Unlikely Praise Read Online Free

the door.
    “That’s so attractive,” Kelly observed. “No wonder all the girls are wild about you.”
    Carol Ann laughed out loud and held out her arms as Max walked by. “Now don’t do him like that, Kelly. All the girls do love Max.”
    Max stepped into her obviously loving embrace. “Thanks,” he said and made a face at Kelly. “But you’re the only girl who matters.”
    This time Kelly made the introductions. “Shade. Max. Max. Shade.”
    “Let’s get started,” Candi ordered, and everyone dutifully made a circle.
    Shade slipped in beside her. The anxiety jabs were no longer jabs. They were all out punches.
    “I know we made some introductions,” Candi started, “but I’d like to formally introduce you to Shade Blackledge. Pastor Charles asked him to come to practice and see if he might be interested in joining us.” Candi looked around the circle. “I think you met everyone, but we’ll quickly tell you more about ourselves. Go ahead, Carol Ann.”
    “I’m Carol Ann and I sing. By day, I’m a critical care nurse. My husband’s name is Bud, no children, and right now I have my sick mother at home.”
    Kevin looked like he was about to jump out of his skin. “My turn. I’m Kevin, that’s my sister, Kelly, and you’ve already heard about us—”
    “I can speak for myself,” his sister cut in. “I’m Kelly, that’s my brother Kevin, and I’m the oldest.”
    Shade smiled, but wondered if these two really were college freshmen, or were they twelve-year-olds?
    Candi met his sideways glance and leaned in. “I don’t know what’s got into them tonight. It’s usually not this bad.”
    Rocky laced his fingers across his stomach. “I’m Rocky, and I love long rolls on the beach— if the sand’s packed down— and any business that has a drive-thru window.”
    Now that was funny. Everyone laughed. Even Candi.
    “Seriously, I play the bass, I do computer consulting work from home, and that’s about it.”
    Max pushed a couple long brown curls out of his eyes and stuffed his hands in his back pockets. “I’m Max, I play drums, and I’ve worked for my dad since finishing college this past December.”
    “That just leaves me,” Candi said. “I sing, play keyboard, and teach music at the college. Your turn, Shade.”
    His heart rate spiked in the silence as they waited for him to speak. “I’m Shade, I play guitar, usually lead. I recently moved back to Spring, and I have a house painting business. Thanks for having me, and I look forward to playing with you.”
    “All right, unless there’s anything else, does anyone have any requests before we open with prayer?”
    “Keep remembering my mom,” Carol Ann said with tears in her eyes. “It’s hard.”
    Everyone nodded. Shade had never seen so much genuine concern.
    “My insurance company is giving me fits again,” Rocky added. “They’re trying to tell me I don’t need physical therapy for my recent shoulder problems but, without it, I’ll never get back to full strength.”
    “If it looks like they’re going to stop paying, Rocky, let me know. I can talk to some people at the hospital,” Carol Ann offered. “There are programs. We can work something out.”
    “Or, you could send me a good-looking physical therapist with computer problems. We could trade services.”
    “ Or , you could behave yourself, and I won’t yank you outta that chair and run you through your exercises myself,” Carol Ann countered.
    “Oooo, Mama’s gonna get you now,” Max said.
    Shade turned to Candi. “Mama?”
    “Yeah, Carol Ann mothers us all a bit, so we often call her Mama. And by the way, there’s one more who isn’t here. Bill is our sound guy. He’s a retired engineer. You’ll hear the guys call him Wild Bill.”
    He leaned closer. “Mama? Wild Bill?” He had her now. “Ah, yes,” he whispered in her ear, “you Christian musicians and your nicknames.”
    Max cuffed him on the arm. “You look real familiar to me, but I