That Wild Texas Swing

by MJ Fredrick

  “Yeah, of course.” He glanced at Norma, who widened her eyes at him, then he motioned for Liz to precede him.

  His heart was thundering as she walked past him, her scent wafting and making him physically hurt with the longing to touch her. He closed the door firmly behind her and waited for her to turn to face him.

  “How’s your leg?”

  For a moment he didn’t know what she was talking about, he was so off-balance from seeing her. “Good. It’s good.”

  “I’m glad it wasn’t more serious.”

  “Would you have stuck around longer if it was?”

  Now she looked off-balance. “Killian. You knew. You knew what we had couldn’t last.”

  “I didn’t know that. I don’t know that. I know what you believed, but you didn’t even give me a chance to try to change your mind.” When she opened her mouth to say something—probably his name—again, he held up a hand. “You didn’t want it changed, right? You don’t want to open yourself up, for whatever reason. But how long are you going to want to be the town party girl, Liz? When are you going to want more for yourself?”

  “I have more. I have plenty.” She motioned toward the window where he often looked out at her shop.

  “You know what I mean, Liz. A home of your own. A family of your own. Someone who loves you.”

  “I know you think—”

  “Don’t tell me my feelings, damn it. I know what they are. I know you and my mother and Sage and everyone think that since I’m not particularly experienced with love that I can’t recognize it. But I do. I know what I feel. I know what I want. I just don’t know how to get it.” Trace’s words from last night echoed in his head. He had to work for it, but he didn’t know the first step to take.

  She was shaking her head. “I don’t know how to give it. I’m sorry, Killian.”

  She looked at him a moment, and he opened his mouth to say something about the invitation he’d gotten, but he didn’t want her to tell him not to come, so he said nothing except, “I’m sorry, too,” and watched her as she walked out.

  Doing hair for six girls—Brianna and her court—as well as her mother, Gracie and her own—was more of an effort than Liz expected. The chattering of the girls didn’t help the building headache, but she wouldn’t complain. It wasn’t their fault she hadn’t slept well in the two weeks since the holiday, even less since she’d gone to see Killian at his office. And she had chickened out of going to the merchant association meeting, getting her information from Nia after the fact. She had resisted asking what Killian’s reaction to her absence had been, though she could tell by the sympathetic expression on Nia’s face that she wanted to share.

  Then Gracie had brought home the Kingsville newspaper, and there on the front page was a picture of Killian holding giant scissors next to a petite blonde in a red business suit. The blonde and Killian were smiling at each other, the smile Liz thought he only gave her. And Gracie had just left the paper there, taunting her. None of her family had said anything about her—well, it wasn’t a break-up—her ending her relationship with Killian. She wondered if they’d even noticed that he wasn’t coming around, that Liz wasn’t going out.

  Bev had wanted to take her out to help her get over it, but Liz hadn’t been up to it. She didn’t want to fall back into old habits, anyway. She was just going to throw herself into her work and make the salon such a raging success, women would come from miles for her styles.

  She was going to start with the task in front of her.

  At least the hall was decorated, and the caterers were setting up under Suzanne Trevino’s watchful eye. She’d offered to help, and Liz had taken her up on it. All she and her family needed to do was dress and head to the church for the ceremony.

  God. People. She’d been dealing with people for two weeks now, coming into the shop, wanting to know what had happened. She’d deflected the questions pretty well, she thought—that is, she hadn’t shaved the head of the person asking—but today would be different. Today would be a lot of people at once. She fully intended to remind them it was Brianna’s day.

  The women changed in the shop, and Liz wore the burgundy dress she’d worn to the grand opening. She hadn’t wanted to, but spending more money on another dress seemed like a waste. She would not think about how Killian had looked at her when she wore it, how he’d insisted she change out of it and into a t-shirt and shorts so they could go eat ice cream at the reservoir. She pressed her hand to her stomach and turned away from the mirror, as if that would help her forget.

  Brianna stepped from behind the screen in her altered dress. She wore just a hint of make-up, enough to brighten her eyes and lips, and give a hint of the woman she was becoming.

  “Oh, mija!” Sophia gripped the back of a salon chair. “You are so beautiful.”

  Liz grabbed her mother’s hand, her vision blurring for a minute. “We need to get over to the church. Come along, ladies.”

  Walking to the church on the next block in high heels and long dresses in the July heat was a bit more of a challenge than Liz expected. And once they stepped into the high-ceilinged, stone church, a wave of heat followed them in.

  “Oh no! Isn’t the air working?” Sophia asked Suzanne, who stepped off the altar where she’d been tweaking flower arrangements.

  Suzanne, wearing a pink dress, trotted down the aisle and lifted her long tresses off the back of her neck. “I don’t know what’s going on. I just added water to the flower arrangements to make sure they don’t wilt. Father Francis said he’d called a repairman, but I don’t know how soon they’ll be here, and how long it will take to cool off once they get it going.”

  “I’ll find out what’s going on,” Gracie volunteered, turning out the door.

  Liz glanced around at the stained-glass windows that cast gorgeous colors on the walls and floors, but, “We can’t open these windows. We’re going to have to find some fans or something. Can’t have the girls or the guests passing out.” She pulled out her phone and started dialing, but at a look from her mother, turned and stepped out on the stone entryway. She called everyone she knew and asked them to bring electric fans. They might not be able to hear much, but at least there would be a breeze. And maybe the ceremony wouldn’t be as long if the priest was hot.

  When she walked back into the church, Brianna already looked wilted, and she lifted a hand to her hair.

  “Stop!” Liz said, and her voice echoed. All the girls froze.

  “What?” Brianna demanded, looking on the verge of tears. But at least she hadn’t messed with her hair.

  “The rectory has air,” Gracie said, returning. “Let’s wait there until they can figure out what’s wrong with the A.C.”

  “Guests will be arriving soon,” Sophia fretted.

  Suzanne looked around the sacristy and noted some leftover bulletins from Sunday’s Mass. “Girls, let me show you something.”

  By the time the guests began arriving, Suzanne, the girls, Sophia, Gracie and Liz had folded enough paper fans for the guests who began to arrive as the priest and Mitchell George, the Evansville AC guy, inspected the unit outside. Meanwhile, Cassidy, Bev and Nia had brought in some fans, and the women set them up in strategic locations to move the air. Sophia had taken Brianna and her court to the comfort of the rectory, which meant Liz was on her own when her father walked in with Angie on his arm. He’d dressed up for the occasion, in a well-fitted suit, and had gotten a haircut that made him almost look respectable. For the first time since he returned, she let herself see a hint of her own features in his.

  “Do Mom and Brianna know you’re here together?” Just what they needed, more drama today.

  “I asked them if I could bring Angie. They said I could.”

  Liz turned to her friend, who looked lovely in a green and blue tunic over her pregnant belly. For a moment she was jealous of Angie, who’d turned her life around after being the town drunk, who was so happy in a relationship. But of course, her relationship wasn’t with t
he mayor.

  “At least sit near a fan,” she said, and moved on to the other guests.

  The sound of the giant air conditioner kicking on brought a sigh of relief and a smattering of applause, as the priest took his place on the altar. Liz slipped into the front pew and turned to watch the procession of couples, Brianna’s court. And then her sister stepped into view, accompanied by Sophia and Rafael. Liz couldn’t imagine how painful that would be, having to deal with the man she once loved, doing something she’d always imagined as a happy occasion. But her mother stood tall and proud, smiling as she walked with her daughter and presented her to Father Francis.

  Liz stood with her family as Brianna was presented to the Lord and the community as a young woman. As Liz suspected, the priest hurried through the Mass, since the air conditioning wasn’t cooling fast enough.

  Liz stepped out of the front pew to join the crowd heading to the party at the hall, and froze when she caught sight of Killian at the back of the church. He wasn’t walking toward the exit like everyone else, but was looking at her. A corner of his mouth lifted, like he didn’t remember how not to smile at her, but a sadness shadowed his eyes, a sadness she had put there.

  When she’d imagined this day, when she’d allowed herself to think of Killian attending the service with her, she’d imagined him sitting behind the family. She’d imagined him taking her hand and leading her to dance. She’d imagined he’d stay with the family until the end, and help clean up and get everyone home.

  She hadn’t realized until this minute how much she’d been looking forward to all of that. She took a step toward him, wanting to thank him for coming, wanting—wanting some part of the fantasy she hadn’t consciously woven. But David Trevino caught his attention, drawing it away from her, and the two men walked out together.

  *****

  The church hall was prettier than Liz remembered, but she hadn’t been here since Gracie’s quince three years ago. She didn’t know who was responsible for the tablecloths and flowers at all the round tables, or the strings of lights along the walls and overhead, creating a web over the tables and giving the room a fairy-tale feel.

  “Do you like it?” Suzanne slipped through the crowd and stood at Liz’s side to admire the place.

  “You did all this?”

  “Well, I had the ideas. I had some of the guys do the actual work. Looks great, doesn’t it?”

  Liz wanted to know what guys, but didn’t ask. “It’s better than I could have hoped. I should have hired you months ago.”

  Suzanne’s laugh trilled, drawing attention. “It’s been my pleasure. Honestly. Now, let me go make sure the caterers are ready. I’ll see you later.”

  Before Liz could respond, Suzanne disappeared.

  The family’s table was closest to the dance floor, and marked by a larger flower arrangement. Once again she pictured Killian there with them. At least having him there would distract her from sitting with her mother, father, and her father’s girlfriend. Lord help her. But she couldn’t leave her mother alone, so she made her way through the crowd. Angie was already there, but Liz didn’t see her father or Sophia. Maybe they were still with Brianna.

  “Hey.” Liz slid into the chair by Angie to avoid the awkwardness of her mother being forced to sit there.

  “Hey. That was my first quinceañera. Pretty nice.” Angie’s fingers plucked at the heavy table cloth, and she didn’t quite meet Liz’s gaze.

  “Yeah, I don’t see how Brianna could have wanted anything more.”

  “Rafe was happy to do it, you know. He was proud to be able to give her that. He wishes he could give you something.”

  Liz shook her head. “It’s probably best that you don’t act as a go-between for him and me. If we’re going to make peace with each other, it’s going to have to be on our own.”

  Angie nodded. “I get that. I just thought you should know.”

  “He’s made it clear.” She had her own questions about Angie’s relationship with her father, but since she wanted Angie out of her relationship, she couldn’t exactly ask. “So is the baby moving yet?”

  Angie’s pretty face softened. “Now and then I feel a flutter. I’d forgotten what a thrill that is.”

  Sophia and Rafael approached then, together. Sophia’s expression tightened when she saw Angie at their table, but she sat on Liz’s other side as Rafael sat beside Angie. Conversation stalled, and Liz could think of nothing to jump-start it. Desperate, she looked out over the crowd and saw Killian walk in with David.

  Just when she thought she couldn’t get any more tense. Why was he putting them both through the anxiety? He met her gaze across the room. She wanted to look away, but didn’t want him to think she was weak, that she couldn’t handle him being there, that he made her nervous.

  Maybe he wasn’t nervous. He’d known he’d be coming. Perhaps he’d even planned a conversation. Good for him, because she had no idea what to say to him.

  That wasn’t entirely true. She had some idea, if she was honest with herself. But she hadn’t been honest with herself from the day they went tubing.

  Suzanne stepped up to the DJ’s microphone. “Dinner’s ready,” she said brightly. “Let’s start with the court and the family, and then the rest of y’all can come on down.” She turned to the DJ and said something, and he began playing some soft music to accompany dinner.

  Liz was grateful for the distraction and walked with her mother to line up at the chafing dishes containing barbecue, steamed vegetables, pinto beans, and mashed potatoes. At least Killian would be able to eat.

  She flicked the thought from her head. Not her problem anymore. She loaded her own plate and sat down, willing herself not to watch for him to go through the line.

  Once dinner was done, the court took to the dance floor for their choreographed dance. Liz had no idea when the group had worked on it. She’d never seen them practice, but the eight of them performed with confidence, moving from one partner to another before reuniting with their own partner.

  “Did you help them?” Liz leaned over to ask Gracie.

  “A little. I think Brianna’s cheer coach helped.”

  Of course. Two of the girls in the court were on the cheer squad with Brianna, and the fourth had been her best friend since kindergarten.

  Once the choreographed dance ended, the rest of the party was invited to join, and the DJ played a cumbia. Most of Evansville knew how to dance, and headed to the floor. Rafael exchanged a look with Angie before he leaned over to ask Sophia to dance. Liz held her breath as Sophia looked from his hand to the dance floor.

  “As her parents,” Rafael said, prompting.

  Sophia glanced at Liz, as if asking permission. Liz merely lifted a shoulder, but once Sophia and Rafael took the floor, she couldn’t take her eyes off of them. She was transported to her younger days, when she’d watched them dance at weddings and parties. The way they’d looked into each other’s eyes, aware of no one else but each other, had made her young heart swell with pride, and the hope that some day she could find someone as wrapped up in her as her father was wrapped up in her mother.

  And then it had all gone to hell, and her trust of finding anyone like that with it.

  Gracie poked Liz’s thigh, hard. When she turned to scowl at her sister, Gracie pointed to Brianna, who was walking out onto the floor with Killian. As Liz watched, he turned her baby sister to him, holding her respectfully, and guiding her in a decent cumbia. Liz felt ridiculous being jealous of her baby sister as Killian smiled and led her around the floor. Brianna’s expression changed from nervousness to a beautiful smile as she looked up at him. Liz watched his lips move, Brianna’s head dip closer to hear him, then she smiled and nodded, then said something.

  Lord, what was wrong with her that she was aching watching the two of them together?

  When the song ended, her parents returned to the table, Killian turned Brianna over to her escort, and looked in her direction.

  This time she did drop her
gaze, but only because she couldn’t let him see the emotion there. When she looked up again, he’d moved away.

  *****

  Killian wanted to ask Liz to dance, but stopped himself. Brianna had been looking forward to this day for so long, he didn’t want to ruin it with drama between himself and Liz. Maybe, if he caught her alone, away from the front of the room, he could talk to her, but his plan to sweep her off her feet in front of the town no longer held the same appeal. Sure, it would be one thing if she wrapped her arms around him and told him she’d made a mistake. But he couldn’t be sure of that outcome. He didn’t think Liz would cause a scene and disrupt her sister’s party, but the town would be watching. Yeah, he hadn’t exactly thought this through. He’d just wanted to see her.

  Light from outside caught his attention as the door to the hall opened. He figured it was someone else coming in from enjoying a cigarette, or maybe a beer. He’d seen a number of men gathered around the back of a pick-up earlier, drinking beer since there wasn’t a bar at the party. But his attention was caught by the white Ranger hat being removed. Had Ryan come with Allison?

  But no, Ryan stopped in the doorway, glanced around, and caught sight of David. The two men bent their heads together, Ryan doing most of the talking, and lifting his hat in the direction of the family table. Killian followed the motion and saw Rafael sitting with his arm around Angie, with Liz and Sophia tense beside them. Cassidy and Grady stopped by the table on their way to the dance floor. Who was Ryan pointing to?

  Killian crossed the room to join the conversation.

  “Gentlemen. What’s going on?”

  “We have the name behind the gambling halls, and it’s one of your people,” Ryan said.

  Again, Killian looked in the direction Ryan had been pointing. Most of the people on the dance floor were kids, Brianna’s friends, some of Gracie’s.

  “Who?”

  “Rafael Salazar. I’ve come to arrest him.”

  “Are you crazy? You can’t arrest him at his daughter’s quinceañera.”