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about your mom?”
    Though sadness filled her eyes, a smile touched her lips. “Every February she packs up and goes someplace sunny. This year she went to Florida. The rest of the year she lives with me. When Dad died, she sold the house and moved in.”
    â€œHow’s that working out?”
    â€œIt’s fine. If it weren’t for Valentine’s Day, February would be my favorite month of the year.”
    He chuckled and moved his hand away. “Because you have the house to yourself?”
    She nodded.
    Their server appeared seemingly out of nowhere and took their orders.
    â€œWhat about you? I’ve been doing all the talking.” She took a sip of water.
    â€œWhat do you want to know?”
    â€œEverything. Why are you living with your mom, for starters?”
    He cringed. “I recently made a rather large change in my life and decided the best place to work things out in my head was at my mom’s place. I was living in the guest cottage behind her house, but after her stroke, I moved into the guestroom.”
    She leaned in. “Oh, so how are you doing? Have you found any answers?”
    â€œNot yet. Her stroke put my thinking time on hold.” Besides, the longer he spent in Oak Knoll, the more he wanted to stick around. Maybe it was time to give Pastor Miller a call about the worship leader position. He’d been here long enough to know who liked him for himself and not because he was famous. The anonymity he’d experienced over the past month had been a godsend, but it was time to face who he was, and his music was a huge part of his identity.
    â€œHow do you like working for UPS?”
    â€œIt was great.”
    â€œWas?”
    â€œYeah, I turned in my notice. I want to be there for my mom.”
    A frown marred her beautiful face.
    â€œWhat did I say wrong?”
    â€œNothing. I feel bad for your situation. What are you going to do?”
    â€œTime will tell. I have money put away, so that’s not an issue.” She truly seemed concerned for his situation, which endeared her to him. Not many people over the past several years cared much about him. They cared only about what he could do for them.
    Kayla was a breath of fresh air. Hmm, “Breath of Fresh Air” would make a good song title.
    She grinned wide. “You went somewhere for a minute. Glad you decided to rejoin me.”
    He chuckled. The woman certainly demanded his whole attention, but he didn’t mind delivering. Their food arrived, and he breathed deeply the scent of baked potato and steak. “Do you mind if I bless the food?”
    She bowed her head.
    He offered a quick prayer.
    â€œThis looks so good. I haven’t had a steak in years.” She reached for her knife and dug in.
    He enjoyed watching her a moment too long, and her hand froze midair.
    â€œDo I have something on my face?” She put her fork down and reached for her napkin.
    â€œYou’re fine. I didn’t mean to stare, but it was fun watching you enjoy the steak. I eat these so often I forget what a treat it is to most people.”
    â€œYou’re right. It is a treat.” She waved a hand. “I’m not going to ask why you eat steak so often, but if you care to share…” She raised a brow.
    He cut into the meat and stuffed a piece into his mouth in reply.
    Kayla chuckled. “I like you, Derek Wood. You’re still a mystery, but I like you. Thanks for this.”
    He winked and forked another bite into his mouth.
    The evening flew by with good conversation and way too much food. Before he realized it, the waitstaff was quietly preparing the restaurant to close. He checked the time on his phone. Where had the evening gone? “I think we’d better go.” He paid and left a very generous tip for monopolizing the table the entire evening.
    Kayla’s eyes widened at the bill he’d dropped on the table, but to her credit she didn’t say a