Page 103 of Sundown Somewhere

“I should get going, ma’am,” I say, excusing myself as I back away.

I glance down at my watch, doing some fast math that the parade is finishing up and that they will start the program soon. Which means it’s about to be go time.

“Now there is trouble! Oh, followed by more trouble!” Mrs. Phillips exclaims.

“I didn’t do it!”

I spin around, my father’s voice ringing out under the tent, his thick Georgia accent hanging on each one of those four words proclaiming his innocence as if they are the last life raft in a storm.

“Auggie Hayes, I highly doubt that.” My father nods, accepting the comments, as his best friend Jack snickers behind him. “What are you laughing at, Jack Keller?”

Straightening himself out, Jack clears his throat. “Nothing, ma’am.”

“Hmmmmm…”

Good to know two of the men I respect the most are just as afraid of this old lady as I am.

“Was comin’ to find you, actually, Hux,” Jack says. “Mayor Barbour is getting ready to greet everyone. He’s gonna have Reverend Terry say the remembrance prayer, followed by the children’s choir doing their performance. Then you’re up. So, this is your fifteen-minute warning.” He gives me a knowing wink and could not be more obvious if he tried.

Then I’m up…

Oh boy.

A mix of excitement and nerves hits me, forming a knot in my chest. I’m ready for this. I know I am. I lay awake last night watching Dolly sleeping, going over everything I want to say. There’s no way I can say it all—partially because of time, but mostly I know I’ll forget it. Doesn’t matter how many times I’ve rehearsed this in my head, I know once it’s just her and me in front of those plans, my mind will go blank.

More than anything though, I’m excited for it to all be out in the open. The project, the plans, everything. The playground has needed a makeover for a while, and this summer it’s finally going to happen.

“I’m ready.”

Excusing myself, I trot back over to the food tent, the crowd having finally thinned out enough that Emily and Alice are sitting down in folding chairs behind the buffet line chatting. I look around for Dolly, but don’t see her. My stomach flips, nerves taking over the longer I can’t find her.

“Aren’t you needed up front?” Milo asks, appearing by my side.

“Yeah, just looking for Dolly.”

Out of the corner of my eyes, a flash of blonde catches my eye. I wave my older brother off, running over to my girl.

“Hey, got a sec?” I ask.

“What? I’m fine.”

Not what I asked…

I take Dolly’s hand, pulling her to the side of the sidewalk so a family with a stroller can pass us. There’s a frantic look in her eye. Like she’s on the verge of tears and barely holding it together. The same look that she had as she processed that Jeff wasn’t showing up to the wedding.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

Liar…

“Try that again.”

“Sorry, just a frantic morning and Aunt Hattie being her normal charming self.” She sucks in a deep breath, taking both my hands and squeezing. I give her a moment to center herself, knowing how hard she’s worked since the second we rolled out of bed this morning. “You were saying?”

“Come with me.”

I tug her toward the church, feeling her opposition kick in. “Umm, aren’t you a part of the program that is about to start?”