Lila hated the church social, where everyone who had ever preached at the church, had ever attended, or who had even lived in Happy was invited back for a reunion of sorts. More than once in her younger years she’d faked sickness in an attempt to get out of going but it never worked. Molly insisted that they were going to close the café just like always and go to morning services and then to the social.
“No buts about it,” Molly said seriously as they prepared for the breakfast run that morning. “Your mama started the tradition when she managed this place and we ain’t changed it.”
“I’m not going. I’ve got two kittens I have to take care of today. They’re in new surroundings and I need to spend time with them,” Lila said.
“You’ll be home all evening to do that.” Molly slid another pan of chicken and dressing into the oven to warm. “You can tell them cats bedtime stories and rock them to sleep.”
“Okay,” Lila sighed. “I’ll rush back to my apartment and get a shower right after we close.”
“Good! Glad that the spiritual light finally showed through into your soul.” Molly slapped a thick slice of ham on the grill for the next breakfast order.
Molly was a tyrant. Lila loved her and appreciated her staying on at the café until she could get the place sold, but good grief, Molly was the same to her as Hope was to Brody. They both had a grandmother figure who was doing their dead level best to make their lives miserable.
“If I didn’t love you like my own kid, I wouldn’t tell you what to do. You can ride with me.”
It was less than a mile to the church and Molly parked as close to the back door as she could so she could unload the food. The kitchen was empty but four tables were laden with covered dishes. Space had been left at the end of the first table for Molly’s four large pans. When they were situated to suit her, she pointed toward the door leading from there to the sanctuary.
“You go on in and get settled. I’ll be there soon as I make a stop in the restroom.”
Lila nodded and headed toward the sound of “I’ll Fly Away.” Well, now, that was a fitting song to hear since she would have rather been appreciating the handiwork of God while riding her bike down in the canyon rather than in a packed church that morning. Flying away to anywhere sounded better than sitting on a hard oak pew.
She found the song in the hymnal and sang the last verse along with everyone else. The choir director stepped aside and the preacher took his place behind the pulpit. Feet shuffled, folks whispered to children to settle down, a few old men cleared their throats, and a couple of Amens floated out over the church.
The preacher had just read the scripture when Molly took her place beside Lila. “Good timin’. I won’t miss the sermon.” Molly set her purse and Lila’s on the floor. “I brought your purse. You left it in the kitchen.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
The preacher said something about sin being in many forms and then hesitated. It was during that pregnant pause that the phone in her purse started playing an old tune, “Heaven’s Just a Sin Away.” She’d turned the volume as high as it would go earlier that day because she expected a call from her mother. In the quiet church, it sounded like it was coming from a concert stage.
Some folks tried to part the back of her hair with dirty looks; others giggled. She blushed scarlet and grabbed her purse, plopped it down on the seat between her and Molly, and started digging for the phone. It stopped before she could get a grip on it and she set the purse on the floor again.
“Like I said...” The preacher’s booming voice reached to the back of the room. But then Lila’s phone started again, as if trying to help him prove the point. She grabbed the purse and, thinking she had both handles, jumped up to get out of the building. Blushing crimson, she stepped out into the center aisle, hit the lopsided purse on the edge of the pew, and sent everything in it flying everywhere. She dropped to her knees and started gathering it all up, snatching the phone first, but it slipped from her hands and skittered under the pew right beside her.
Valerie Dawson’s high heel hit the thing and sent it back another pew. Lila was ready to crawl in that direction when Brody left his seat, knelt in front of her, and helped her get everything put back in place. Her face burned like fire with embarrassment when Rustin crawled out from under a pew and handed the phone to Brody. It had stopped ringing but every eye in the entire congregation was on them. Some would even have kinks in their necks tomorrow from trying to see around other folks. The buzz of whispers filled the place as Brody handed it to her.
“As I was saying,” the preacher cleared his throat, “sin comes in many forms.”
“Guess he don’t recognize your music or he’d know you were agreeing with him,” Brody whispered as he extended a hand to help her and made sure she was seated before he returned to his own pew.
The preacher went into a long-winded explanation about sin and Lila sent a text to her mother: Church. Annual social.
She immediately got one back: OMG! So sorry!
“Why in the world do you have that song on your phone?” Molly said out the side of her mouth.
“Mama always liked it,” she answered.
“Well, thank God she didn’t call during benediction,” Molly said.
Lila should have set her foot down and refused to go to church that morning. This whole thing was one big omen telling her that she did not belong here. She’d smooth things over with Brody to ease the anxiety in her heart and then she wasn’t doing one thing but working and talking to her cats. No more church, not even if Molly did quit.
The little church was so full there wasn’t room to cuss a cat without getting a mouthful of hair. Paul McKay’s wife, Gracie, a short, round woman with a bouffant hairdo and enough perfume to douse down the whole church, was on the other side of Molly and then there was her husband and another couple beyond that.
Lila felt someone staring at her, so she took a quick look over her shoulder and right into Brody’s sexy blue eyes. He winked slyly and she started to whip around but caught Valerie Dawson glaring at her. After the morning she’d had, she wasn’t going to let that woman intimidate her, so she slowly slid one eyelid shut. Valerie’s jerky body language said that she was totally offended.
Tall, dark haired, and slim built, Valerie had always had a no-nonsense way about her that reminded Lila of those old tintype photographs—the ones where the woman looks like she could cut steel with her eyes and would shoot first and ask questions later. Lila straightened her back and smiled. Valerie’s cold eyes piercing her head like a bullet didn’t matter. She’d lived through the embarrassment and Brody had helped her right out in public, even though they hadn’t parted on good terms. And now that she’d had time to settle down, she thought the whole episode was humorous. She couldn’t wait to tell her mother about it.
The sermon seemed to last an eternity. She bit back a sigh when the preacher finally asked Paul to deliver the benediction. There was a little more room on the pew when he stood to his feet, bowed his head, and gave thanks for everything from the beautiful day to the folks who’d come from afar to attend the social. Lila began to think that the whole congregation was going to die of starvation before Paul wound down and said, “Amen.”
But finally he got around to thanking God for the food they were about to eat in the kitchen and for the hands that had prepared it and said the magic word that made everyone in the church pop to their feet.
“Hey.” Gracie McKay reached out a hand toward Lila the second they were standing. “So is it true? You going to sell the café since Georgia retired? We are going to miss Molly so much in the Ladies’ Circle here at the church,” Gracie said.
“Yes, ma’am, the Happy Café is for sale. If you know anyone who might be interested, just give them the phone number.” Lila nodded.
“Well, good luck, darlin’. Much as we love havin’ a café in town, folks around here ain’t got two pennies to rub together and those who ain’t from here don’t want to be,” Gracie said.
“Ain’t it the truth,” Molly agreed. “Let’s sneak out the back door and go straight to the kitchen. That way we don’t have to stand in line. I’ll shake the preacher’s hand before we leave.”
Lila followed the two older women out of the sanctuary and down a short hallway to the kitchen. When they arrived, the place was already bustling with women taking covers off the dishes and getting things ready for the dinner.
Molly grabbed her arm and led her to the far end of the tables. “You can help Valerie cut cakes and pies and get them ready to serve.”
God hates me for sure. She should have listened to the sermon and she dang sure should not have winked at Valerie Dawson. This was her punishment for both infractions right there in the church.
“I’d rather help with the chicken and dressing and roast,” Lila said.
“Nonsense!” Molly protested. “Gracie and I have taken care of this job for years. You go on and help out with desserts.” Molly lowered her voice to a whisper. “Face your enemies head-on. Don’t run from them.”
“She’s not my enemy,” Lila protested.
“Yeah, right.”
Gracie nudged Lila on the arm as she passed by her. “You know what they say about the social?”
“What?” Lila asked.
“That if you ever help serve at one, you’ll be serving at them until you die,” she answered.
Lila sighed and went to the other end of the food line.
Valerie handed her a knife. “You can cut the pecan pies. Make them into six slices each,” she said with ice dripping from her tone.
Was the woman certifiably goofy, handing her a knife? Evidently she did not value her life one bit.
She leaned in close to Lila and whispered, “I don’t like this any better than you do but we will be civil while we are in church. Understood?”
“Mrs. Dawson, this is such a treat to get to work with you. I haven’t got to see you since I’ve been back in town,” Lila said in a voice made of pure sugar. “We can use this time to catch up. So how are things on Prairie Rose? I was so sorry to hear about Mitch’s passing.”
“Sarcasm will get you nowhere with me,” Valerie said from the corner of a pasted-on smile.
“And threatening me won’t get you anywhere,” Lila said.
“I hear that you aren’t stickin’ around after the summer?”
“One never knows what might happen by the end of August,” Lila answered.
Brody pushed through the back door and yelled from across the room, “Miz Molly, I’m here to carry tables out under the shade trees. How many do you think we’ll need?”
“Eight,” Gracie yelled. “We used ten last year and two weren’t used. Old folks like to sit in the cool to eat, so we’ve already got two extra ready in here.”
Brody’s biceps strained against his plaid shirt when he had a folding table under each arm but he stopped dead when he saw his mother and Lila side by side.
“Great to see you here, Lila,” he said from across the room.
“Thank you,” she muttered.
“Guess I’d best get busy or Molly will fire me.” He grinned.
“She’s pretty tough on the hired help.” Lila smiled back as she eyeballed the three exits. One at the back, one at the side, and the last one through the kitchen. Any one of them would provide a good escape as soon as dinner was over.
Jace met Brody midway across the church lawn and relieved him of one of the tables. “What happened with Granny last night?”
“It didn’t go like I figured it would.”
“Really?” Jace’s dark brows shot up.
“Nope. She was pretty calm and she didn’t threaten to disown me. She says I’m thirty years old and it’s time for me to settle down but whoever I want to do that with is my decision. She did say that Mama would have a different notion because Lila’s mother tried to get between Dad and Mama when they were dating. And I’m supposed to tell you that she came down on me real hard so she won’t lose face, so that’s confidential.”
“Small towns!” Jace said. “I love Happy but there’s a part of me that wishes it was so big that everyone didn’t know everyone else.”
“And who they did and where it was.” Brody nodded seriously. “Mama and Lila are in there working together.”
Jace’s eyes widened and he sat down hard on a chair. “How in the devil did that happen?”
Brody shrugged. “I don’t think either of them would ask to cut cakes and pies together. Molly probably has something to do with it.”
“Holy hell! They both have knives?” Jace asked.
Brody nodded and sat down beside his brother. “There’s a chill in the room that ain’t got a thing to do with the air-conditioning.”
Kasey pushed a baby stroller in between them and slung an arm over each of their shoulders. “Have y’all seen Rustin? If I don’t watch him, he’ll get a plate full of desserts and nothing else.”
Emma came running and tugged on Kasey’s hand. “Mama, Rustin is with Grandpa Paul and I’m hungry to death.”
Brody stooped down to Emma’s level to hug her. “Then we’d better get on over to the door and get in line if you’re that hungry. What are you going to eat today?”
“Chocolate cake and cookies.” She beamed. “And so is Rustin.”
“And chicken?” Brody stood up.
She frowned and nodded at the same time. “No Russell sprouts. They are nasty.”
“I agree.” Brody took her hand and started toward the building where the people were starting to line up.
“Mama and Lila were cutting cakes together,” Jace whispered to his sister.
“Sweet Jesus!” Kasey looked over her shoulder at Brody.
His wide shoulders raised slightly. “Mama needs to get over it.”
“Y’all need to go first.” Paul took the stroller from Kasey and led them all to the front of the line. “And don’t worry, Kasey. I’ll see to it that Rustin eats more than chocolate. Oh, and did Gracie tell you guys?” He handed the stroller back to her. “Y’all are taking care of the bouncy house right after we eat. You might need one more person to help out, though.”
“Why’s that?” Jace asked.
“Not me.” Kasey shook her head. “I’ve got my hands full with my own brood.”
“I’ll watch after Rustin,” Paul offered. “I bet Valerie will take care of Silas so you can take care of Emma.”
“Grandpa, don’t make me eat those old nasty green beans that’s got white stuff in them.” Rustin wrinkled his nose.
“I won’t if you’ll eat all your fried chicken and potato salad.” Paul grinned at Kasey.
“I’ll even eat baked beans,” Rustin said seriously.
Molly threw open the double doors into the fellowship hall and folks flowed inside, laughing, talking, and getting into a line behind the Dawsons.
“Lila!” Emma yelled so loud that everyone in the place turned around and silence filled the room. “Mama, I want Lila to help me. She won’t make me eat Russell sprouts.”
Brody’s mouth went dry at the sight of her crossing the room. Her hips swayed, swishing that skirt about her legs. Her eyes were all soft and dreamy as she zeroed in on Emma.
“I’d love to help,” Lila said, and slipped in between the stroller and Brody. “What does Emma want for dinner?”
“No Brussels sprouts,” Brody whispered.
“I understood that much.” Lila smiled.
She filled a plate for Emma and let her pick out the table where she wanted to sit and was back around the table by the time Brody reached the dessert end of the tables.
“Pecan pie, right?” she said, and heard someone say her name right behind her.
“What?”
“Brody said that he and Jace need a third person to help with the bouncy house. I just volunteered you.” Molly set a pumpkin pie on the dessert table. “She loves kids.”
“Thanks, Lila.” Brody flashed a smile her way. “And yes, ma’am, I do want a slice of Mama’s pecan pie.”
Closed inside a bouncy house with Lila—now that’s what Brody called a stroke of fate. He felt as if he were floating on air as he carried his plate to the table where Kasey and the rest of the family were sitting.
Lila cornered Molly as she headed back to the kitchen. “Why did you do that? You fuss every time his name is even mentioned and now you’re putting me right with him?”
“If I didn’t, folks would think y’all was carryin’ on in secret, especially after the looks that was goin’ on between the two of you in church this mornin’. This way they’ll know there is nothing between you,” Molly whispered. “Go on and fix your plate since you’re going to help out with the kids.” Molly gave her a quick hug. “I told your mama I’d watch out for you and I know what I’m doin’.”
Lila had planned to sit in the kitchen when she’d gotten her food but Brody had come back to get a plate of hot rolls for the folks at his table. “We’ve got an empty chair at our table. Emma would love it if you’d come sit with us.”
“No!” Molly hissed at her elbow. “That’s going too far.”
“I’d be glad to. Save me a seat and I’ll be right there,” Lila said.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” Molly groaned.
“Don’t die this week. My black dress is a little snug.”
She inhaled deeply and made her knees take her across the floor to sit with the Dawson family. Kasey was smiling. Jace and Hope were both leaning forward to look at Valerie.
Emma waved and yelled out, “My friend Lila! Look, Mama. She’s goin’ to sit with me.”
“Hello, Emma,” Lila said as she sank into the chair that Brody held for her.
Then he sat down right beside her. “Lila is going to help us in the bouncy house.”
“I saved you this seat,” Emma said.
“Well, thank you.” Lila’s knee brushed against Brody’s under the table. “So sorry, Brody.”
“No problem.” He grinned.
Yes, there was a problem. Every time she was around him, that inner wild child begged to be released. She’d started to feel like a person with multiple personalities.
“So, Emma, are you ready to play in the bouncy house?” Lila hoped her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. Or if they were, that everyone at the table thought it was from working near the hot kitchen.
“Yes, and the pool too. My bathing suit is in Silas’s bag,” Emma answered.
“About twenty minutes in each one and then one of the games inside the church and we’re goin’ home to get our naps,” Kasey said.
Emma stuck out her lower lip. “I want to stay with Lila all day.”
“Naps are wonderful.” She leaned down close to Emma’s ear and whispered, “And I’m going home when you do so I can have a nap too,” Lila said.
“Thank you!” Kasey sighed from across the table.
“What else is new? I don’t remember bouncy houses and kiddy pools when I was a kid and coming to these things. I don’t even remember having anything when I was a teenager,” Lila said.
“I know.” Kasey shrugged. “They didn’t have anything to entertain us when we were kids, did they? All we got was lectures if we whined.”
“Uncle Brody.” Emma tugged on his arm. “Did I eat enough mean beans?”
Brody scooped up the last spoonful of green beans and ate them for her. “Looks to me like they’re all gone.”
“Look, Mommy, I made a happy plate.” Emma beamed.
“Good job,” Kasey said, and turned back to Lila. “Has anyone shown an interest in buying the cafe?”
“Not yet but it’s only been on the market a couple of weeks.”
“Be a shame if it closed. Not much left of the town as it is,” Hope said.
Lila was shocked that Hope was talking to her and daggers were not shooting from her eyes. She ate a small bite of the pecan pie. “Oh. My. Goodness. This is amazing. What’s your secret?”
“A little bit of cream cheese between the crust and filling keeps it from getting soggy.” Valerie’s eyes went to Brody. There was definitely a heavy dose of pride there. “It’s Brody’s favorite.”
“Yes, it is,” Brody said. “And Kasey’s pumpkin pie comes in second.”
Emma tugged on her arm. “Are you going to get in the pool with me?”
Lila’s attention went to Emma. “I didn’t bring my bathing suit, but I am going to get into the bouncy house with you. I’ll sit in the corner and you can bounce all the way to me.”
Emma pumped her fist in the air. “Yay!”
“Hey, Brody.” Kasey grinned. “I forgot to tell you. Gracie said that we’re getting a new pianist at the church. She’s moving here from Abilene to teach junior high English at the end of summer and she’s already contacted the preacher about transferring her church membership. You should think about asking her out.”
He shook his head emphatically. “No thank you.”
Valerie’s eyes cut across the table like a machete through warm butter. “I know her family very well. They live in Canyon and are in the Angus Association with me. You’ll remember her if you think about it. Tara McDowell—she’s a good woman.”
“Not interested, Mama,” Brody said. “Jace can ask her out.”
“Don’t throw me under the bus,” Jace protested.
Valerie turned her gaze on her younger son. “She might be the very thing to settle you down. I’m going to invite her to supper on Friday night and you will be there.”
“Can’t. I have a date,” Jace protested.
“With whom?” Valerie asked.
“You don’t know her. I don’t bring a woman home unless it’s serious.”
“You’re both too late,” Hope said. “I heard that the preacher himself has already been out with her a couple of times.”
“Well, you could beat the other guy’s time.” Lila looked around Emma toward Brody.
“No, I will take the higher road and not interfere with true love. Jace can work on taking her away from the preacher.” Brody sighed and then a wide grin spread across his face.
“Is your heart shattered in a thousand pieces too?” Kasey looked down the table toward Jace.
“Humpty Dumpty could never put it together again,” Jace joked.
“You’re all horrible,” Valerie snapped.
“Hey, Paul, I hear you got some kittens out in Henry’s barn.” Kasey changed the subject before it went into a full-fledged argument. “Emma’s wanted one for a long time. Got one I could have?”
“Go get whatever you can catch. Gracie is going to make me take a couple more mama cats out there this afternoon. Someone dumped them on us and they’re about to pop. If you can’t find one you like right now, there will be more in six weeks,” Paul said. “You want one, too, Rustin?”
“No, Grandpa Paul. I want a puppy. It can be an old mutt and I’m askin’ Santa for one if I don’t get it before Christmas,” Rustin answered.
“Gracie already told Lila to go out there and get however many she wanted too. Why don’t y’all take that big white mama cat that’s in the barn and whatever kittens she didn’t already take?” Paul said.
“I want a baby cat, not a mama cat,” Emma declared.
“Then that’s what you should have.” Brody gave her a sideways hug. “Hey, Paul, have you got your hay all cut and in the barn?”
“Yep, got the second cutting done this week. Why?”
“I’d like to hire the kids you had workin’ for you. Reckon you could send them over to my place tomorrow?”
“Be glad to.” Paul nodded. “They were wonderin’ where they could find some more work.”
Fred stopped by and laid a hand on Brody’s shoulder. “Did that prize heifer of yours ever throw that calf?”
“Not yet but she’s been keepin’ me awake,” Brody answered. “I sure don’t want to lose her and didn’t mean for her to even get bred this year.”
“So that’s why you’ve got dark circles under your eyes. I thought it might be you was worryin’ about something else.” Fred winked and chuckled. “Let me know when that calf is born. I’d sure like to see the critter. Maybe it’ll be one of Sundance’s boys and turn out to be good breeder stock.”
“Don’t know what bull got in with her but the way Sundance can jump a fence, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Brody said.
“Y’all ready to get that fun house goin’ for the younguns?” Jace finished off the last bite of food on his plate.
“Yes,” Emma squealed. “Me and Lila are going to have fun.”
“Yes, we are, sweet girl. Kasey, is it all right if I take her with me now?” Lila asked.
“Of course. I’ll come get her in about twenty minutes. She’ll be ready for the kiddy pool by then.”
“Glad you got that job.” Fred squeezed Brody’s shoulder. “With my arthritis, I’d be moanin’ for a week if I had to crawl inside that bouncy house thing.”
“We might be groanin’ after today,” Lila said.
“Oh, so you’re goin’ to help him?” Fred raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, she is,” Emma piped up.
“Okay, let’s get the show on the road.” Jace led the way outside.
Emma tucked her hand into Lila’s and chattered all the way out to the children’s area. “Do you like my granny Hope?”
Lila wasn’t sure how to answer that question. It was loaded like a double-barreled shotgun. Finally she said, “Of course. She’s a lovely lady.”
“I like her too. She reads to me like you do and makes the voices.” Emma skipped along beside her. That kid was brilliant. The teachers were going to absolutely love working with her when she got to school.
“Here we are.” Brody unzipped the house and stepped back to let Lila and Emma in first.
“You’ve got a bouncy house and the kiddy pools for the little kids. What about the older kids?” Lila crawled inside with Emma right behind her.
“There’s Ping-Pong and games going on in the Sunday school rooms,” he answered.
“No poker, though,” Jace teased.
“You remembered.” Lila smiled.
“Oh, yeah,” Brody said. “You wiped all us boys out over there under that old lonesome scrub oak tree that summer after our sophomore year.”
“I’d just finished the eighth grade and thought I was a better poker player than anyone, especially a girl. By the time we went home that day, I was just glad we weren’t playing strip poker,” Jace said. “I’d have lost my socks and everything else. As it was, I lost my lunch money for a whole week. Had to eat in the lunch room.”
“Poor baby. Did you lose your lunch money too?” she asked Brody.
“I lost a big chunk of my pride.” He crawled inside behind Emma and Lila. “Jace, you see to it they take off their shoes and know the rules. No shoving or hitting or spitting or fighting. I’ll sit in one of the supervisor’s corners and Lila can sit in the other.”
Within ten minutes the noise was deafening and Lila couldn’t stop laughing at the antics of the kids. Give them something to jump up and down on and they were happy critters. Too bad adults weren’t as easily pleased. Half an hour later, Kasey took Emma out of the crowd and in a little more than an hour the rest of the children had had their fill and had one by one run off to play in the kiddy pool or to go inside to one of the rooms where popcorn was being served while an animated movie played.
“Break time,” Brody said from his corner. “Let’s call it a day and go get something cold to drink. It’s hot in this place even with the fan running.”
“You don’t have to twist my arm.”
Lila tried to get to her feet but tumbled right over onto Brody. He wrapped his arms around her but still they wound up tangled together like a basketful of baby kittens. Pushing away from him only made her roll toward him more.
When she finally got a grip on his broad chest and was able to sit up, her first thought was that adult toy stores needed to sell these houses. Then two strong hands gripped her around the waist and drew her toward him like she weighed no more than Emma. One second she was floating; the next she was sitting firmly in Brody’s lap.
She started to thank him but his dark lashes fluttered closed and his lips came down on hers. The kiss started off sweet and tender, then the embers turned into a blaze and the heat came close to melting the bouncy house into nothing but a pile of plastic right there on the church parking lot.
Her arms went around his neck and her fingers tangled into his dark hair as she pressed closer and closer to him. The entire world disappeared and they were in a special vacuum created just for them. Desire for more than scalding hot kisses filled her body. Then she realized where she was, who she was with, and what was going on. Thank God they were still zipped inside the bouncy house and no one saw them.
She pulled away quickly.
“You’re still that famous wild child.” He grinned.
“But it’s time for me to be something else,” she whispered. “I need a glass of cold water or lemonade. I’ll see you inside.”
“We should really talk,” he said.
“About what? This is Happy, Texas, where nothing ever changes, not even when it wants to,” she said as she crawled out of the house.