Scanning the other side of the room, she noticed a slender blonde with a flat rear-end who appeared to be about Melly’s age. The two huddled together near the hearth, giggling while looking at something in a magazine. At least they weren’t pointing at her and laughing. Anxiety bubbled and brewed in Scarlett’s tummy as Davis led her around, introducing her to aunts, uncles and cousins—both close and distant—as well as several small family units he referred to as family friends. Everyone seemed to mix and mingle as if they had known each other forever, making her outsider-status even more conspicuous. What if they started asking her questions about her relationship with Davis? What was she supposed to say?
Scarlett looked over her shoulder, spotting the door. She could just turn and rush out. It wasn’t as if she was ever going to see any of these people again after the next couple of days. Her throat dry, she stood frozen as Davis’s hand smoothed out her sweater across her back.
“Here you go, dearie.” Gram stepped between Scarlett and the escape route.
Scarlett smiled as sincerely as she could under the circumstances as Carolyn lifted up a large mug garnished with a peppermint stick…probably hot chocolate. If only there was a shot of Kahlua inside, she’d have her favorite winter drink.
“Thank you,” Scarlett said, grasping the cup with both hands and taking a sip. Her eyes widened as the fluid rolled over her taste buds. No way! She savored the flavor as it rolled down her throat. Smiling at Carolyn, she said, “Yum! My favorite—how did you know?”
“Oh, you just looked like a cocoa and Kahlua kinda girl,” the older lady said with a smile, gently placing her hand on Scarlett’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “I think you will really like the holiday meal too!”
Scarlett’s cheeks blazed. Was that a crack about her weight? She searched Carolyn’s expression. Her kind eyes and sweet smile gave no indication of malice. Perhaps Scarlett was just reading more into it than she should. “It smells wonderful.”
“Doesn’t it?” Carolyn smiled and leaned in, whispering as if she were sharing a secret. “From the aroma, you’d never guess there was no meat. Our family’s recipes have been passed down for generations.”
“You’re a vegetarian?”
“We all are,” Carolyn, said gesturing around the room.
“All of you?”
“Surprised?”
“A little…not that I’m much for meat—it doesn’t agree with me,” Scarlett said before admitting, “but I can eat my weight in pasta, breadsticks and salad.”
With an animated facial expression and charisma, Carolyn said, “Good! Because we’ve made a lot of food! There’s roasted pumpkin bisque, eggplant parmesan and a spinach and cheese risotto torte that is to die for!”
“I’m sure it will be—”
Davis interrupted. “Gram, stop hogging my date.”
As soon as his last word escaped his lips, Scarlett’s shoulders stiffened. Was this really a date rather than an offer of hospitality?
Carolyn raised an eyebrow at Davis before shrugging. “Fine, fine…I’ll circulate.” She lightly patted the back of Scarlett’s hand. “You have a nice evening, dearie.”
After dinner, the rest of the evening seemed like a blur. Scarlett struggled to remember the names of all the people pulling her into conversations. With the exception of Melly, everyone was being incredibly gracious toward her—at least to her face—but eyes and whispers followed her as Davis guided her, circulating through all the clusters of conversation and socialization.
Her head spinning, Scarlett asked, “May I use the restroom?”
“Of course.” Davis held her hand as he led her to the hallway and pointed out the bathroom.
Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her and locked it. She sighed deeply and leaned her back against the door. Why had she done this to herself? She ran away to avoid awkward holiday drama only to become another family’s spectacle. What was Davis thinking? Who takes someone to a Christmas Eve dinner on a first date…? Well, second if you counted the horse ride and third if you counted the pounding he had given her right after they met. Ugh…since when do I have one-night stands…? Oh yeah, since that asshole, Robert, broke me into tiny pieces. She grabbed some tissue, dabbing the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t let herself cry! If she did, all those watchful eyes would think she was a head-case. Well, at least I managed to get through a few hours without thinking about Robert. She looked at her watch. It was nearly ten-thirty. She had stayed long enough—time to say goodnight.
She cracked the door, peeking out and breathing a sigh of relief that Davis hadn’t stood there waiting for her to come out. She had already suffered enough embarrassment. As she headed down the hallway, a raised voice stopped her in her tracks and she hung back.
“Just tend to your own business!” Davis’s voice was tinged in anger.
“You know I’m right. I don’t even know why you’re bothering. She’s not one of us and she never will be,” Melly said.
Scarlett could just imagine the snotty expression on the young lady’s face.
“Sounds like someone needs her butt blistered!” This time it was their grandmother speaking. “Your great-grandfather, my daddy, wasn’t one of us either but me and my siblings turned out just fine.”
“Well…that was different.” Melly’s voice was shrill and nasal, like that of a whining child.
“Just hush up before she comes back and hears you!” Davis said.
Scarlett took a couple of steps backward before turning and bolting back to the bathroom. What the hell was that about? Not one of us? What? Mountain people? They weren’t exactly hillbillies. Whatever…she just needed to make her exit. She flushed
