sent an encouraging and understanding smile.
Mama Beth moved away , sniffling and wiping her cheeks, her husband, Big Bo Miller, a gentle giant at her side.
At last the line ended with Trish and Andy, who both engulfed her in a hug at the same time. “You know we’re so proud of you,” exclaimed Trish. Andy nodded and beamed.
A lump landed in her throat. She‘ d be nothing without these people. Here they were congratulating h er when she owed them so much, e specially Andy . Grace swabbed at her tear s as she gazed into her boss’ eyes. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. H elping me through college and law school was enough, but now you’ve gone and done all this. Thank you.”
“Helping you through school was my pl easure, Gracie, b ut I can’t take credit for this.”
She turned her head to one side.
“This was Matt’s doing.”
Matt? Grace whipped her head around to thank him, but his chair was empty. Instead, Jason, who sat nearby, captured her gaze with his own.
4
M att stood on tiptoe at the back of the church after Sunday morning worship and searched the crowd for Gracie. She’d been there earlier, but must have slipped out as soon as the service was over. To make matters worse, Jason Dent had been lurking around her all morning, and now he was gone as well .
A wave of dis courage ment wa shed over him. He ha dn’t seen Gracie since the surpris e party, tied up with finishing a requested son g for a guy in Nashville. A sigh escaped . He’d hoped to ask if she wanted to join him for a cup of hot cho colate at Granny’ s .
People milled past , and t hough he was no stranger to Mil ler’s Creek, no one spoke . Instead they chatted with each other, making him feel invisible . He looked the other way . Out of the corner of one eye , he spied Otis Thacker, the town grump, headed his direction .
Matt quickly offered a hand as the elderly man tottered up . “How are you , Otis ?”
“ Hmph .” Otis ignored his hand and leaned closer . “I’m fine, but you’re not doing too well by the looks of things.” His bad breath blasted Matt in the face.
“I’m sorry?” His brow wrinkled as he shoved his fingers back into his jean pockets.
The old man waved a crooked finger in the air . “If my father was alive—he was a clothes salesman , you know—but if he was alive, he’d drag you to the store and dress you in something more appropriate for church .”
Ma tt’s mouth droo ped open, but nothing came out.
“And he’d give your face a shave while he was at it.” Otis tottered away, his parting words drifting behind him. “Young people these days have completely lost every lick of sense.”
Mama Beth hurried up , wheezing and out of breath. “ Heavens! I hope Otis wasn’t too sharp-tongued. I tried to get here as soon as I saw him headed your way , but I didn’t quite make it judging by the scowl on your face.”
He attempted a smile , but the audacity of the other man had left a sour tast e in his mouth. “Hey , Mama Beth.” He leaned forward and hugged her neck. “ G ood to see you again . I’ve been hoping you’d invite me over for some of your famous cooking.”
Mama Beth cackled, her face gleaming with good humor. “You know you don’t have to wait for an invitation. Come any time. I’d enjoy the company. That man of mine is off with Steve on a hunting expedition ri ght now. ”
“ D eer hunting ?”
“Yep. Maybe by this time next week I’ll have some fresh venison for you.”
His mouth watered at the thought. “Can’t I come for a meal now and later?”
“Of course.” Her smile faded, and she cocked her head to one side. “Something tells me it’s not really my cooking you’re after.”
He lowered his head, released a half laugh , and dra g ged the toe of his right shoe across the carpet . “Good old Mama Beth, perceptive as always . Is it that obvious?”
“Probably not to anyone else. Do you
Mama Beth moved away , sniffling and wiping her cheeks, her husband, Big Bo Miller, a gentle giant at her side.
At last the line ended with Trish and Andy, who both engulfed her in a hug at the same time. “You know we’re so proud of you,” exclaimed Trish. Andy nodded and beamed.
A lump landed in her throat. She‘ d be nothing without these people. Here they were congratulating h er when she owed them so much, e specially Andy . Grace swabbed at her tear s as she gazed into her boss’ eyes. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. H elping me through college and law school was enough, but now you’ve gone and done all this. Thank you.”
“Helping you through school was my pl easure, Gracie, b ut I can’t take credit for this.”
She turned her head to one side.
“This was Matt’s doing.”
Matt? Grace whipped her head around to thank him, but his chair was empty. Instead, Jason, who sat nearby, captured her gaze with his own.
4
M att stood on tiptoe at the back of the church after Sunday morning worship and searched the crowd for Gracie. She’d been there earlier, but must have slipped out as soon as the service was over. To make matters worse, Jason Dent had been lurking around her all morning, and now he was gone as well .
A wave of dis courage ment wa shed over him. He ha dn’t seen Gracie since the surpris e party, tied up with finishing a requested son g for a guy in Nashville. A sigh escaped . He’d hoped to ask if she wanted to join him for a cup of hot cho colate at Granny’ s .
People milled past , and t hough he was no stranger to Mil ler’s Creek, no one spoke . Instead they chatted with each other, making him feel invisible . He looked the other way . Out of the corner of one eye , he spied Otis Thacker, the town grump, headed his direction .
Matt quickly offered a hand as the elderly man tottered up . “How are you , Otis ?”
“ Hmph .” Otis ignored his hand and leaned closer . “I’m fine, but you’re not doing too well by the looks of things.” His bad breath blasted Matt in the face.
“I’m sorry?” His brow wrinkled as he shoved his fingers back into his jean pockets.
The old man waved a crooked finger in the air . “If my father was alive—he was a clothes salesman , you know—but if he was alive, he’d drag you to the store and dress you in something more appropriate for church .”
Ma tt’s mouth droo ped open, but nothing came out.
“And he’d give your face a shave while he was at it.” Otis tottered away, his parting words drifting behind him. “Young people these days have completely lost every lick of sense.”
Mama Beth hurried up , wheezing and out of breath. “ Heavens! I hope Otis wasn’t too sharp-tongued. I tried to get here as soon as I saw him headed your way , but I didn’t quite make it judging by the scowl on your face.”
He attempted a smile , but the audacity of the other man had left a sour tast e in his mouth. “Hey , Mama Beth.” He leaned forward and hugged her neck. “ G ood to see you again . I’ve been hoping you’d invite me over for some of your famous cooking.”
Mama Beth cackled, her face gleaming with good humor. “You know you don’t have to wait for an invitation. Come any time. I’d enjoy the company. That man of mine is off with Steve on a hunting expedition ri ght now. ”
“ D eer hunting ?”
“Yep. Maybe by this time next week I’ll have some fresh venison for you.”
His mouth watered at the thought. “Can’t I come for a meal now and later?”
“Of course.” Her smile faded, and she cocked her head to one side. “Something tells me it’s not really my cooking you’re after.”
He lowered his head, released a half laugh , and dra g ged the toe of his right shoe across the carpet . “Good old Mama Beth, perceptive as always . Is it that obvious?”
“Probably not to anyone else. Do you
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