knew that she could so easily fall for this guy, and she had to tell him about her past even before they had supper together.
“I’m choosing Sonic,” she said.
That was a safe place, she thought—a place where folks ordered from their vehicle. A carhop brought out the food, took their money, and went on to the next customer. It was probably the cheapest place in Sulphur Springs and wasn’t where guys took women on a date to impress them. No point in making him spend a lot of money if this was going to end up being their first and last date.
“I believe I can afford to take you somewhere nicer than that,” he protested as he started the engine and drove away from Birthright.
“I want to talk before we go out. I have things to say, and if I don’t get them out, I won’t enjoy the food,” she explained.
“I have a better idea then. Let’s go to the park. You can say what you want to, and then we’ll go have some Italian at Roma’s Restaurant,” he told her.
He drove to Cooper Lake State Park and nosed the SUV into a spot that overlooked the lake right beside a concrete picnic table. The setting sun made a path of orange across the still waters of the lake.
“Shall we get out and sit at the table?” he asked.
“I’d like that,” she answered.
He was the perfect gentleman again, opening the car door for her and then ushering her to the table with his hand on her lower back. She had no doubt that the heat from his handprint would still be there the next day. A soft breeze blew the hem of her dress up, and she held it down with one hand, tucking it under her thigh when she sat down on the table, her feet on the bench. The pungent smell of wet grass where the lake water splashed, keeping it moist, filled the air. A few tree toads joined their voices with dozens of crickets to provide music for her ears. Somewhere off in the distance, she could hear the putting of a motorboat, probably folks out at night, doing some fishing.
Will sat down beside her and took her hand in his. “Look at me, Kayla.”
She looked up into his eyes, and the words tumbled out so fast that she had to take several deep breaths before she got finished. “I told you what kind of mother I had and how afraid I’ve always been to have children. I’ve probably scared the hell out of you by saying that. We are barely in the dating stage, but I’m afraid you’ll rethink going out with me after what I told you.” She held her hands tightly in her lap.
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle. “I wish we had been better friends when we were in school and I hadn’t been so afraid to ask you out, and then we’d be way past this point in our relationship. I know how much you love old folks, and I’m guessing that you like little kids, so I’m not worried about your fear of motherhood, darlin’. I’ve been just as scared about fatherhood. I have had wonderful examples, but I have no idea who my biological father is or what kind of genes he might throw into the already-muddy pool. We’ll simply have to trust each other and leave the rest up to God.”
She was astounded. Of all the scenarios that had played out in her head throughout the day, that certainly wasn’t even on the list. “Are you serious?” she whispered.
“Oh, yes, I’m serious, but I’m also starving. If that’s all you have to tell me, can we, please, go have some Italian? I said you could pick, but I want to go someplace where we don’t eat in the car,” he teased.
“Yes,” she said, and smiled at him. “And thank you.”
“You, my sweet darlin’, are welcome, but the thanks go to you for going out with me tonight. I’m lucky to get a second chance with you. I was and still am a pretty big nerd.” He pulled her up to her feet and kissed her on the forehead.
Every one of those chains around Kayla’s heart fell away, and she felt ten times—no, a hundred times—more blessed than Will could ever know.
Teresa got tired of waiting for her sister to come home and went out to sit on the porch at midnight. She heard