Filed to story: Love on the Sidelines (Natalie & Karl)
Karl gestured toward some boxes stacked beside him. “I had to pick up some nails for the nail gun, and since it’s so close to quitting time, I thought I’d save Bowie a trip and give Daniel a ride home.”
I glanced at the clock. “He should be here in a few minutes.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Wonderful.” I grinned. “We’ve had more girls buying games since he started than ever before.”
“There did seem to be a crowd when I went by that aisle earlier.” He looked mildly disgruntled. “I hope all the attention doesn’t go to his head.”
“It won’t. He’s too much like you.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t remember hordes of girls chasing me around when I was his age.”
“The only reason they didn’t is because you ignored them.” He crossed his forearms on the counter and leaned forward. “I ignored them because there was only one girl I was interested in. And it’s great to see her laugh again.”
Before I realized what he was going to do, he kissed me, right there in front of God and everyone. Just a quick brush of lips, but it was enough to send confusion swirling over me.
“Welcome back, Peewee,” he murmured. Heat flooded my face as a loud war whoop rang through the store.
“Way to go, Dad!” Daniel appeared beside Karl, grinning from ear to ear. And he wasn’t the only one taking note. Kenny was laughing, too. Thank God, most of the customers had already left and the store was nearly empty.
“He thinks I’m over the hill,” Karl said, giving Daniel a friendly shove.
“You act like it sometimes,” the boy said. “But thanks to me, things are definitely starting to look up.” He puffed his chest out. “I’ve been giving him advice.”
“Oh, really?” I grinned. “Maybe I should take you to the roadhouse with me Wednesday night instead of Jenna. Can you dance?”
“Just call me Justin Timberlake.” He executed a move that would have done N’Sync proud, and I blinked.
“Wow. You weren’t kidding. You’re hired.”
Karl shook his head. “No way. He’s only fourteen. He’s not allowed to date unless I go along as a chaperone.”
“You’re just jealous because he can dance and you can’t.”
“Oh, Dad can dance. He took lessons.”
Karl clamped his hand over Daniel’s mouth, a dull flush creeping up his neck. “I think it’s time for us to be leaving.”
I widened my eyes in mock horror. “I don’t believe this. Karl Hayes taking dance lessons? And the world didn’t come to a screeching halt?”
“There’s not a lot to do when you’re stuck on a compound in the middle of Saudi Arabia,” he muttered. “Besides, he didn’t say I was any good at it.” Daniel forced Karl’s hand away from his mouth. “He is, though. You should have seen him practicing with Bowie. They took the class together and both of them tried to lead.”
“You and I are going to have a long talk when we get home.” Karl glared at Daniel before turning to me again. “What to come with us? Bowie is cooking, so no promises on the state of your health after supper.”
With Lindsey there? Not a chance in hell. Maybe I’d called a truce with Karl, but she was a different story entirely. “Sorry. I promised Mama I’d stop by after work.”
“Well, guess I’ll see you later then.”
“Sure.”
I watched them leave, then glanced at Kenny. “Wipe that grin off your face or I’ll fire you for insubordination.”
My words had no effect on him. “You can’t fire me. You need me too much.
Besides, it’s nice to hear you laugh for a change.”
“Have I really been that bad, Kenny?”
“Not bad.” He hesitated. “It’s just that you seem to take everything so seriously, like if you ever knew how to have fun, you’ve forgotten.”
I thought about that for a second. “Maybe I did. And maybe it’s time I started to remember.”
He patted my shoulder. “Why don’t you go on? I’ll lock up for the night.” It surprised both of us when I kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Kenny. For everything.” That man was long overdue a raise, I decided as I gathered up my purse. He put in more hours than I did, never complained, and the whole staff looked up to him. I couldn’t run the store without him.
Mama’s new house was a small, single-story red brick. It sat at the end of a long lane, amidst a grove of towering pines that whispered in the wind like a hundred voices, murmuring secrets not meant for human ears. Since she was expecting me, I didn’t bother to knock, just opened the door and stepped into the kitchen.
To my everlasting shock, she was at the counter putting the finishing touches on a mandarin orange cake, my all-time favorite since I was a little girl. “What’s the occasion?” I asked when she glanced around.