I bow my head in shame. “No ma'am... Sorry.”
After everyone exchanges pleasantries, the church sits for service. Now, I am not the most pious person by any means, but I have this deep-seated need to believe in goodness and hope for the off chance that I can see my family again. I need to believe in God, for if there is nothing else in this world to make all the wrong things right, what purpose is there for living? If there is no God, there’s no afterlife, and that means there’s no hope for humanity. All there is, is evil and no reason to live for more than just yourself. There has to be a God. I am infinitely grateful for Grandma Abbey and the Hyde family. They saved me when I was the most bereft, riddled with hopelessness and despair.
During the sermon, my prayers are with my mother and the ghost of a memory of my father that was called up to Glory fifteen years ago.
The church rises in song and we all belt out hymnal after hymnal. I’m lost in the harmony of it all, floating up and down with the notes and crescendos. My mind’s focus is lost, jumping from pleasantries to sorrows. Suddenly, the handsome face of country singer Luke Bryan interrupts my focus telling me to sit down, and it was then that I realized that I am the only one left standing. The laughter that bellows around me startles me, and makes me flush with discomfort.
“Feeling called to Jesus, Georgia?” Shane calls out across the aisle.
“Maybe I am,” I mutter back. It suddenly hits me how muchShane looks like Luke Bryan and inside I am shaking my head.
I sit back in my pew and lean against Mrs. Hyde. She smells of soft rose petals, sandalwood and a hint of lavender. I remember my mom used to always smell of Ivory soap and gardenias. A smile crosses my lips. Grandma Abbey says I look like my mom. She says I have her smile and hair.
Before I know it, the congregation rises and starts to exit. I slowly rise to my feet. Shane makes a beeline for me.
“I hope you’re not planning on making a spectacle of yourself every Sunday now,” he chuckles.
“Now that is exactly what I need, more unnecessary attention,” I chide him. I notice Mrs. Hyde is talking to Harper Kelly’s mother.
“Oh no, here comes the princess,” Shane sneers. I mean, I am not Harper Kelly’s biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination, but comments cloaked in blatant disregard are not exactly the foundation of being the better person.
“So I see,” I offer, ignoring his tone.
“Georgia Ashton. Shane Dalton.” Harper Kelly likes to address people with their given names and surnames. How old-fashioned of her.
“Harper Kelly.” I return her greeting as flatly as it was offered to me.
“Where is Jennifer?” she asks, without any more of a ‘how do you do?’.
“Sleeping would be my guess.” I’m still trying to figure out why we are having a conversation here. She knows good and well where Jennifer is.
“I see,” she starts and then turns to face Shane. “And how are you doing, Mr. Dalton?” She smiles sweetly at him.
“I reckon I’m fine, Ms. Kelly,” he spits out after a ten second pause. He looks confused, amused, bewildered and just flat out dumbfounded.
I laugh to myself. Who does she think she is? She already stole one of my best friends and claimed her as her own, and now she has the audacity to come after Shane, my only other true friend in the whole wide world? If we weren’t in a church, I swear I might have decked her. No, I wouldn’t. I still would want to be the better person…right?
“We are having a graduation party. I hope you can make it,” she says looking him square in the eye. “Oh, you can bring your little friend Georgia, too, just no dates, okay?” Harper says, batting her Maybelline spackled eyelashes at Shane. Did she seriously just say that?
“I don’t know, Harper. I’ll think about it,” Shane offers noncommittally.
“See you then,” Harper Kelly offers as a goodbye, with a wink. Pretty presumptuous, I think. She turns on her heel and saunters back to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly.
“I think you have an admirer,” I offer to Shane.
“God, I sure hope not,” he spits out, almost acidly, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“Shane Dalton! Watch your mouth! We are in church for Pete’s sake.” Ilay the law down on him hard.
“Yes ma’am,” he apologizes with his head down in shame.
Mrs. Dalton called to Shane and Mrs. Hyde started heading my way. I guess it’s time to leave.
After exiting the parish, and wishing good grace to the Pastor, we start our excursion for the day. Mrs. Hyde and I generally head for brunch at the Shiney Diner in Clayton. We have the same waitress every Sunday, and she happens to be an old classmate of Mrs. Hyde’s. She greets us with the most jovial voice once we walk in.
“Miranda! Georgia! Coffee’s hot. I’ll bring y’all out a pot. Y'all's table is open. Have a seat and I’ll be right over!” she shouts, and Mrs. Hyde and I make our way to our usual spot.
“Some powerful word today, Georgia, wouldn’t you say?” Mrs. Hyde asks as she puts her napkin on her lap, removing her Sunday hat.
“Yes ma'am,” I offer. Somehow, Pastor Rick always knows what to feed my soul.
“What are you going to have for breakfast this morning?” Mrs. Hyde asks me. She never falters from routine and tradition. She will, without a shadow of a doubt, get her same order of garden egg white omelet. I, however, faithful as always, border on the edge of adventurous, and mix it up a bit.
“Some Greek yogurt—parfait style—and a muffin sounds appealing,” I reply while hugging my cup of coffee to my parched and waiting lips.
Our waitress takes our orders, well, more like my order since she already knows Mrs. Hyde’suncompromising routine. The two exchange gossip about other small town affairs, such as who’s running around on whom, who’s suddenly a widow, how other people’s kids are a train wreck and the like. From time to time, they boast and compete on whose kids are better than the others. Somehow, I always space out, wondering who has talked about me.
Grandma Abbey once told me, “If someone can’t say nothing nice about someone else – what do you think they’re sayin’ about you?”
Everyone has an idea about what happened when I lived with Cecil, and why I was taken away, and why he is behind bars. I have heard a few rumors from the rumor mill, but the thought of what they think and the stares I get are more than I can handle. Once, I was sitting on the top of the stairs one night when I was little. Mrs. Hyde was hosting bridge that night. And you know how the women’s church groups can get to talking, and I somehow came up in conversation.
“I don’t know how you do it Miranda,” Carolyn Asbury snickered, “taking in that broken girl. The devil’s already staked his claim on that child.”
“Carolyn Asbury, you need to watch that mouth of yours.” Mrs. Hyde warned her.
“Miranda, you know we know what that devil man did to that poor girl. You know the damage is rooted in that girl now. Later on she is going to be hell on wheels, Miranda, watch my words.” Mrs. Asbury rambled on so matter-of-factly. Five minutes later, Mrs. Hyde let her know that nobody outside her family knows anything about what had happened to me, or what happened with Cecil, and it will forever be that way. In her polite southern mouth, where an insult sounds as kind as it can be, she asked Carolyn to leave her home. Till this day, that woman hasn’t crossed our threshold.
Mrs. Hyde and the waitress are finishing up their conversations when I get a text. It was Shane.
Going to be doing any other standing ovations?
I laugh to myself. That boy is so impossible, but hilarious, and a welcome distraction from small town gossip and banter.
Maybe in 3 minutes. This muffin is pretty darn good!
The car ride back to Benson is equally uneventful. Once I get home, I finish up what little I had left for homework. Jennifer is nowhere to be seen. Annalise is dry, and looking mighty fine. I did a darn good job! Shoot yeah! I decide to finish some chores around the farm for Mr. Hyde when the sun starts
to look like it’s going down. Where has the day gone?
The front porch light is on, and the screen door is shut. I hearMisty’s unmistakable, dictatorially-toned voice, which makes me look over my shoulder. There, parked between the large oak and willow tree, is the F-150. She is arguing with Mr. & Mrs. Hyde about needing to practice for graduation.
“I know, you’d think we were singing the National Anthem at the super bowl or NASCAR or something,” Shane said with just as much reverence in his voice as in my mind.
“Rehearsal again? This takes perfectionism to a whole other level,” I mutter.
“I think OCD without the quirks is a bit more fitting, I’d say,” Shane said through a crooked smile. Tilting his cowboy hat, chewing on some straw and fumbling with his Lonestar belt buckle, could he be anymore clichéd?
“Well, ain’t you eloquent!” I said as exasperated as possible, tossing my hands on my hips for dramatic effect.
“Just your everyday Hemingway.” He winks at me with his boyish American charm. Rare form, Mr. Dalton. I love my best friend. He knows how to make a bad situation, particularly ones that involve Misty better.
Just then, Little Miss Bossy steps outside. I can’t believe she talked to the Hyde’s like that.
“Okay, you two. We only have a little more than a month to get this gig right. Let’s try this again.”
“Hi to you, too, Misty. Please, won’t you come in? Oh wait. You already did.” I said, fully knowing that would get under her skin.
“No time for your foolishness. We need to practice,” she snarked.
And with that, no one challenged her. Shane rolled his eyes and grabbed his guitar out of the truck bed. We gathered under the oak tree and practiced again, and again, and again.
Chapter 2
It will take a lot to stay awake today. I didn’t even have enough energy to fight off Jennifer on watching her try on every outfit she has, to finally succumb to a pair of shorts and a tank top. 7 AM is too early for conflict. Luckily there was a pot of coffee, fresh in the kitchen.
Thank goodness for my free period before lunch. I made my way to the bleachers to watch Shane practice his pitches. His big game is coming up, and what type of friend would I be if I didn’t support him? He has been there for everything and anything I ever needed and I should return the favor. Besides, what else could be more relaxing now? No stress, no pressure, no Misty Swanson. I look down and I see that Jennifer and Harper Kelly are sitting at the bottom, ogling and being all doe-eyed watching the boys practice. Mindlessly I found myself praying, just talking to God, hoping that my parents found each other when suddenly and rudely, I was interrupted.
“Now I see why you’re always around that Dalton boy.” Harper Kelly pushed her way next to me on the bleachers, flinging that huge purse of hers behind us.
“Why’s that Harper?” I said as flatly as I could, keeping my head raised to the warming sun, and my eyes closed. She only gets the minimum amount of attention possible.
“Because he has bedroom eyes, a sexy smile, and one smoking hot bod.” She swoons, running her fingers up her thighs. Gross.
“Seriously Harper? That’s disgusting.” I cackled, not caring to hide my laugh at all. “He’s my best friend. Please don’t talk about him like that to me. It’s so disrespectful.”
“Georgia, she is just crushin’.” Jennifer says, jumping in to free her friend from my wrath. Or maybe to try to calm my nerves, I don’t know.
“Whatever Jennfier. It’s not OK with me to talk about Shane like that. It’s disgusting.” I spit out acidly.
“As disgusting as you checking out my ex-boyfriend?” Harper snaps.
She has a point. Who would have ever thought that Harper Kelly would ever make a valid point? “What’s your angle Harper?” I hate I asked that question. I am sure I will regret this later.
“Turns out my parents are going out of town this weekend…” Harper starts off.
“Harper, don’t.” Jennifer interrupts her, quickly, I’m not sure if it’s some type of protectiveness for myself or she is embarrassed to be seen with me at this colossal social event. It did sound more of a plea now that I think about it.
“No, it’s no big deal Jenn, just a small party. If little Miss Priss brings Shane, I’ll make sure that Jason’s there.” Harper said that last part with a wicked raise of an eyebrow, and a devilish grin. Boy golly, she could be the spawn of the devil himself! “You could be so pretty with a little makeup and some cute outfits.” She continues, and starts playing with my hair. I don’t like this; I don’t like this at all! “Plus I heard Jason tell one of the other football players he thinks you’re cute.”
Jason thinks I’m cute? What, no way! I feel like I have been mentally run over. How is this possible? I’m so bland, and partially intentionally at that. Where’s my brains kill switch?
“OK.” I said, automatically. How my mouth has failed me. I can’t do this, I don’t think Shane will go for this, and I am kind of using him inadvertently. My big, fat mouth betrayed me. Why! But, Jason Grimes thinks I am cute! That’s what she said. But, this is Harper Kelly we are talking about, and relying on here. But, Jennifer didn’t dispute it and she wouldn’t lie to me. So, this has to be true, but it can’t possibly be true… could it?
“Great! Come by early with Jenn. We will do a makeover for you.”
A makeover? What? All I can do now is sit and blink; sensation overload.
“I’ll bring her.” Jennifer spoke for me.
“Perfect! Ciao!” Harper Kelly stood up and motioned for Jenn to follow suit, as a good little lackey should.
Now I am back alone with my thoughts. Jason Grimes think’s I’m cute. I can’t wrap my head around this.
“Why you so chirper stranger?” Shane calls out, leaping into the bleachers.
“Huh?” I look up at him, with my most confused expression I could give.
“You are straight up cheesing.” He smiles, sitting down next to me.
“Am I?” I honestly didn’t realize.
“It’s because you saw that awesome curveball right? I know, super impressive. Coach is thinking of starting me against West Smithfield.” Shane rambles on. “I know what you need. Some man stench.” He says and rubs his stinky sweat all over me.
“You are one class act, kind sir. Remind me, why are you single again?” I smirk. “Seriously, that is repulsive. I need a shower now. So stinking gross!”
Shane erupts in laughter, and doubles over grabbing his sides. “Ok. Let’s get some lunch.” He offers.
“Alright, somehow I am still in control of my appetite. Let’s do it.”
And just like that, he jumps up and pulls me to my feet, to follow suit.
He didn’t bother to change out of his baseball gear and was still covered in his gross, boy sport sweat. We hopped into his truck, and for once I didn’t complain because Jason Grimes thinks I am cute! We went to this little country hole-in-the-wall place that boasts about its local fare in a bunch of print ads and on TV. In all honesty, its fried squash is awesome. I am not sure if my arteries appreciate it, however. I think Shane just devoured a pound and a half of them!
“So what did that wretched woman want?” Shane asked me between mouthfuls.
“Who Harper?” I raise an eyebrow in question.
“Yeah, of course. What did she want, Georgia?” He pushes.
“There’s this shindig she invited us to this weekend.”
“Pass.” Shane blurts out as quickly as I finish my statement.
“Actually, I am thinking about going.” I said, against better judgment. To be honest, I am not sure who was more surprised about that statement coming out of my mouth.
“Really, Georgia?” Shane pushes me, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, really. It’s our senior year. We should go to at least one party in our high school careers. It’s an american rite of passage.”
“An american rite of passage.” Shane repeats, I think just to see how it feels, rollin
g around in that big country mouth of his. “Alright, but I am driving.”
“Actually, Jenn and I are going early. But, I can count on you to be there, right?” I ask as sweetly as I can, knowing I can count on him.
“Of course, what else do I have going on?” He shrugs, sounding almost disappointed. What is eating him? I laugh at the thought thinking how funny that something is eating him and not the other way around for a change.
The rest of the school day was thankfully downright dull and uneventful. I ran into Harper Kelly later on and told her that I will be there as well as Shane. She couldn’t be more elated. Silently I started to wonder if I have inadvertently entered the twilight zone. Harper Kelly being almost nice to me, even though I know it has something to do with her liking Shane. Even so, she is willing to introduce me to Jason Grimes! Jennifer even seems to be OK with everything. How bad could this possibly play out? Besides, Jason thinks I am cute. Maybe he will try to kiss me! Jason Grimes kissing me? What am I thinking; I have to stop putting the horse before the cart.
After band rehearsal I finished my chores and picked up Annalise and started working on my own little side project. Monday nights are perfect for alone time with my guitar and cat. Something made me suddenly look up, and there’s a figure in the doorway that startled me.
“That’s really pretty Georgy.” Jennifer smiles.
“Thanks.” I responded, wondering if there was a direction to this conversation.
“So you and Shane are definitely a go for the party?” She asked with a hint of hesitation in her breath.
“Yeah, why? Do you not want me to go, Jenn?” I asked, almost upset about the idea of her not wanting to be seen with me, if that was in-fact the case.
“No, no! That is not it at all. It’s just that sometimes things can get a little crazy, and out of hand you know? And not everyone's intentions are as honorable as yours Georgy. I just don’t want to see you hurt is all.” She sulked into my door frame, like she was holding it up and vice versa.
“I see. Thank you for telling me. I’m a big girl and besides you’ll be there as well as Shane and I even think Misty will be there too.” I winked. Jenn turned her nose up when she heard Misty’s name. She’s not her biggest fan by any stretch of the means.
Saving Georgia Page 2