Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers Read Free Book Online Page A

snort. “Well, if that’s true, you’re a better actress than I ever was.” She still sat on the edge of the sofa. “Will you sit down now? You’re making my neck ache.”
    Abra sat.
    Mitzi settled back and put her feet up again. She eyed Abra. “So? What do you say, Miss Matthews? Are you going to climb down off that high horse you’re riding and saddle up the piano bench? Or are you going to practice at home and drive your family nuts?”
    “How soon do I have to play at church?”
    “This week.”
    “This week?”
    “I’ll pick some easy hymns. ‘Fairest Lord Jesus’ is a good one.” Mitzi picked up Abra’s cup of cocoa and waved her hand. “Enough lollygagging. Warm up with some scales.”
    Abra spotted sheet music to Dinah Shore’s “Buttons and Bows.” Mitzi came back from the kitchen and put “Baby Face” in front of her. Abra happily picked through the music without too many mistakes.
    “Okay. Enough playtime.” Mitzi opened the hymnal to “Fairest Lord Jesus.” Mitzi wasn’t satisfied until Abra had played it through three times without a mistake. Then she flipped through the hymnal again. “Next one is ‘Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.’” She paced while Abra played. “Pick up the tempo. It’s not a dirge.” Mitzi swung her arms in the air and sang loudly, in perfect pitch. When she was finally satisfied, she found “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.”
    Abra glared. She wanted to slam the piano lid. Instead, she gave “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” a whole new rhythm.
    “It’s not a waltz. What do you think? People should be dancing in the aisles?”
    “Better than sleeping in the pews!”
    Mitzi laughed until she had to sit down. She put her feet out, her arms dangling over the sides of the chair. “Two more and you can practice whatever you want. Find ‘All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name’ and make it sound like a march. This will be the postlude. Play it with passion!”
    Fuming, Abra did.
    “All we need now is a processional to get them into the pews, and an offertory to soften their hearts enough to open their wallets.” Mitzi patted Abra’s shoulders. “An hour a day on these and anything you want to learn after. Deal?”
    “Do I have a choice?”
    “Oh, such enthusiasm.” She made prayer hands. “Forgive her, Lord. She doesn’t know any better. Yet.” Reaching around Abra, she flipped the pages to “Trust and Obey.”
    “Play that one.”
    A memory flashed of riding on Reverend Freeman’s back through a misty morning as he sang that hymn. She’d loved the sound of his voice. She knew every word by heart. But trust? She didn’t trust anyone anymore, least of all Jesus. She pulled the lid over the keys. “I have to go home.”
    Mitzi’s hands gripped her shoulders. “I won’t push so hard tomorrow.”
    “I’m not sure I’m coming back.”
    Mitzi kissed the top of her head. “Well, that’s up to you.”
    There was no point in pretending with Mitzi. They both knew she’d come. When Abra got up, Mitzi stepped in her way and cupped her face. “I have faith in you. You’ll do us all proud.” She let her go and leaned over to get the hymnal. “Take it with you. Just read through the words so you’ll know how to play. I’ll bet if you tell Priscilla and Peter you’re going to be playing for church, they’ll let you practice.” Her eyes glowed with mischief. “That way, when you come over here, we can work on ragtime.”
    Abra’s spirits lifted. She kissed Mitzi’s soft cheek. “I love you, Mitzi.”
    “I love you, too, sweetie pie.” Mitzi walked her to the door. “I give you a year and you’ll be able to play every hymn in that book. Don’t just memorize the music. Memorize the words. Go on now, before Priscilla calls in a missing person’s report and Jim Helgerson shows up in his squad car.” She hugged her red robe around her as she stood in the doorway. “Toodle-ooo.”

    Zeke removed his St. Louis Cardinals cap as he entered