A Place We Knew Well by Susan Carol McCarthy Read Free Book Online Page B

day?”
    “Just awful. Edith was a raving maniac over the Mininsons not coming—even though it wasn’t till five o’clock that the general decided tomorrow’s show is still a go.” Sarah sighed. “At least we got the brochures done. I just have to pack up the Grandma’s Pantry stuff and get it down there and on display by nine a.m.” She picked up her fork. “How about you?”
    “Rain slowed things down a bit.” He took a bite and winked his appreciation. The combination of creamy tuna, sweet peas, and the extra-sharp cheddar she got from a shop in Winter Park was one of his favorites. After a moment, he asked, “She tell you the big news?”
    “What news?”
    Inwardly, Avery winced. Charlotte hadn’t talked to her mother about the dance or done anything to make this any easier for him.
    For some time, she’d reminded him of a young filly pawing the rails of the paddock. No longer content to trail alongside her mother, as she had for years, she was testing boundaries, bucking conventions she considered too conservative, and regularly tossing her head at Sarah’s concerns. For the most part, he tried to sidestep their occasional dustups.
    But now, with Charlotte gone and Sarah watching him expectantly, eager for “the big news,” he needed to tread carefully.
    “Apparently, Mr. Beauchamp stopped by the Ag Barn hinting that Charlotte was elected to Homecoming Court.” He leaned heavily on the word
hint.
    “He did?” she asked, eyes brightening. Then a flush of hurt blossomed at the base of her graceful neck and spread up to her cheeks. “Nobody said a word about it…to
me.
”
    “Well, it’s not for sure
yet,
” he added hastily. “Maybe she didn’t want to get your hopes up,” he lied, rushing on. “In any event, she stopped by the station fretting about not having a date for the big dance. And Emilio, polite as you please, offered to take her.”
    “Emilio?” Sarah said quietly. “You can’t be serious.”
    “Well, actually, darlin’, our girl said yes. Mind of her own—like her mama, I s’pose,” he said, as smoothly as he could manage.
    Her angry flash at the words
like her mama
warned him away from that particular tack.
    “Just like
that
? He asked and she said
yes
?”
    “Pretty much,” he said, deliberately not mentioning it was Steve’s idea.
    “But the boy doesn’t even go to her school.”
    “Could be an advantage, I’d say. The locals had their chance, and lost it.”
    “But he’s your employee, Wes. Not to mention Catholic and a Cuban”—she searched for the word—“
exile
! Why, he doesn’t have a penny to his name except what you give him. What would he wear? How in the world could he even get there?”
    “Turns out…Steve’s offered to lend him The Admiral.”
    “Oh, great,” she said coolly. “Popeye plays matchmaker.”
    “But he’s a
good
boy, Sarah, from a very good family. His father’s a judge, remember? And his mother lectures at the local art museum.”
    “Or
so
we’ve been told.” She’d drawn herself up, shoulders high and square. And she was holding her face in that way that reminded him of her mother, locking her real thoughts and feelings in, locking him out.
    “But, Sarah, the priest—”
    “—was interested in getting the boy a
job,
Wes. Of course he painted the rosiest picture possible. Just like you are now.” She looked down into her lap, jaw thrust out to keep it from trembling, then slowly refolded her napkin and placed it on the table beside her untouched plate. “And I suppose Charlotte put you up to this…”
    “Oh, honey…”
    “Don’t ‘oh, honey’ me, Wes.” She rose to set her plate in the sink. “That girl is too headstrong by half. And you…” She shook her head wearily. “I suppose it’s a gift you have…favoring everyone, friend and foe alike, with a wink and a smile; getting us all fixed up just the way you like.” She had the habit, when upset, of placing one hand on her hip, the other on her