on this. When I’m on lead guitar and I play a song for the first time, I pretty much stink. Since we’re in church, let’s say I’m playing ‘Living on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi.” He grinned, and pretended to hold a guitar, feet spread apart. “I know the song, but I’ve never
played
it, you know? So at first I bomb big time. I get booed off the stage. But I’m just learning. I’m watching the screen, watching the music, trying to act out what I’m seeing and hearing. And the more I practice, the better I get.”

As he spoke, his hands strummed his air guitar, his weight shifting from one bent knee to the other. Then he threw back his head and broke into song, the Bon Jovi lyrics bouncing off the classroom walls.

Laughing along with everyone else, Ryan caught Tori’s gaze. Amusement made her eyes twinkle.

Gordy dropped his fictitious guitar and stood behind his chair. “I think that’s what Jesus is saying here. We’re the ones with the arms and legs and hands and feet. We’re the ones holding the guitar. But He’s the one who wrote the song. Unless we’re watching for Him to tell us what chords to play, we can stand up there and strum all we want, but we’re gonna crash and burn.” He lunged forward and grabbed his Bible. “And this is like our video screen. It’s got all the notes of His song already laid out. We’ve just got to read them, and then act them out.”

He stopped and sent a stupid grin around the table. “So, what do you think?”

Brittany shook her head. “I almost hate to say it, but that makes sense.”

“It sure does.” Ken applauded, and a few people joined in. “Not bad, Gordy.”

“Thank you.” Gordy took an elaborate bow before finally sitting in his chair. “Okay, now, here’s what the Sunday school lesson book had to say about the whole example thing.” He opened the book and started reading aloud.

Tori leaned forward, and Ryan tilted his head to hear her whisper. “That actually did make sense.”

Ryan laughed quietly and whispered back, “Scary, isn’t it? The Gospel according to Guitar Hero.”

Her breath tickled his ear. “Mr. Carmichael would have a fit.”

They exchanged a smile, and she settled back in her seat. Behind her, Joan was watching them with satisfaction etched on her face. She crossed her arms and gave Ryan a nod.

The delicious aroma of Gram’s crock pot rump roast filled the house when Tori came through the front door.

“Oh, yum.” She stopped just inside, eyes closed, nose held high. “I just want to stand here and breathe for a couple of hours.”

Joan slipped in behind her. “Well, close the door first, because you’re letting out the a/c along with the good smells.”

Tori did as she was told. Just before the door clicked shut, she noticed Ken striding across the front lawn toward his house. “Is he going to change clothes?”

“Yes.” Joan’s voice floated up from her downstairs bedroom.

Tori followed her and flopped onto her sister’s bed while Joan slipped out of her church clothes and into a pair of jeans.

“Are you wearing that to meet Ryan’s parents?” Joan nodded toward Tori’s summer dress before she slipped her arms and head into a T-shirt.

“No, I have a change of clothes in the car.” She kicked her shoes off and stretched her legs out on the bed. “Joan, Ryan told me Ken has been filling in for Mr. Carmichael recently.”

“Mmm hmm.” Joan’s head emerged from the collar of her shirt.

“Why didn’t he do it today?”

Her sister paused in the act of finger-combing her hair. “The truth?”

“Of course.”

“I told him you’d probably be here this morning, and he didn’t want to teach in front of you.”

Tori sat straight up. “Why not?”

Joan dropped to the mattress beside her. “Because you think he’s a fanatic, and he didn’t want to perpetuate the idea.” She put a hand on Tori’s arm. “He really wants you to like him.”

So now she was some sort of anti-religious witch? Tori drew her mouth into a pout. “He doesn’t have to walk on eggshells around me. Now I feel like a jerk.”

“Don’t. Just be yourself.” Joan’s grin grew shrewd. “It seems to be working well with Ryan.”

Tori looked away. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Her evasion earned her a punch on the arm. “Gimme a break. You two have a Thing going, don’t you? Why else would he want to introduce you to his parents?”

She raised her nose. “I’ll have you know, I’m not going to the farm to meet his parents. I’m going to meet his pigs.”

For a fraction of a second, Joan’s stare held disbelief. Then she dissolved into laughter. “No way.”

“Yes way. He told me he’s going to show me a real farm.” She grinned. “But I know the parents are part of it.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

Tori plucked a fuzzy from Joan’s blanket off her dress and didn’t answer. She didn’t know exactly what she felt about Ryan. They’d had a good time together Tuesday and Wednesday. Looking at the pictures of Daddy had been so much easier with him beside her, and he’d seemed to understand her hesitancy even though he came from a normal family. And there was no doubt she was attracted to him physically. But she’d also been attracted to Mitch until last night’s disastrous “research trip.”

Joan nudged her with a shoulder. “Still not sure, huh?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Has he kissed you yet?”

Tori shook her head.

Joan’s smile was loaded with secret knowledge. “When he does, you’ll know.”

Tori rolled her eyes. “Oh, puh-lease. I’ve kissed guys before who turned out to be real jerks, and liked it.” She arched her eyebrows. “And so have you. Remember Clyde Cummins?”

Bringing up Joan’s first crush was a dirty trick, but Tori didn’t hesitate. What were sisters for, anyway?

“Aaah!” Joan threw herself backward into the pillows. “I can’t believe you’re throwing Clyde in my face. I was in seventh grade! Nobody has good boy-sense in seventh grade.”

Tori laughed. “You sure didn’t.”

“Well, I have no defense for the Clyde crush. All I can say is kissing him and any other guy I may have kissed in my past just gave me a basis for comparison.”

“Even Roger?” Tori hesitated to bring up Joan’s longtime boyfriend who dumped her last year. The whole family had been really worried about Joan when Roger broke her heart by marrying a co-worker not long after the breakup.

But there was no sadness in Joan’s face as she gave a decisive nod. “Even Roger.” She snatched up a tube-shaped decorative pillow and hugged it, sighing happily. “You know what the song says. The only way to tell if a guy really loves you is in his kiss. ”

Tori asked dryly, “You’re not going to go jump up and start playing air guitar, are you?”

Laughter bubbled from Joan’s throat. “That was hysterical. Leave it to Gordy. I’m glad you were there to witness the spectacle.”

“You know what?” Tori settled back into the pillows and tilted her head sideways to lean on her sister’s shoulder. “Me too.”

It felt good, just hanging out with Joan. Now would be a good time to discuss what she’d discovered about Daddy living in Cincinnati, but Tori hesitated. Why spoil the moment by dredging up a painful subject? All she wanted right now was some good sister-time in the family home, since she wouldn’t have the opportunity much longer. Joan had always been the quietest of the Sanderson sisters, the most laid back and relaxed. And whether Tori liked to admit it or not, in the past year since Joan met Ken, she’d become more than laid back. Peace seemed to radiate from her. In the midst of the chaos Tori’s life had become lately, it was good to have someone like Joan.

Tori’s thoughts slipped out before her verbal filter could snap into place. “I hope someday I meet someone who does for me what Ken does for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know. You’re so happy and . . . well, peaceful.”

Joan’s head tilted sideways to rest on Tori’s. “Ken does make me happy, but he’s not the source of my peace.”

Here it came. She should have known better than to give Joan an opening. Next she’d be talking about Jesus. Tori forestalled the sermon with a quick question.

“So, what did you end up getting him for a wedding present?”

“Not a thing.” An exaggerated sigh blew through the curls on the top of Tori’s head. “I went in every store in the mall and saw lots of stuff he would like. But I want
the perfect
gift to celebrate our marriage, and I couldn’t find it.”

Tori straightened so Joan could see her teasing smile. “I’m telling you, a gold-plated stethoscope is your answer.”

“You’re a big help.”

A door slammed above them, and Allie’s voice drifted down the stairs, answered by Mom’s. The rest of the family had arrived.

Joan launched herself off the bed. “Come on, let’s go help Gram with dinner.”

Tori stood. “You do that. I’ve got dibs on Joanie.”

“Not if I get to her first!”

Joan leaped for the door. Tori left her shoes lying on the floor and raced after her sister.

A few minutes before two, Tori was putting the finishing touches on her makeup in the bathroom when she heard the doorbell. She smiled at her reflection. He was right on time.

“Tori?” Joan’s muffled voice came through the door. “Ryan’s here.”’ Tori whipped open the door, and enjoyed watching her sister’s eyebrows climb up her brow. “Wow. Those pigs are going to be really impressed.”

Tori twisted sideways to the mirror and admired the appliquéd lace strip that ran from her waist down the straight leg. “Do you like them? They’re D&G, and the blouse is DNKY.”

“Ah. You’re arming yourself with the whole alphabet of designers.” A smile hovered behind Joan’s mock-serious expression. “Let me clue you in on something, little sister. Pigs don’t give a flip about the label. And I doubt if Ryan knows the difference, either.”

“That doesn’t matter. I know.” With a final check to be sure everything was in place, Tori tossed her curls as she marched past Joan. “Life’s too short to dress frumpy. Clothes are an investment in your self-image.”

He might not know the difference between Levis and D&G, but Ryan certainly seemed to appreciate her appearance. When Tori stepped into the living room, his eyes gleamed. “You look great.”

She flashed a dimple. “Thank you.”

He gestured toward the door. “Shall we go?”

“See you later,” she told her family.

As she opened the front door, she glanced back. Allie and Joan immediately snapped to attention, guilt plastered over their faces. To her surprise, Ryan wore a similar expression. Was something up between the three of them? She narrowed her eyes and let her gaze slide from one too-innocent expression to another.

“Bye.” Allie waggled her fingers in the air and whirled to leave the room, Joan close on her heels.

Tori allowed herself to be led through the door. When Ryan pulled it shut behind her, she stopped on the front stoop. “Are you passing secret messages to my sisters?”

“Who, me? No!”

Before she had a chance to question him further, she heard her name called from next door.

“Tori. Do you have a minute?” Ken stood in his front yard. “I need to ask a favor.”

She looked at Ryan, who shrugged. “Sure, Ken.”

He shot a quick glance toward the front window of Gram’s house, then gestured for them to come. “I don’t want Joan to see us talking.”

They crossed the grass to where he stood at the corner of his house. A wild barking started in the backyard. Tori glanced toward the fence, where Trigger, Ken’s gynormous canine, was running back and forth, barking like crazy. She shuddered. At least the creature was contained. That mongrel outweighed her by twenty pounds, and if it raised up on its hind legs, it stood at least a foot taller than she did. She spared a kind thought for Miss Muffett, who had the sense to be the perfect size for a household pet.

“Trigger, lay off,” Ken shouted at the dog.