“I’ll get the chips and dip and a six-pack of root beer,” Jody said.
“I’ll bring up a package of pecan sandies and that bag of candy bars that I hid in the bottom cabinet drawer,” Paula said.
“I’ll have the first season started when you get there,” Mitzi said.
The big orange sun had turned the mesquite trees in the distance into silhouettes that evening when they reached the football field. By the time they’d started up into the already crowded bleachers, the pre-event had started. Someone down at the goal line picked up a microphone, asked everyone to stand for the flag salute, and to remain standing for the national anthem.
Everyone stood. Men placed their hats and caps over their hearts. Mitzi put her hand over hers and recited the salute, just like she’d done at every football game she’d attended at Celeste High School. After that, the high school band provided the music while some young guy with a singing voice as smooth as honey sang the anthem. As soon as it was over, the first burst of fireworks lit up the sky.
She was looking up as she sat back down, so she didn’t notice the twins or Graham settling in behind her, but the prickle on the back of her neck clued her in. Then Dixie and Tabby each laid a hand on her shoulders.
“Did you save us these seats?” Dixie asked.
“Sure did.” She turned around and caught Graham’s eye. “What’d y’all do all day?” she asked them, but her gaze stayed on Graham’s face.
“We cut out and sewed up these shirts for tonight,” Tabby said proudly.
It was a simple pattern with an elasticized neck, raglan sleeves, and a cute little ruffle around the bottom, with white stars on a dark-blue background. The body of the shirt was red-and-white vertical stripes. Mitzi couldn’t have been prouder of them if they’d made those shirts at the shop.
“They’re beautiful,” she said.
“Want to know what I did?” Graham asked.
“Surely you didn’t baste or sew anything,” Mitzi answered.
“No, I dried their tears when they kept breaking the gathering thread for those ruffles.”
Harry sat down beside Fanny Lou and turned around to say, “Welcome to my world when it comes to girls and sewing. I’ve got a gallon of homemade ice cream aging up real good in the truck. I’m plannin’ on takin’ it to Mitzi’s after this is over. Y’all should come join us.”
“Yes!” Dixie did one of her fist pumps in the air.
“Mitzi?” Graham asked.
“No way we’ll eat a whole gallon all by ourselves, so please say you’ll come help us out,” she answered.
“Then we’ll surely take you up on the offer, Harry. I love your ice cream.” Graham’s knee brushed against Mitzi’s back.
Short little bursts of electricity shot through her body at his touch. Two weeks away from him hadn’t gotten him out of her mind any more than fourteen years of not seeing him had.
Graham couldn’t take his eyes off Mitzi that evening. All he could really see was her red hair and the way her neck curved to her shoulders, but even that much made him want to lean down and at least whisper a thank-you for inviting them for ice cream. He kept his distance because he was afraid if he got that close, he’d kiss that soft spot right under her ear.
Every day for the past two weeks, he’d picked up the phone to call her but never could make himself go through with it. And when Rita came by, supposedly to talk about the wedding and the time she’d spend with the girls, all he did was compare her to Mitzi. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who came out first or who he wished would never come back into his life again. He’d been careful both times to step out of his office into the main lobby of the business to talk to her—and made sure that Vivien was right there at her desk. Rita had ruined his life once. She was devious and manipulative enough to do it again if he wasn’t careful.
He watched the fireworks light up the sky and wondered what it would be like to live with Mitzi. Would they have fireworks of their own every night when they shut the bedroom door?
The show lasted the better part of an hour, and then the grand finale went up in a glittering American flag and it was over. Folks began to gather up