The Game of Denial by Brenda Adcock Read Free Book Online Page B

to the bar. While she appreciated the view, she was trying to figure out how the girl had managed to wiggle her ass into the tight shorts.
    "I don't know how Jeanine breathes in those shorts," Evey said as if reading Joan's mind. "But the men certainly seem to appreciate her efforts."
    "It's a miracle of modern fabric, I suppose," Joan said.
    Jeanine set a tray of frosted mugs on the table and passed them out. She stopped when she reached Meg and smiled. "I'll need to see an ID, sweetie," she said.
    Meg pulled her wallet from her jeans and took her driver's license out, handing it to Jeanine. The waitress examined it carefully before handing it back. "Just barely made it, huh?"
    Joan caught Meg's eye and winked at her. At home, Meg was allowed to drink and always had been, but as far as Joan knew this was the first time she had ordered an alcoholic beverage in public.
    They had just settled in when a pair of arms wrapped around Evey's neck and hugged her. At the same time Joan saw an attractive young man run a hand over Tully's shoulder as he leaned down to speak. Tully's face darkened and he sharply shrugged the hand off his shoulder. Evey scooted her chair back and stood to embrace the woman behind her. She also hugged an older man who accompanied the woman before turning to Joan. Instinctively, Joan stood.
    "Joan, these are my friends, Millie and Harlan Grisham. They own the farm next to ours." She pointed to the young man who was now speaking to Meg. "And that is their son, Ray. He and Tully have been best friends since they were toddlers." Evey looked back at Millie. "When did Ray get home?"
    "Yesterday afternoon. First person he wanted to see was Tully." Millie turned her attention to Joan. "Is that your daughter Ray is talking to? She's a cute one."
    Joan nodded. "Thank you. That's Megan."
    Millie elbowed Evey. "Guess we'll have to keep our eyes on the boys."
    "Millie, this is Fran's mother, Joan Carmichael," Evey said.
    Millie pumped Joan's arm vigorously. "Pleased to finally meetcha," she said. "Frannie's a wonderful young woman. We all just love her to death."
    Joan managed to extract her hand from Millie's. "Thank you again," she said before Millie and her husband wandered away to locate seats. Evey returned to her chair and leaned toward Joan. "Ray's been away at college and came home for the wedding. I'm surprised he didn't come to the house."
    A few minutes later the band was tuned up and ready to play. When the first twangs of a country-western song began, Joan saw Meg slap herself in the face. Apparently no one had warned Meg about the type of music she could expect at Mo's Barn. However, it wasn't long before Tully pulled Meg onto the saw-dust dance floor and showed her how to two-step. A tap on Joan's shoulder drew her attention.
    "Since you wouldn't let me bring Giancarlo, you'll be forced to be my dance partner tonight," Charmaine said. When Joan hesitated, Charmaine huffed, "You're my mother , for God's sake. Hell, I'll even let you lead. Just don't get fresh with me, woman."
    Joan followed Charmaine, took her lightly in her arms, and stepped off to the slower secondary beat of the music. Halfway through the song, Charmaine grinned. "I know you can do better than this, Mom."
    "Is that a dare?"
    "You bet your ass. Let's show them what us city slickers can do. Yee-haw!"
    Joan laughed and increased the pace of the dance into faster and more intricate steps as she moved to the pounding primary beat, spinning Charmaine around the floor and between slower couples. By the time the music temporarily ended, Joan was a little out of breath. "I haven't done that in years," she said.
    She picked up her beer mug as soon as she sat down. While she drank she saw Evey staring at her.
    "You're a really good dancer," Evey said.
    "I'm amazed I remembered all of that," Joan said after she swallowed. "Surprised?"
    "A little."
    "Dance lessons were Martine's idea after I stepped on her toes one too many times."
     
     
    "I'M