“I’m getting too old for this.” Sometimes talking to himself was the only thing that kept him sane. That and talking to God. “I’m acting like a teenager.”
He snorted and sent the text. Hey
He didn’t get a response immediately, but he saw where she had read it. She was either busy, or she never wanted to lay eyes on him again. After the things he had told her, he wouldn’t blame her for the latter. She deserved so much better than him.
After about twenty minutes, his phone vibrated with a text.
Sorry. I was in a meeting. Hey yourself.
He grinned.
Busy tomorrow night? It’s a Tuesday, so thought you might be free.
There was a pause. Great, she’s rethinking answering the text.
Sorry, had to answer a text from Sophie. I’m free. Want to come over for dinner?
How about I take you and Sophie out?
Are you sure? I can cook.
I’m sure you’re a great cook. ;) My treat. You girls like seafood?
We’re from SC. It’s required. LOL
Great. Pick you up at 6:30.
We’ll be ready.
See you then.
OK. Have a good day.
You too.
He nodded and smiled. That wasn’t so hard, now, was it? “God, I’m goin’ on a date.”
“Mom, you look great.” Sophie leaned on the facing of her mother’s bedroom door. “How many outfits have you tried on anyway?”
“Only six.” Emma looked at herself in the mirror. White slacks, a gauzy blue top, and blue sandals that matched perfectly. Was it too much? She started to change the shirt. What time was it?
“Mom?”
“Is it too dressy? I don’t want to be out of place.”
“It’s pants, top, and sandals. I think you’ll be okay.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Why? Because I’m wearing the same outfit I wore to school today?”
“Yes, and you look cute in anything.”
“I guess I’m like you, Mom. Granny always said you’d look good in a feed sack.”
“Granny was biased.”
“No, she wasn’t. She was proud of you, and I am too.”
Emma sat on the bed and slumped. “Oh, Sophie, am I doing the right thing?”
“It’s a date, Mom, and I’m going, too, remember? I met Rafe at the wedding, and he seemed nice.”
Emma smiled and plucked at her bedspread. “He is nice.” She looked at her beautiful daughter. “And he knew your daddy. Sometimes I wonder if it’s as much a connection with him as it is Rafe himself.”
Sophie put her hands on her hips and shook her head at the clothes spread on the bed. “Maybe a little bit of both.” She shrugged. “I’ll admit, I’m looking forward to asking him about my dad. Do you think that’ll make things weird?”
“No, I don’t. Rafe seems like the kind of guy who doesn’t like to keep secrets anymore.” She looked at her bedside clock. It was time. “He’ll be here any minute. Are you sure I look okay?”
Sophie hugged her mom. “You look gorgeous, and I’m proud to have you for a mom.”
Emma kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Thank you, baby.” The doorbell sounded, making them both jump.
“Showtime.” Sophie stated the fact as Emma hurried to the door.
Rafe smiled as the door opened. How did a guy like him get so lucky as to get a lady like Emmaline Quince to go out with him? She was beautiful.
“Come in, come in.” Emma seemed a little nervous. Probably because this would be the first time they would be going out with Sophie and without a lot of other people around.
He stood in the entryway of her bungalow. “Nice place.”
“Thanks. I’ve lived here for about fifteen years. Sophie’s never known another house.”
“I like these older homes. There’s something about them.”
“I agree. You can’t buy character the way they built it a hundred years ago.”
He nodded, taking in the woodwork and oak floors.
Sophie came into the entry. “Hi.”
“Hey, Sophie. I’m glad you can join us tonight.”
“Me too. Thanks for inviting me. You didn’t have to.” She grinned. “Nothing like being the chaperon on a date with your mom.”
Rafe laughed. This kid had a good sense of humor. Like her dad. He hadn’t thought about Daniel Quince in years, and now here he was, going out with his wife and daughter.
“You girls ready? I’ve got us reservations at Captain Dan’s.”
“Captain Dan’s?”
“Yep. Did you know they’re closing? The brothers who own it are retiring, selling out.”
Emma shook her head. “I’m sorry to hear it. It’s a popular spot.”
“And the hushpuppies are to die for.” Sophie grabbed her purse and handed her mom’s to her. “I’m ready to get started, since it looks like my time with them is limited.”
“Then go, we shall.”
Sophie giggled. “You sounded like Yoda.”
“Star Wars fan?”
“Uh, who isn’t? Besides Mom, that is.” Sophie cut a glance at her mother.
Rafe stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “Are you kidding?” He looked from Sophie, with a wink, then to her mother, and back again. “That might be a deal breaker.”
Emma locked the front door and followed them down the sidewalk. “Don’t worry. Between Dan and then Sophie, I’ve been indoctrinated enough to carry on an intelligent conversation about both Star Wars and Star Trek.”
“That’s a relief. Thought I’d have to cancel the whole thing. Let me guess. You like chick flicks.”
Rafe opened the car door for both Emma and Sophie. When he got in on the driver’s side, she was thinking.
“I like the occasional chick flick, but you know what I really like?”
“Romantic comedy? Musicals?”
She grinned and arched her brow. “Movies with lots of explosions.”
“You’re kidding me.”
She shook her head. “Give me a good Mission Impossible scenario any day over Beaches or Titanic. She shrugged. “Dan thought he hit the jackpot with me.”
Rafe’s smile widened. “I can see why.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rance stopped short when he came around the corner, almost colliding with a double stroller. When he saw Lucy, he had to smile. He hadn’t seen Charly in weeks, and he missed her family as well as the beautiful girl.
Lucy was corralling Hayes and pushing the twins and looking everywhere except where she was going. “Oh, Rance, I’m so sorry. I almost ran you over.”
“You’ve got your hands full, haven’t you?”
“Yes. Up to now I’ve had Charly or Tom to come with me for doctor’s appointments, but Charly’s finishing up her class, and Tom had something come up at work, as usual.” She ended in a huge sigh. “I can do this. If I can give birth to ’em, I can haul ’em around. Right, Hayes?”
“Right, Mama. I’ll help.”
“I’ll bet you’re a good helper with these guys.”
“Yeah. I bring diapers and pacifiers and make them smile. It’s hard, but I can handle it.”
“I’m sure.” He laughed as Hayes demonstrated his ability to entertain his siblings and anyone else within sight or earshot.
“We’ve missed seeing you, Rance. How are things going with the internship?”
He could tell she wanted to inquire about his feelings about a certain blonde sister-in-law of hers. He couldn’t go there. Not now.
“Good. I’m done. Now I’m finishing up paperwork and going for interviews.”
“I understand you had one in Nashville?” Her eyebrows raised in question.
“Yes, and I’ve had one here, too, and in Charleston. I’m still considering them all.” She looked concerned, and for good reason. He hadn’t told Charly he was definitely going to be the live donor for his father’s kidney transplant.
“I’m h
aving surgery in a couple of weeks, so circumstances have put things off for now.”
“Surgery? Is something wrong?” She leaned down and poked the pacifier back in baby Evan’s mouth as he started squirming.
How do you tell somebody you’re doing something like this? Is it bragging? He didn’t want to be praised, but he would like Charly to know. “I don’t know how much you know about my family, but my biological father is in need of a kidney transplant, and I am a match.” He shrugged, trying to minimize his part.
She tilted her head and smiled at him, a little crease of worry between her brows. “Rance, do you mind if I pray for you?”
“Not at all. My father has been praying too. I would appreciate it.” He looked down at his toes and then at her face. And I would appreciate it if you told Charly.”
She put her hand on his arm and squeezed. “I will.”
“Are you Aunt Charly’s boyfriend?” Hayes had stayed quiet through their exchange, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him.
Rance knelt in front of the small boy and smiled. “I’m not sure right now, but as soon as I figure it out, I’ll let you know. Deal?”
Hayes stuck his hand out for a shake. “Deal. My Dad says that’s how men make deals.”
“Your dad is right.”
Blood tests and other medical tests done, Rance was approved for the match, and surgery was scheduled for three weeks from now.
When he walked into his father’s room after getting clearance, he was surprised to find his mom and dad there. He was still trying to figure out what to call Clifton and calling Ashton “Dad” felt strange now that he knew he wasn’t his father..
“There’s the man of the hour.” Clifton’s bright smile helped to hide the weakness and fatigue Rance saw in his eyes.
“No, I’m only a body part.” He hugged his mom when she rose and hugged his dad, as well. “What are you guys doing here?”
“I thought it was time we had a family meeting, Rance.” Ashton smiled sadly at the boy he had called “son” for so many years.
“All right, what about?”
His mother smiled sadly. “I know you’ve been hurt that I didn’t tell you about your father. I thought if I didn’t think about it, it would stay hidden, and you would live your life blissfully unaware of anything in the past that didn’t have anything to do with you.”
“Mom––”
She stopped him with a raised hand. “I know. It had everything to do with you. At the time I thought it was the right thing, but I know now it wasn’t.”
Rance looked at Ashton Butler. “Did you know?”
He looked up and nodded sadly. “I did, from the beginning.” He looked over at his wife. “I was so in love with your mother that I thought it wouldn’t matter. You would be mine according to the law and everyone we knew. I let her talk me into keeping the secret and staying away from Georgetown County.” He got up and paced the floor. “And now I see the likeness between you, I can see why she never wanted to come here lest she be found out.”
“Son, I asked them to come.” Clifton spoke, getting Rance’s attention. “I wanted us to be together before the surgery, in case, well, you know.”
His mother spoke up. “Clifton has been more than gracious to me, sweetheart. He’s forgiven me, and I hope, in time, you can too.”
Grace. Was this why he’d been hearing that song? Was this what Sam was talking about, and Tom?
He looked at his mother, then his dad, and his biological father. Bitterness rose up in him, and looking at the three of them, he could have lashed out in pain. He didn’t. “I hope I can too.”
Clifton cleared his throat. “Don’t let it fester in you.”
“How can I not?”
“Come over here, Rance.” Clifton held out his hand to his son, who walked over to him reluctantly, and took his hand. “Your mom and me, we didn’t start out right. I was ambitious and would have done anything to get a kind word out of my father. I knew it wasn’t right, and when your mom left, I put all my bitterness and hurt on Sam. Now he’s paying the price. You were spared until now.”
Mom came to his side. “I’m going to visit Sam, if he’ll let me. I talked to him on the phone last week, briefly.”
Rance looked down at his mother then at the man in the hospital bed. They both looked sad, and he felt it too. Ashton Butler sat alone, acutely aware of his part in the deception.
“Sam gets out in a few weeks. I want to be there to pick him up. That will be the week before surgery.” Rance stood straighter. He didn’t know what else he could say.
Clifton rubbed his hand over his face. “I wish I could be there with you.”
“I know. I’ll bring him straight here.”
“Rance?” His mother wanted to be included, he could tell.
He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “See how your visit goes, and we’ll plan from there.”
His dad came to stand beside him. “Son, will you forgive us?”
“I’m working on it. Right now, I’m not sure.”
The idea of another wedding soured her stomach. Charly hadn’t spoken to Rance in weeks, and she was avoiding her family. She used school work as an excuse to skip Wednesday night prayer meeting. Sundays had been hard enough, but she had responsibilities. She wouldn’t shirk those. Her class was over except for turning in a paper, so she couldn’t use it as an excuse anymore.
The morning wedding would be beautiful. The private beach at Pilot Oaks was perfect, and the heat wouldn’t be unbearable until time for the reception, and everyone would be safely up the hill and under the spreading live oaks in the garden of Pilot Oaks. The brunch reception suited the venue perfectly.
Charly sighed, wishing she were in her bed with the covers over her head. “Eddie, could you move the far-left table over about two feet? Perfect.”
“What about the head table, there by the summer house?”
“Looks good.” She smiled at Eddie Harper, her assistant and head roustabout for the weekend.
The rehearsal had gone well, and she was supervising the placement of tables for the reception the following morning, using last-minute changes in the layout as subterfuge to get out of attending the rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant.
She made a round of the outside space, visualizing the tablecloths and decorations on each table, the area under the awning for the band, and the cafe lights, unnecessary for a daytime wedding but beautiful strung between the trees. There were three candle chandeliers above the head table, their clinking crystals making a light show in the lowering sunshine of evening.
Inside, where hors d'oeuvres would be served, was already set up in stations for the guests to mingle while pictures were being taken. Platters were in place to hold the delicacies. There would be mini chicken and waffles, salsa egg cups, and tiny potato latkes with sour cream. Her mouth watered a little bit at the thought. The silver coffee servers were in place, as well as a juice bar both inside and outside.
The owners of Pilot Oaks, Robert and Linda Crawford, Sarah Benton’s parents, were in the kitchen supervising the storage of the dishes and foodstuffs to be used early the next day. When she opened the door, the first thing she saw was a laughing Robert holding his grandson, Beau.
“Looks like the party is in here tonight.” Charly sat down at the long kitchen table next to Robert and immediately began to coo at the precious baby in his arms.
“Anywhere this fella is, there’s gonna be a party.” Linda smiled, shaking her head as she watched her husband and his grandson. “He’s been a long time coming.”
“Did they get everything brought in?” Charly pulled her gaze from the beautiful Beau and looked at the neatly stacked dishes, cups and boxes of silverware.
“It’s all here. I’m glad we decided to go with the commercial refrigerator and freezer. They’ve been great.”
When Beau began to fret, Robert handed his precious bundle to Linda. “I agree. There’s no way we could provide the serv
ices we offer without it.” He tilted his head at Charly. “Are you sure you’re okay with us leaving right after the wedding? We can stick around if you need us.”
“No, you need to get started if you’re going to make it to Kentucky by midnight. Are Sarah and Jared leaving earlier?”
“Definitely. They’re packing up the car now and may actually leave out this evening and stop part-way there.”
“And you’re okay leaving the keys to this amazing place with Emma and me?”
Linda chuckled. “Charly, you’re one of ours now, and we want this place to be a blessing for the Stantons and the Benningfields. I don’t know them well, but Kristi’s mother has been by here a few times with Emma, looking things over. I know how she feels, being a mama.”
“I know you do. I also know you’re anxious to show off this young man to your family and friends back in Kentucky.”
Robert laughed out loud. “You have no idea. Abby and Trudy have face-timed Sarah so much, wanting a glimpse of Beau, that she’ll be glad to be in the same room with them and let them try their hand at baby entertaining.”
Linda poked him. “Now Robert, you’re as excited to have all three grandbabies together as I am.”
“Are Susan and Mike still considering moving out here?” Charly couldn’t imagine living so far away from her brother.
“Eventually. Since Mike’s parents live in Tennessee, it would be about as close for them to live here as there. I’m hoping we can convince them. I miss having both my girls.”
Charly smiled. “I know you do.” She looked around one last time. “Well, it looks like my work here is done. Is it okay if I go out to the swing? I showed it to Kristi, and she loved it. I thought about putting ribbons and flowers on the ropes so they can use it for pictures.”
Robert grinned. “You make yourself at home, young lady.”
“I will and thank you.”
“You rest well, and we’ll see you in the morning.” Linda pulled her in for a hug while she was holding the baby.
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