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“Anytime, KC. Looks like the food is out. Catch you later.” I pulled a disheveled Winnie, wrinkled dress and all, away from the firing squad.
“So nice to see you again!” Mom called after us, requesting Winnie have lunch with her and the girls.
Yeah, not on my watch.
Walking away, I found some tables and chairs set up by the fire pit as other folks passed by introducing themselves. “I think that went well, don’t you?” Winnie disentangled herself from me and walked alongside.
“Sure, if you call getting the stink eye from the woman who birthed you good, then we’re classic, baby.”
She smiled, pinching my side. Winnie wasn’t mad, so that was something.
“They can be intense.” It was lame, but I honestly had nothing else to go with.
“Then I’m guessing your grandmother must be here somewhere? She’s a doll.” Winnie winked.
“Yes, Nana Halle has that way about her. I haven’t seen her. She might be laying down, but if she’s here we’ll say hello to the little conspirator.” I j
oked.
Winnie let out a deep breath, shaking her shoulders out dramatically. “Well, thank God my hand hadn’t been down your pants or anything else. It would have been really weird shaking your mom’s hand after that.” There were so many ways to interpret that statement, but I let it go, nodded, and hoped she was kidding. Mom had hand sanitizer stationed all over the house, but I wasn’t going to tell Winnie that.
“Yeah, we already saw enough of each other today, huh?”
“Oh my God, like three dates’ worth. I think we’re good for another month at least.”
That was a sobering thought. I didn’t want to wait three dates to make another move, and I hoped she was joking. Winnie and I parred back and forth trading quips when I guided her over to a table laid out with food. We picked up plates and filled them with ribs, corn, salads and the usual BBQ fare. Hunter and Taylor Jane joined us at the table and we ate in easy comradery.
“You never did tell me what you girls got into when you left us.” I turned, directing the question at Taylor Jane while I slipped my hand under the table, resting it on Winnie’s bare knee. Screw waiting three dates, I was going to test the waters now while I had the opportunity.
“As soon as we got inside we were put to work shuffling all this stuff outside. I don’t think I even saw your mom. Winnie, did you get to meet her yet?” Taylor Jane had no idea her innocent question left the door wide open. I let my finger stroke her leg, sneaking under the fabric to touch her higher where she was warmer.
Winnie pushed her hand against mine under the table, but I squeezed her leg firmly, keeping my hand in place while I watched her color rise and her eyes spark. “I did meet her briefly. Actually, we played a round of Bridge earlier this week unknowingly.” Winnie cleared her throat, smiled, and pinched the soft spot on my hand under the table, forcing me to let go of her as she crossed her legs, blocking my efforts.
“They got to shake hands and everything.” I rubbed my hand up her leg, lifting her dress as I went, and she tried to push it away again.
“Really? No offence, but your mom keeps hand sanitizer in her pockets. She must have really liked you, Winnie.”
Winnie froze and snapped her head to mine, chewing her food slowly.
“Hmm. Maybe,” Winnie said.
Taylor Jane ate her food, and I was trying to not laugh with the dirty look I got from her. She speared a potato roughly with her fork and bit it cleanly in half, her eyebrow raised, giving me a clear message.
“Mom was a little busy fending off Kristen. We’ll catch up with her later, I’m sure.” I rubbed her back and changed the topic. “Hunter, how’s the construction business going?” Changing topics, my friend launched into his newest project while we compared the cost of houses growing up to now. He and Taylor Jane had just finished embarking on this historic house flipping project recently that was a part of a design contest. The old Victorian home had sat vacant for years until Taylor Jane bought it and decided to fix it up. Hunter still seemed a bit shell-shocked over the endeavor.
“You know, I was thinking maybe we should do something with that shed in your backyard, Chase. I don’t think it’s a very stable structure and it’s probably increasing your home owner’s insurance needlessly.” Hunter nodded, forking a large cut of grilled steak into his mouth.
I agreed with him completely, thinking over what to do with the structure. “Come over next weekend and have a look at it. I’d hate to tear the whole thing down, but whatever needs to be done, I guess.”
“Ohh! Can I come? Please?” Taylor Jane was clapping her hands excitedly, which amused all of us. “I’m looking for old clap board to use and I’ll pay you for it.”
“Honey, you can have it. I wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway. I was just going to have Hunter build a new shed from the ground up.” Taylor Jane got up from the table and came over to my side, tackle hugging me.
“Thank you so much!” I’d be happy to give her the whole shed if it made her that happy. I wasn’t as close to these guys as my sister was since I was a little older and I’d gone away to veterinary school, but I missed them all.
“Saturday it is!” Hunter pointed his fork at me, smiling when Taylor Jane went on to tell him the one hundred and one things I was sure she wanted to do with the clap board or whatever it was.
Winnie nudged me with her elbow, and I looked over at her. A kind smile brightened her face as opposed to the scowl moments ago when I made my moves on her under the table. “You’re a good friend, Chase Calloway.” She winked at me, and I felt a peaceful happiness settle over me. I liked Winnie Gray. I liked her a whole damn lot.
