Kara grabbed the suitcase on the right. She could barely lift it. “What’s in here? Rocks?”
“Books.” Flora hefted her remaining suitcase and the two walked down the hall to Flora’s room. “But I’m supposed to be helping you.”
“Oh, there will be plenty of time for that, I’m sure.”
“Well, thank you . . . ?”
“Oh, sorry. My name’s Kara. Kara McKormick.”
“Very nice to meet you, Kara. Irish?”
“How’d you guess?” Kara laughed.
“Typically, last names that begin with
Mc
denote an Irish etymology. Not to mention that redheads are often associated with Ireland. Wait, you were being sarcastic, weren’t you?”
Kara smiled and laid Flora’s suitcase on the floor in her room, situated at the end of the hallway. A queen-sized bed was in the center, but other than that, the room looked just like Kara’s. “Do you need anything else? I’m all unpacked, so I’ve got time.”
“That’s very nice. I need to determine what we’re going to eat for dinner tonight. I haven’t had a chance to go shopping yet, so we’ll have to send out for something. I was thinking pizza, though that’s not very healthy.”
“Some pizza places sell salads too.”
“I would love a big Caesar salad.” Flora opened her suitcase of books and placed them on the nightstand.
“That sounds good to me,” Kara said. “How about if I look up some places nearby that sell pizza and salads and see if we can get some delivered out here?”
“Stupendous suggestion, my dear.”
Kara returned to her room and pulled out her phone, scrolling through local listings to find just the right spot. She walked out into the living room to ask the girls what kind of pizza they’d like.
“Sucking up to the housemother, Kara?” Anna Grace laughed. “The lawn guy’s out front. Maybe you should cozy up to him too.”
“Did you see what she was wearing?” Haley laughed. “Where did they dig her up? The Woodstock Museum? ”
The other girls laughed. Kara folded her arms. “Two cheese, a pepperoni, Caesar and house salads. Right? ”
“That’s right,” Anna Grace said. “Go back and tell Miss Matched our order.”
“Her name’s Flora.” Kara glared.
“I don’t care,” Anna Grace said.
“What is your problem?” Kara came to stand next to Anna Grace.
“My problem is that I don’t want to lose another competition.”
“And acting like a jerk will win this for you?”
“It worked for Lila.”
“That’s a great role model.” Kara rolled her eyes. “Lila was awful the whole time we were on
The Book of Love
.”
“But she knew to stay away from you and Addy.” Anna Grace put her hands on her tiny hips. “Now she’s got her own show. No competing for one role. My agent said if I want that, I
should
make her my role model. That’s how you get ahead in this business.”
The other girls in the living room listened to Anna Grace and nodded.
“My agent said the same thing.” Haley shrugged. “If we get too close, we might not do our best in the auditions.”
“Boy, this is going to be a great month.” Kara shook her head.
The pizza deliveryman came forty-five minutes later. The girls were hungry and cranky, pouncing on Flora as soon as she paid the bill.
“The house salad is mine,” Anna Grace called out.
“No, I ordered a house salad,” Ava yelled.
Flora, balancing three pizzas and two salads in her thin arms, tripped over a rug and fell, food flying everywhere.
“Great.” Anna Grace stepped back. “What a klutz. Now we’ll have to wait another forty-five minutes for more food.”
Haley, Anna Grace, and Ava left Flora on the floor, surrounded by lettuce and upended boxes.
“I’m sorry, Flora.” Kara helped her up, then bent down to pick up the pizza and salad scattered throughout the entryway.
“You don’t need to do that.” Flora joined Kara on the ground, scooping handfuls of lettuce into the plastic containers. “I am a bit uncoordinated.”
“We should have helped.” Kara walked to the kitchen. “I’m sorry the girls were so rude.”
“I appreciate your help, Kara.” Flora smiled up at the younger woman. “More than you know.”
“Do you want me to call in another order?”
“Would you?” Flora asked. “That would be wonderful. I have to make a quick phone call.”
C
all off the auditions.” Flora’s face filled the computer screen in the Beacons’ living room. “I have found the girl.”
Chad squeezed in beside his mother, trying to hear Flora over the loud clanking of the metal bracelets on her arm.
“It’s the first day,” Mom said. “You can’t know already.”
“All the girls aren’t even there yet, are they?” Dad asked.
“No, but that doesn’t matter.” Flora’s purple head bounced back and forth. “I’ve found her.”
Chad leaned in front of his mother so Flora could see him. “What does she look like?”
“No, no.” Flora waved her hand. “I don’t want you to know anything about her. Not until you meet her.”
“Aw, come on, Flora.” Chad smiled. “Just a hint. Give me her name at least.”
“Absolutely not.” Flora’s thin eyebrows rose. “I know how the Internet works. You’d type in her name and see her, and then you’d know all about her before you meet. No way. This has to be a surprise.”
“Why?” Chad asked.
Flora cocked her head to the side. “St. Augustine once wrote, ‘Patience is the companion of wisdom.’ I want you to be wise.”
“Mom, Dad.” Chad looked to his parents. “A little help, please?”
Mom smiled. “I’m not opposed to making you wait until the decision has been made about the girl. But, Flora, I do want you to wait the full month before making that choice.”
“I agree,” Dad said. “This is a big decision. We’ve all put a lot of prayer into it. We want to make the right choice.”
“But I don’t need a month to make the choice,” Flora insisted. “I know she is the one. Remember I told you I prayed that God would show me clearly the first day who that girl is? He answered that prayer.”
“Is she a Christian?” Dad asked.
“I don’t know yet.”
“Flora.” Dad rubbed his temples. “The whole reason we’re doing this is so we can find a Christian to work with Chad.”
“But, Mr. Beacon, I know—”
“Flora.” Dad’s voice was firm. “How many girls are at the house?”
“Four.”
“Four?” Mom said. “Not even half.”
“I’m telling you, it doesn’t matter.”
“It does to us, Flora,” Mom said. “Get to know all of them, all right? Give them a chance.”
“Oh, ye of little faith.” Flora shook her purple head.
“Flora, we trust you,” Mom said. “You know that. We just want to be sure.”
“Not to mention the executives have a whole month of auditions planned plus a television special they’re putting together.” Dad leaned back in his chair.
“I suppose they wouldn’t look kindly upon me calling the venture to an abrupt halt.” Flora gave a half smile.
“No, they wouldn’t,” Mom said. “We’ll check in with you in a few more days.”
The Beacons clicked End on their computer and leaned back on the couch. Chad looked at the painting above their mantel, a portrait of their family completed when he was twelve.
“Did we make a mistake sending Flora?”
“No.” Dad wrapped an arm around Mom. “I trust her. She’s unique, but she knows the mind of God. You know how much prayer she’s put into this job.”
“And research.” Chad laughed. “She’s taking the role of housemother very seriously.”
“And she loves Chad almost as much as we do,” Mom said. “I just don’t like that she’s made such a hasty choice. Good decisions are rarely made quickly.”
“That’s why we’re making her wait out the full month,” Dad said. “She doesn’t have a problem admitting that she’s wrong.”
“When she
is
wrong.” Chad looked at his father. “Which isn’t often.”
“True.” Dad yawned. “I’ve gotta get to bed. I have a meeting tomorrow with a potential client. See you two in the morning.”
Dad said good night, leaving Chad and his mother alone on the couch.
“So, what kind of girl are you hoping will be chosen? ”
“A girl who’s just like you, Mom.” Chad grinned.
She reached over to rumple his hair. “Very good answer, my dear. But really, what are you hoping for?”
Chad closed his eyes. “Tall, with auburn hair and green eyes, outgoing and funny.”
“That’s quite specific.” Mom turned to look at him.
“I met this girl named Kara at Jonathon’s a couple weeks ago. She was amazing. We spent the day together.”
“The day your father and I went out to Hagerstown? ”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about her then?”
“We were so busy with history,” Chad said.
“You like her?”
“I don’t really know her.” Chad shrugged.
“But you’re still thinking about her.”
“I am.”
“What about her attracted you?”
“She was just really fun,” Chad said. “She didn’t flirt with me like other girls do. She treated me like a normal guy. I like that. She was at the White House with her friend Addy.”
“The one Jonathon likes?”
Chad nodded. “He’s crazy about her. But I really admire what they’re doing. Getting to know each other and praying about how God wants them to proceed.”
“That is admirable. So this Kara is a Christian, then? ”
“No.” He sighed. “But we’re all praying for her. Me, Jonathon, and Addy.”
“Then I’ll be praying for her too.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Chad stood. “I better get to bed too. Calculus tomorrow, right?”
“That’s right.”
He groaned.
“Chad.” Mom stood and looked up at him. “Be careful with your heart.”
“I’m fine. I only spent one day with the girl. I probably won’t even see her again.”
“But you’re thinking about her.” She patted Chad’s arm. “Guard your heart, son.”
“I know, Mom. I will.”
Chad walked up the stairs, his mind wandering back to Kara McKormick.
God, help me guard my heart. I know it’s silly, but I feel like I’m losing it to a girl I barely know. If we have a future, work it out. And if we don’t, help me to stop thinking about her so much. Actually, God, either way, help me to stop thinking about her so much. I don’t have room in my brain for Kara
and
calculus
.
I
thought we should have a little get-to-know-you time since we’ll all be together for the next four weeks.” Flora gazed at each of the girls. She had made them all sit in a circle in the living room.
“Look, this isn’t necessary,” Anna Grace said. “We all know why we’re here. We don’t need to be friends. We just need to be well rested and well fed and have our laundry done.”
“Anna Grace, right?” Flora asked, her hair a muted shade of burgundy today.
“Yes,” Anna Grace hissed.
“I do believe it’s necessary. I want us to be peeps.”
The girls laughed. Anna Grace rolled her eyes at the housemother.
“It’s like in
The Lord of the Rings
; we are the fellowship of the rings, guardians of a sacred trust. And we must all work together to accomplish our goal.”
“My preciouuuus.” Kara mocked Gollum’s voice.
“What?” Flora asked.
“You know, Gollum, the little bald guy in the movie? ”
“There’s a movie?”
Most of the girls looked at Flora like she was crazy.
Kara touched Flora’s arm. “I’m guessing there’s also a book?”
“Of course, J. R. R. Tolkien. He and C. S. Lewis and Dorothy Sayers and several others were part of a group called the Inklings. They would meet to discuss their writing and their thoughts, and—”
Anna Grace yawned dramatically. “Please, Miss Flora. We are still on summer vacation. Spare us the history lesson.”
“Actually, it would be classified more as a literature lesson than a history lesson.” Flora looked around the room. “But I understand your point. We should move on. So here’s my suggestion. Let’s go around the circle and everyone give me your name, where you’re from, and your favorite book.”
“Favorite book?” Haley was brushing her thick black hair. She barely even looked at Flora.
“Yes.” Flora clapped once. “I’ll start so you all have time to think. My name is Flora. I was born in Paris.”
“Wow, really?” Kara asked.
Flora laughed, a high-pitched giggle that caused the other girls to wince. “Paris, Tennessee. I always get people with that. But I’ve lived just south of here for the last twenty years.”
“And your favorite book?” Kara noted most of the other girls were either texting or having their own conversations.