“I like the scent.”
“Thank you. What’re you wearing? It’s nice too,” Kellen asked, daring to scoot closer to Stevie on the swing.
“I was running late and forgot to put on perfume. I think what you’re smelling is bacon because I wore this jacket to breakfast.”
Kellen inhaled deeply. “It’s intoxicating.”
“It is really dark under all these trees. Do you ever get the creeps being out here by yourself?”
“I did when I was little and we used to stay out here with Grandpa. Now he was ultra-cheap. This place didn’t have air or heat, and in the summer, he’d leave all the windows and doors open. He would make us eat food with a lot of garlic in it because he thought that kept mosquitoes away, and he’d coat us in some smelly oil for extra protection.” Kellen grinned. “Try to imagine being greasy and sweaty while smelling like a garlic clove.”
Stevie made a face. “I have a mental picture of the misery.”
It was a lot of fun during the day but not at night. Kyle and I slept in a pair of old bunk beds, and I’d take the top bunk because we didn’t know what kind of animal was gonna come in the house. Kyle always ended up on top with me. We watched raccoons and possums walk past the door, and one night, a skunk visited, but apparently, we smelled worse than it did, and it left us alone. I guess I’m not afraid of being here now because I know what’s out there.”
“You and Kyle definitely have the twin bond, don’t you?” Stevie asked.
Kellen nodded with a smile. “Yeah, we’ve always been close. Our mom died in a car accident when we were five, and our dad asked Trulee to watch us one day while he went to the store, and he never came back. I think that did more for our bond than even being a twin did.”
“I’m sorry,” Stevie said sincerely.
“As an adult, I can look back on it and say he did us a favor. He was a severe drug addict, and life with him wouldn’t have been good. Trulee and Walt treated us like gold, and we were very lucky that they loved us.”
“Did they have any kids besides y’all?” Stevie asked.
“No,” Kellen said with a laugh. “They tried and didn’t have any luck. Trulee says that’s why she believes in God. She said that one day she was in the house catching up on laundry while Walt was in the backyard supposedly watching us pick blackberries. She glanced out the window, and Walt was asleep in a lawn chair. Kyle and I were naked and stained purple from nearly head to toe. She said that day made her realize she couldn’t handle any more than three kids, and she included Walt in that number. She believes God had mercy on her by not allowing her to get pregnant.” Kellen held up a finger. “I can read your mind. You want to know if we ever heard from our father, and the answer is yes. He’ll call to check in every few years when he gets cleaned up.”
“You’re right, I did wonder about that, but then I got stuck on why y’all would take off your clothes while picking blackberries.”
“I don’t remember, but I’m sure we had a very good reason.” Kellen closed her eyes. “I hear more of your thoughts…is she gonna share the crab dip? I still think she’s hot, is she gonna ask me out?”
“Oh!” Stevie laughed and shook her head. “I’m gonna kill Trent and Kyle.”
“Was I right?” Kellen asked with her eyes still closed and was surprised at how nervous she was as she waited for an answer.
“I don’t want any crab dip, but…I would like to go out with you.”
Kellen opened her eyes and smiled. “Would you like to come over tomorrow for lunch?”
“I think that’s the only way we can get together without causing a scandal. We should at least have one date to decide if we like each other before we rock the boat.” Stevie laughed. “I might decide you’re not as interesting as I think you are right now.”
“Oh, I’m very interesting—fascinating even,” Kellen said with a grin. “I will present you with a box of bark and tell you about each tree I took it from and their state of health. Then I’ll demonstrate more of my arborist skills with tree climbing and a lesson on what to do when faced with a wild animal at heights.”
“What do you do when you encounter an animal while in a tree?”
“I scream.” Kellen held up a hand. “Yes, I can admit that. Next, I swing around to the other side of the tree to avoid the den, and I climb down rapidly. After I’m on the ground, I whimper and call my trapper friend if I have to cut the tree down. He’s used to hearing heavy breathing and profane broken sentences.”
“I’m sure that’s exactly what I’d do, too,” Stevie admitted. “The screaming part, I mean. What made you want to be an arborist?”
“Aside from Kyle, trees have always been my best friends. When I needed peace and time to think, I’d climb one. I especially liked the ones without low branches because Kyle couldn’t follow. He was very clingy when we were little, I’m talking dryer sheet on Velcro clingy.”
“Okay, tell me about this box of bark you have again.”
Kellen laughed goofily. “I don’t really have a bark box…anymore. Kyle and Trulee told me not to whip it out on dates, so I got rid of it.”
Stevie snorted. “Please tell me you didn’t really do that.”
“Well, I went to school with a woman, and she said she wanted to study with me. I was very serious about getting good grades, and yes, I did have a bark box, it helped me learn. I didn’t realize she was interested in me and that she thought our study night was a date. She walked out on me and my box. When I asked Kyle what he thought about the incident, he laughed for ten minutes.” Kellen smiled. “You’re laughing, too. I can feel the entire swing vibrating.”
Stevie inhaled deeply. “Bark box, wow. I admire your bravery for admitting to that right off the bat.”
Kellen cracked up until the front door flew open, and Kyle and Trent appeared. “We just wanted to check on y’all,” Kyle said, sounding like a chipmunk while Trent sucked helium from the balloon he was holding.
“Stevie, is she being nice?” Trent asked with his voice distorted.
“Yes, she’s very sweet and surprisingly honest.”
Kyle inhaled from his balloon and looked at Trent. “This could be the moment.”
“Go,” Kellen said testily and pointed to the door.
“Let’s get some more juice and sing This Magic Moment,” Trent slurred as he staggered a step.
Kellen shook her head. “Carry your chipmunk asses back into the house.”
Her order was ignored, and the pair broke into the song using mostly incorrect lyrics with lungs full of helium. Kyle took a break and inhaled deeply from his balloon. “Wow, tequila and helium really give you a head rush,” he said and giggled.
“You let him drink tequila?” Kellen asked Trent. “We agreed the last time we’d never let him touch it again.”
Trent’s expression went blank. “What happened last time?”
“He decided he was Madonna and autographed people’s shirts, then he stripped and danced on a chair,” Kellen said angrily.
Kyle waved a hand. “Madonna’s right here, so y’all can quit talking about her like she’s not in the room.”
“Time to switch to water.” Kellen jumped to her feet.
“Oh, shit, she’s charging. Retreat!” Trent yelled and backed right off the porch.
*******
“Hold still,” Kyle coaxed. “You have to let Gordie get the stick out, or we have to go to the hospital.”
Trent lay facedown on Kellen’s couch with a crowd gathered around. “In the movies, the guy gets a shot of bourbon and a stick to bite on,” he whined.
“Sorry, but the stick is in your back, and you’ve already had too much to drink.” Stevie patted Trent on the head. “You shouldn’t be feeling anything right now.”
“I’m gonna give you a cool Guardians of the Galaxy bandage, and it has Groot on it,” Kellen teased.
“Is the stick on my lung because it’s really hard to breathe?” Trent asked with a grunt.
&
nbsp; “No, that’s just Kyle sitting on you, so you won’t move. The stick went in sideways, and there’s about two inches of it under your skin,” Gordie explained and quickly pulled it out. “Kellen, I’ll take that bandage you promised now.”
Kellen headed for the medicine cabinet in the kitchen where she ran into Leigh. “Oh…hey,” she said, hoping that Leigh wouldn’t bring up them having a chat again, but she did.
“I don’t think you and I are going to spend any more time together,” Leigh said with a slight smile. “I know who you’d rather be talking to, and that’s cool. I just wanted to let you know that so things wouldn’t be…you know, awkward.”
“I’m sorry, Leigh.”
“That’s okay. Trent told me you’re looking for a relationship, and I’m not, so it wouldn’t have worked anyway.” Leigh waved a hand. “I’m hoping we can be friends, I’ve never met a Druid before.”
“Uh…what?”
Leigh’s blinked rapidly. “You don’t worship trees and nature?”
“Not in a religious sense, no,” Kellen said with a smile.
“I don’t suppose you spent time in prison for a murder you didn’t commit and was later exonerated after new DNA evidence was discovered, either.”
“Hell no,” Kellen replied, eyes wide.
“Aha.” Leigh nodded. “Does Trent not like me?”
“No, he’s just full of shit and playing Cupid.”
“You need to tell him he should take up writing because he wove a compelling tale about your arrest, trial, and how many hoops he had to jump through to get a tree into prison for your religious purposes.” Leigh put out her hand, and Kellen shook it. “It was nice meeting you, Kellen.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you, too,” Kellen said with a genuine smile.
“I hope things work out between you and the Druid priestess that you were giving your confession to that couldn’t be disturbed.” Leigh chuckled as she opened the back door. “Moral of the story, never believe anything a man tells you while he’s wearing a balloon dick on his head.”
Kellen nodded. “Words to live by. Good night.”
*******
“No, you’re not helping with the cleanup.” Kellen plucked a stack of cups from Stevie’s hand. “The chipmunks will do that.”
Stevie glanced around at a little over a dozen lingering guests on the deck talking and drinking. “I figured if I picked up a little, it wouldn’t be so bad when everyone finally leaves.”
“Put these in the trash, please, tall tale teller,” Kellen said and handed the stack of cups to Trent when he joined them.
Trent blinked rapidly. “Is this a soberi…soberi—drink test? Am I supposed to say tall tales something really fast?”
“I can’t believe you’re still on your feet,” Kellen said in amazement.
“Look, I just wanted,” Trent slurred as he listed back and forth like a ship on the waves. “I hope y’all have the moment because, man, I love y’all both...a real big lot. Y’all would be such a cute couple.”
Kellen grabbed a guy as he passed her. “Would you do me a huge favor and take Trent to where Kyle is lying facedown on the floor?”
“Have the moment,” Trent said as the guy took him by the arm and tried to lead him away. “You just gotta do it, ya know? You two get together and just…do that.”
“What does he mean by the moment?” Stevie asked.
A slow song began to play, and Kellen thought she was deftly avoiding having to answer by asking, “Would you like to dance?”
“No, I’d like an answer to my question.” Stevie eyed Kellen suspiciously. “They mentioned the moment on the porch too. Is that code for making a move on me?”
Kellen held up both hands. “I promise it’s not. Dance with me and I’ll tell you.”
“All right, McLin, I’ll compromise with you.”
“Did a Sealy just say that to a McLin?” Kellen asked with a laugh as she walked Stevie over to a corner of the deck where there weren’t people and took her into her arms. “Stars aren’t falling from the sky, and I don’t see any pigs flying.”
“Quit trying to change the subject again and tell me what the moment is,” Stevie said as they swayed to the music.
“Believe it or not, I’m a romantic, and I have this crazy notion that when two people are meant to be together, they have a moment when they both realize it, and it happens very quickly.”
Stevie smiled. “You’re telling me Kyle and Trent are convinced we’re going to have that tonight? More importantly, do you?”
“Let me preface my response with this disclaimer, I am not going to make any moves on you tonight or tomorrow, so whatever I say from this point on shouldn’t be construed as me trying to smooth talk you into my bed. Deal?”
“Sure.” Stevie smiled. “I’m not that easy anyway.”
“I was very attracted to you when we first met. That’s why you were invited to this party even after I found out who you really were. That’s also why I cornered you when you got here.”
“Kellen, you need to work on your seduction techniques. First, don’t ever try to take me in a laundry room, and second, your idea of sweet talk sucks.”
Kellen nodded. “I’ll make a mental note of that. When you got here and I saw you again, I kinda freaked out because you were even prettier than I remembered. That kinda scared me, and I had to make sure you didn’t have an agenda because I really wanted to get to know you.”
“I give you my absolute word I have no family agenda,” Stevie said seriously. “I came here for the same reason. I wanted to know who you are because I was very taken by you, as well, when we met. I’ll go as far to admit that I have never been immediately attracted to a woman before. Normally, I have to get to know her personality before my interest is piqued. Does that qualify as a moment?”
Kellen shook her head and smiled. “It could be the starting point leading up to the moment.”
“Then tell me how you define a moment.”
“Okay. One day, Walt was in the hardware store, and Trulee walked in. They knew each other from school, though she was a couple years younger, but he’d never really noticed her until that moment. He claims he fell instantly when Trulee refused to allow a clerk to carry out a bag of feed for her. She hoisted it over her shoulder and stomped out proudly. My grandfather turned to Walt and said, ‘Get your eyes off her, boy, a woman like that can never be tamed.’ Walt didn’t listen, and he knew Grandpa wouldn’t loan him the truck to go see Trulee after he’d given his advice, so on a hot summer day, Walt walked six miles to Trulee’s house. Trulee says when Walt showed up on her porch and asked her daddy if he could visit with her, she wanted to hide because he smelled like a wet dog. She took pity on him because he was all sweaty and brought him a glass of lemonade. They talked for a couple of hours, then her dad went out to work on a fence, and Walt offered to help. Trulee went with them since she normally worked with her dad. She said Walt didn’t try to be chivalrous and shoo her away, instead he complimented her on her work, and at that moment, she knew he was the guy for her. That day was their moment, and they got married six months later.”
Stevie stiffened. “The moment is love at first sight?”
“No, it’s…it’s…your GPS,” Kellen stammered. “Your internal GPS that tells you you’ve arrived at the right person. You know…the one. Please stop looking at me like I’m crazy.”
“I’m not, you’re squeezing my ribs.”
“Sorry.” Kellen relaxed her arms. “My family thinks I’m an idiot for thinking this way. I want to believe that two people who are meant to be together are drawn to each other by something more than physical attraction, and eventually, they do fall in love.”
“That is romantic.”
“And stupid?” Kellen asked. “You can be honest.”
Stevie shook her head and smiled. “I don’t think it’s stupid, it’s a beautiful philosophy. So you said we could be at the starting point of the moment. You also said something
like our internal GPS should be telling us we’ve arrived at our person, so if that’s the case, how can we not know it yet?”
Kellen thought for a moment. “Oh, shit, no one has ever pressed me for specifics before.”
“So you’ve had the moment with other women.”
“No, if I’d had it, I’d still be with the woman I had it with because she would be the person I was meant to spend my life with.”
“What if the person you have the moment with dies?” Stevie asked. “Wait, what if they die before you even have the chance to have the moment with them?”
Kellen stared at Stevie in fascination. “I’m explaining a romantic notion, and you went right to death?”
“This is very interesting to me, that’s why I have questions. Have you ever thought you were having the moment, and it turned out you were wrong?”
“No, I’ve never been inexplicably drawn to someone. My exes are women who I thought were good matches.” Kellen laughed sardonically. “Obviously, they weren’t because here I am still single at thirty-nine.”
“Are you inexplicably drawn to me?”
“I don’t know yet, I just met you,” Kellen said and twirled Stevie.
“I thought your GPS—stop twirling me. I’m getting dizzy and wanna see your eyes when you answer my questions,” Stevie said with a laugh.
Kellen pulled Stevie close again. “Is your internal GPS speaking to you?”
“I was forbidden to go to McLin, but I did anyway. I was lured to the diner by a pie sign and the hope of reconnecting with Trent, who just happens to be in a relationship with your brother. You know what else just happened? You walked in while I was sitting there talking to him, and I noticed you, and you admitted you noticed me then, too. I came to this party for the same reason you invited me. We both wanted to get to know each other. My GPS may not be telling me I’ve arrived at my person, but it brought me here, didn’t it?”
“Yes, it did,” Kellen agreed with a smile.
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