L.A.'s POV

I can't believe that I've been living with Susanna and Lynn for two and a half weeks now. It's been super hectic and everything, but I think we are all settled in now. I didn't have much belongings to move, a few outfits that Khloe had given me and my one pair of old tennis shoes. And of course Mom's guitar, one of my most treasured possessions.

"L.A., you ready to go to church?" Susanna calls from the living room. I'm in my bedroom. My bedroom. I still love the sound of that, it's been so long since I've actually had one. Wait, what was her question again.

I step to the doorway and look out. "What?"

Susanna just laughs and shakes her head, doing her best Tarzan interpretation. Which is good, but hilarious. "You. Us. Church."

"Well..." I say. I'm not sure about church. Not sure if I'm really actually ready to set foot back in one again.

Lynn dashes from her room, fully dressed and ready to go. My mind thinks, not for the first time how different the styles and looks of those two can be, yet in personality you could almost mistake them for sisters.

I think Susanna knows I'm hesitating. I see a flash in her eyes, and a smile that makes me a bit nervous covers her face. "What if I made you a deal?" She crosses her arms.

"What kind of deal?" I say. I have to admit I am a little bit curious.

"Come to church with Lynn and I today..." She pauses for suspense, and I am pretty sure to make sure that I'm listening. "And I'll take you to Madison's."

NOW she has my interest for sure. Madison is Susanna's ex-room mate whose wedding I semi-crashed back in June. But what really makes me want to meet her is the fact that Madison is starting her own dance studio where she's the teacher. Any sort of dance, she can teach it. I could actually get some professional training. I think about it for only a fraction of a second. "Deal!"

~~~20 minutes later~~~

"I won't know anybody." I whisper to Lynn.

The tall red head, gives me a reassuring smile. "I don't really either. For that matter, Susanna doesn't know a whole lot of people and she's been here for over a year now." That does make me feel better.

Susanna gave me a white dress with multi-colored checked boxes on it. I actually kind of like, although I'm not really used to wearing a dress. She let me borrow a pair of her shoes, a pair of those slipper things. She actually said I could have them, because she couldn't wear them. Then Lynn insisted I let her fix my hair, and it turned out awesome.

As we step in I look around the church, just hoping to see someone I know. My heart leaps when I see a familiar boy's face. James. I feel my face heat up. He looks really cute. He's wearing a dark blue dress coat, white shirt, and tie that matches the coat. I gulp, I really hope that we don't sit too close to him.

As if reading my mind, Susanna leads us to a pew on the other side of the church and it's back behind James' sight. We sit and before I can ask what happens first a man gets up, he has a soft voice as he says, "Well everyone we have a real treat for you today, James Holden will be singing and playing for us today." He gives a big grin, and motions to James. "James."

I gasp. This was totally NOT something I expected. He takes the stage and gives a bit of a shy smile to the congregation. "Hi, I'm James Holden. I wanted to play one of my songs God gave me." He leans over his guitar and strums a few times, getting the feel of the song. Then he starts playing, my mind wants to wonder back to the time that he played for me, but I don't let it, because I want to hear this song he wrote.

I can't look away. He sings about God giving him breath to breathe. And about blessings and all the things He does for him. But its the second verse that really hits me. And I'm not sure why, exactly.

It went something like this....

"Like a thirsty beggar,

Searching for a river.

I wandered and searched

For God with out rest."

I felt tears at the edge of my eyes, but bit my lip to make them stop from pouring over the edge. I faked a small sneeze, giving myself an excuse to grab a Kleenex and subtly wipe my eyes in the process. The song ends, and everyone applauds, I think he notices me as he leaves the stage, but I turn and pretend that Lynn said something to me and turn away.

The preacher is next and I find myself listening to him, at least just a little, though part of me screams to not trust his words, the other part says just give it a try. The preacher is a kind man with a big voice that doesn't quite fit his stature, but I feel the truth. It's there, no matter how much I want to doubt it.

.............

Madison's POV

I noticed Susanna and Lynn coming into church with a young teen girl, probably around sixteen if I were to guess. That must be L.A. Rose, the girl that Susanna was telling me about.

I really enjoyed the pastor's sermon today, it was about giving in to God and following His plans, even if they don't make much sense to us. I told Max, and then rushed over right after church. Susanna and I had both been praying for the situation with the girl, but I'd never got to meet her. One important fact I did know was that she had a passion for dance.

"Susanna." I called. My ex-room mate turned and grabbed me in a hug. Over the nearly year that we had been room mates, she had become one of my dearest friends, even helping out with mine & Max's engagement, and the misunderstanding that came from that, that almost tore her and Joey apart. Though I didn't find that whole story out till much later.

"I was just talking about you this morning, Madi." Susanna said with a wide smile, and she rolled her eyes in L.A.'s direction. She turned to the girl, "L.A. this is Madison. Madison, this is L.A.."

"You have your own dance studio?" L.A. blurted out, and I could see how much joy that brought to Sus.

"Well I'm working on it." I replied, with a smile. "You know, Sus here has told me that you love to dance. I'd like to see your talent sometime. Would you like to be my first student? Free of charge, because I think you will be good advertisement for me."

I could tell that this took her by surprise because she blinked several times. "Wow. That's some offer. " She looked over at Susanna, then back to me. "I've always wanted to dance in a real studio...."

"I'll take that as a yes, then." I grinned and after a few minutes of chatter, Max came over kissing my cheek. "L.A., this is my husband, Max." I introduced them.

L.A. blushed. "Yeah... I sort of crashed your wedding reception." She seems intent at staring at her glittery slippers. "That was the day I first met Susanna & Joey." She looks back up now at Susanna, and I see a look of such great appreciation in the girl's eyes. Sus hugs her, saying something about 'little sis'.

"Well, honey. I think we should go." Max says, with a wide smile. He can put up a good front, but I can see in his eyes that something is weighing very heavily on his mind.

We say good bye to our friends, and as soon as we get in the car, I ask him, "Max, what's wrong?"

He doesn't deny that anything is wrong, he just replies. "I don't feel like talking about it right now, Madi." He voice has a hard edge to it, but I can tell that something's wrong he has the steering wheel in a death grip turning his knuckles. I also think I notice his eyes being more shiny than usual.

The rest of the ride home is total silence. What has effected my husband like this? What's going on?