Love Conquers All Read online

  Lanie nodded, glad that Layla wasn’t pushing further. She was embarrassed she had let the last night happen, and she didn’t feel like airing that laundry yet.

  The overhead bell jingled again, and both women looked to the door. A man in a checkered shirt and drab brown coat entered. His hair was perfectly slicked down except for a cowlick in the back that resembled Alfalfa.

  “Hello, Ned,” Layla said, “What are you doing here?”

  “Oh, hello, Layla, I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I heard a familiar face was back in town, and I thought I’d come and say hello to Lanie. Hello, Lanie.” He raised his hand in a wave.

  Lanie pasted a smile on her face. “Hello, Ned.”

  “Why didn’t you bring Amelia?” Layla asked.

  A red blush spread across Ned’s cheeks. “Oh, Amelia had to work late, but I’ll probably bring her next time. Well, nice to see you again, Lanie.” Ned executed an awkward bow before turning and scooting out the door.

  “What was that about?” Lanie asked.

  A small chuckle escaped Layla’s mouth. “I’m pretty sure he was coming here to check you out. Though he has been seeing Amelia, I don’t think it’s as serious as he would like, and you are the new commodity in town. You’re welcome.”

  It took a moment, but when Layla’s meaning clarified in Lanie’s head, she laughed as well. “You don’t think he’d try to ask me out, do you?”

  “I wouldn’t put anything past Ned. I stopped trying to understand him years ago.” Layla’s dark locks bounced as she shook her head. “Well, I better get back to the inn.”

  “Wait, will you go to church with me on Sunday?”

  Layla hesitated. “I don’t know, Lanie. Church isn’t really my thing.”

  “I know, but it’s my first week back, and I wasn’t very dedicated back in Dallas. I want to try to recommit, but I don’t really remember everyone, and there are some new faces.”

  Layla looked unconvinced.

  “Please, don’t make me have to sit with my parents.” Lanie knew she was begging, and while she was perfectly capable of sitting alone, the thought held no appeal.

  “Alright,” Layla said with a sigh. “I’ll go with you this week, but don’t get used to it.”

  Lanie smiled. If she could get Layla in the door, there was hope she could get her to see religion wasn’t bad. Lanie had never pushed Layla, but she had always prayed for her and now that she was back in town, it seemed the perfect time to motivate her more closely.

  It was dark when Lanie left the store that night. The air was still crisp and cold, and Lanie hunched her shoulders against the chill. Few people lined the streets as most of Star Lake retired indoors when the sun set, but a few shop owners were locking their doors or just setting home as she passed them.

  “Well, well, well. I wondered when I would see you, Lanie Perkins.”

  Paula’s unmistakable boisterous voice sounded behind her and Lanie turned, forcing a tight smile across her lips. It wasn’t that she disliked Paula, but the woman had to be at the center of everything and was a hopeless gossip, not of the malicious kind usually, but Lanie had been hoping to avoid being the center of Paula’s attention.

  “I’m so sorry. I’ve been meaning to come and see you sooner, but you know how it gets before a recital.” She flicked a scarf as red as her lipstick over her left shoulder. “We are working hard for the summer program, though it certainly doesn’t feel like summer right now, does it? Will you be coming?”

  Paula’s question appeared innocent, but Lanie knew ulterior motives threaded her carefully chosen words.

  “I don’t know, Paula. It depends on if my father needs me to work the shop that night.”

  “Of course, but I wanted to let you know that boyfriends are not required. You don’t have to be part of a couple to come.”

  Ah, there it was. The dig. Even though Paula had never married that Lanie knew of, she had long been obsessed with men and often resented those who were in relationships. She was probably getting some sick pleasure out of Lanie’s divorce.

  “I mean, I heard about your divorce.” Paula leaned forward as she spoke, whispering the last word as if it were a dirty secret. “We’re all sorry for you, dear, but don’t let that keep you from enjoying the festivities of the town.”

  “Don’t worry, Paula, I won’t.” Lanie wanted to add a snippy remark about Paula never having a man either, but she chose to be the bigger person and keep the thoughts in her head. “It was good to see you.” Before Paula could continue, Lanie twirled around and continued her walk to Earl Street. She had certainly not missed this aspect of small town life.

  The dark house elicited a sigh from her as she rummaged in her pocket for the keys. Not for the first time, she wondered if she should have stayed in Dallas. There she had Azarius and his roommate Greg, whom she had gotten to know the last few times she had stopped by. Perhaps she and Azarius could have discussed their mistake and started over, but then she remembered the frustrating nights she had spent wondering why he wouldn’t share information with her and the days she had spent waiting for a message from him asking her to come over, only to never get it and have to ask him if he wanted to see her. No, if she had stayed she would have been settling again, just like she had with Denny. She wanted someone to want her, to fight for her attention, and to share his life with her - the good and the bad.

  With a sigh, Lanie flicked on the living room light and shut the door behind her. She was not going to settle this time even though it was tempting. At least she had her books and her television shows to keep her company until the perfect man came along. She might never have a chance with Jensen Ackles but he would do until her Romeo arrived.

  Azarius scowled as Greg changed the channel. “Hey, I was watching that.”

  “No, you weren’t,” Greg said, muting the television. “You were staring off into space, thinking about whatever you’ve been obsessing over lately, and I can’t hear this song one more time. What does it even mean?”

  “It means everything,” Azarius said.

  Greg shook his head. “Dude, sometimes your riddles are too hard to figure out. Is this about Lanie?”

  The name sliced Azarius like a dagger, and his eyes darted to Greg, but he said nothing.

  “Look, I wasn’t going to pry, but she hasn’t been around this week, and you’ve been in a dark place the last few days, and I know dark places, so I just figured they were connected. Tell me what happened.”

  Azarius shook his head and folded his arms. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Yeah, it does man. I can’t keep seeing you like this, especially because I know how much she cared about you.”

  Azarius’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know how she felt?”

  Greg sighed. “Because she told me man. You remember that day you were helping my sister out, and you came home late?”

  The evening flashed to the front of Azarius’s mind. He had made plans with Lanie when Cheryl had called, wanting help in moving furniture to set up a surprise party for Greg that weekend. Thinking he would have time to help before his date with Lanie, he had agreed, but the traffic along with Cheryl’s indecisiveness had led to him arriving home over an hour later than he planned. Lanie had waited, but she hadn’t been too happy with him. “Yeah, I remember. What about it?”

  “I never told you, but Lanie came in that night at eight. I had left the door unlocked, and I guess she thought maybe you fell asleep waiting for her, so she tried the lock and came in when it opened. Scared me half to death,” he laughed, “because I was sitting in the kitchen in the dark nursing a headache. It was a day my depression hit hard, so I hadn’t been sleeping much.”

  Azarius motioned for him to continue, trying to urge him to get to the meat of his story.

  “She asked if I knew where you were, and I didn’t at the time, but I told her she could wait for you. Anyway, we got to talking, and I asked her how serious she was because you know, I wanted to look out for you an
d avoid another Krista. She told me she could be serious if she knew you were serious.”

  “I was serious,” Azarius said, leaning forward.

  Greg held up his hand. “I know you were, but she didn’t. She said she was confused by you; she wanted you to open up to her more, to show her you wanted her.”

  “I sent her that song.”

  “What song?” Greg asked, confused. “That Nine Inch Nails song you keep playing? That’s hardly romantic.”

  “But I told her she means everything.”

  “Yeah, but then you never ask her over,” Greg continued.

  “I told her she was always welcome,” Azarius protested.

  “That’s not the same thing,” Greg said. “She wanted you to want her to come over. She wanted to know that you wanted her around and not just that you didn’t mind if she were here.”

  “How do you know that?” Azarius asked. While Lanie had told him she wanted him to want her, it had always been through texts.

  “Because we texted a few times after that night,” Greg said. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to think I was trying to pick her up, but she was confused and looking for answers. I never said much to reassure her though because I didn’t want to cross you. Is that why she stopped coming around?”

  The words bounced around his head. He had been sure she left solely because of the incident, but maybe it had been a combination of factors. “She stopped coming around because she moved,” Azarius said.

  Greg blinked. “She moved?”

  “Yeah, when she came last time, she was emotional because her divorce had been finalized. I was elated because it meant we could be together, but we let our guard slip and we," he shrugged, “you know.”

  “Was it bad?” Greg asked.

  “No, it was amazing,” Azarius said with a smile, “but I shouldn’t have let it happen. I knew she didn’t believe in intimacy outside of marriage, but I didn’t stop it. The next day she texted that it had been a mistake and she wanted to step back. I was fine with that, but then I got a message that she was moving back to her hometown.”

  “You think it was just because you guys crossed the line?” Greg asked.

  “I did, but after what you said, I’m wondering if I drove her away before that. Maybe the incident wouldn’t have been that upsetting if I hadn’t kept her at arm’s length before that.”

  “So, what are you going to do?”

  Azarius shrugged. “What can I do?”

  Greg’s head dropped forward as his brow arched. “What do you mean what can you do? You go and get her.”

  “She probably wouldn’t come back anyway.”

  “That’s not the point. Do you miss her?”

  Azarius nodded.

  “Do you love her?”

  “I,” Azarius opened his mouth and paused. Did he love her? He enjoyed having her around, and he always felt better when she was in the room, but was that love? “I don’t know,” he said. “All I know is that everything feels more complete when she’s here.”

  “Then you have to tell her,” Greg said. “Where is her hometown?”

  “I don’t know, some small town. Sun City? Star Shore? Star Lake,” Azarius said, snapping his fingers.

  Greg whipped out his phone and tapped the screen. “Star Lake isn’t far from here. You could take some time off and go woo her.”

  “I can’t take time off. I just started this new job.”

  “Then go on the weekend, man, but don’t let her get away. I know you are scared, but I think you guys are perfect for each other, and I know you are going to regret it if you don’t at least tell her.” Greg tossed the remote back to Azarius and headed up the stairs to his room.

  Azarius held his finger over the volume button, but didn’t press it. Maybe Greg was right. Could he open his heart again and let Lanie fully in? More importantly, could he live with himself if he didn’t try? He definitely didn’t like the way he had been feeling the last few days, but would it get better? His friends called him a gambler, but he was no longer sure which would be the bigger gamble.

  Chapter 7

  Lanie’s doorbell rang at nine am on the button. Layla stood on the other side, nervously brushing her slacks.

  “You made it,” Lanie said.

  “I feel silly. Do I look alright?” Layla tucked a dark strand behind her ear, and Lanie smiled at the nervous gesture. Layla was normally so collected; it was funny to see her struggling.

  “You look wonderful, and it’s church, not a dinner engagement. We’re there to worship and reflect, not win pageants.”

  “I’m sorry. I told you I was no good at this,” Layla said.

  “You’ll be fine. Want to walk or drive?”

  “Drive. I want to get it over with.”

  “It’s not a death march you know,” Lanie laughed, grabbing her jacket and Bible before stepping out and locking the door behind her.

  “Maybe not for you. Religion was never big at my house.”

  “It shouldn’t be about religion anyway. It’s about a relationship with Jesus.” Something Lanie had forgotten lately.

  Layla shook her head as she climbed in the passenger seat. “I don’t see the difference, but that’s okay.”

  Lanie smiled and put the car in gear. The church was just a few minutes down the road, a small building with beautiful stained-glass windows.

  “I thought it would be bigger,” Layla said as she exited the car.

  Lanie chuckled. “Star Lake is a small town; why would we need a bigger building?”

  “I guess that’s true,” Layla agreed. “I just think of the churches on movies I suppose. They are always big and imposing.”

  “My church in Dallas was a lot bigger, but I rather like the smaller, homier feel.”

  “Welcome to Star Lake Church.” An elderly woman in a long dress smiled and handed them a thin bulletin.

  Lanie couldn’t remember her name, but she was fairly certain this same woman had been a greeter ten years ago before she left for college. “Thank you,” she said, scanning the bulletin as she led Layla inside.

  The layout of the service hadn’t changed much either, it seemed. There was still music to open with, a prayer time, the service, and then closing music. What had changed was the pastor’s name. She didn’t think it had been Tom when she left though she couldn’t remember what it had been. Also, the sanctuary had been updated.

  The red velvet pews had been removed and replaced with rows of grey chairs. Lanie assumed the change had come about to offer more versatility to the space.

  A white screen now hung at the back of the stage as well for the words to be projected on and several more instruments filled the stage area. All Lanie remembered was a piano before she left, but now there was a drum set and at least two guitars as well.

  The room was not yet full as she led Layla to a seat near the front; however, before they even sat down, they were approached by several elderly women.

  “Lanie Perkins, is that you?” one woman with a slightly blue tint to her hair asked. “I haven’t seen you in ages. Are you home for good?”

  “For now,” Lanie said.

  “We were so sorry to hear about your divorce,” the other woman added, “but I bet your mother is so pleased to have you home.”

  “I’m sure she is,” Lanie said with a tight smile. An awkward silence descended until finally the women pretended to see someone else to talk to and scurried away.

  “Ugh, that is the one thing I didn’t miss while I was gone,” Lanie said to Layla. “I hate that everyone knows everything about you in small towns.”

  Layla nodded. “Definitely hard to keep secrets, that’s for sure.”

  The musicians came out then and the worship began. Lanie enjoyed the familiar songs, and though her life was not where she wanted it to be, she felt a small measure of peace as the music flowed around her. The new pastor was a good speaker as well though Lanie was surprised by how young he seemed.

  Whe
n the service ended, she turned to Layla. “Well, was it as bad as you thought it would be?”

  With a slow shake of her head, Layla responded, “No, it was actually kind of nice. I might even consider coming back sometime.”

  Lanie smiled as a feeling of joy for her friend coursed through her. “Good, well how about some lunch? I’ll treat you to one of Max’s famous cheeseburgers.”

  Layla laughed as she stood and filed out of the row. “You do know I get my food for free now that we’re dating, right?”

  “Now that you’re dating? I bet you never paid for food,” Lanie teased.

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

  The girls’ laughter was cut short as Lanie’s parents appeared in the exit doorway.

  “Lanie, we’re so glad to see you made it to church,” her father said.

  “Yes, Dad,” Lanie said with a sigh. “Just because my marriage didn’t work out doesn’t mean I’m not still committed to Jesus. I plan to be here every week for as long as I’m in town.”

  “That’s wonderful, Dear,” her mother said. “Perhaps you could come over soon for dinner. We haven’t seen you in nearly a week.”

  Lanie swallowed a sigh. She had enjoyed not being around her father every day, but she knew, living in town, her parents would want to see her more often. “I’ll try to get out this week, Mother.”

  “Good, have a wonderful week, sweetheart.”

  Elaine drew Lanie in for a hug before turning away to greet a friend.

  “Hurry, before anyone else stops us,” Lanie whispered. The girls sped up their footsteps as they trotted out to the car.

  “I guess I’m glad my folks don’t live in town,” Layla said, a teasing gleam in her eye.

  “Yes, you should be very glad. On the other hand, it is nice having family around.”

  The two women piled into the car for the short trip to The Diner.

  Chapter 8

  “Do you want me to come with you?” Greg asked as he leaned against the doorframe and watched Azarius pack an overnight bag.