grinned. “I hardly know what to do with myself.”
They achieved their goal and sank into chairs at the empty table. Only when they had settled in did they notice that several chairs on the other side of the table had already been tilted up and forward, the traditional church signal for reserved seats.
Maria glanced around to see who might be coming their way. She heard a buzz near the doorway, a sure sign that a person or persons of interest had arrived, but she couldn’t see who it was. And then, like the Red Sea before the Israelites, the crowd parted, and Maria saw two familiar male figures accompanied by an unknown woman.
“Who in the world are they?” Annabeth asked.
Rev. Carson moved to greet the newcomers. The taller man looked every bit as arrogant as he had when he’d entered the five-and-dime demanding a fountain pen. Maria sighed. He hadn’t exactly demanded the pen in so many words, but everything from his facial expression to the way he set his shoulders demonstrated that he was accustomed to getting his way. Maria watched as he shook hands with the minister, his expression guarded. His friend’s face, though, appeared as open and eager as it had in the store that day. The stylishly dressed woman bore a marked resemblance to the cheerier of the men—his sister, no doubt-but her facial expression mirrored the taller man’s arrogance.
“That’s James Delevan,” Annabeth said unexpectedly. Maria turned her head in surprise to look at her friend.
“How do you know that?”
“They were in the bakery last week, at least the two men were.”
Maria made a wry face. “They came in the five-and-dime too. I’m surprised they’re still here.” More surprised than Annabeth could know. Maria thought the pair wouldn’t be back in Sweetgum for a good while. They were as interested in keeping the sale of the Munden farm secret as Maria was.
“Look. Rev. Carson is introducing them to your sister,” Annabeth said.
Daphne stood at the minister’s side, smiling and extending her hand. The blond man shook it vigorously, grinning from ear to ear. The arrogant one said something and shook her hand as well. The woman, though, simply nodded and grimaced, though to give her the benefit of the doubt, she might have been trying to smile, Maria thought. She chuckled. The stranger’s obvious snobbery was not going to get her very far in Sweetgum.
“The line for the food has gone down. Let’s go get our plates,” Annabeth suggested.
They stood and tipped their chairs up too before heading back across the room. It took several long minutes since both women stopped to chat with their friends and acquaintances. Maria supposed she was glad she’d decided to come after all. Since her father’s death, she’d spent every evening at home, sitting on the porch swing with a book or puttering in her greenhouse. She needed to socialize more.
They had almost made it to the food line when Rev. Carson intercepted them, James Delevan in tow. Maria went to grab Annabeth’s sleeve, but her friend slipped away.
“I think Mr. Hale’s waving me over,” Annabeth said as she disappeared. Maria groaned in frustration, then squared her shoulders.
“Good evening, Maria. Glad to see you.” Rev. Carson patted her shoulder. “James, may I introduce you to Maria Munden? Her family owns the five-and-dime on the square.”
“Miss Munden.” He nodded, almost deep enough to be a slight bow, as arrogant now as he’d been when he came into the store. He made no mention of their previous meeting, however, and she determined not to do so either.
“I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” Rev. Carson said, his attention caught by something on the other side of the fellowship hall.
He stepped away from them, and Maria fought back a sudden wave of panic. She was no naive girl overawed by a wealthy stranger from out of town, she reminded herself sternly. Over the years she had learned how to deal with all kinds of people. There was no reason she couldn’t deal with James Delevan.
“How are you enjoying your time in Sweetgum?” She fixed a polite, if somewhat disinterested, expression on her face and waited for his answer.
“It’s been pleasant.”
Pleasant? Who in the world talked like that anymore? He was so stiff he might as well have gone straight to the funeral home instead of stopping at the church dinner.
A flush of shame hit her as she realized what she’d been thinking and how disrespectful it was, not only to her father but