by Various
And now he just felt like an ass. He was part of a perfect season. A big part. And everybody acknowledged that. He’d been slapped on the back so many times he was sore. But it did nothing to soothe his bitter disappointment. He should have had that game. He was thirty seconds from a perfect game when the shortstop took a split second too long to throw the ball to first and the umpire called the runner safe. It was a routine play. He’d thrown a great pitch. The batter, known for relentlessly knocking it out of the park, couldn’t do a thing with it. Yet fucking Dale Sixby couldn’t get the job done.
The fact that the next batter immediately hit a pop fly to end the game and win them the championship pushed Brooks' lost perfection out of everyone’s mind as the celebration erupted.
And there he was, numb. Completely disconnected from the joy surrounding him. And he hated that. He was a team player. He never worried about his own glory. Being written up in the paper every week brought more pain than pleasure, and he would have preferred it if the town’s focus was on somebody else. But this game, he wanted. This opportunity that never comes around had arrived for him twice in one season, and he could not get it done. He was sick about it. And felt even sicker now that it was ruining what should be one of the best nights of his life.
Lolly stirred, her movement drawing him out of his memory. He looked down to find her on her back, staring up at him.
“You’ve been taking care of me all my life,” she whispered.
He ran his fingers back from her forehead through her hair. “Not all your life.”
“As far back as I can remember.”
He tilted his head. “Maybe.”
Her eyes filled with tears again.
“Does that make you upset?” Brooks asked.
She shook her head and tried to get out the word, ‘Happy.’
“Me too,” he whispered.
“I just realized,” she said on a hiccup. “Realized that all those times you showed up out of the blue, it wasn’t out of the blue at all.” She caught her breath, wiping a loose tear away from her cheek. “The coaching, the gifts. Following Darcy and me around on the nights we were up to no good. The night I got my award, you had to drive in from Raleigh to be there. My mom couldn’t be there, but you were there. Your whole family was there.”
“Everybody deserves a cheering section.”
“You were….” Her breath hitched and the tears started to come back. “You were taking care of me because I didn’t have a dad.”
“No,” Brooks said. “Not because of that. It had nothing to do with that. And it had nothing to do with your twenty-first birthday or your eighteenth birthday. I don’t really know how old you were. All I know is it was the night of the State Championship. The victory party was at our house. Everybody was celebrating the win.”
Lolly sucked in a breath.
“You remember.”
“I remember,” she said, releasing a shuddering breath.
Brooks closed his eyes for a moment. “You were the only one who acknowledged I had been thirty seconds from a perfect game. For the second time that season. In fact, you said chances like that don’t come around often—that it was okay to be mad. Which was exactly, exactly what I was thinking.”
“But you couldn’t let it show.”
“No.”
“Because it’s all about the team.”
“Right. But you saw it. You alone understood my pain.”
“I wanted you to pitch a perfect game. Everyone else wanted the team to win the championship.”
“How did you even know what a perfect game was?”
“You were a pitcher.”
“So?”
“Well, I wasn’t at the games to watch the first baseman! And then I started paying attention to the pitchers on TV. I just listened to what the announcers were saying. I knew perfect games were rare, so I knew it would be a big deal if you threw one.”
“It would, indeed.”
“Still gets to you, huh?”
“Like it was yesterday,” he sighed, resting his head on the back of the couch, looking toward the ceiling as he spoke. “Lolly, you have no idea what a gift you gave me that night. I was desperate for someone to acknowledge my pain. To give me the freedom to be upset in spite of the win. Once you did that…it was like…poof! The anger and disappointment vanished. I was able to enjoy the rest of the party and feel like a part of the team again.” He rolled his head and looked down at the grown-up version of the kid who had saved one of his best nights. “I just needed to be seen. You saw me.”
Lolly wiped away a few more tears.
“So now I’m aware and intrigued by this little kid. Who just happens to be a twelve-year-old girl. A very pretty girl, who always had a bow in her hair.”
“My mother,” Lolly insisted.
“I paid a little more attention to who you were, what you were doing, and the things you said. And as your competitive nature exerted itself, I saw we had that in common. I figured someone better get you into sports. You were so different from Darcy in so many ways, and I guess I really liked that,” he laughed. “I wanted to encourage that.”
“Oh My God. I do not understand what you have against your sister.”
“She’s my sister! A spoiled pain in my ass,” he insisted. “But she did bring you around.”
“If it weren’t for Darcy, you would have never noticed me.”
“Oh, I would have noticed. You were nowhere close to eighteen when I realized I needed to distance myself.”
“I had no idea.”
“And thank God for that. If you’d started throwing yourself at me then the way you’ve done this summer, I’d have been tossed into jail.”
“Hmm. So you’d think, after all this time, you’d be eager to get your hands on me.”
“Laura Leigh, I think I’ve demonstrated just how eager I am to get my hands on you.”
“You’re afraid to take me to bed.”
He let out a long breath and said, “You have no idea.”
“Brooks.”
“Lolly. Sweetheart. Aren’t you careful with the things most precious to you? There is nothing my body wants more than to make love to you. But I’m old enough to know that it will change everything. And it can’t be undone. So after all these years, can you blame me for being a little cautious?”
When she twisted her mouth into a grimace, he laughed.
“I see that you do.”
“It’s not that,” she sighed.
“Then what is it?”
“It’s that I’ve been crying uncontrollably, so my sinuses are clogged, my make-up is gone, and my hair is probably a rat’s nest. And now my head is starting to pound because I was clearly over-served, and I’m guessing it’s close to 3:00 in the morning.” She sighed deeply. “This isn’t going to happen tonight, is it?”
Brooks gave her a sad smile as he shook his head ‘no.’
“I didn’t think so,” she said, turning to her side and curling her hands under her face.
Brooks resumed the stroking of her hair. “But Laura Leigh, I’ve got Tylenol for your head, a shower for your face and hair, and as soon as those fireworks are finished at the Club tomorrow night, I am bringing you back here to light off a few fireworks of our own.”
“Promises, promises,” she sighed. And then a tired ‘I love you, Brooks’ eased out so quietly he almost missed it.
Almost.
His heart ate it up and thumped hard with the energy it instilled. He laid his head back against the couch and smiled, grateful for the new treasure she’d bestowed on him.
Chapter Thirty-one
The Fourth of July festivities started early at the Henderson Country Club. Every member of the staff was on duty, and the grounds were packed with activities for all ages. A Moon Bounce, pony rides, horseshoes, croquet, golf, tennis, and putting contests went on around each other in controlled chaos. The day was hot and sunny so the pool was packed with young families while the teens and twenty-som
ethings converged on the makeshift beach volleyball setup, complete with sand.
Genevra and Hale walked hand in hand around the scene. They’d arrived earlier than the said meeting time for their guests. “This is it,” Hale said. “Here we are. In public. Holding hands. So far, so good.”
Genevra squeezed his hand. “After the DuVal clan has bent over backwards to assure me how happy they are that I’m finally moving on—”
Hale barked a disbelieving laugh.
“—I think our biggest hurdle is behind us. Oh, come on now. The Major and Momma DuVal have been nothing but gracious.”
“After we assured them we would carry on their charade as best we could.”
“Can you blame them? No good can come from any of that nonsense surfacing, especially for Lolly.”
“Which is why I’ve agreed to all their demands and am knowingly allowing my son to risk his reputation as an officer of the law by destroying any evidence.”
“He really isn’t much of a cop, is he?” Genevra laughed.
“I guess not,” Hale smiled. “It was his idea, after all. Besides, it sounds to me like he’s planning to follow in my footsteps.”
“Is that right?”
Hale nodded, beaming proudly as they walked. “He’s already got a foothold. He’s part owner of a shoe store in town and the Gyro Garden. Businesses like yours that were doing well on their own, but have greater potential for profitability in the long run.”
“So he’s a chip off the old block,” she said.
“I’d like to think so. Though his mind is far more like today’s technology. His sees things I miss. His brain calculates faster than mine ever could. He sees potential in businesses I overlook. He’s born to this.”
“Why aren’t you in business together?”
“We should be! I’d always hoped he’d be interested in my work, but when he told me he was joining the Henderson Police Force, I figured he had a calling in a different direction. So I didn’t press. I’ve just found out about his investments recently. As a matter of fact, it was when I told him about your accounting firm. He told me he had grand plans for the economic growth of Henderson. He’s even planning to push Brooks into running for mayor.”
“I heard Brooks has an interest in the job.”
“Vance is going to be his campaign manager. He already hit me up for a big donation. He wants Brooks in office so they can work together to put Henderson on the map. You know that list of the ten best places to live in America? Vance and Brooks want Henderson on that list. That’s their dream.”
“Why? I mean, I love it. Of course, I love it. It’s just surprising that they’re so pro-Henderson. Their generation seems to want to leave and never come back.”
“Is that Lolly’s plan?”
“It was at the beginning of the summer.”
“I bet Brooks has something to say about that.”
“She didn’t come home last night.”
Hale stopped and turned to look at Genevra. “How would you know?” He smiled. “You haven’t spent the night at your place in a month.”
She ducked her head and sighed. “It’s true. My mothering skills have deteriorated completely. It’s like I’m the teenager when I walk into the house. I never know if I’m going to be confronted with my moral lacking.”
Hale abruptly pulled her to him, bumping her chest to his. He took hold of her chin with one hand and circled her back with his other. “I find your moral lacking very satisfying,” he said, running his lips over hers before he deepened the kiss. She felt both hands on her back and then his tongue searching its way into her mouth. She opened for him, unable to deny him, ever. Her hands reached around his back as they kissed like greedy teenagers.
“Genevra? Genevra DuVal?” The high-pitched voice interrupted their public display. “Are you standing here kissing Hale Evans?” asked Shiny Davis, waddling her low bulk toward the two of them. “Whatever does this mean?” she inquired, wide-eyed and starstruck.
Genevra turned and greeted one of Henderson’s greatest gossips with a bright smile. “Mrs. Davis, have you ever been properly introduced to Hale Evans?”
“I haven’t laid eyes on you for a good twenty years,” she said, shaking Hale’s hand. “If it wasn’t for your delightful mother and that handsome son of yours getting into so much trouble, I’d have thought you’d packed up and left town.”
“Only for my work,” he assured her. “But now that Genevra has agreed to marry me, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, Mrs. Davis.”
“Marry? You two are getting married?” Shiny looked like she was about to pop. “Why, this is wonderful,” she said graciously. “I’m so happy for both of you. Have you told the Major and Emma yet?”
“They’ve told us and we couldn’t be happier,” the Major interrupted from behind.
“Shiny Davis, you of all people know how much Genevra means to us. We are thrilled that she and Hale are getting married,” Momma DuVal said in support. “We couldn’t be more tickled to be claiming the entire Evans family as kin.”
Shiny looked from the Major to Emma and back again, her mouth hanging open in wild delight. “Well, isn’t this just the biggest bit of news. Bigger than that wet T-shirt contest ol’ Fancy Adams called to tell me about this morning.”
“A wet T-shirt contest?” the Major and Hale said at the same time.
“At The Situation. Last night. Lots of local girls gone wild. Of course, I wouldn’t name any names. You know I’m not like that.”
“Being as the Major and Momma DuVal have several granddaughters, including my Lolly, I think I speak for all of us when I say we appreciate your doing your part to protect our local girls,” Genevra said. “Wouldn’t want any reputations tarnished on your watch. Maybe you can suggest that to Mrs. Adams when you tell her about our wedding.”
“Anything for our newest bride-to-be,” Shiny gushed. “I’ll just run right over to the Adams table and tell Ol’ Fancy to keep her big trap shut. Y’all have a happy Fourth now,” she called as she waddled off.
Momma DuVal leaned in as she watched Shiny go. “Don’t tell me Lolly was involved in this T-shirt thing.”
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” Genevra said. “But there’s a good chance one or more of your eight granddaughters was at that bar last night. I’m just trying to head off disaster.”
“Oh Lordy. You know how our Molly likes to party,” Momma DuVal said. “Let’s hope the news of your impending marriage gives the gossips something better to talk about. Come on, let’s get you two mingling.”
For the next two hours, the Major and Emma DuVal reintroduced Hale to the old guard of Henderson, extolling his praises and coming darn close to claiming they’d handpicked him for their favorite daughter-in-law’s future husband.
***
A member of the Country Club staff escorted Brooks and one hurtin’ cowgirl to the Evans' table. “I keep telling you, Lolly, a little hair of the dog and you’ll be feelin’ more yourself,” Brooks assured her. “Jesus!” he said, pulling up short at the outrageous sight strewn across the large round table before him.
Never before had he witnessed such obvious pain. The always impeccably dressed Duncan had left his navy Izod unbuttoned, the collar stretched and pulled to one side. He was sweating profusely from the sheer force of will it took for him to be upright. Lewis, similarly outfitted, was sprawled out with his head dangling off the back of his chair and his mouth wide open, as if he’d passed out. Miss Manners Annabelle, looking like she’d run her fingers through her hair one too many times, sat with her elbows on the table and her forehead in her hands. Darcy looked fresh from the shower in a pretty patriotic-blue sundress but sat perfectly still, as if moving her head in any direction might make it fall off. To top it off, the Men in Black had nothing on the dark shades every one of them was sporting. Just like Lolly’s.
“Rough night?” Brooks addressed the table at large, never feeling so happy to have missed out on all th
at fun.
Various moans and groans met his greeting. Lewis’ head drifted to one side. Lolly flopped into the closest chair and laid her head on top of her arms.
“I’m not sure y’all are the picture of reinforcements Mr. Evans and Mrs. DuVal had in mind. Somebody want to tell me why I’m sitting with a bunch of refugees from Camp Tie-One-On?”
Annabelle tried to wet her lips with her tongue. When that didn’t work, she took a sip of water from the glass in front of her. “We decided to stay and watch the wet T-shirt contest. The atmosphere was…well…‘festive’ is putting it mildly.”
“Big shot Lewis bought a bottle of this new brand of tequila. Avione. So smooth it slid right down. We all thought it was a great idea at the time,” Duncan said. “I swear to God I do not remember one minute of that contest.”
“It’s like a sick joke,” Lewis said, pulling his head upright. “Might have been the best night of my life and I’ve got limited recollection.”
“Lewis was the official judge,” Darcy muttered. “After three shots, he donated ten thousand dollars, so they made him Contest King. I’m pretty sure it was supposed to be an honorary position. But he took over the DJ’s microphone and decided to interview all the girls like it was a Miss America Pageant. That’s when Annabelle and I hit the bottle.”
“Wow, Lewis!” Brooks stifled a grin. “How’d that go over, buddy?”
“I’m certain it added a touch of academic sophistication.”
“Which every good wet T-shirt contest needs,” Duncan added.
Brooks looked up and started laughing because right on cue—but out of nowhere—appeared Harry the Bartender with a silver tray full of his infamous tequila shooters. “Harry!” Brooks greeted. “I hope you’ve got the power to revive this motley crew.”
“Have I ever let you down?” Harry flaunted his infectious smile as he gently placed the shots, lime wedges, and salt shakers in front of each person. “This is guaranteed to make you feel better,” he told the ones trying not to gag at the sight. “Trust me.”
“I’ve been telling Lolly that a little hair of the dog might be the cure. Come on, y’all. You can’t feel worse than you already do. Pick it up. We’ll do this together,” Brooks said.