in front of a camera these days?” Emily asked, then winced. “Please don’t tell her I said that. I know she’s having a rough time of it. I don’t want to make it worse.”
Gabi gave her a penetrating look. “Are you sure you’re not taking a tiny bit of satisfaction in her struggles?”
Emily looked taken aback by the question. “Do you really think I’m that shallow?”
“Not shallow, but you’ve always had this competitive thing going with her. I’ve never understood it.”
“To be honest, neither have I,” Emily admitted. “When I think back, I can’t even pinpoint when it started.”
“Maybe you ought to figure it out, because even this hint that you’re taking pleasure in her current situation isn’t very attractive. We’re sisters, Emily. It shouldn’t be this way, not between any of us.”
“I know,” Emily said contritely. “I’ll work on it. I promise. I know it’s ridiculous and petty.”
“And mean,” Gabi added.
“Okay, mean, too. Cora Jane would tan my hide if she’d ever heard me so much as hint that I was happy about Samantha’s failures.”
“Maybe even more important than stopping it would be figuring out why you feel that way in the first place,” Gabi suggested.
“Any ideas?” Emily asked. “Because I’m at a loss. It seems as if it was always there between us.”
“Not on Samantha’s part,” Gabi reminded her. “It’s all on you, Em. And for the life of me, I can’t figure out what she ever did to deserve it.”
“Neither can I,” Emily said miserably.
“But you’ll work on fixing it?” Gabi pushed.
“Yes, Mother Hen.”
Gabi gave a nod of satisfaction. “All I can ask. Now run along before Boone starts fretting about missing your flight. I’ll get the check.”
“Love you,” Emily said, bending down to give her a hug. “Even if you did give my conscience a nasty poke.”
“I live to make you a better person,” Gabi told her. “Love you.”
She watched as Emily left, her step a little slower, as if she suddenly had a lot on her mind. Gabi hoped she did, because it was way past time for this silliness between her and Samantha to stop. It was the sort of thing that could crop up at the most inopportune time, and she didn’t want any sort of spat to spoil Emily’s wedding.
13
Jimmy paced anxiously as Wade read his essay for the scholarship application. Every couple of minutes he’d pause in front of Wade, watch him intently, then take up pacing again.
“I’d be able to read faster if you’d sit down,” Wade told him, amused. “Or at least stop jiggling the change in your pocket. You’re messing with my concentration.”
“If what I wrote was any good, wouldn’t you be able to focus better?” Jimmy asked worriedly. “It’s because it’s awful that you’re so easily distracted.”
Wade studied the teenager and realized he really was panicked over this. “Sit,” he ordered.
Jimmy dragged over a chair and straddled it.
“Now, I want you to listen to me very closely,” Wade said. “I’m not finished yet, but this is not awful. Far from it.”
Jimmy’s eyes brightened. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” Wade assured him. “Now give me ten quiet minutes and I’ll tell you exactly what I think. If you don’t think you can sit still that long, get Tommy to put you to work. I’ll find you as soon as I’m done.”
Jimmy shook his head. “I’ll wait.”
“Quietly,” Wade reiterated.
“As a mouse,” Jimmy said, grinning. “That’s what my mom used to say before church, that we had to be quiet as a mouse.”
Wade laughed, remembering similar admonishments. “Okay, then. Let’s give it a try.”
He finished reading, though he was fully aware that Jimmy was still watching him intently, still looking half-afraid that Wade was about to rip his heart out with his criticism.
Before he could speak, Jimmy piped up. “English was never my best subject, so it probably needs some work on the grammar and stuff. Just tell me where I screwed up, okay?”
Wade held up a hand to silence him. “Jimmy, it’s a wonderful essay. I promise you it’s going to knock their socks off. You told them exactly why you want this, how hard you’re willing to work, what you think will motivate you to be the best student ever.”
“It’s not dorky?” he asked worriedly.
“No,” Wade assured him. “It’s honest and sensitive, especially the part about how hard your dad has always worked and the lessons that’s taught you about being responsible and being a good man.”
“My dad’s a great guy,” he said simply.
“And that comes across loud and clear,” Wade said.