When the final Amen was said to bless the meal, the folks dispersed, and the Gracin girls hurried to their stations, hoping to keep the food line moving at a reasonable pace. Given the parishioners’ contributions to the meal, Cherise grinned from ear to ear, silently planning her turn at the table. Meanwhile, the Gracin girls – with the exception of Frances, who was considered an adult – ushered families and helped youngsters to load their plates. Groups headed to different spots on the meadow grass to sit on blankets with friends and partake of the meal.
When Michael and Frances walked through, Tariana busied herself with setting up the dessert table. From the corner of her eye, she noticed them join a group of young friends, and Tariana let out a sigh of relief. Could she avoid them all day? She doubted it. Her sister had spent most of the week at the infirmary, learning how to help Michael with the therapy required to strengthen his leg. One thing Tariana had learned from her recent character reveal was that she was a coward, and that did not sit well with her.
Cherise grabbed her arm. “Leave the sweet treats to chance. Let the ones who finish the main course first have first dibs on the sugar feast.” She leaned in. “Except for us. Grab your choice now, and we’ll bring it to the blanket with our meal.” They giggled and indulged.
Over the next half hour, the girls downed fried chicken, mashed potato, cabbage, a thin strip of ham smothered in applesauce, raw carrots, celery, and cucumbers. Tariana could not resist the turkey platter, and she added a chunk of the dark meat and bread dressing and poured the thick, rich gravy over the top. She’d run out of room on the plate, making it look more like a mountain of gluttony than the ladylike portions she’d seen Frances take, but Tariana supposed her sister had a wedding dress to fit into shortly, and starvation was the price one paid to be a beautiful, slim bride.
When Tariana noticed folks starting to gather their things and pack them into their wagons, she took it as a signal to start the games.
She scanned the area for Jamie.
When she spotted him with a bunch of friends, she headed over to remind him about the tournaments of which he was in charge. Laughter filled the air as she drew near, and she noticed a stunning brunette who was the focus of attention, eating up the admiration of numerous fellas like a starved puppy. She was tall, slender, and had enormous eyes that seemed to draw you in – at least, it appeared to have that effect on the men. When the girl spoke with that southern drawl, Tariana could almost see her subjects’ knees buckle beneath them.
Tariana stopped her advance when Jamie noticed her. Before he left the group, he took the girl’s gloved hand and kissed it.
She was armed and ready when he joined her. “Really? Gloves?” Tariana said. “Where does she think she is, at a tea party for the Queen?”
“Cattiness is your least praiseworthy attribute,” Jamie answered. “Are we ready for the games?” Jamie distanced himself, and she felt annoyed with the direction their friendship was headed.
“Are you still mad at me?” Tariana asked.
“Not at all, but I have resigned myself to accept a few truths about my childhood friend that I appear to have overlooked.”
“Such as?”
“Let’s not go there today. This is supposed to be a fun social event.”
“If it’s about Tuesday, it all worked out in the end. Look for yourself.” She pointed at the engaged couple. “Soon, we won’t even notice Michael’s limp, and his memory returned after only two short days. Frances is by his side, and the wedding is back on track.” When his expression did not change, she became bewildered. “Can we go fishing next week?”
“I’m busy.” The way he’d said it got her dander up.
“Too busy to fish. Since when?” Tariana noted his quick glance in the newcomer’s direction. “Jamie Sackerton – are you interested in the new girl?”
“Along with ten other males chomping at the bit to ask her out.”
“Well, maybe, you’d have an in if you volunteered to teach her to play Corn Hole,” Tariana said, her voice edging on sarcasm.
“That’s a splendid idea. I’ll rescue her from the masses and announce the game for everyone to come and play.”
Tariana watched Jamie walk back, pull the girl aside, and speak to her. A moment later, she paraded with him to the row of games that had been set up. A foreign, uncomfortable feeling seized Tariana as she watched him cozy up behind her and cup her hand in his. When the bag was aimed just perfectly, he helped her throw the corn bag. Her first toss was a bullseye, and she jumped into his arms as if she’d conquered the great skill on her own.
Jamie noticed Tariana staring, and he responded by lifting the girl off her feet and swinging her around, only stopping when he was facing the opposite direction. He was flaunting his silliness – for her benefit?
The girl’s drama continued until Tariana thought she’d be sick. It was then she recognized the green monster settling into her heart again, and she groaned. A prayer escaped her lips, “Oh, Lord – it’s Jamie.” The boy next door who’d been there all along. He’d never once entered her mind as a possible suitor. She repeated her father’s words in a whisper: “He’s been here my entire life.”
“Who’s been here your entire life?” Cherise asked, shimmying up behind her.
“No one,” Tariana said, a red flush covering her face. “We have games with the children now. Let’s go.”
After an
