sneaking around in high school, but I didn’t really believe it. He’s two years younger than us, and he’s always going from one job to another. The latest news is that he got fired again last week,” Will said. “I guess the Bailey boys like rich women, and the rich women like bad boys.”
“Looks like it.” Kayla couldn’t take her eyes off Denver and his wife.
Wife! The word finally sank into her brain. He wouldn’t marry Kayla, but he’d let an old gal come along with diamonds dripping off her ears and every finger and threw away all that ranting and raving about a marriage license being nothing but a piece of paper.
“You all right?” Will threw an arm around her shoulders. “You look like you could chew up railroad spikes and spit out thumbtacks.”
“Now who’s the funny one?” She smiled. “Thanks for being here for me, Will, and for the dance.”
“Us misfits best stick together,” he said. “Tell the truth, I’m a little lost in this crowd. I’m sure glad you showed up, so I don’t feel like a fish out of water.”
“Yes, we do, and I’m glad to have someone with me tonight. I’m shocked speechless, but I’m glad to see Denver tonight and to know that he’s married and out of my life.”
“That’s called closure, my friend,” Will said.
“That’s a beautiful word and an even more amazing feeling,” she said. “Let’s find a table and visit awhile. You can catch me up on the past ten years and tell me the names of the people I don’t recognize.”
As luck would have it, they’d barely gotten seated when Denver and Dotty claimed the table next to them. Dotty constantly patted Denver on the shoulder or gave him cute little kisses on the cheek.
“Guess we chose the wrong table,” Will said.
“Nope, the exact right one. I don’t want to talk about him, though. I want to enjoy your company, and I refuse to let them spoil my evening,” Kayla said.
“Spoken like a very wise woman. Thinking of wise women, how’s Miss Janie doing this week?” Will asked. “I loved that woman when we were in high school. She let me cry on her shoulder more than once. My freshman year was pure hell. I was bullied every day.”
“She is still an amazing person even when she does her time travel.”
“What’s that?” Will asked.
“One day she’s sixteen, and the next she’s seventy,” she explained. “No, that’s not right. She skips around several times in a ten-minute time frame.”
“Are you going to be around for a while even after she’s gone?” Will asked.
“Maybe,” Kayla said. “Teresa and I have this idea, but . . .” She wanted to tell him, but she was afraid she’d jinx it.
“This is like Las Vegas,” Will said. “What’s said here stays here, but I understand if you don’t want to talk about it yet. Just remember when you do, I’m a good listener.”
Maybe it was the eagerness in his eyes, or the way he leaned forward to hang on her words, or perhaps it was just that she wanted to talk about her idea, but whatever it was, she couldn’t hold it in.
“We’re talking about starting a senior citizens place in Birthright,” she said. “We’d like to serve lunch and take food to the shut-ins that couldn’t come out that day. And the old folks could have a place to gather and play dominoes.” She stopped for a breath. “It’s a crazy idea, isn’t it? Birthright is such a small place.”
“Crazy, hell!” Will said. “It’s a great idea. You know Sam Franks, don’t you? He’s Miss Janie’s neighbor.”
Kayla was amazed that he hadn’t laughed at her. “Yes. Sam is in and out of our place almost daily.”
“Talk to him. He’s got a couple of empty houses for sale right there in town. He might rent one of them to you. I’ve been thinkin’ about buyin’ the one on the outskirts of town, to get away from the city,” Will said.
“You don’t think I’m totally insane?” she asked.
“I think it’s downright sweet and kind to think about doing that for the elderly in that community. A lot of them can’t get out. If there’s anything I can do to help out, please let me know,” he said.
The way that Will was staring at her, she felt like she’d won the lottery.
Teresa pushed the rocking chair close to Miss Janie’s bed that evening. She had her sketch pad in her hands, but nothing came to her mind,