Chapter 10
10
I WOULD HAVE MADE AN EXCELLENT SOLDIER. Three hours and fifteen minutes later, I still stood at my post at the French doors. Approximately twenty children from ages four to fourteen had initially shown up. Micah had publicly thanked me, rallying a round of applause that quickly died with my reviewing the rules once again. And adding in being careful with the French doors.
After getting the lowdown on the itinerary, most of the older kids had fled. Hayley and her BFF Emma had deemed the tea party too uncool to participate in. They’d retreated to my prayer nook in the back corner, where the massive trunk of the live oak provided a barrier. Even now, they sat shoulder to shoulder, their heads tipped over their phones. Sigh .
Micah’s words from earlier ghosted through me. Had Hayley really been excited about today? Thinking back, the only time I remembered her showing interest was on the drive home from the library the day I’d agreed to host the event. She’d ridden in the passenger seat, flipping through the book, and asked what I was planning. I’d been too dazed by Micah’s wild suggestions that I’d responded with an “I don’t know yet.”
Oh no. I cupped my forehead, my eyes sliding shut. Why hadn’t I seized that moment to include her in all of this? I should’ve asked for her input from the get-go. This could have been our chance to do something together. Something other than bickering over a dog. And I’d wasted it. Returning my gaze to Hayley, a heavy dullness weighed in my chest. Claire wouldn’t have botched this. Even Micah had picked up on Hayley’s interest. My throat grew thick, defeat and guilt duking it out in my midsection. I’d failed.
I’d viewed this event as a task to work through as quickly and painlessly as possible. Huh . Micah had also been correct in pointing out my need for control. Though it irked me to admit it, that science project we’d worked on together in high school had been better because of him challenging me. Maybe God had aligned our paths again for a similar reason. I skimmed the courtyard and spied Micah crouched next to a table, talking to a little girl with glasses. He wore a hat he’d created with no less than three sets of rabbit ears. So ridiculous . But like earlier, another blip of lightness broke through, easing that weight on my chest.
Despite Micah’s best efforts to make the arts-and-crafts activity fun, only a few preschoolers actually donned their creations. I’d thought hat making would keep the boys and girls occupied for forty-five minutes. I’d been wrong. With the movie still a no-go at that point, Micah had rallied everyone for another session of reading, changing his voice for each of the characters, using sweeping arm motions and over-the-top expressions. At least he’d garnered some chuckles.
Thankfully, Julia’s brother-in-law, Wyatt Reed, had arrived and fixed the internet problem before Micah’s voice had given out. I’d tried to pay Wyatt for his services, but he’d turned me down, only accepting an order of beignets as payment. I scanned the area and found him standing on the fringes. Though he’d repaired the glitch, he’d stuck around. Probably to ensure the issue didn’t return until the event had ended. In his early forties, Wyatt was the epitome of handsome. Tall, dark hair, solid build. But after meeting him at Julia’s wedding last year, we hadn’t hit it off. Even if my heart had been open to the idea of dating, he held a quiet reservedness that seemed impenetrable.
The movie wrapped up, and I took in the sullen faces of the handful of children who’d been forced to stick it out. Sheesh Louise . Several kids had laid their heads on the tables and were dozing. I pursed my lips. Maybe only serving iced chamomile tea had backfired. But I hadn’t wanted to introduce caffeine of any kind. On the plus side, their parents appeared happy not to be chasing them around.
I gave up my station at the French doors, descended the steps, and slumped onto a chair next to Julia, who sat alone at the arts-and-crafts table. Beneath the remains of the hat-making activity, dots and smears in varying marker colors covered the tablecloth. Thank goodness it was disposable.
Julia adjusted her Cheshire Cat hat. “Did you slip Benadryl in the food?”
“At least my courtyard is still in one piece.”
“And your murderous bird didn’t make an appearance.” She snickered. “Between him and your killer fountain, it’s a wonder anyone survived.”
I straightened. “In my defense, if a kid had scooped a cup of water from the fountain and drank it, they would’ve gotten sick.”
“Fair point.” She fought a smile.
I gathered the crayons within reach, placing them in a Ziploc bag. The whites, browns, and grays lay ignored, their points as sharp as the day they’d rolled off the Crayola assembly line.
Julia followed suit with the markers. “When did you find out Micah has a girlfriend?”
My motions slowed. Reflexively, the Landry Mask stood at the ready to slip into place. But this was Julia. Eleven years ago, she’d been the one person who’d seen me at my worst. To the outside world, I only mourned the passing of Claire and Adrian. No one dared mention the humiliating death of my relationship with Ryan. But Julia had known I also grieved the loss of my almost-marriage. Of what I’d thought my future was going to be. “A few weeks back. But I didn’t realize it was Sydney until today.” I glanced across the courtyard to where Sydney spoke with one of the parents. “She’s perfect. Just look at her.”
“No one’s perfect.” Julia snapped a cap onto one of the markers. “According to Sydney they’re not dating seriously.”
My attention zipped to my nosy best friend. “You asked her that?”
She lifted a shoulder, adding the marker to a Ziploc bag. “Not directly but yes. They’re still in that getting-to-know-you phase.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I abandoned the crayons and collected the scraps of paper that had been snipped from the hat creations, wadding them into a ball.
“Because you’re not interested anyway.”
“Exactly.”
Julia added the final marker to her bag and sealed it. “They don’t seem lovey-dovey. I haven’t seen them hold hands. Or sneak in a kiss. Not even a peck.”
I stopped pummeling my makeshift stress ball. “Not everyone is pro-PDA like you and your husband.” I tossed the paper into the nearby garbage can. She shoots, she scores.
“I’d like to point out that though this event has been a total snoozer for the kids, it’s been extremely entertaining on the adult level.”
I surveyed the other grown-ups. Most of them had taken a seat and zombied into their phones. Except for the first mom who’d showed up. She’d spent her time scarfing cupcakes and trying to weasel free beignets.
Julia leaned in, as did the Cheshire Cat sitting atop her head. “Wyatt’s been watching Sydney, and Sydney’s been eyeing the dessert trays with what appears to be extreme longing.”
Glancing in their direction, it did appear that though Sydney and Micah were in a conversation, her vision was locked on a plate of the remaining cupcakes. And then, on the edge of the festivities, Wyatt lingered. With the way he glanced Sydney’s way, maybe he hadn’t stuck around to ensure there weren’t any other technical difficulties.
Julia tapped my forearm. “Do you want to know who Micah’s keeping tabs on?” The Cheshire Cat must’ve sunken its claws into her brain because the mischief in her tone made the answer clear. And ridiculous.
“You’re wrong.” I returned my attention to cleaning up, collecting the safety scissors. “Besides, that all sounds like a love triangle. Or a love octagon. And, no, thank you, to any part of it. I have too much on my hands with Ryan popping up on me like Whac-A-Mole. And there isn’t a hammer big enough to clobber his inflated head.”
“Ryan’s been here?” Her eyes widened. “At the café?”
“Twice. His first visit was to purely irritate me about the Vieux Carré Café.”
She removed her hat, placing it on the table. “When was this?”
“The same day as the dinner from hades with my parents.” Which had led to me recombing through my finances and considering a withdrawal against my 401(k). Or hocking my nonvital organs on the black market. In the end, I’d decided to stick to plan A. I’d completed a mountain of paperwork for the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and scheduled a meeting with them. “The second time he showed up I didn’t even talk to him. He just ate and left. And was a skimpy tipper.” I dropped a pair of scissors into the storage bin.
“Do you think he’s trying to rekindle things?”
I blinked, the idea spreading over me. Was he? He had been a little flirty. Plus, his lack of a wedding ring and Facebook relationship status marked him as unattached. But ... no, the evidence of our history kicked that possibility to the curb. I still had Hayley, who he’d yet to inquire after. And the only interest I had in Ryan involved him experiencing excruciating pain. “I think he views me as competition, and he’s trying to get a feel for what he’s up against.”
“Or he’s trying to get a feel on your feelings for him. What if he regrets what he did and wants you back? You’re gorgeous and loyal and kind—”
“Not to him.”
“I’m just saying that could be Ryan’s motive. Or side motive. You’d be a fabulous catch for any guy, including Wyatt.” Julia returned her gaze to her brother-in-law.
I snorted. “You transitioned to that brilliantly.”
She gave an unrepentant shrug. “There’s really no hope for Wyatt? He’s so great. As a former Green Beret, he can handle anything from espionage to home repairs.”
“Didn’t you just speculate about his interest in Sydney?”
Her mouth scrunched.
“No matter.” I held up a hand. “Wyatt didn’t give me the zings the last time we met, and he doesn’t give me the zings now.”
Julia nodded solemnly. “The zings are very important.”
Of their own volition, my eyes sought and found Micah, making his way over. He stopped a few feet away and slid his hands into his pockets. “Julia, I wanted to thank you for your help today.”
She waved him off, pushing to a stand. “I was happy to. Can I get y’all anything from inside? I’m going to grab some coffee.”
Micah and I both declined.
Julia took a step away, then paused. “Micah, when I told you we attend church on Sundays, I forgot to mention we go to the second service. It starts at eleven o’clock ... you know ... if your dad ever wants to try a different time. And we sit on the left side of the sanctuary. In the middle.”
Good grief, was she going to drop a location pin tomorrow when we were in our seats and text it to him? And hello . He has a girlfriend. Regardless of Sydney expressing her and Micah’s relationship as not being serious, they’d still DTR’d. Plus, that huge red flag rippled above his head.
“Thanks,” Micah said to her. “I’ll let my dad know.”
Wearing a satisfied expression, Julia departed.
Micah moved her folding chair, putting additional space between us before he sat. He slipped off his six-eared rabbit hat, revealing a full ring of smooshed hair and a mark from the paper across his forehead. “Do you have a dead body under this table?” He lifted the tablecloth, peering below.
“What kind of question is that?”
He eased back, the seat creaking beneath his weight. “You look guilty.”
Guilty of illegally crushing on you. I picked up a worn orange crayon. Its paper had been peeled, its tip a dull nub. Into the bag it went.
Micah added a tape dispenser to the arts-and-crafts bin. “I wanted to thank you again too.”
“And rub the disaster in my face.”
“No.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “Well, maybe a little.” He collected the remaining rolls of tape.
A dramatized gasp broke out from Hayley and Emma’s direction. They were in their own little world over there, when they should’ve been a part of the happenings over here. My gaze wafted to the table before me and a rough outline of a small hand traced in purple marker. “Something you said earlier has been nagging me.”
Smile lines fanned the corners of his eyes. “Just like old times.”
“I’m trying to pay you a compliment.”
“Using the word nagging ?”
I fought an eye roll. If the Lord had dropped Micah momentarily onto my path for a reason, I’d need to pray for extra patience. “You said Hayley had been excited about today.”
He nodded.
“Apparently, I ruined that excitement.” As if on cue, Hayley and Emma abandoned the courtyard, making their way upstairs. I swallowed a sigh. “I’ve also been thinking how this was not a memorable event for these kids. Not like the ones Hayley had growing up. And today is certainly not one she’ll think back fondly on in her old age.”
Micah’s stare remained channeled on me. Quiet. Absorbing.
I shifted in my seat. “I think I’m ready to concede to you handling the next function here.”
He studied his hands, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
Bewilderment sprinkled over me. I’d expected him to whoop with triumph or toss a tease my way. Was his brain too busy, already spinning with ideas for the following party? “I’m still not allowing croquet. Or catapults that launch hard projectiles.”
His gaze rose, connecting with mine. “What about catapults that launch soft projectiles?”
I huffed a laugh.
The credits on the movie began rolling, rousing the remaining children from their seats.
Micah reached for an overlooked marker. “What if we plan the next event together, with Hayley?”
“That would be...” Too many sensations fluttered through me, no doubt playing across my features. Hope, relief, possibility. “Perfect. That would be perfect.” Goldilocks .
Pushing to his feet, he chucked the marker into the bin and unleashed a devastating smile ... aimed at Sydney, who headed our way.
God, other than extra patience, can You send some Bubble Wrap for my heart? Just in case.