Going Solo (New Song) (21 page)

"Yes, she is," Carson answered him, "but Mia has lots of friends. They'll still keep in touch. Pastor Bobby is going to Kingston; you all are acting as if he is going to another island."

"Why Kingston though?" Ian tried to whisper. He could see from the sides of his eyes that the elder was frantically trying to get everybody to stop talking but he was not going to comply.

In the last nine years since Pastor Keen's accident, the church had rarely seen good pastors. There was Pastor Duff, who stayed two years, Pastor Heywood who had stayed just six months, and now Pastor James was leaving. He had served them just a year and a half.

"He is going to take up a position at the Conference Office. They had a new opening for a Communications Director, and he accepted the offer."

"Oh, yes." Ruby piped in, turning to look at Carson. "I remember him saying that he was being considered for a position there."

"Sister Ruby Scott," the elder at the front bellowed over the microphone.

Ruby swung around from Carson and sank into her seat. She was literally the only one in the big congregation that was singled out. She hung her head and tried not to laugh. She felt as if she was back in preparatory school and being reprimanded by the headmaster.

"Okay, now that you are all quiet." the elder cleared his throat, "Pastor Bobby is leaving on such short notice that we would just like to thank him in this forum. He did say that he was not good with goodbyes, but I would like him to say a word to us."

The congregation clapped as Bobby made his way to the front. He had to adjust the height of the microphone to accommodate his six-foot-one-inch stature.

"Brethren, you know I love you, don't you?"

The church clapped. He was in his element. He knew that this particular church was on the same page with him.

Ruby was also clapping vigorously. She would miss Bobby and Tina, and she would especially miss Sancia. She loved children, and Sancia was an exceptional little girl. She would miss her little quips and her never-ending curiosity.

"Well, you will always have a place in our hearts, though we are taking this new step in our journey," Bobby said in his smooth, lilting voice. "Tina and I would like to say that we appreciate you—everyone of you. If we were to begin calling names, we would be here all night. I would like to introduce my replacement to you. He is a young man, and a family man. He has one adorable daughter with his wife, Sue, but most of all, he is passionate about the ministry, and he is a true man of God. Brothers and Sisters, I present to you Pastor Rory Panton."

Ruby froze. There was no other way to describe the complete inertia that had taken over her body. She could feel Ian's hands to the left of her clapping and Carson's shoulders moving as he disengaged his hand from around Alice to clap as well, but she could not move. When Rory actually walked onto the stage, her breathing was suspended. She was happy that no one was looking at her. She was as still as a statue but her nerves had gone haywire and she could feel her fingers and toes ticking involuntarily.

When had he become a pastor, and what was he doing at the Cedar Hill Church, her church? He was from her past. People in the past were supposed to stay in the past. They were not supposed to come out of nowhere and smack you with their presence as casually as this.

"How are you Cedar Hill Church? From your response to Pastor Bobby's leaving, I see I have big shoes to fill."

Then he laughed that smooth laugh of his. He did not have to adjust the microphone. He was almost as tall as Bobby. His golden skin was glowing under the lights over the pulpit. His wavy hair was brushed back from his forehead. It was as thick, plush, and almost blue black, just as she remembered.

Her eyes were transfixed on his face. She did not hear a word he said. His features were as familiar to her as if she had seen them yesterday: chiseled cheekbones, dark brown chocolate eyes, and a proud Roman nose.

She swallowed convulsively when those chocolate eyes zeroed in on her in the fifth pew on the left.

He faltered a bit in his speech when his eyes connected with hers, but he recovered and she could see him looking elsewhere after that, his casualness forgotten. He stood straighter and a tick appeared at the side of his cheek.

She finally exhaled after he stepped down from the platform and his gray suit disappeared behind a potted plant near the choir loft.

"He sounds okay," Ian said above her head to Carson.

Carson shrugged. "It is a pity that we couldn't get to meet his wife. I like to see the new pastors with their wives and families."

"He did say they were in Manchester preparing to come over," Ian said. He then looked at Ruby.

"Ruby, you okay?" Ian asked her. "You have gone quiet, I thought you would have been excited that this new pastor is from your parish."

Ruby nodded. "I am fine." Her voice was working. Thank God.

"They are going to have a little reception for Pastor Bobby in the church hall now and introduce Pastor… What's his name again?" Ian asked Carson.

Rory.
The name echoed in Ruby's head.

"Rory," Carson said out loud.

My Ex.
Ruby pondered quietly. She had not really broken up with him. She had walked away from him seven years before without saying a proper goodbye.

OTHER BOOKS BY BRENDA BARRETT

Mount Faith Series

Saving Face (Mount Faith Series- Book 1)
- Mount Faith University drama begins with a dead president and several suspects including the president in waiting Ryan Bancroft.

Tatter
ed Tiara  (Mount Faith Series-Book 2)
-  Micah Bancroft is targeted by femme fatale Deidra Durkheim. There are also several rape cases to be solved.

Private
Dancer (Mount Faith Series- Book 3)
- Adrian Bancroft was gutted when he returned to Jamaica and found out that his first and only love Cathy Taylor was a stripper and was literally owned by the menacing drug lord, Nanjo Jones.

Goodbye Lonely (Mount Faith Series- Book 4)
- Kylie Bancroft was shy and had to resort to going to confidence classes. How could she win the love of Gareth Beecher, her faculty adviser, a man with a jealous ex-wife in his past and a current mystery surrounding a hand found in his garden?

Practice Run (Mount Faith Series- Book 5)
- Marcus Bancroft had many reasons to avoid Mount Faith but Deidra Durkheim was not one of them. Unfortunately, on one of his visits he was the victim of a deliberate hit and run.

Sense of Rumor (Mount Faith Series- Book 6)
- Arnella Bancroft was the wild, passionate Bancroft, the creative loner who didn't mind living dangerously; but when a terrible thing happened to her at her friend Tracy's party, it changed her. She found that courting rumors can be devastating and that only the truth could set her free.

A Younger Man (Mount Faith Series- Book 7)
-
Pastor Vanley Bancroft loved Anita Parkinson despite their fifteen-year age gap, but Anita had a secret, one that she could not reveal to Vanley. To tell him would change his feelings toward her, or force him to give up the ministry that he loved so much.

Just To See Her (Mount Faith Series Book 8)
- Jessica Bancroft had the opportunity to meet her fantasy guy Khaled, he was finally coming to Mount Faith but she had feelings for Clay Reid, a guy who had all the qualities she was looking for. Who would she choose and what about the weird fascination Khaled had for Clay?

The Three Rivers Series

Private Sins (Three Rivers Series-Book 1)
- Kelly, the first lady at Three Rivers Church was pregnant for the first elder of her church. Could she keep the secret from her husband and pretend that all was well?

Loving Mr. Wright (Three Rivers Series- Book 2)
- Erica saw one last opportunity to ditch her single life when Caleb Wright appeared in her town. He was perfect for her, but what was he hiding?

Unholy Matrimony (Three Rivers Series- Book 3)
- Phoebe had a problem, she was poor and unhappy. Her solution to marry a rich man was derailed along the way with her feelings for Charles Black, the poor guy next door.

If It Ain't Broke (Three Rivers Series- Book 4)
- Chris Donahue wanted a place in his child's life. Pinky Black just wanted his love. She also wanted him to forget his obsession with Kelly and love her. That shouldn't be so hard? Should it?

Contemporary Romance/Drama

Homely Girl
- April and Taj were opposites in so many ways. He was the cute, athletic boy that everybody wanted to be friends with. She was the overweight, shy, and withdrawn girl. Do April and Taj have a love that can last a lifetime? Or will time and separate paths rip them apart?

The Preacher And The Prostitute
- Prostitution and the clergy don't mix. Tell that to ex-prostitute, Maribel, who finds herself in love with the Pastor at her church. Can an ex-prostitute and a pastor have a future together?

Love Triangle: Three Sides To The Story
- George-the husband, Marie-the wife and Karen-the mistress. They all get to tell their side of the story.

New Beginnings
- Inner city girl Geneva was offered an opportunity of a lifetime when she found out that her 'real' father was a very wealthy man. Her decision to live up-town meant that she had to leave Froggie, her ‘ghetto don,’ behind. She also found herself battling with her stepmother and battling her emotions for Justin, a suave up-towner.

Full Circle
- After graduating from university, Diana wanted to return to Jamaica to find her siblings. What she didn’t foresee was that she would meet Robert Cassidy and that both their pasts would be intertwined, and that disturbing questions would pop up about their parentage, just when they were getting close.

Historical Fiction/Romance

The Empty Hammock
- Workaholic, Ana Mendez, fell asleep in a hammock and woke up in the year 1494. It was the time of the Tainos, a time when life seemed simpler, but Ana knew that all of that was about to change.

The Pull Of Freedom
- Even in bondage the people, freshly arrived from Africa, considered themselves free. Led by Nanny and Cudjoe the slaves escaped the Simmonds’ plantation and went in different directions to forge their destiny in the new country called Jamaica.

Jamaican Comedy (Material contains Jamaican dialect)

Di Taxi Ride And Other Stories
- Di Taxi Ride and Other Stories is a collection of twelve witty and fast paced short stories. Each story tells of a unique slice of Jamaican life.