the smell of sugar and chocolate chip cookies along with black coffee hit the noses of everyone who came to the morning service. everyone gathered in the huge kitchen sitting area. a long line awaited as people were grabbing sweets and drinks then going to sit down.

rowyn sat in the corner with her family who was chatting away as she wrote in her black leather journal. writing down the thoughts she currently is having right now.

august 4th,
                     "i sit here in church, another typical sunday, service ending earlier than usual which has me intrigued. they are about to make some kind of announcement to us all. maybe they have found us a new preacher. it has been a mess the past few months. majority of our church stuck beside pastor mike nichols since before i was born, then when people found dirt on him... everyone turned their backs on him. it sucks because he was someone who meant a lot to me. i never even got to properly say goodbye to him or his wife and their daughter somebody i considered a close friend. they left without any trace, changing their phone numbers and not telling anyone where they moved to. it all still remains a mystery now even six months later."

"hello rowyn!! oh my goodness you look beautiful!!" she heard someone say bringing her back to reality, rowyn looked up seeing mrs. harlow. she is a close friend of her mothers who rowyn is not the biggest fan of. she is very judgmental and always has some sort of feedback no matter what the situation is.

rowyn stood up quickly giving her a toothless smile. the older lady pulled her into a tight hug not giving rowyn much of a choice but too hug her back. when they pulled away, harlow examined her floral dress looking over at her parents.

"this dress is a little short isn't it?" she asked with a goofy smile while pulling at the dress slightly. anna frowned looking down at her daughter seeing that she somehow switched dresses. she was originally supposed to be wearing a long white ruffled dress that covers her legs, meanwhile she is wearing a floral dress that stops just above her knees

anna gave her daughter a disappointing glare, "i told her not to wear that one." taryn messily egged on biting into the warm cookie while smiling all menacingly

"shut up!" rowyn roared at her older sister who just chuckled evilly. "rowyn, stop it right now." rory commanded earning complete silence from then on out from his youngest child

harlow suddenly went into her purse looking for something, rowyn sighed looking at her mom. "can i sit down now?" she asked growing impatient getting tired of the old lady perfume hitting her nose

both of her parents mouthed simultaneously, "no." rowyn huffed looking up at the wooden ceiling. harlow pulled out a pair of black tights handing them to rowyn who was puzzled

she shot harlow a confused look then glanced over at her mother, rowyn was about to decline. "go change." her mother shooed her away

rowyn dropped her jaw, "mom but—-" anna cut her daughter off pointing to the private bathroom, "now." she demanded

"go on sweetheart, you can keep them." harlow rubbed her back in circular motions. rowyn gave her mother was final death glare before storming off

anna sunk back into her chair, her husband quickly wrapping his arm around her waist caressing her side. anna exhaled, "i don't even know how she got away with that." she shook her head

rory looked at his wife, "it's alright, my love." he sighed, "i'll throw the dress away when we get home." anna shook her head watching her daughter slam the door from afar

"no." she kissed her teeth, "don't throw it away."

the substitute preacher walked on in going to the center of the room, everyone grew silent. she clasped her hands together, "hi everyone!! alright i'm going to keep this short and sweet because i know everyone is ready to get home and relax..." she began

"amen!!" one of the church members yelled out causing everyone to erupt into laughter. after a few seconds, they all got quiet again to let her finish speaking

"these past few months preaching here have been such an honor. i know things haven't been perfect but i think we all know that not everything is always going to be peaches and cream...." everyone nodded in agreement

fiona whistled, "i don't really know how else to say it but i think we have found a preacher for this church." gasps and chatter were heard throughout the room, words they didn't expect to hear so soon

"nothing is written or in stone. but on wednesday, our church committee will be sitting down with mr. wyatt thatcher to discuss many important things with him."

"i will let you guys know more information throughout the next few days and—-" her phone suddenly rang out of the blue, she pulled her phone out of her dress pocket checking the caller id

"this is him right now! i'll let you all know more information soon and enjoy the rest of your sunday, bye everyone!" she yelled grabbing her purse off the table running up out of there

she didn't even bother going back to her temporary office because she knew many church members would be leaning against the door trying to listen in on her conversation.

they could all hear her tires skidding outside as she rolled off the church parking lot not feeling the need to stay any longer. while fiona has a passion preaching the word of God, it has been bumpy.

majority of everyone raised hell knowing that their temporary pastor was going to be a woman. everyone was clear on not wanting their next pastor to be a woman, they all want a man in charge. fiona caught onto the game fast. knowing that they all will smile in her face telling her she did a great job on the podium then going right behind her back discussing "mistakes" they feel she made. going around town talking crap about her, she knew known of them were her true friends and knew to keep it professional and classy.

rowyn eventually came out of the bathroom wearing the tights, she walked up to her family. rory stood up, "you look much better." he complimented with his daughter faintly smiling

"thanks." she said quietly. rory looked over at taryn and anna, "you girls ready to go? i'm getting hungry." he announced

"me too. momma can you please cook some branzino?" taryn asked with a pouty face

anna stopped looking at her, "i want that too." rory didn't hesitate to mention. rowyn spoke up, "i want beef stew." she already knew what was coming

"branzino it is!! come on let's go to the grocery store." rowyn sighed in defeat as her father wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked outside to her car

thank you for getting this book to almost one hundred reads already. i love you all deeply