them. “We should all dive into getting our senior place ready if Sam is willing to rent us one of those houses.”
“I agree,” Teresa said. “But what about you, Noah?”
“I’ll work from this house. I’ll do pro bono when folks can’t pay me, and charge those that can a reasonable fee for legal work. Y’all are giving back to Miss Janie’s community, and so am I.” Noah draped his arm around Teresa’s shoulders and pulled her closer. He liked the way she fit so perfectly against him, the way her hair smelled, and everything else about her. When things settled down, he intended to tell her exactly how he felt about her. Sometimes, like right then, he wanted to spit out the words, but the timing simply was not right.
“That’s wonderful,” Teresa said. “Miss Janie would be so proud of you.”
“And the two of you as well,” Noah whispered.
Kayla gave them both a nudge with her knee. “It’s time for us to go. Sam says we should arrive at the graveside and sit in the family chairs about ten minutes before the service begins. It’s already hot outside. Do you think it will be a long, drawn-out thing?”
Noah stood up and extended a hand to Teresa. “She wanted one song, and the preacher and each of us to say a few words, and that’s all.” He wished that he didn’t have to let go of Teresa’s hand, but the staircase wasn’t wide enough for two people to go side by side.
Noah helped Teresa into the front passenger seat and then opened the back door of his truck for Kayla. Driving from Birthright to Sulphur Springs took only ten minutes, even if he drove the speed limit. That morning, it seemed like they’d barely cleared the driveway of Miss Janie’s house, and then poof, the time had passed and he was parking beside the tent that had been set up in the cemetery.
“I’m not ready for this,” Teresa whispered.
“None of us are, but it has to be done,” Noah assured her with a hand on her knee.
“Good Lord!” Kayla opened the truck door. “There must be a hundred people here.”
“Or more,” Teresa whispered. “Who’s that man hurrying over this way?”
“Will Barton,” Kayla answered. “Bless his heart.”
“He did change a lot,” Teresa said.
“I’m so sorry about Miss Janie,” Will said as soon as he reached Kayla. “Here. Let me help you. If there’s anything at all that I can do, please tell me. We can talk more at the church dinner.” He offered her his arm and led her to the chairs set up in a row under the tent in front of the casket.
“And what church dinner?” Noah asked as he and Teresa made their way across the lawn not far behind Sam, Will, and Kayla.
“I didn’t know there was going to be a dinner,” she whispered.
Noah waited until the three ladies were seated; then he and Sam took the last two chairs on either end of the row. That still put him beside Teresa, so he reached over and laced his fingers in hers. He hoped that she felt the same support from having someone to hold her hand as he did.
For the trip to the cemetery to have gone by so fast, the next few minutes seemed to take forever. The preacher finally came out of the crowd and removed a piece of paper from his pocket. He unfolded it, laid it on the lectern by the head of the casket, and leaned in close to the microphone. “Thank all y’all for coming today. I’m Vernon Davidson, the pastor of the church that Miss Janie attended. She wasn’t one to be the center of attention, but what she got done behind the scenes in her community and the church did not go unnoticed. She was a great lady who started to work in the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria when she graduated from high school. In a few years she moved up to be the high school secretary and saw more than forty classes graduate before she retired. She even saw third-generation kids come through the school during those years. She wouldn’t like for me to be telling much, but I want y’all to understand what an impact she had on so many lives. She left me this paper to read and told me explicitly that this was all I was to say, so don’t tattle on me.”
He cleared his throat and went on. “To my family and friends,