The Barefoot Summer(32)

Kate touched Jamie on the shoulder and smiled. “She did so well up there. Has she been in lots of these little plays? At her age I would have been terrified.”

“This is her first one,” Jamie answered. “I’m shocked. At home she’s very shy and won’t get two feet from my side when we are away from the house.”

“It’s because it’s not a big, overwhelming place,” Amanda said. “This is the kind of church that Aunt Ellie took me to my whole life. I can’t imagine going to one that holds five hundred people.”

Kate laughed. “Try three times that.”

Jamie nodded. “Or four.”

“No wonder she’s intimidated. Anyone would be. You should move to a small town to raise her, Jamie.”

“What about you? Wichita Falls isn’t a rural community,” Jamie said.

Hattie pushed her way through the children to join them before Amanda could answer. “You should all stay here at the end of summer and raise your kids in Bootleg. Follow me and I’ll take you to the fellowship hall so you can meet everyone. We’re so glad you all came this morning. Wasn’t that program just the sweetest thing? And Gracie did so good with her parts. She’s fitting in right well with the children, too.”

At that moment Jamie knew how Moses must’ve felt when the Red Sea parted—the whole crowd separated to let Hattie lead the way to the fellowship hall. Gracie’s hand was tucked in Hattie’s. Jamie filed in behind them with Amanda and then Kate behind her.

When they reached the fellowship hall, Jamie felt as out of place as a chicken at a coyote convention, but she kept her head up and followed Amanda’s lead. Amanda introduced herself to the two women who were already working at taking lids off the dishes and getting them organized. Jamie took her cue and stepped right in behind her to do the same. “I have never been to a potluck, but I’m willing to help any way I can.”

“I’m Kate, and I’ll help, too.” Kate’s tone said that she was every bit as nervous as Jamie.

“Pleased to meet all of you. I’m Ruth, and this is my sister, Hilda. With Hattie we pretty much take care of the kitchen part of the duties, but we’re always glad when you young people step up to help. Oh, there’s Paul and his daughter. I understand y’all gave him a nice bed this past week.”

“Right glad to have you ladies in church. Shame what happened, but then, some men are just born rascals. It ain’t y’all’s fault, though. God will take care of it all.” Hilda nodded toward the tables. “We set out the meat dishes first, then the potatoes and vegetables, salads after that, and then desserts at the far end.”

Hattie bustled into the kitchen and started to work. “And the tables are already set with plastic cutlery. I had to stop and give all my kids a special hug for doing so good, so I’m a little behind.”

Gracie tugged on Jamie’s skirt tail. “Mama, can I go over there and talk to Lisa?”

“Just don’t leave this room.” Jamie caught sight of Paul talking to Lisa and, from his body language, he was telling her the same thing. The little girls met in the middle of the room and hurried over to a corner, where they plopped down on the floor and put their heads together.

Paul zeroed in on Jamie and came toward the tables where she and Amanda were busy arranging desserts.

“I wanted to come over and tell you that I’ve slept better the past couple of nights than I have in ages. Thank you again for giving me the bed.” His brilliant smile lit up the whole fellowship hall.

“You are very welcome. Gracie sure talks a lot about Lisa,” Amanda said.

“Well”—he turned his full attention toward Jamie—“Lisa seems happier than she has in a long time since y’all arrived in Bootleg. She was just getting a little closure with her mom’s passing, and then the fire took everything from us. If Hattie hadn’t shared some pictures of her mother taken at church functions, we wouldn’t even have that.”

Guilt pricked Jamie’s heart. She’d thrown every picture of Conrad into the trash except the one in Gracie’s room. Maybe she should have saved a few more. In later years that one could get torn or misplaced, and then Gracie would have nothing.

Hattie pushed her way in between Amanda and Jamie and set two pies on the table. “I was glad to share what I had with you. And it makes me happy to see Lisa and Gracie helping each other get through these tough times.”

“Where’s Kate?” Amanda glanced around the room.

“Hilda has her marking lids so they know which dishes to put them back on when this is over,” Hattie answered.

“Well, thanks again,” Paul said. “And Jamie, anytime that Gracie wants to come to our house for a playdate, she’s sure welcome. Lisa really likes her, as you can see.” Paul nodded toward the other side of the room, where the girls were whispering to each other.

“I wonder what they’re talking about,” Amanda said.

“Probably what dessert they’ll snag first.” Paul laughed as he walked away.

Jamie fought the urge to fan her warm face with the back of her hand. Dammit! She wasn’t a teenager with a crush on a new boy on the block.

“And there’s that blush again,” Amanda teased.

“Hush!” Jamie hissed. “I get flushed when I’m hungry. Right now I’m thinking about moving to a little church when I go home. I cannot believe how these folks are treating us.”