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strolled out of the fairgrounds onto shaded streets. Plus, it gave Maggie a chance to talk about her hometown and its rich history, filled with both sadness and hope, starting with the founding fathers, who happened to be her ancestors. The Swaynes and the Hairstons were among the few successful Black entrepreneurs just after the Civil War. The tour ended with them at the back of the line at DuVernay’s, a restaurant she particularly enjoyed.
Despite her trying to tell him they needed to see if they could get squeezed in, Caden led Maggie with his hand at the small of her back to the maître d’ stand, where they were promptly seated.
“I don’t understand,” gasped Maggie.
“Helen of Troy’s face launched a thousand ships,” Caden whispered in her ear while he pulled her chair out for her. “Your beauty clearly gets us seats at the happening restaurant in town.”
Tapered candles stood in the center of the white linen–covered tables inside the restaurant. Two wineglasses waited for them, along with a chilled bottle of chardonnay.
“I think we have someone else’s table,” Maggie declared.
Caden shook out his napkin when he took his seat. “Let’s go with it.”
Heart racing, Maggie nibbled her lip. She hated the idea of taking someone else’s table, but damn, it had been a long time since she had a night out and a meal where the plastic covering didn’t need to be torn before sticking it into the microwave. And though she’d secretly developed a taste for the blackberry merlot with the screw top, Maggie missed wine bottles that required a corkscrew.
A young waiter came over and gasped at the sight of them. “Ms. Swayne?”
Maggie flashed a smile and shook her head. “Hi, George,” she responded. “I didn’t realize you worked here.”
“Just for the summer,” he said, “and then I’m on my way to school.”
It took only a few minutes for them to catch up and get a recommendation for tonight’s special. Easily influenced, Maggie looked to Caden for approval. He nodded, and so George put in the order.
“Fan of yours?” Caden asked after George disappeared.
“He is one of Southwood High School’s best and brightest,” she began. “He is starting Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University in the fall on a full academic scholarship.”
Caden blew out a sigh. “Impressive.”
“I think so. He was a great student.”
“I am confused,” Caden said, resting his elbows on the white linen tablecloth. “You left social media to become a teacher? Not that there’s anything wrong with it.”
Couples began to spill in to the restaurant. A string quartet of violins and cellos played in the corner under a soft spotlight. Maggie watched a dribble of condensation roll down the stem of her water glass. “I don’t teach, not really. I mean, I go in and show my friend British’s class different things they can do with coding. George created a robot that goes down the halls at the senior housing center and collects garbage. You know, fun with coding.”
“Given the way he fawned all over you, I’d say more like it was fun with Maggie.”
“Why I do declare,” Maggie giggled in a ridiculous Southern accent, “I do believe you’re flirting with me.” For emphasis she clasped her neck in Auntie Bren fashion.
Caden reached across the table and took her hand. His thumb ran a small circle around the back of her hand. A twinge of guilt washed over her as she remembered her conversation with Auntie Bren about the pageant position. The more she thought about it, though, the more she wanted it.
“So you like working with kids?”
“They keep me laughing.” Maggie thought of British’s class and smiled fondly. “But teaching isn’t something I can do.”
Caden nodded as if he understood. “So what about your vlogs?”
Finally, someone to call it what it was, she thought to herself.
“You’re teaching a bunch of women to become independent.”
Again a twinge of guilt flustered her system. “I think it is important for women to know they can do things on their own.”
“I can’t wait for the segment when you teach them how to change a tire.”
“Hopefully when and if she is ever placed in the situation where she became stranded on the side of the road due to a flat tire, she’ll be in the back seat being driven by a chauffeur.”
The rest of the evening flew by. Maggie had a great time with Caden. She loved how they fell into conversation with each other like they truly were old friends. She felt natural with him. So natural that she no longer worried about being underdressed for this establishment. She was comfortable just how she was. She hated the idea of someone coming over to claim the table, but by the time their dinner plates were cleared, no one had showed up. The restaurant remained packed.
