"I just heard you tell your brother that your grandma was cooking," Michael said. He was staring at me like that was a bad thing.
"She is," I said. "She did. I think almost everything's cooked already. She just has to heat it up. My mom helps her. It's good food. You would like it."
"I'm sure the food's great," Michael said.
I smiled. "Good, so you'll come?"
He shook his head regretfully. "I don't know," he said.
"It's home cooking," I said. "My grandma knows what she's doing. I really miss it when I'm away at school." (I had once heard that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach, and I had faith in Maw-maw's cooking to come through for me.) "Stuffed chicken and squash casserole, I think—and rolls." I added with a shrug.
"You don't have to convince me about the food," he said. "I'm sure it would be pretty much the best meal I've ever eaten in my life."
I smiled. "It pretty much would be."
Michael had been glancing over my shoulder towards the church, and he motioned that way and smiled at me regretfully. "It looks like they're having an intense conversation over there," he said.
I turned and realized my brother was talking to my dad. They were looking our way and my dad didn't seem very pleased.
"Maybe I should let you go," he said.
My head whipped around and I regarded Michael with furrowed eyebrows. "I'm not worried about him," I said. "I asked you to come over for lunch, and I meant it. My grandma always makes plenty. We have people over every week." I motioned toward the church. "There's probably like five other people coming. Nobody will even notice you're there."
"I'm pretty sure your dad will notice," Michael said with an easy grin.
I turned to glance at my father who was still watching us like a hawk. He had obviously sent Jacob back over because he was running toward us again.
"Dad said we need to come now," Jacob said, breathlessly. "Alice is giving us a ride, and we have to go to Mrs. Miller's and get some tomatoes. She meant to bring them to church, but she left them up on her windowsill."
"Michael's coming over to Maw-maw's for lunch," I said. "I'm gonna ride over there with him. You can still ride with Alice and them, though, and we'll meet y'all there."
"How are you gonna ride with him?" Jacob asked, looking around as if expecting a car to pop out from behind the tree.
"I'm gonna hop on the back of this thing," I said. I smiled at Michael, hoping he would back me up.
"I'm fine with it, Ivy, but I'm almost positive your dad doesn't want you doing that. I didn't even think I was doing lunch with you guys, actually. That's a lot. It might be best if you just ride with your friend like your brother was saying."
"Best for who?" I asked. "Definitely not me. I'm dying to try one of these." I looked at the seat. "Can it hold two of us?"
"Yes, it can hold both of us," Michael said. "But if you get on this motorcycle, your dad will have even more of a reason to hate me."
I wanted to tell Michael he was wrong, but I couldn't. I knew he was right, and I felt embarrassed because of it. I thought about what everyone wanted me to do. I thought about letting Michael drive away. I would get in the car with Alice and Jacob, and go pick up tomatoes at Mrs. Miller's like a good girl.
"No," I said.
"No what?"
"No, I'm not doing that plan," I said. I looked at Jacob. "I had already asked Michael if he wanted to come eat lunch before you ever came over here," I said. "I'll just go tell dad plans have changed. It's no big deal. You and Alice can take care of getting the tomatoes, and I'll ride with Michael." I shifted to stare at Michael. "Wait right here." I started to turn and walk off, but I flinched and faced Michael again with a smile. "Please."
He grinned at me and shook his head almost imperceptibly.
My dad wasn't excited about me riding on the back of a motorcycle, but I didn't give him much of a choice. I told him I loved him and showed respect for his concern, but also said that I was in no way planning on being talked out of doing it. I reminded him that I was a grown woman and a reasonable person, and then I added that I had always wanted to ride a motorcycle. I even used my ace in the hole and I said God would want us to show love to Michael Bishop—especially since he had been coming to the church for weeks and my dad had never met him.
I talked to my dad for about three minutes before stopping to let Alice and Jacob in on the plan. It had been about five minutes by the time I made it back to the far side of the parking lot where Michael was waiting. He was parked beneath the farthest oak tree, and I slowed once I got to the tree that was just before it. I smiled at him as if I was being coy, but really, I was just allowing myself a second to catch my breath.
I was walking toward him, trying to look cool and wearing my most appealing smile when Michael smiled and held up a finger, indicating the number one. I grinned back and held my finger up, too, thinking we were exchanging some secret code that I didn't even know about. It was at that moment that I felt a sharp, stinging blow as something small hit me right on top of the head. I heard the sound of snickering, and within seconds, I put it together that there were kids in the tree, and the object that just hit me had been thrown.
I scowled and looked upward as the giggling continued. "What are y'all doing up there?" I asked. I squinted into the branches, and recognized the boys as some who had been coming to our church their whole lives.
"Are you going over to the motorcycle man?" Levi asked.
"Yes, I am."
"Are you gonna ride on it?" he asked.
"Probably." I started walking toward Michael again, but I called back at them from over my shoulder. "Y'all shouldn't throw things from trees," I said. "Especially at ladies."
"Can I have a ride?" Levi yelled.
"Not this time!" I yelled as I continued to walk away. "Y'all's mamas'll be lookin' for y'all!" I added.
I smiled at Michael as I got closer, and he gestured with a flick of his chin toward the tree. "Couple of monkeys," he said.
I nodded. "They wanted a ride."
"What'd you tell them?"
"That it was my turn."
He was straddling his bike, and I stepped closer to him, smiling at the sensation I got at the sheer sight of him. I felt electrical impulses moving through my body at the thought of getting on the back of that motorcycle.
"They called you motorcycle man," I said, grinning.
"Who?" he asked.
"The monkeys."
"I'll have to catch them next time," Michael said, glancing into the neighboring tree.
I gave him directions to my grandma's house, and asked him when and how I should get on his motorcycle. He glanced at my legs. "I think the bare feet are cute, but you need to put on your shoes. I wish you had on pants, too, instead of that skirt. I hope your grandma's house isn't too far."
I stepped closer, looking at him with a sincere expression. "I'm just realizing that I didn't ask your opinion on any of this," I said. I glanced down at my own bare legs. "I'm sorry. I just took the liberty to invite myself onto the back of your bike. I probably shouldn't have done that. I was so worried about not letting you leave that I didn't even think to ask what you wanted to do. Do you even want to come over for lunch?"
His face broke into a grin and I felt relief wash over me.
"I find that I'm really fond of being near you, Ivy Lewis, so both the lunch date and the motorcycle ride are ideal as far as I'm concerned."
His confidence and composure made me feel a type of anticipation I previously knew nothing about. I was mad about him, completely gone over him. He reached out onto the handlebars and then made some kicking motion with his foot, and I heard the bike's engine rev to life.
I giggled at the surprise and the way it rumbled my chest, and Michael smiled and shook his head in amusement. He had to yell over the sound of the engine, but he told me exactly what to do and how to get on. He pointed to a place near my leg and warned me that it would soon be very hot and that I should avoid touching it. He assured me he would go slow and told me everything would be okay if only I would hold on tightly to him by the waist.
I lifted my leg over the motorcycle with as much grace as I could manage. I obviously wished I had on pants, but I was glad for the full skirt because I had plenty of material to wrap around my legs and keep me covered. I tucked and adjusted my dress for a few seconds, making it into something that resembled funny-looking pants before wrapping my arms around Michael's waist.
"You ready?" he yelled.
I nodded, and he revved the engine one time before slowly taking off. I held onto him tightly, resting my face against his back as we drove through the parking lot. There were lots of people standing around and making their way to cars, so Michael drove cautiously and along the far edge.
I watched the amazed looks on people's faces as we drove by. It was surreal. I couldn't believe I was taking off from the church parking lot on the back of a motorcycle, and I figured most of these people thought I had lost my mind. I saw people nudging and pointing at us.
Michael turned onto the street, and the shifting of the bike made me realize once again that we were balancing. It hit me that I had to completely trust him to keep us balanced and upright. The thought gave me a vulnerable feeling, which somehow translated into a rush of adrenaline. I smiled as Michael revved the engine, going a little faster now that we were out on the open road.
I beamed as I watched the scenery pass by. I had been in a nervous daze while we were in the church parking lot, so it was just starting to hit me for the first time that I was physically touching Michael. I paid attention to my fingertips only to realize that they were making obvious contact with the rows of taught muscles that outlined his ribs. That same electrical impulse grew even stronger, and I actually had the fear that I might do something crazy like completely let go of him while we were riding. I reminded myself again to hold on tightly.
"You okay?" Michael asked looking to the side and yelling at me.
"Yep," I yelled, tilting my face to aim my voice at his ear. "This is so much fun!"
"You can pick your head up," he said. "If you want to see what's going on."
"I can?" I asked. I tentatively stretched upward.
"Don't let go or anything, but you also don't have to keep your head buried in my back like that."
I slowly became more comfortable with straightening up, and by the time we made it to my grandma's I was able to look around at our surroundings.
"Oh my goodness, that was so fun!" I said once he parked and cut the engine.
Michael made sure the bike was steady and held my hand from over his shoulder while I got off. He kicked his leg over, coming to stand beside me.
"You told me I had my head buried," I said, pretending like I was embarrassed and shy.
"You did have your head buried," he said with an amused grin. "I couldn’t even see you back there," he said. "It felt like I had a koala bear latched onto me."
I laughed and pushed at his shoulder for teasing me. "You told me to hold on tight," I said.
"I'm not saying I minded," he said. "I'm just saying, you're strong. You were hangin' on tight."
I wanted to say how I couldn't wait to have my arms around him again, or something even crazier like I love you, you're the man of my dreams, but I knew I'd regret saying it, so I just stood there with a goofy smile.
I tossed my head toward the house. "Come on, I want you to meet Maw-maw."
My grandma's dog, a black poodle named Duke, met us at the door with his tail wagging. He was so overweight you could barely recognize that he was a poodle. He looked like a fuzzy black barrel with sticks for legs.
"I'll warn you about Duke," I said, leaning over to pat the dog's head. "He's mostly blind."
Michael put his fingertips out for the dog to sniff. "Hey Duke," Michael said.
"And he passes a lot of gas," I added. "So if you smell something offensive while you're over here, it's not me."
Michael stooped over to speak to the dog. "Ivy's trying to tell me you stink," he cooed.
"He does stink," I said.
"Who's there?" I heard my grandma yell from the kitchen.
"Ivy," I called with a hand cupped to my mouth. "And my friend."
"Did you bring those tomatoes?" she asked.
"Not yet," I said. "Jacob stopped to get 'em. I rode over here with Michael. He's eating with us."
She was quiet for a second, and Michael's eyes widened as he pretended he was scared about what she might say. I giggled at his silliness, and grabbed his hand, pulling him into the kitchen so he could meet her.