Riverbend Reunion(80)

“Hey, did you save these seats for us?” Linda Davis asked and sat down without waiting for an answer.

“Sure, we did,” Nora said. “I was just telling Risa that our girls have become pretty good friends, and they’re going to church with us on Sunday.”

“Well, I’m glad to have Ginger running with good girls, and to tell the truth, I’m happy they didn’t get into the cheer squad.” Linda leaned forward. “No offense meant to you four, but things have changed since we graduated,” she said out the corner of her mouth.

“From what I’ve heard, they sure have,” Risa said.

“Hey,” Richard, Linda’s husband, said, “I hear the bar and grill is coming along pretty good. We’ll be among your first customers. Oscar has been telling us about the food, and we do enjoy dancing sometimes on Saturday nights.”

“It’s looking like we can have our grand opening on the night before the homecoming parade and ball game,” Wade said.

“Is it really going to be called the Old Church?” Nora asked.

“No,” Jessica answered, “it’s going to be Danny’s Place in honor of Wade’s brother.”

“That’s sweet,” Nora said with a smile. “He was a good guy.”

Waiters brought out plates of food, and Jessica took the first bite of the stuffed chicken and poked Risa on the shoulder. “You should have catered this event. Your crumb chicken beats this all to pieces. And that pecan pie looks store bought.”

“Are you going to do some catering?” Nora asked.

“If so, I want to book you for Ginger’s seventeenth birthday party,” Linda said.

Risa shook her head. “I’ll be too busy in the bar when it opens to have time for catering.”

Nora leaned forward a little and whispered, “If you change your mind, I get first chance for Melissa’s birthday party, and we have to get together for lunch someday.”



Even though he ate everything on his plate, Wade didn’t taste much of it. He heard the president of the alumni association introduce a speaker but couldn’t focus on what the man was saying most of the time. Folks around him laughed at the guy’s jokes and memories he talked about from fifty years before, when he graduated from Riverbend High School, but Wade kept stealing side glances at Jessica and thinking about the kiss they had almost shared. If the man would just finish talking, Wade could take Jessica out on the dance floor and hold her close like he wanted to do.

“Is this boring you?” Jessica whispered.

“Is it that obvious?” Wade asked.

“It is to me. I’ve been stifling yawns,” she said.

“Want to sneak out?” Wade asked.

“God yes, but how do we? Risa might need us,” Jessica answered.

“I don’t think Stella will try to wade through Mary Nell and Haley, not to mention Linda and Nora,” Wade said. “Let’s have a couple of dances and then find our way out of this place. This is twice I’ve been to one of these things.”

“Twice?” Jessica asked. “I thought this was your first time.”

“My first and my last,” Wade said without even a sign of a grin.

The speaker finally ended his speech and got a standing ovation. Wade wasn’t sure if it was because folks really enjoyed hearing his anecdotes or if they were glad that he was done. The president introduced the DJ, who went right into playing a song, “I Hope You Dance,” that had been popular twenty years before.

Wade pushed back his chair and held out a hand to Jessica. “May I have this dance, ma’am?”

Jessica put her hand in his. “They played this at mine and Danny’s graduation. I wonder if they’ll play popular songs from every year.”

Wade led her out onto the floor, where she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he began a slow two-step. For a while they were the only two people on the dance floor, but Wade didn’t feel uncomfortable. For the first time in his life, he didn’t feel like hiding in the shadows.

Surprise, Brother. Danny’s voice was clear in his head. You have lost your nerdiness. Don’t ever lose Jessica. She’s your lifesaver.

Wade drew her a little closer and danced her closer to the door. “Stella is leaving. Risa won’t need us now, and they all seem to be having a great time.”

“I’ll need to get my purse and tell them that we’re leaving,” Jessica said.

“I will wait for you by the door,” Wade said, “but if you want to stay longer and visit . . .”

“No, I do not, and I believe I have been to two of these also—my first and last. This just isn’t for me, but I am glad we came, so I could have a dance with you. Risa really should reacquaint herself with Nora and Linda since it looks like their daughters are going to be such good friends, and you are right about Haley and Mary Nell being here for her.” Jessica raised up just slightly on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “That’s so Brenda won’t come try to steal you away.”

“Darlin’, I can outrun that woman,” Wade teased.

“Maybe when she’s had too much to drink, but when she’s sober, she might be fast on her feet,” Jessica joked. “Have you even considered all the women who’ll be coming into the bar when we open it? You might have a choice of ladies to dance with at closing time.”