Marcus shuffles his papers at the pulpit. He still won’t look at me. Not since I watched the flame of rage engulf his dark eyes as he glared at me this morning while poor Connor ran from the house half naked.

My brother clears his throat and smooths his hand down over his tie. “If the children would make their way to Sunday school with my sister,” his voice grows tense, “Charlotte King, please. She will be filling in for Ms. Douglas today.” He points across the full pews to me, finally acknowledging my existence for the first time since he lost his mind this morning.

I stand up at the back of the church and the children run, hop and skip down the aisle toward me. Bright smiles are on their faces and I can’t help but grin back, even though I can feel Marcus bore a hole through me with his angry glare. They just look so cute all done up in their church clothes.

As I lead them out into the lobby, I look over my shoulder at my big brother, still confused about what exactly happened this morning. When we were growing up, Marcus bossed me around like he thought he was my second father. He’s always been a protective brother, even more so when our parents were killed in the car accident. Even though I wasn’t a kid when they passed, he still treated me like one. He seemed to double down on his whole Dad routine, often asking me where I was going, who I’d be out with and when I’d be home. It’s only been in the last two years that he finally seemed to realize that I’m a grown woman who can spend her time how she wants.

Until today, that is.

I lead the flock of children down the hallway to the room where Sunday school is held. The kids all rush to their seats as I make my way to the front and pick up the vibrant children’s version of the Bible, flipping through it nostalgically.

I remember when I used to sit in this class and listen to Ms. Douglas teach us about Noah’s ark or the Christmas story. Each class always ended with a song that we all cheerfully belted out in our off-key voices.

Everyone except Janae has taken their seats, she’s too busy twirling around in her daffodil-yellow dress to be bothered.

“Ms. King?” Janae briefly tears her eyes from the billowing ruffles of her dress to meet mine.

“Yes?”

“Where’s Ms. Douglas today? I miss her,” she stops in her tracks and suddenly pouts a little. It’s hard to keep a straight face at her theatrics.

“That’s a great question, Ms. Douglas isn’t here today because her youngest daughter got married this weekend. She’ll be back next Sunday though. So, could you please take a seat so we can start our lesson?”

Janae looks around the room and seems to realize, for the first time, that she’s the only one still standing. She scurries to her chair. “That’s so nice that her daughter got married,” she coos. “I already know who I’m gonna marry,” Janae smiles broadly, showing off the spaces where she’s recently lost a few baby teeth.

“Oh, really?” I tilt my head, “And who is that?”

“Billy!” She points over to the seven-year-old boy who immediately crinkles his nose in disgust.

“Eww! No way! I’m not getting married!” He protests and wipes his face like he just got slime poured over his head.

“Yes, you are Billy Cole. We are in love and we are gonna get married!” Janae puts her hands on her hips and gives him a pointed stare.

“Okay, let’s get back to the lesson,” I interrupt and try not to laugh as I watch poor little Billy slump over in his chair, defeated. “Today we’re gonna talk about John the Baptist,” I begin to thumb through the pages of the well-worn Bible and the kids hush.

I find the story I want to read to them as my mind wanders back to Connor and the insanity that happened this morning at the house. When I watched him get chased out, I felt like Billy over there. Like the wind had been taken out of my sails and that I would probably never see the man I’ve been craving my entire life again, just because of some unknown feud between him and my brother.

After that, it’s hard to believe they were once inseparably close. Every weekend if Connor wasn’t sleeping over at our house, then Marcus was at his. I remember being desperate to hang out with them when they went on their epic adventures, riding off on their bikes with empty knapsacks slung over their backs, only returning hours later when those bags were full of fish.

I could learn a thing or two from Janae. I can’t just give up because Marcus doesn’t like Connor anymore. That doesn’t have anything to do with me. Although, I’m definitely curious to find out what it does have to do with.

I’m going to find out, I nod my head and open the book to my page. I’m going to go to his place tonight and get to the bottom of this whole issue. I’m not going to let some stupidity between Marcus and Connor steal away my happiness. I’m not a kid, I can see whoever I want and if my brother doesn’t approve, then too bad.

I take a deep, refreshing breath into my lungs and look out at the children’s faces feeling more confident and more settled. “So, let’s talk about John the Baptist.”