Except as he started to direct Hannah toward the aisle on the far right, Christi glanced their direction . . . and their gazes locked. Not for more than a beat or two—but that was all it took for Hannah to follow his line of sight and home in on the woman who’d saved her sweater.

“There she is!” Hannah tugged on the bottom of his sport jacket.

“I see her.”

“Can we sit with her?” Hannah rose on tiptoe and waved at Christi.

She lifted a hand in acknowledgment.

“There’s more room over there.” Jack motioned toward the pew he’d planned to claim.

“We can fit next to her. Come on.” Without waiting for him to say yea or nay, she took off that direction.

Now what?

He couldn’t very well sit alone. That would raise eyebrows once people realized he and Hannah were together. And if he avoided Christi, his daughter would doubtless ask questions he didn’t want to answer.

Resigned, he followed her over and claimed the aisle seat in the pew.

Thankfully the service began almost at once.

As the organ launched into a familiar melody, he pulled a hymnal from the rack on the pew in front of him. Added his voice to those around him. And all at once, a powerful sense of déjà vu—of homecoming—enveloped him.

He frowned.

Considering all the years he’d driven by this church without the least inclination to go inside, the strong reaction was odd.

Yet now that he’d crossed the threshold, the surroundings did feel familiar. Like the church of his youth, where his family had worshiped together—and the one he’d attended alone while away at college—this one seemed like an oasis of calm and stability in a changing world.

That feeling only intensified as the service progressed. Despite his extended absence from Sunday services—and his radio silence with God—a soul-deep contentment settled over him.

The sole blip on his otherwise tranquil radar was the woman sitting a few feet away, beside Hannah.

Hard as he tried to ignore her, he found himself sneaking frequent peeks her direction and admiring her classy black skirt, soft silk blouse, and elegant profile.

She, on the other hand, didn’t appear to have any difficulty concentrating on the readings from Scripture, the sermon, or the hymns. Her focus remained front and center throughout until the organ struck up the introduction for the closing song.

Jack again joined in the familiar hymn, eyeing the exit a few rows back. If Hannah cooperated, they ought to be able to escape as soon as they said goodbye to Christi. Much as he’d like to dispense with farewells, it would be rude to leave without exchanging a word—especially after she’d come to his rescue Friday.

The organ wound down, and Jack replaced his hymnal in the pew rack as Christi spoke to Hannah.

“How did the sweater hold up?”