The Sometimes Sisters(64)

“Browned.”

“Then with mustard, chili, and relish?” He took a step and their shoulders were touching. “And no onions, right?”

“How did you know that?” Harper stuck a hot dog on a wire and headed toward the back door, with a sideways wink at Dana.

“She asked for them to be left off everything at the Mexican place,” he answered.

“Good job, Payton.” She gave him a thumbs-up as she left.

“That’s sweet that you remembered,” Dana said softly. Her ex couldn’t even pass one of those simple tests asking things like the significant other’s favorite color or flower. But then, it wasn’t right to compare apples to oranges or idiots to geniuses.

He brushed her hair away from her ear and whispered, “I remember every single thing about that evening. It was the best time I’ve had in years.”

She looked up to say something, but she barely had time to moisten her lips before his found hers in a scorching-hot kiss. When it ended, she leaned in for a second one and almost lost her balance before she realized that he’d taken a step back.

“I guess we’d better get on out there with the rest of them,” he said hoarsely.

“Might be a good idea,” she whispered, amazed that she could utter a single word.

Zed had circled the fire pit with old metal lawn chairs of every color and description. Two were left empty, side by side, which surprised Dana when she and Payton arrived. Holding the hot dog wires in one hand, he pulled out her chair from the circle and seated her before scooting his back far enough to get inside the circle. Then he held the hot dogs at just the right distance over the blaze to turn them the right shade of brown.

“What do you think, lovely lady? Is this about right?” he asked Dana.

“Looks good to me.” She smiled.

“Then I’ll bring it back all dressed up before you can blink twice. Want a beer or sweet tea?”

“Sweet tea and barbecue chips.” She felt like a queen. Of course, it wouldn’t last—all good things came to an end—but by golly, she intended to enjoy every single minute of the evening.

For maybe a minute she sat there with only Harper, who was busy making sure her hot dog was perfectly done, and then Tawny came out of the house with a full plate of food. “If you get tired of that guy, you can throw him into cabin number seven. He’s a sweetheart.”

“He’s got a daughter two years older than you, girl. He’s old enough to be your father,” Dana said.

“Maybe I’ve got a daddy complex.” Tawny bit into her hot dog and groaned.

Dana stole a chip from Tawny’s plate. “Not while I’m in your life. So how are you today, Harper? I was so swamped at the store that I didn’t have time to even take a lunch break.”

“Pretty good,” Harper answered. “Not over the moon ecstatic, but calmer than I’ve been in a very long time.”

“I’ve been wonderin’,” Dana said. “How often did y’all see each other since—well, you know?”

Tawny glanced at Harper. “Maybe half a dozen times. She came through town once, and we had lunch together. She insisted on paying for it, and I felt terrible when she dragged out change to finish out the bill. The rest of the times it was just a lunch or maybe a breakfast and I’d whip out my mother’s charge card before she could dig in her purse for money. I couldn’t imagine having to work for minimum wage like you did. At least not until I got booted out of Mama’s good graces and had to work. But when I had to work, I liked being independent.”

“You paid with our meals that day with Mama’s money? What happened when she found out?” Harper grinned.

“She raised hell when she checked the bill and found dinner for two at a cheap restaurant on a bad side of town. When I told her that I’d paid for your meal, she deducted that amount from my next month’s allowance. It was worth it,” Tawny said flatly.

Harper giggled. “It’s a wonder she didn’t stroke out.”

“I thought she might,” Tawny laughed with her.

Dana made a mental note to call her mother soon and tell her that she loved her. Maybe someday Retha would come around and realize that she was missing a relationship with her girls. But maybe she wouldn’t. Sometimes folks didn’t realize what they’d missed until it was too late.

And that’s your lesson to yourself tonight. Don’t let something fall through your fingers when you’ve got a good firm grip on it.

Payton squeezed between two chairs and handed her a plate of food. “Just the way you like it.”

“Yes, it is, and thank you so much.” She smiled up at him.

“I’m going back to get mine ready. Don’t let anyone steal my chair. Can I get you anything else?”

“I think I’ve got everything I need.” For the first time in years, she really felt that way, and this was only their second date.

Brook sat down on the other side of her and nudged her with an elbow. “Uncle Zed’s hands were shakin’ when he poured his glass of iced tea. Is he all right?”

“Probably just tired. It’s been a long day for him,” Dana said, hoping that she was right. She’d noticed that he coughed a lot more these days and that his overalls were getting even baggier than usual. He gripped the tea glass so tightly that his knuckles turned practically white. And when he took a bite of his hot dog, he used both hands to guide it to his mouth. Surely, God wouldn’t take him so soon after Granny Annie. That might be more than any of them could bear—especially Harper, who worked with him every day. She might be tall and tough-looking, but the last few days had proven just how fragile she was.