NO ENGAGEMENT RING

Chapter 5

With renewed energy, she was at the practice the next evening. But the evening did not go

well. Jessica seemed to be distracted and the children were a little bit on edge. Eventually,

they were dismissed. But no one dared to question Jessica who behaved as though nothing

was wrong.

With a little more time this evening, Hannah decided to write lyrics, something she had

not done for a while now. However, her attempts didn't flow. Frustrated, she gave up and just

watched television instead.

Although, she wasn't completely paying attention to the programme on the screen, her

head jerked up when she heard the word, 'forgive'. The television was on a Christian channel

– the Garricks had extended their paid channels to the cottage – and the preacher was

speaking about being forgiven and forgiving.

It wasn't so much the topic that caught her attention as the voice of the person presenting

it. The voice was almost in her ear and ever so gentle. Hannah paid closer attention to the

programme and by the end of it, she had tears streaming down her face.

Her breakdown was healing for her so much so that before she went to bed, she had the

lyrics to a new song.

Production practice the next afternoon didn't go very well. Jessica was very distracted and

let several hiccups go un-righted. But no one dared to question these oversights. Reason for

Jessica's behaviour, though, was soon to be revealed.

Just before the children were due to arrive for the next practice, Jessica stormed into the

church and announced, "My mother is in hospital. I have to take the next few weeks off. I am

sorry to do this to you but someone will have to take over. I will, however, finish today's

practice."

With that she continued as if she had not dropped a bombshell. The team had to wait until

after practice to sympathise with her as the children were already strolling in.

Jessica was a strong woman and Hannah admired her for not breaking under the pressure.

As soon as she left, the others were flustered as to who would run the production. Hannah

didn't even want to voice any opinions. She just kept quiet.

After much deliberation back and forth, the others suddenly turned on Hannah. "We think

you should be the one to take this production to the end," they all chorused.

Hannah shrank back. "Me?" she screeched.

"Yes, Hannah. You could do this much better than we could. It was your ideas that made

a great difference in the production." It was Lydia who was pressing this point.

Hannah, however, was not in agreement with them. They went back and forth on the

issue, ending up talking all at once.

"Are we having a discord here?" Jonathan asked mildly amused. Although he did not use

stealth to enter the main hall, no one had noticed his appearance until he spoke.