Forty-Three
Abottle of antacids wouldn’t be enough to get through this day. How had I landed at Churchill Downs in my finest outfit and matching fascinator? My emerald-green wrap dress was pretty simple except for the large bow tied against my left side. The blue statement earrings that hung in beaded adornment and matching necklace added some oomph. Not to mention my green hat covered in green and blue feathers.
But my fascinator wasn’t the only covering that caught attention today. All the ladies were wearing them. Too bad staring at all the Derby hats was doing nothing for the suspense coursing through me.
“Breathe, girl. You made it this far, so hold your head up high.” Nevaeh threw an arm around my shoulders.
“Is it that obvious I’m about to freak out?”
She laughed. “You look like you’re gonna have a Jerry Maguire flip out moment.”
I gave a genuine smile for the first time that day. “Where have you been my whole life, Nevaeh Richards? Tuck doesn’t get my desire to quote movies all the time.”
“Fortunately for me, I’ve got myself a movie man. He’d get his SAG card taken away if he couldn’t quote from rom-coms.”
“Oh, Tuck can quote them, but not with obvious delight and abandon like I do.”
Nevaeh shook her head. “If movie quotes didn’t make you fall in love with him, what was it? The Stetson?”
I looked at Tuck across the way, being interviewed by a reporter. “It was the way he saw me.” I turned back to her. “No one on earth can ever know us completely. That job has only and always been intended for God. But if I had to pick a person who knows me the best, it would be Tuck. He’s never made me feel ashamed for anything I’ve liked. May have teased on occasion, but he’s more inclined to take notice, knowing how important it is for me.”
“I just love you two.” Nevaeh placed her hands on her cheeks. “I’m so glad we got to come out and support you. I only wish you could move your operation westward.”
“It would be great to have you closer as well, but Kentucky is me and I’m Kentucky.” I linked my arm with Nevaeh’s. “There’s always FaceTime.”
“Don’t forget texts.”
“Can’t forget that.” I tilted my head, studying Lamont and Chris talking. “Do you think the guys text more than we do?”
“Most definitely.” Nevaeh grinned. “Lamont is always reaching for his phone, and since I’m right next to him, I know it’s not me he’s texting.”
I laughed. “I think Tuck secretly lives for those moments.”
“If only Chris had a woman in his life.”
“We’ll just have to agree in prayer that God brings it to fruition.”
Nevaeh sighed. “Would it be awful to say that’s my least favorite part of believing in Jesus?”
“Praying? Or waiting?”
“Waiting. I so want to just do, you know? But I also know how doing just makes me look like a hamster on a wheel. I think I’m going somewhere, but only the person watching me—ahem, God—can tell I’m not.”
The mental image was so perfect I lost my composure. I may have even snort laughed.
Chris and Lamont turned to stare at us, and Nevaeh waved. She looked fantastic in her red sheath dress. The ruffled capped sleeves matched the ruffled concoction on top of her straw hat, which even had a white feather poking out of the center.
“You know waving to them is just going to make them wonder what we’re talking about,” I said.
“Of course. I’m hoping they’ll come over here so I can tease Chris some more about being the fifth wheel.”
Trust Nevaeh to bring life to the party. A few seconds later, the guys did come over, and Tuck slid his arm around my waist. I would never tire of touching him just as I’d always wanted to when we were repeating the just-friends mantra.
“Were you talking about us?” Lamont asked, then placing a kiss on Nevaeh’s lips.
“Absolutely.” She beamed up at him.
Chris shook his head. “Yeah, right. Probably talking about the oldest one in the group is more like it.”
“You, too, guess correctly, sir.”
Chris stared at every one of us, then groaned. “Fine.” He slid his hands into his pockets. “When I go back home, I’ll attempt dating.”
We all cheered. He tried not to smile, but soon his dazzling pearly whites showed, and his eyes sparkled. “I’ll admit seeing you guys is an inspiration.”
“Do you think you’ll use an app?” Nevaeh asked.
“Nah, not my thing. I’d like to meet someone the old-fashioned way.”
“What? Roller skating?” I quipped.
“Hey. I’m not that old.”
“Keep us updated,” Lamont said. “I’ll be praying God brings you the right person.”
“Someone who likes animals, hopefully,” Tuck added.
“Yes, please.” Chris smiled.
An announcer came over the intercom mentioning the start of the race commencing soon.
“I need that pink stuff,” I whined to Tuck.
He pulled out a small container and shook two chalky substances into my hand. “Couldn’t find the pink stuff, but here’s the ever-helpful calcium tablet.”
I popped the antacids. “What if Dream loses? What if he has to go to the bathroom again?” I still can’t believe he did poorly in training because of that. I mean, I know it’s possible, but I didn’t want it happening to my colt.
“Then we’ll come back next year with another colt.”
My mouth dried. “What if he wins?”
“Then we’ll deal with the media.” Tuck grinned. “God’s got us either way.”
He was right. Win or lose, God had us. I repeated that as we walked forward to view the Thoroughbreds lining up at the starting gate.
“We’re praying, Piper,” Lamont said.
I nodded, too overwhelmed to do anything else.
Chris squeezed my shoulder, and Tuck held on to my hand.
I had to remember that as much as I wanted to win the Derby, I wasn’t the only one who had something at stake. If we won, Tuck would have his first win as lead trainer. That would do wonders for his career. And Gabe would have a second Derby win under his jockey credits.
Not to mention, maybe, just maybe, the limelight would move away from Daddy. With his plea deal now national news, the reporters had once again started writing scathing articles about him. At least Mama was still talking with him on a daily basis, something she said they were attempting to rebuild the broken trust.
Speaking of...
I scanned the stands, looking for her. She’d arrived last night but chosen to hang by herself and not disturb our time with our friends.
Tuck pointed. “Over there.”
My bottom lip trembled as I found her in the crowd. Mama blew a kiss, and I clutched my heart in return. She’d chosen not to sit in the same box as us in hopes it would keep the reporters from asking us insinuating questions that had nothing to do with the Derby.
I love you, I mouthed to her.
Mama shaped her fingers into a heart.
My body jumped at the sound of the start of the race. We were too far away to hear the gates open, but that didn’t matter thanks to the siren they used for the Derby. All twenty gates parted, and the Thoroughbreds galloped out of their pens. I leaned forward as number five, Mystery, took the lead.
“Why did they do that?” Tuck asked. “The jockey shouldn’t have told Mystery to take off like that.”
“Maybe he has the stamina.”
Tuck scoffed. “That horse will lose the lead by the time they hit the clubhouse turn. Just watch.”
He was right. Number ten moved into the lead with Dream in second. “Oh, Tuck, I can’t watch. How is the race lasting this long?” This was supposed to be the fastest two minutes in sports.
“Time slows when adrenaline kicks in.”
I bit my lip, afraid to look and afraid to look away. What happened if I blinked and another horse passed number ten and Dream? I’d be bereft. Instead, I widened my eyes to watch as they neared the finish line.
“Come on, boy. Come on!” I muttered to myself.
Dream jolted forward, and I blew out a breath. Gabe had been practicing that move all season, and it looked like Dream did it without a hitch.
Around me, I could distinguish the different horse names shouted by the spectators. Every owner was cheering for their horse, and those who had bet on the races were screaming for their champion. As my body got another jolt of adrenaline, my senses focused on Dream. All noise faded as my heartbeat seemed to sync with every hoof landing on the Churchill Downs track.
This was it. They were near the finish line.
Then I saw it.
Dream’s head passed the finish line before any other horse’s.
“Did that just happen?” I shouted. I whirled toward Tuck. “Did he win? Did. Dream. Just. Win?”
Tuck stared back, dazed. “I think he did.”
“He won!” Nevaeh shouted, doing a little shimmy.
Lamont clapped Tuck on the back, and Chris gave me a side hug.
Tuck and I met each other’s eyes, then fell into each other’s arms. He kissed me, sweeping me off my feet and twirling me in a circle. When he lowered me to the ground, I held on, the box spinning around me.
“He won,” I whispered.
“He won,” Tuck said, amazement lighting every portion of his face.
We’d done it.