by Becki Willis
“Well...” He clearly wavered.
“Please? After all, she already paid me the one hundred dollar fee. I’ve got to do something to earn all that money.”
Brash gave in with a hearty laugh. “With money like that at stake, you certainly do. And I might could arrange for some kind of compensation for working with me on this.”
“Really?” Maddy brightened. “How much?”
Brash snagged her around the waist and pulled her against him. “How does unlimited kisses for the next twenty years sound?”
“Make it forty, and you’ve got yourself a deal,” Maddy said, winding her arms around his neck for the first installment.
“Hey, what about me?” Genny grumbled. “I helped with this, too, you know. I’m the one that did all the snooping. And if this was the kind of pay you were referring to, you can just forget about our Snoop and Soup venture.”
Brash lifted his dark auburn head. “Snoop and Soup? What did I miss?” He reached out a long arm and scooped Genny into their embrace. “And there’s plenty for you, too, Miss Gennecut.” He dropped a playful kiss onto the top of her hair.
“That was exactly how I came across the chair to begin with, trying to avoid all references to Gennecut,” she admitted. “Believe me; they are all over the internet.”
“Which reminds me, Brash, we have a new theory on Genny’s stalker. Turn us loose, and we’ll tell you about it.”
Chapter Seventeen
With their hopes of retrieving the coveted Longhorn chair put on hold, Genny saw no reason not to go to work. Maddy tried talking her out of it, so Genny compromised by promising not to stay long. Just long enough to apologize to her staff for her unforgivable behavior the day before.
Her staff, of course, forgave her. Genesis Baker was the best boss any of them had ever had. She made them all feel valued, no matter their pay grade or job title. She was not afraid to work alongside them or to get her hands as dirty or as waterlogged as theirs. On more than one occasion, Genny had washed dishes and mopped floors. Her staff would forgive her of most anything, particularly something as trivial as needing an unexpected break.
As Genny predicted, the café was particularly busy that day. The towns were bustling and the streets were full. If the cameras wanted to capture the feel of a small town gearing up for a celebration, they had more than enough subject matter.
Since Maddy could not be in two places at one time, she and Genny split up for the Spirit Walk. Maddy watched from along the streets of Juliet as Blake and the football team marched down the main street like royalty. Genny cheered from the Naomi sidewalk, waving to Bethani and Megan as the cheer squad chanted its way down the street, showing off with cartwheels and leaps and smart arm gestures.
The two strands of the Spirit Walk came together at the parade grounds, where a large, neatly stacked bonfire stood. As they waited for the sun to sink below the trees and for twilight to set in, the band played and the cheerleaders cheered. Once the fire was lit, the football players would make predictions of victory for the following night and everyone would join in for more cheers, more school spirit.
Most of the community was out tonight, crowding the small patch of mutual ground that belonged to both cities. Next year, they might have to seriously consider changing locations of the bonfire. The towns were growing, slowly but surely, and the grounds were crowded, particularly tonight. It could have been because of the one-hundred-year celebration and the fact that television cameras were present, but Genny chose to believe it was because of tradition. Upholding valued traditions sounded better than seeking fifteen minutes of fame.
Cutter was on duty tonight. The volunteer fire department was in charge of parking, crowd control, and, naturally, fire hazard. But the chief officer found time to make his way to Genny’s side.
“Hey, Genny darlin’. How are you feeling?” He brushed a light kiss across her cheek, even knowing that someone would see the gesture and make an issue of it.
“Better. Amazingly enough, my feet don’t even hurt.” She looked around and leaned in to share a secret. “Don’t tell Granny Bert, but that salve she made me wear was amazing. I don’t have a single blister.”
“Maybe I should get some,” he mumbled beneath his breath.
She heard him and immediately felt guilty. “I’m sorry, Cutter. You got those blisters because of me.”
“If I recall correctly, you repeatedly asked me to leave. I chose to walk that road. It’s not your fault that my boots rubbed blisters on my feet.”
“Cutter, about last night... I was in a really weird place. My head wasn’t on straight.”
Before she could fumble through an apology, Cutter interrupted her with an easy smile. “Really? I didn’t notice.”
She bumped her shoulder into his. “Y’all are letting me off the hook, way too easy. The staff wasn’t even mad at me, even when I walked out on them like that.”
“Everyone deserves a break now and then. Especially you, Genny darlin’.”
“Thank you, Cutter.” Her words were soft, her eyes moist as she stared up at him. “For everything.”
“Look, Genny, I want you to know something. I’m not going to put any pressure on you. We’ll take this as slow or as fast as you want. If all you can do is friendship right now, then I’m okay with that.”
“Now you’re going to make me cry again.”
“Hold off on the waterworks until I ask you something.” He swept off his cowboy hat, held it over his heart, and caught himself before he got down on one knee. “Genesis Baker,” he asked solemnly, “will you go to Homecoming with me?”
She laughed in glee. “You do know it’s been twenty years since anyone has asked me that question.”
“Been a while since I’ve asked it, too,” he admitted. “And I’ve never wanted a girl to say yes as much as I want you to.”
“Then yes, Cutter Montgomery, I would be honored to be your date for Homecoming.”
They grinned at each other like a couple of high schoolers.
As an afterthought, Genny said, “Oh, one thing. At halftime, I have to go out on the field. They want all the Queens from the past one hundred years to come out on the field.”
“I know. They want all the former Football Captains out there, too. We’ll be presenting the roses.”
“Works out well then, doesn’t it?” she smiled.
“Sure does.” He gave her a mischievous smile. “Especially since I already spent forty bucks on your homecoming mum.”
“It better not be too gaudy,” she warned. She recalled the mum Tommy had given her the year she wore the crown. Back then, underclassmen could claim the title. She had been but a sophomore, but she had garnered enough votes to win, probably because she was a cheerleader and was dating the star running back. Tommy had given her a huge double mum that weighted down her dress and made it impossible to turn her head without poking herself in the eye.
Oddly enough, the memory of that night did not hurt, not as it usually did. Maybe last night had been therapeutic, after all.
“For forty bucks, you can rest assured it’s small. Those things cost a fortune these days!”
Genny laughed, putting a hand to his chest and giving him a gentle push. “You’d better get back to your duties, Mr. Fireman. I don’t want anyone saying I put our town at risk by detaining the head honcho.”
“Guess you’re right.” His hand came up to hers and squeezed. “By the way, thanks for saying yes.”
“By the way, thanks for asking.”
As they exchanged silly smiles once again, someone from across the crowded way called out, “Hey, look, there they are! Gennecut!”
Cutter’s eyes began to twinkle. Genny knew what he was thinking, before he even reached for her, his grin wicked. “Come on, Genny, let’s make their day.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” she squealed, but she made no real effort to get away.
“Just a simple kiss, Mrs. Gennecut.”
She was but fle
sh and blood. Far too weak to refuse his request.
Genny lifted her face, but Cutter’s kiss was anything but simple. Simple would have been a gentle brush of his lips against hers. Simple would not have curled her toes.
Just as Genny determined simple was overrated, her phone rang with the ID of Atlanta, Georgia. She pulled away and answered with a spunky, “Sorry, can’t take your harassment right now. But if you’ve got the guts, please leave a message after the beep.”
***
Friday was a blur of activity in The Sisters. The café was packed all day and Genny was late getting ready for the game. Worst of all, the photo of her and Cutter kissing had gone viral. It was the first real ‘proof’ of a relationship between them, and the public was ecstatic. Reporters showed up at lunchtime, eager to capture the two of them on film. Genny drew adverse satisfaction in the fact that the café was so busy, she did not even have time to eat.
Cutter showed up on her doorstep, wearing the blue paisley shirt and his black tooled leather vest. He had even donned a bolo tie and his best cowboy hat for the special half-time presentation. And he carried a modest, unassuming wrist corsage in his hands. There were the usual bells and footballs, along with short blue and white streamers that had but a single personalization. ‘Mrs. Gennecut’ sparkled in silver letters, drawing a peel of laughter from its honoree.
“I have one for you, too,” she said, bending to retrieve a small boutonniere. It had a thin ribbon attached with the glittery inscription of ‘Mr. Gennecut.’
“Great minds think alike,” he laughed. “Ready?”
“Let me grab my dress. I’ll change into it before halftime.”
“The red dress, I hope?”
She blushed, recalling the night she had first worn it. “Yes. I couldn’t see going out and buying a new dress for a five minute stroll across the field.”
“Remember, your walker might slow you down,” he teased. “By the way, I asked, but they won’t let Kindergarteners present roses to the Junior High.”
Genny stared at him, unsure whether to be insulted or amused.
“Hey darlin’, this age thing between us is what it is. We either accept it, or we don’t. Me, I got no problem with it. Then again,” he added with a sly smile, “I might be too young to know the difference.”
Genny tried to fight the smile. She felt it crackle the corners of her mouth, so she pursed her lips and attempted a glare. “Watch it, Mr. Gennecut. It’s not nice to disrespect your elders.”
He gave her the smile that encompassed his entire face, the one that was so genuine and so brilliant that it actually hurt to look at. Offering his arm, he ushered her out the door and to the unforgettable night that awaited them.
Genny was having second thoughts about changing into her red dress. The dressing rooms were all packed. Over fifty previous queens attended tonight, and most of them had chosen to dress just before half time. She and Maddy finally slipped into the band hall, where only a handful of other women were gathered.
“I don’t have a mirror, but do I look okay?” Genny asked as she smoothed the dress over her curvy hips.
“You look beautiful. Me?” Maddy asked, twirling slowly so her friend could judge all angles.
“Gorgeous and dignified, as always. And very slim. Me, I think I’ve put on a few pounds.” She adjusted the fitted waist and frowned.
“Well, you can’t tell. Stop fidgeting. You look lovely.”
“Yes, you do,” a quiet voice said from behind them.
Genny whirled around, her eyes widening in surprise. “Callie Beth.”
“You look beautiful, Miss Genny. Just like you did on Valentines.”
“Oh, well, thank you. And as always, you look simply lovely.”
The younger woman’s smile was slightly sad. “Not that he’ll even notice tonight. He didn’t that night either, you know. He only had eyes for you.”
“Callie Beth, I need to apologize for my behavior last night.”
“No. You don’t.” Her voice was strong and certain. “I’m the one who needs to apologize. I’ve know it all along, Miss Genny. I knew that night, the night he danced with you and the two of you got lost in one another’s eyes.” She put her hand to her chest, as if to hold together a broken heart. “It would have made a perfect scene in a movie. I know, because it played over and over in my mind. He never once looked at me that way, not in all the time I’ve known him.”
“Callie Beth—”
“Please, let me finish. I knew how he felt about you, even though I foolishly thought I could change his mind. But love isn’t about the mind, it’s about the heart. And I’m sorry to say this, but I took advantage of his goodness. I knew he was too much of a gentleman to make a scene, so I pretended that it was me he was in love with, me that he spent five thousand dollars on, me that he wanted to play king and queen with. My mother almost convinced me that it was so. But you should have seen him last night, Miss Genny. When you disappeared, he was frantic. If I ever doubted how he felt about you – which I never really did – last night made things crystal clear for me. So I just wanted to say... don’t let something like a few silly years stand in your way of happiness. When a man like Cutter Montgomery gives you his heart, accept it as the gift that it is. And—And, that’s all, I guess.” She suddenly ran out of steam. Her shoulders sagged as she dropped her eyes and let out a deep breath of stored up courage.
“Oh, Callie Beth, that is the most beautiful and generous thing anyone has ever said to me,” Genny said. She put her arms around the other woman and hugged her. Neither worried about mussing their hair or their clothes.
“I admire you, Miss Genny. And I want the best for you.”
“Thank you, Callie Beth.” Genny would not insult her with some rote babble about finding the right man someday. She thought she had found that man, and her heart was breaking because he did not return the sentiment. “You have no idea how much I admire you right now, for having the strength and the grace to come to me like this.”
“Don’t make me cry. I might mess up my makeup. And who knows? There might be someone in the crowd with eyes just for me.” She tried to conjure a brave smile.
“I don’t doubt that there are a lot of someones, Callie Beth. Here, let me straighten this for you.” Genny stood back and inspected her adjustment. “There. Perfect.”
As they parted with smiles and wishes of good luck, Genny wondered how Kayla Sorenson’s daughter could be so wise.
***
Fifty-three former queens of The Sisters High came onto the field as the announcer called their names. Some of the women were slow to make their trek across the metered field, their progress hampered by walkers and canes, or slow, swollen feet. The crowd watched patiently, offering the aged queens the same respect they showed to their younger, more agile counterparts. The younger queens still had the glow of youth about them, a liveliness to their step that defied the progression of age; the older queens had wisdom in their eyes, and a grace about them that stood the test of time.
Genny suspected she fell somewhere in the middle, too old to have the glow, yet too young to have the wisdom. She settled for making the trip onto the field without stumbling, and for garnering scattered whistles from the crowd.
When possible, the honorees were paired by year. Genny was a sophomore the year she won the crown, but her captain was missing. With a stab of pain, she recalled that Tommy had been football captain that year. So in his stead was the co-captain from the team.
Barry Redmond wore a smile for the others to see, but when he presented Genny with her single red rose, his words were low and snarled. “Tommy should be here to do this.”
Genny held his eyes, no longer feeling guilty for Tommy’s death. Somewhere along the way, she had realized that Tommy made his own choices in life. As always, the free spirit thought only of himself when making those choices. His life was ruined, his future was bleak, his heart was hurting. Tommy — always the life of the party, always looking for t
he next big thrill — was all about the highs in life. Tommy didn’t do lows. And when he was faced with a particularly gut-wrenching low, Tommy had taken the coward’s way out. Genny was not to blame.
Her eyes steady on his, Genny softly agreed. “You’re right, Barry. He should be.”
Her even reply caught him by surprise. He blinked a couple of times before clearing his throat and turning away, his feet just a bit unsteady.
And when Cutter came out onto the field, so handsome and assured, he dutifully made his way to the woman who stood ten people down — thus ten years down — from Genny. But he could not resist finding Genny’s eyes in the crowd, and giving her a very deliberate and sexy wink.
Genny heard a few of the women giggle. It occurred to her that their giggles were not malicious, not the kind that made fun at another’s expense. They were more of an amused giggle, the kind offered in indulgence and even, perhaps, in envy. Standing just a bit straighter, Genny lifted her chin and returned Cutter’s smile.
The football game was close, but in the end, the Cotton Kings were victorious.
“Montelongo’s is still open,” Brash said, consulting his watch as they stood visiting afterward. “We have to pick up the kids from the dance at midnight, but it gives us plenty of time for a bite to eat. You two want to join us?”
“Genny?” Cutter asked.
“Why not? We’re dressed to go out.”
“And you two look gorgeous, as always,” Brash assured them.
Madison laughed, winding her arm around his waist. “Flattery will get you everywhere, kind sir.”
“I like the idea of showing off our hot dates,” Cutter agreed. He winked down at Genny. “You stay here. I’ll go get the truck.”
“Thanks.” Still in her heels, Genny had no desire to hike to the parking lot.
“We’re parked right over there, but I can wait with you, if you like,” Maddy offered as Cutter jogged away.
