by Debby Mayne
If I weren’t so confused about my attraction to him, I’d be laughing about what happened when he walked up to Kyle and me. He gave me an odd look and asked again if Kyle and I were an item. I said no at the same time Kyle said yes. Officer Murdoch then asked if Kyle was being a nuisance. I started to say no, but Kyle decided to make it his business to talk for me. That’s when things got out of hand. Kyle shoved Trace, who told him to keep his hands to himself. Then Kyle acted in a way that shocked me. He started to shove him again, but Trace warned him that it was against the law and that he’d be in a lot of trouble. Instead of making physical contact, Kyle tried a little bit of taunting, until Grandpa Jay came in and took over. This is as close to having anyone fight over me as I’ve ever experienced and probably ever will. Go figure.
I’m the girl who has never had a long-term relationship. I’m the girl who never had a date until college. And now I’m the girl who is confused between two guys—one who has come right out and said he wants me but I don’t trust him and the other who hasn’t made the first move but he makes my heart feel like it has wings. I know I’m not into Kyle, but my feelings for Trace could be based on any number of things, like he’s so cute in uniform, like he was there to save me, or it’s a real feeling that can blossom into something really special. I don’t want to make a colossal mistake like I’ve seen so many people do, so I decide to let things happen naturally and not force them.
After I take a few minutes to regroup, I reluctantly go back out to join the family. A few people give me a double take, but no one pounces on me, demanding to know what happened. I’m shocked. I fully expected everyone to crowd around me, asking questions, making a big deal of what happened.
It appears that a bunch of hungry hogs hit the table, but I go over there to see if I can find anything decent. I put a few things on my plate and start for one of the picnic tables when Missy approaches carrying a disposable bowl. I glance down at it and see the steaming chili.
“I thought this might make you feel better.” She holds it out to me. “It’s from my secret stash that I hid for times like this.”
I feel a smile coming on as I take it. Missy has always been very sweet, but she tends to fade into the background for me. That’ll never happen again. She’s my hero now.
“Want me to join you, or are you in the mood to be alone?” she asks.
“You can join me if you want.” I look around and see that there’s already at least one person sitting at each table.
She nods and points off to the distance where a portable table sits beneath one of the big pecan trees. “Why don’t we go over there?”
As we walk toward the table, I take a deep breath. It’s unseasonably warm for November, but a gentle breeze keeps it from getting too hot.
I sit with my back to the house, and Missy sits across from me. “This is my award-winning chili.” She pauses as I scoop the first bite into my mouth.
“I can see why. It’s delicious.” After I swallow, I take another bite.
Missy smiles. “It makes me happy to hear nice things about my cooking. Foster has never been one to heap praise on me.”
There’s something in her tone that catches my attention. I stop eating and look her in the eye to see a deep sadness that breaks my heart.
“How long have you and Foster been married?” I ask.
She chuckles. “More than twenty years.”
“That’s a long time.” I leave out the rest of what I’m thinking—that it’s way too long to be as miserable as she appears.
She sighs. “Yes, it certainly is.”
“I hope I can find someone to spend my life with.” I put down my spoon and clear my throat. “I mean, I want to finish college and get a good job, but sometimes I get lonely.”
“Looks to me like you don’t have to stay lonely.” Missy’s smile returns. “Both of those boys are totally smitten.”
I ponder how much to tell her and quickly decide to let her know all about what happened. She listens attentively and gives me an occasional nod. When I finish with the scene that occurred earlier, she widens her eyes and shakes her head.
“So I don’t know what to believe.” I shrug. “Maybe I just need to go meet more people and start over.”
“If only it were that easy.” She pulls her lips between her teeth, and I can tell she’s itching to say something.
I narrow my gaze as I stare at her. “What?”
“I hate giving advice when I’m not asked, but I have some if you’re interested.”
I shrug. “Sure. I’m open to advice, since I’m clearly clueless.”
“Well . . .” She fiddles with a paper napkin she’s been holding. “I can’t attest to that boy Kyle’s feelings, but I think you and Officer Murdoch should get to know each other.”
“He seems nice.”
Missy laughs. “He’s more than nice, and it’s obvious he likes you enough to stick up for you.” She pauses. “I think it’s clear how much he likes you.”
It’s not that I want anyone fighting over me, or getting hurt in my honor. But it sure does feel good to hear this coming from someone who isn’t directly involved. “You really think so?”
“I do, and that’s not all.”
I lean forward. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
She giggles. “I might shouldn’t say this, but according to Granny Marge, he asked Grandpa Jay if it was okay to take you out to dinner next week.”
“He did?” I ponder that for a moment. “It takes guts to approach Grandpa Jay.”
Missy nods. “I know, right? He’s clearly super interested, or he would never have done that.” She glances over her shoulder. “Why don’t we go inside where there’s a little privacy?”
I nod and follow her into the house. Now I’m so excited I start blabbering my head off. At first, I let her know how my life has changed over the past couple of months, and that leads to the fact that if I’d known before what I know now, I would have had a social life much sooner. Being a mousy wallflower in ill-fitting clothes and not putting myself out there because I was too afraid of rejection only perpetuated my lack of socialization.
Mama used to tell me that there was no in-between with me. When I’m out and about, I don’t utter a peep, but when I get home, I’m a motor mouth. But I can’t help myself. And Missy remains sitting there listening, although she does have a strange look on her face.
“Have you seen Nate?”
“Yes, sweetie. I was chatting with him a few minutes ago.” Mama gives me what appears to be a pitying look. “I know you’re all wrapped up in your own thing, but you really should give him more attention. He’s such a sweet young man.”
“He’s fine.” This time he’s the one who wandered off. “Where is he now?”
Mama shrugs. “Justin came and got him. Apparently, Bucky wanted them to come look at a boxcar he built for Julius.”
“Where is it?”
“In the garage, I think.”
I leave Mama with one of our cousins and head on over to the garage, where Nate and Justin are deep in conversation with Bucky and Digger. They’re clearly talking guy talk, so I wander toward the house, where the back door is standing open. I push it a little farther and go inside.
As I walk into the house, I hear Coralee going on a rant about how tired she is of being the last to know anything, while Missy just stands there with her mouth hanging open, looking like she wishes she could be anywhere but here. Before I have a chance to sneak back out, Coralee spots me.
“Hi.” I give her a shaky grin. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to walk in on—”
“No, you’re fine.” Coralee motions for me to step closer. “I want your opinion on something.”
“Um . . .” I glance over at Missy, who gives me an apologetic look and a shrug. “Okay, what do you want my opinion about?”
She doesn’t waste a second before telling me about how she was pulled over when she was crying about Kyle and that she was instantly attract
ed to the police officer. “I mean, with a cute face like that, how could I not be?”
Once again, I look at Missy, whose face is expressionless—sort of like she’s afraid to commit to a smile or frown. Then I glance back at Coralee. “I get it.”
“Okay, so then he doesn’t call me, and I’ve lost hope, but then here he is at the family reunion.” She goes on to tell about how Kyle crashed the reunion and then he got into it with Officer Murdoch. “Who gets in a fight with a cop?”
I’m not sure, but I don’t think she wants an answer, so I shrug. “Not someone I’d care to be with.”
She scrunches her face into the frowniest look I’ve ever seen. “I thought maybe Trace would ask me out, but he didn’t, and then Missy here tells me he asked Grandpa Jay if it was okay to take me to dinner.” She pauses. “What guy does that these days?”
Now I’m pretty sure she wants an answer. “A guy who wants to do the right thing?”
“I don’t know.” She tilts her head and gives me an odd look. “Do you really think so?”
I nod. “Absolutely.”
Missy steps forward and touches Coralee’s arm. “I agree with Sally. I think he’s an honorable guy who wants to get off on the right foot.”
“Guys might have done that back when you were my age, but that’s not how it’s done now.”
“How would you know?” Missy pauses and tips her head to the side as she looks at Coralee. “You’ve already told me you don’t have much experience with guys.”
Coralee lets out a nervous giggle. “I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’m sort of addicted to reality TV. I’ve seen how people are on those shows.”
Missy lifts an eyebrow. “If you’re trying to do what those rude reality TV stars do, you’ll never find true love.” She gives Coralee an I-feel-for-you grin. “And to be honest, I don’t think those shows are all that real. They’re staged. There are truly some honorable folks out there who know how to stay out of trouble.”
I swallow hard, hoping Coralee doesn’t come back with Missy’s past. Most people over the age of twenty-one know that her daughter arrived six months after they got married.
To my relief—and I’m sure Missy’s—Coralee taps her finger on her chin. “So you’re saying that Trace is doing things the old-fashioned way because he likes me?”
This is the first time I’ve heard her call the officer by his first name, and I’m thinking that’s a good sign.
Missy cuts a glance over at me and gives me a forced smile before turning her attention on Coralee again. “Yes, that’s pretty much what I’m saying.” She takes a sideways step toward me.
Coralee folds her arms and stares down at the floor for a few seconds before lifting her gaze back to Missy and then to me. “Okay, so what do I do now?”
“When he asks you out, you say you’d love to go.” As I state the obvious, I look at Missy, hoping for backup.
Her reaction catches me off guard. “Or you tell him you’re not interested.”
I want to ask her what on earth she’s talking about, but Coralee speaks up. “But I am interested.”
Missy grins as she holds out her arms. “Then it’s settled. You accept the date.”
“And then what?”
Now that I see what Missy has done—get Coralee to commit—I chime in. “You go out and have a good time getting to know him.”
Something behind me catches Coralee’s attention. “Like you’re not doing with your boyfriend?” I glance over my shoulder and see Nate standing there with Bucky, whose voice I heard.
“Oh, hi.” Now I feel silly offering advice I’m not heeding in my own life.
Missy gestures toward the door. “Why don’t you go have some fun, Sally? I can take over from here.”
As I join Nate, Bucky runs his hands through his hair. “Is everything okay in here? Do y’all need me?”
Coralee makes a face as she and Missy both speak at the same time. “No.”
“All righty then, I’ll just head on back out and make sure everything is running smoothly.” He walks toward the door with Nate and me, mumbling something about folks wandering off, acting like they own the place.
As soon as Nate and I are alone, he puts his arm around my shoulder. “Can we go somewhere and talk? Privately?”
“Sure.” I shield my eyes from the sun and look around. “Why don’t we go over to the other side of the house?”
I’m pleasantly surprised to see a two-seater swing beneath a large oak tree. Nate points to it. “How’s that?”
As we sit down and start swaying, he pulls me closer. I have to admit it feels good to be in the protective arms of a guy I really like.
“So, have you managed to solve all your family’s problems?”
I look up at him and see the teasing grin on his face. “Pretty much.”
“I could tell it was important for you to handle some things, so I tried to leave you alone as much as possible.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head and waves his hand around. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve had a good time getting to know some of the guys. Justin and I get along great.”
I’ve noticed that Justin gets along with almost everyone, but I don’t say that. “I’m glad.”
“Me too.” He lifts a hand and brushes the hair from my face as he gazes at me with adoration. “I really like you, Sally.”
“Even though I’ve invited you here and left you to fend for yourself?”
He chuckles. “I like the fact that you are your own woman and not someone who clings.”
“You don’t think I’ve been rude?”
“Not rude, but I would like to spend more time with you.”
I take his hand in mine and look him in the eye. “I promise I’ll be more attentive. I’ll spend the rest of the day with you.”
“And I’d like nothing better.”
Before I have a chance to say another word, he lowers his face to mine and kisses me. I’m sure he can feel my pulse through my lips, but I don’t care. This is how I’d always imagined a kiss making me feel but never really knew if that would ever happen.
Whoa. I should have known better than to leave the group I was chatting with, but I’ve already done it, and now I’ve seen something I can’t unsee. Sure, Sally is a grown woman, and her twin is already married and pregnant. But she’s still one of my babies.
I duck back around the house, hoping Sally doesn’t notice me and praying that she doesn’t think I’m spying on her. I let my head fall back as I suck in some air, since every ounce of it left my lungs the instant I saw her in a lip-lock with Nate.
Nate. The boy who’s smack-dab in the middle of stealing my baby. The boy I want to hate but can’t for more than one reason. First, he’s very sweet. Second, he’s cute as all get out, and I can see why my daughter was attracted to him to begin with. And third, she clearly likes him, and I’ve always told my girls that anyone who’s a friend of theirs is a friend of mine. But still.
“Sheila?”
I spin around and see my husband standing about ten feet away, looking apprehensive. “Hey, Georgie.”
“Are you okay?” He takes a step closer but stops before he’s within reach. I can tell he’s not sure what to do with his hands or his feet, since he’s shuffling around and kicking his toe on the ground. I must have a crazy expression for him to be acting like that.
I take a deep breath and try to relax my facial muscles. “I’m fine.”
“So, what’s going on?” He tips his head to one side.
I swallow hard because I’m not sure what to say. I don’t want to lie to my husband, but I’m not sure I should tell him I’ve been snooping. Actually, it isn’t exactly snooping, but there’s no doubt in my mind it’ll sound like that’s what it is.
He shuffles his feet and studies the ground before meeting my gaze with an odd look. “Did you see what I just saw?”
I tilt my head to the side and give him a questioning look. “All depends
. What did you just see?”
“Sally and . . . uh, her fella were sort of . . .”
“Kissing?” I can’t help laughing at his reaction that seems even more overblown than mine.
“Yeah.” Now he looks so pained that an overwhelming urge to comfort him washes over me.
I close the distance between us and put my hands behind his neck and clasp them. “You mean like this?”
Before he has a chance to answer, I put my lips on his and give him a big ol’ honkin’ smackaroo. It takes a few seconds, but his tense body eventually relaxes. I have to admit it’s good to know I still have that effect on him after all these years. It’s been quite a while since I’ve kissed him spontaneously like that.
“Hey, you two.”
We break our kiss and look off to the side. There stands my father-in-law chuckling and shaking his head.
I keep my hands clasped behind Georgie’s neck as I continue looking at Dennis. “Are you spying on us?”
“Not any more than you’re spying on my granddaughter.” He laughs again. “There’s definitely a lot of romance in the air around here.”
“Then you’d better go find Fay. There’s a lot of good-looking men around here too.”
“Don’t forget,” Dennis says as he holds up an index finger. “She’s related to most of them, and as far as I know, this family tree has branched out quite nicely.”
“But you still might want to know where she is,” Georgie says. “After what happened at the last reunion, it’s not a bad idea to keep track of folks.”
“Oh, trust me, I know where Fay is. She’s busy chasing after Digger’s little one. That little guy sure is a handful, but he’s definitely lovable. We need us some great-grandchildren.”
“Which you’re getting soon enough.”
Dennis rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, I have to admit I’m surprised by that. Me and Fay always figured Sally would be the first one to get hitched. I never imagined Sara making a decision that big on her own.”
“This family is full of surprises,” I remind him.
As he turns around to leave, I hear him mutter, “You can say that again.”
