Who's Shadow

Interrupted Sunsets

Sunday arrived fast. I had every Sunday off and I worked the rest of the week from 4:30 to 10:00. I wake up and get dressed in faded jeans, a long sleeved navy blue shirt with a fishing quote on the back, and red rain boots. I put on a little makeup, brush my hair and teeth and I was ready for church. Parker invited Aunt Penny and I again. Aunt Penny can't come due to a busy work schedule. She had already left this morning.

I sit on my couch eating a yogurt while I waited on Parker to get here. I made sure I had my bible with me this time. It's one of the military ones my parents sent me when they first left.

A nock sounded on my door. I run to the kitchen and throw my breakfast away. I come back to the living room and look through the peep hole on our front door. A nervous Parker was on the other side of the door. I open the red door and step outside. It was raining pretty hard. I reach behind the door to grab an umbrella not Parker holds one up. It had yellow duckys all over it.

Parker opens the door to Claire's car and I climb in. He shuts the door behind me. Minnie wasn't here this time, sadly. Mr. Billingsley gives me a smile in the rearview mirror. Parker opens the door opposite mine and climbs into the car. He instinctively takes my hand.

"So, after church are you going to be up for Japanese with everyone or would you rather go somewhere else," Parker asks.

"I'm fine with anything," I say smiling.

"Why do women have to be so difficult?" Parker asks his dad. Mr. Billingsley shrugs his shoulders and the boys heave out a loud sigh in unison.

We arrive at the church and Claire instructs us to go to Sunday School. We sit with the triplets again, Daniel, David, and Derick.

"Hey bro, did you hear that we're having sign-ups for the mission trip already," Daniel asks Parker.

"No way! I'm so excited for this year. Aren't we going to Louisiana," Parker asks the boys.

"Yeah. I'm stoked," Derick says.

"Are you going to come," Millie asks from behind me. I twist around in my chair.

"I'm not sure. This is the first I'm hearing of it," I say.

"Oh my goodness you should totally come. Its the best time of year. we do construction and host a vacation bible school while we're there. Its so much fun girl. You have to come," Millie says. "Oh and I'm sure Parker wouldn't complain if he got to spend an entire week with you."

Parker squeezes my hand and I turn and look at him, "You wouldn't mind?"

"You really have to ask," he deadpans.

I nuzzle my head onto his shoulder. Mrs. Donaldson comes into the room and sits at the teachers desk. Anna follows suit and acts like she's going to throw up when she sees me. I raise my head from its comfortable spot on Parker's shoulder.

"Y'all coming to eat with us after church," Andy asks next to Millie. She still acts suspicious around me. Parker tells her yes and then Mrs. Donaldson begins to speak.

~~~

Mortified doesn't quite cover how I feel after today's Sunday school lesson. It was all about staying abstinent and not having sex til marriage. Everyone I'm that room stared at Parker and I the entire lesson. I stopped holding his hand half way through because it got so awkward. Mrs. Donaldson kept us in there so long we ended up missing service.

The car ride to the restaurant was so awkward. Millie and Andy didn't even say a word til we got there. Can things get more awkward?