Time to Laugh Romance Collection Page 12

  Donna pulled a tissue from her skirt pocket and blew her nose. “Guess you don’t leave me much choice.”

  Tabby’s only response was a curt nod.

  “It’s like this … Seth was concerned about your actions last night. He said you didn’t do well at your lesson, and that you seemed kinda remote. He’s trying hard to help you overcome your shyness, and perfect your—”

  “So the two of you are in cahoots, trying to fix poor, pitiful, timid Tabitha!” Tabby shouted. She could feel the pulse hammering in her neck, and her hands had begun to shake.

  Donna’s eyelids fluttered. “Calm down. You’ll wake the kids.”

  Tabby pointed to her watch. “It’s almost time for them to get up anyway.”

  “That may be true, but you don’t want to scare the little tykes with your screeching, do you?”

  Tabby sniffed deeply. “Of course not. But I’m really upset right now, and I’m not sure who I should be angrier with—you or Seth.”

  Donna grimaced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get you all riled up. I just thought—”

  Donna’s sentence was interrupted when a group of children came trooping into the room, chattering and giggling all the way to the table.

  Donna gave Tabby a look. For now, this conversation was over.

  Seth hung up the phone, wondering why he’d ever agreed to recruit another ventriloquist to perform with him at the Clearview Church Family Crusade. The female ventriloquist who’d originally been scheduled to perform had just canceled out. Now they were asking him to find a replacement.

  Seth knew plenty of ventriloquists. The trouble was, it was so last minute. The crusade was set for next Friday night, and finding someone at this late date would be next to impossible. If only he could come up with …

  The bell above his shop door rang sharply as a customer entered the shop. It was almost closing time, and the last thing Seth needed was one more problem he didn’t know how to fix. He glanced up, and his heart seemed as though it had quit beating. It was Tabby, and she didn’t look any too happy.

  “Hi,” Seth said cheerfully. “I’m glad to see you. You never called about having another lesson, and—”

  Tabby held up one hand. “I’ve decided I don’t need any more lessons.”

  “Then why are you here? You’re not having a problem with Rosie, I hope.”

  She shook her head. “No, I w–wanted to talk about—”

  Seth snapped his fingers, cutting her off in midsentence. “Say, you just might be the answer to my prayers!”

  She furrowed her brows and turned her hands, palm up. “I d–don’t get it.”

  He motioned toward a folding chair. “Have a seat, and I’ll tell you about it.”

  When Tabby sat down, Seth took the chair next to her.

  “Well, h–how am I an answer t–to your prayers?” she asked.

  He reached for her hand. This was not going to be easy. Only a God-given miracle would make Tabby willing to do what he asked.

  Tabby was tempted to pull her hand from Seth’s, but she didn’t. It felt good. In fact, she wished she’d never have to let go. She stared up at him, searching his face for answers.

  “I—uh—will be doing a vent routine at Clearview Community Church next Friday night,” Seth began slowly.

  “What’s that got to do with me?”

  “I’m getting to that.” He smiled sheepishly. “The thing is, Sarah McDonald, the other ventriloquist who was originally scheduled, has had a family emergency and was forced to bow out.” Seth ran his thumb along the inside of Tabby’s palm, making it that much harder for her to concentrate on what he was saying. “I was hoping you might be willing to go with me next week—to fill in for Sarah.”

  Tabby’s throat constricted, and she drew in a deep, unsteady breath. Did Seth actually think she could stand up in front of an audience and talk for two? He should be smart enough to realize she wasn’t ready for something like that. The truth was, even though she had gained a bit more confidence, she might never be able to do ventriloquism for a large audience.

  “I know it’s short notice,” Seth said, jerking her thoughts aside, “but we could begin practicing right now, then do more throughout the week. I’m sure—”

  The rest of Seth’s sentence was lost, as Tabby closed her eyes and tried to imagine what it would be like to perform before a crowd. She could visualize herself freezing up and not being able to utter a single word. Or worse yet, stuttering and stammering all over the place.

  “Tabby, are you listening to me?” Seth’s mellow voice pulled her out of the make-believe situation, and she popped her eyes open.

  “I c–can’t d–do it, Seth.”

  He pulled her to her feet then placed both his hands on her shoulders. “You can do it, so don’t be discouraged because you believe you have no ability. Each of us has much to offer. It’s what you do with your abilities that really matters. Now, repeat after me…’I can do everything through him who gives me strength.’ ”

  In a trembling voice, Tabby repeated the verse of Scripture from Philippians 4:13. When she was done, Seth tipped her chin up slightly, so they were making direct eye contact. “I know you can do this, Tabby.”

  She merely shrugged in response.

  “You’re a talented ventriloquist, and it’s time to let your light shine,” Seth said with feeling. He leaned his head down until his lips were mere inches from hers. “Do this for me, please.”

  Tabby’s eyelids fluttered then drifted shut. She felt the warmth of Seth’s lips against her own. His kiss was gentle like a butterfly, but as intense as anything she’d ever felt. Of course, her inexperience in the kissing department didn’t offer much for comparison. Tabby knew she was falling for Seth Beyers, and she wanted desperately to please him. She’d come over here this evening to give him a piece of her mind, but now all such thoughts had melted away, like spring’s last snow. She reveled in the joy of being held in Seth’s arms and delighted in the warmth of his lips caressing her own.

  When they pulled apart moments later, Tabby felt as if all the breath had been squeezed out of her lungs.

  “Kissing is good for you, did you know that?” Seth murmured against her ear.

  Numbly she shook her head.

  “Yep. It helps relieve stress and tension. Just think about it—when your mouth is kissing, you’re almost smiling. Everyone knows it’s impossible to smile and feel tense at the same time.”

  Tabby leaned her head against his shoulder. She did feel relaxed, happy, and almost confident. In a voice sounding much like her dummy’s, she rasped, “Okay, I’ll do it. Rosie and I will p–perform a vent routine.”

  He grinned and clasped his hands together. “Great! I know you’ll be perfect.”

  Chapter 15

  Tabby awoke the following morning wondering if she’d completely lost her mind. What in the world had come over her last night? Not only had she not told Seth what she thought about him trying to change her, but she’d actually agreed to do a vent routine next week—in front of a large audience, no less!

  “It was that kiss,” Tabby moaned as she threw back the covers and crawled out of bed. “If only he hadn’t kissed me, I could have said no.”

  She winced, as though she’d been slapped. Would she really rather he hadn’t kissed her? In all honesty, if Seth would offer another of his sweet kisses, she’d probably say yes all over again.

  Feeling more like a dummy than a ventriloquist, Tabby padded in her bare feet over to the window and peered through the miniblinds. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. It was going to be a beautiful day. Too bad her heart felt no joy. She turned and headed for the kitchen, feeling as though she was part of a death march.

  Discovering Donna sitting at the table, talking on the cordless phone, Tabby dropped into a chair. When Donna offered her a warm smile, she only grunted in response.

  By the time Donna’s conversation was over, Tabby had eaten an orange, along with a handful of grapes,
and she was about to tackle a banana. “Good morning, sleepyhead. I thought you were never going to get up.”

  “I got in late last night,” Tabby mumbled as she bit into the piece of fruit.

  “Tell me about it!” Donna exclaimed. “I finally gave up waiting for you and went to bed. You said you had an errand to run after work. Where were you anyway?”

  Tabby swallowed the chunk of banana and frowned. “I’m afraid my errand turned into more of an error.”

  Donna’s eyebrows lifted in question.

  “I went to Beyers’ Ventriloquist Studio, planning to put Seth in his place for trying to run my life.”

  “And did you?”

  Tabby sucked in her bottom lip and squared her shoulders. “Afraid not. I ended up promising to do a vent routine at the Clearview Church Family Crusade next Friday.”

  Donna slapped her hand down on the table, and Tabby’s banana peel flew into the air, landing on the floor. “Awesome! That’s the best news I’ve had all year. Maybe even in the last ten years!”

  Tabby shook her head. “Don’t get so excited. I haven’t done it yet.”

  “Oh, but you will,” Donna said excitedly. She pointed to the phone. “That call was from Alex Hanson. He asked me to go out with him again, and guess where we’re going?”

  “Please don’t tell me it’s the crusade,” Tabby said, already knowing the answer.

  “Okay, I won’t tell you. I’ll just let you be surprised when you look out into the audience and see your best friend and your pastor’s son cheering you on.”

  Tabby gazed at the ceiling. “I think I need a doctor to examine my head more than I need a cheering section.” She groaned. “I can’t believe I let Seth talk me into such a thing!”

  “You’ll do just fine,” Donna said with an assurance Tabby sure didn’t feel. “I imagine you and Seth did some practicing last night?”

  Yeah, that and a few other things. Tabby wasn’t about to discuss Seth’s kiss. Donna would probably go ballistic if she knew that had happened. “We had a bite of supper at the café near Seth’s shop, then we worked on my routine till almost midnight.” Tabby grimaced. “I’m lucky I even have any voice left after all that talking. Maybe I could get out of this if I had laryngitis or something. Seth asked me to do him a favor by filling in for someone else, and—”

  “And you love the guy so much, you couldn’t say no,” Donna said, finishing Tabby’s sentence.

  Tabby’s eyes filled with tears. “He wants me to be something I’m not.”

  “Which is?”

  “Confident, talented, and ready to serve the Lord.”

  Donna reached across the table and patted Tabby’s hand. “I’ve seen you do ventriloquism, so I know how talented you are. I also know you want to serve the Lord.”

  Tabby nodded and swiped at her face with the backs of her hands.

  “The confident part will come if you give yourself half a chance,” Donna assured her. “If you wallow around in self-pity the rest of your life, you’ll never realize your full potential.”

  Tabby released a shuddering breath. “I know you’re right, but I still stutter when I’m nervous or with people I don’t know well. How can I become truly confident when I can’t even talk right?”

  “Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do everything through him who gives me strength,’” Donna reminded.

  Tabby sniffed. “Seth quoted that same verse last night.”

  “See,” Donna said with a smile. “The Lord wants you to lean on Him. If you keep your focus on Jesus and not the audience, I know you can do that routine next week.”

  Tabby smiled weakly. “I hope so.” Her eyes filled with fresh tears. “I owe you an apology for the other day. We’ve been friends a long time, and I should have known you’d never try to make a play for Seth behind my back.”

  Donna nodded. “You’re right; I wouldn’t. And you are forgiven.”

  Tabby and Seth met every evening for the next week to practice their routines for the crusade. Not only was it helpful for Tabby to memorize her lines and work on her fear of talking for two in public, but it was an opportunity to spend more time with Seth. Sometimes, after they were done for the night, he’d take her out for pie and coffee, and a few times they just sat and talked. They were drawing closer, there was no doubt in Tabby’s mind, but much to her disappointment, Seth hadn’t tried to kiss her again. Maybe he thought it best to keep things on a strictly business basis, since they were preparing to do a program and shouldn’t be playing the game of romance when they needed to be working.

  As she entered the Clearview Community Church that Friday night, carrying Rosie in a small suitcase, Tabby’s heart thumped so hard she was sure everyone around could hear it. The driving force that enabled her to make the trip across town was the fact that Seth was counting on her, and she didn’t want to let him down.

  She spotted Seth talking to a man in the foyer. When he noticed Tabby, he motioned her to come over.

  “Tabby, I’d like you to meet Pastor Tom Fletcher,” Seth said, placing his arm around her waist. “He’s heading up the program tonight.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” the pastor said, reaching out to shake her hand.

  She nodded and forced a smile. “N–nice to m–meet you, too.”

  “Seth was just telling me that you’ve graciously agreed to fill in for Sarah McDonald. I sure do appreciate this.”

  Tabby cringed, wishing she could tell Pastor Fletcher the truth—she wasn’t graciously filling in. She’d been coerced by Seth’s honeyed words and his heart-melting kiss.

  “Tabby’s new at ventriloquism,” Seth said to the preacher. “She’s got lots of talent, though. Doesn’t move her lips at all.”

  Right now I wish my lips were glued shut, she fretted. I wish Seth would quit bragging about me. It’ll only make the pastor expect more than I’m able to give.

  “Why don’t we go backstage now?” Seth suggested, giving Tabby a little nudge.

  She let herself be led along, feeling like a sheep heading straight for the slaughterhouse. If she lived through this ordeal, she’d be eternally grateful. She caught sight of Donna and her blond-haired date as they were entering the sanctuary. Donna waved, and Alex gave her a “thumbs-up.” She managed a weak smile, but the truth was, she felt like crying.

  As though he could read her mind, Seth bent down and whispered, “Relax. You’ll do fine.”

  “I wish everyone would quit telling me that.”

  Seth offered her a reassuring smile. “Do you realize that your last sentence was spoken without one bit of stuttering?”

  She shook her head. Right at this moment she could barely remember what her last sentence had been about, much less focus on the fact that she hadn’t stuttered.

  Seth led her through a door, and a few minutes later they were in a small room with several other performers. Tabby recognized a few of them who’d been part of the demonstration for Christian workers at her own church a few months ago. There were Mark Taylor, the magician from Portland, Oregon, and Gail Stevens, the chalk artist from Seattle. Tabby knew Donna would be glad to see her. She’d probably be practicing her chalk art in earnest after tonight’s performance. Slow-Joe the Clown was busy practicing his animal twisting skills, and some puppeteers were lining up to do their puppet skit. Tabby envied them … partly because they were going first and could get their routine over with, but mostly because they had the advantage of a puppet box to hide behind. If only she didn’t have to face that crowd out there in the sanctuary!

  “Now remember,” Seth said, pulling Tabby aside, “I’ll go out first and do my routine with Rudy; then you’ll come out with Rosie, and we’ll do a little bantering with our dummies. By then your confidence should be bolstered, so I’ll just bow out, and you’ll be on your own.”

  She looked up at him with pleading eyes. “That’s the part that has me so worried, Seth. Couldn’t you stay by my side the whole time?”

  He shrugged. “I suppose I
could, but I think the audience will appreciate your talent more if they see you perform solo.”

  Who cares if the audience appreciates my talent? I just want to get through this ordeal and live to tell about it. Tabby’s heart fluttered like a frightened baby bird, and she fidgeted with the bow on Rosie’s new pink dress. Donna would be glad to see she’d taken her advice and dressed the dummy up a bit.

  Seth reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Your fingers feel like icicles, Tabby. Take a deep breath, and try to relax.”

  “That’s easy enough for you to say,” she muttered. “You’re an old pro at this.”

  It seemed like no time at all that Seth was being announced by Pastor Fletcher. He grabbed Rudy and his stand, blew Tabby a kiss, and walked confidently onto the stage.

  Tabby stood as close to the stage door as she could without being seen. She didn’t want to miss her cue and end up embarrassing both Seth and herself. Seth was doing a bang-up job with his routine, but she was too nervous to appreciate any of it. All too soon, Seth announced her.

  Holding Rosie with one hand and balancing the metal stand Seth had given her with the other, Tabby swallowed the panic rising in her throat and moved slowly across the stage. Applause sounded from the audience, and she felt her face flame.

  “Rudy and I both needed dates for tonight,” Seth told the crowd. “This is my friend, Tabitha Johnson, and I’ll let her introduce her little pal.”

  Tabby opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She just stood there, feeling like some kind of frozen snow woman, unable to remember her lines and too afraid to speak them if she had.

  Coming quickly to her rescue, Seth opened Rudy’s mouth. “I think Tabby’s waiting for me to introduce her friend. After all, she is my date, so it’s probably the right thing to do.” The dummy’s head swiveled to the left, and one of his doe eyes winked at Rosie. “This is Rosie Wrong, but someday I hope to right that wrong and make her my bride. Then she’ll be Rosie Right, who’s always right, because she married me—Rudy Right!”