Forgiven Read Online Free

successful salesman in his late twenties with a strong faith and sense of family. But the feel ings simply weren’t there for her. The plan this fall was to help turn his interest toward Rhonda.
    Katy touched his elbow. “Thanks for helping out.”
    “Of course.” He shifted his weight. “I’ll be here if you need anything.”
    “Thanks, Heath.” She took a step closer to the table.
    12
    FORGIVEN
    He picked up on the hint. “See ya.” He waved and moved off toward the sound booth.
    The moment he was gone, Nancy and Al Helmes arrived at the table. They looked happy and upbeat.
    “Here we go—” Al winked—”ready or not.”
    The Helmeses had agreed to be the musical directors for the show, the way they had been several times in the past. The retired couple played the piano and had a knack for bringing together a chorus of kids so that it rang sweet and true as one voice. Annie would be challenging for many reasons, including the fact that the music called for three-part harmony in the song “Easy Street,” with Miss Hannigan, Rooster, and his girlfriend.
    “Where’s your coffee, Nancy?” Katy leaned against the table. “Don’t tell me you’re sitting through three hours of auditions without coffee.”
    Nancy’s eyes danced, and she pointed to a thermos near the piano bench. “I’m all stocked up.”
    “Good.” Katy motioned to her list of names. “With this many kids, I might need some too.” She picked up her iced tea. “It’s half sugar today. That ought to get me through!”
    Nancy took a step closer. “Alice Stryker’s in the lobby telling a few of the moms that Sarah Jo’s a shoo-in for Annie.”
    “Oh no.” Knots formed in Katy’s stomach. Alice Stryker was the worst stage mom she’d seen in all her years with CKT. Her daughter was a sweet, quiet girl, plain and unassuming until she took the stage and began to sing. No one in CKT
    could sing like Sarah Jo, at least not so far. Her voice had won her the part of Becky Thatcher in the recent summer showing of Tom Sawyer.
    But Katy could barely stand working with Sarah Jo’s mother. The woman was convinced that her daughter was the next Broadway sensation, prodding and pushing Sarah Jo until the girl nearly lost all sense of enjoyment from being onstage.
    Katy gripped the edge of the table. “Tell me she didn’t dress Sarah Jo in a curly red wig.”
    13
    KAREN KINGSBURY
    Nancy laughed. “No, but you know how the woman is about cost’ames.”
    “Oh, boy.” Katy shaded her eyes, massaging her temples with her thumb and forefinger. “Let me guess. She made an Annie dress for Sarah Jo.”
    “Something like that. Mrs. Stryker was talking about it, and then she saw Sarah Jo laughing with a few of the kids, and my gracious—” Nancy held her hand in the stop position—”you’d have thought Sarah Jo stole something. Alice ran over, snatched her by the arm, and accused her of being too silly, not serious enough.
    The lecture lasted three minutes, and everyone in the lobby heard.”
    Katy moaned. “That’s so sad. The woman’s out of control.” “It’s not fair to Sarah Jo.”
    “Not at all.” Katy’s peaceful feeling from a few minutes ago was gone. She folded her arms and pressed them into her midsection. “I might need that coffee sooner than later.”
    “The good news is—” Nancy gave her a sympathetic smile— “Alice Stryker is the exception.”
    “True.” Katy managed a weak Laugh. “We can all be glad for that.”
    “I better get ready.” Nancy waved and caught up with Al near the piano. Katy loved the older couple. They were the official CKT grandparents and a beacon of spiritual strength and experience. CKT needed them, and Katy did too. But Alice Stryker being around for another show could be a problem.
    She was about to check her list of kids when she heard a familiar voice and turned to see Rhonda hurrying down the aisle next to a tall guy, who seemed to be working hard to keep up. The guy wasn’t