The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love - By Beth Pattillo Page 0,45
she was out of practice. Maybe it was okay to hope. To trust Dante just a little and take a risk. Even if she did feel as if she’d agreed to jump out of a plane without a parachute.
Maybe things might work out for her after all. Even if she was still stuck in Sweetgum.
Maria and Daphne clambered down the stairs from their rooms above the five-and-dime, as eager and excited as schoolgirls. They rarely left their mother home alone, especially since their move. Stephanie hardly ever spent an evening under their own roof, which meant the two older sisters had very little social life.
Tonight, though, was a rare exception. Stephanie had caught a cold and was at home for once, being pampered by their mother. The irony of Althea doting on the daughter who ignored her was not lost on Maria, but rather than hold on to resentment, she chose to relish the unexpected night of freedom.
She and Daphne planned to eat dinner at Tallulah’s Café and then catch a romantic comedy at the movie theater. The sisters laughed as they made their way down the street to the café, clutching their well-worn coats around them against the sharp November wind.
“Well, if it isn’t the Munden girls.” Tallulah greeted them with a bright smile and a glint in her eye. “You all look as lovely as ever.”
Maria laughed. “Tallulah, no wonder this place is always packed, the way you sweet-talk everyone.”
The older woman winked at her. “Whatever works.”
The three women were still laughing as Tallulah led Maria and Daphne to their table. “You all enjoy,” the café owner said before moving away.
For the first time since her father’s death, Maria’s heart felt like it might one day lighten again. Until she looked to her right and saw the two men seated at the table next to them.
James Delevan and Evan Baxter.
“Ladies. Good evening.” Evan greeted them with enough enthusiasm to make Daphne’s cheeks pink. James looked perturbed, as if they’d come to the café for the purpose of annoying him.
Daphne, though quiet, spoke to Evan with charm and warmth while Maria sat and tried not to look as if she were sulking. James eventually nodded to her, and she replied with a strained smile.
“You should join us,” Evan said as he motioned to the two empty chairs at their four-top table.
Daphne looked as if she’d just been offered a winning lottery ticket. “If you’re sure…”
“Certainly.” James stood and motioned for them to move over. “We haven’t ordered yet.”
Maria moved stiffly as she bemoaned her bad luck. One night to enjoy herself. That was all she’d hoped for.
“Do you ladies have big plans tonight?” Evan motioned for their waitress.
“Not really” Daphne demurred. “Just dinner here and a movie across the street. That’s about as exciting as Sweetgum gets, I’m afraid.”
“Sounds good to me,” Evan said. “I needed a break from the city.”
“Is that why you bought our farm?” Daphne asked.
Maria bit her lip and looked away. Per their agreement, she still hadn’t said a word to anyone about the plans for the lakeside development.
“Partially,” Evan said. His face clouded a bit, and Maria could tell he was trying to answer Daphne’s question as honestly as he could. “I wanted a retreat from Memphis, and I was looking for a good investment.”
Fortunately, the waitress arrived with their dinner salads, and the conversation fell into a lull. The salads were the typical southern concession to the genre—some iceberg lettuce topped with a cherry tomato, a slice of cucumber, and a few sprinkles of heavily processed American cheese. Evan dug in to his salad with the same enthusiasm he seemed to have for everything in life. Daphne delicately approached hers. Maria watched as James eyed the bowl in front of him. Dubious. His expression was definitely dubious.
“That’s the closest you’ll get to health food at Tallulah’s,” Maria said with a straight face.
“I figured that,” James said. “Especially when I saw macaroni and cheese listed as a vegetable on the menu.”
Maria chuckled, but she covered up her amusement by stabbing a large piece of lettuce with her fork and munching on it.
“Would you like to join us at the movie?” Daphne asked Evan and James out of the blue.
Maria wanted to kick her under the table, but she refrained. From where they sat, they could see out the window and directly across the street to the theater’s marquee. The only movie showing was clearly a girlie one. Maria knew the men would decline.