7. Maggie #2
Penny leaned forward from her seat at the far end of the row, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous, bright excitement as she smoothed down her blue vice-captain sticker.
"Well, if we're going to maintain this level of dominance, we have exactly a year to prepare. I’m thinking we start a strict, daily athletic training program next week.
We need to get the entire team into peak physical shape so we can win even more trophies next summer, and by a much wider margin. "
A loud, collective groan instantly rolled down the row of their group, several people shaking their heads in mock horror at the prospect of Penny’s organized drills.
"I'm actually going to be completely away for the rest of the year," Isabel announced with a quick, playful roll of her eyes as she adjusted her straw hat. "I have a... well, I have a very important thing scheduled."
"Yes, I have that exact same thing on my calendar," Owen agreed, leaning back against his seat with a chuckle as he adjusted his glasses. "It's a highly demanding, long-term commitment."
Linda popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth, a knowing, amused smile playing on her lips. "Oh, right. I remember. We planned that specific thing quite a while ago, didn't we?"
"That's absolutely right," Darius chimed in, clicking his fingers together with a boyish, triumphant grin as he looked across at the captains.
"Sorry, you three, but we're simply not going to be available for any physical training for the rest of the year.
We all have a very pressing, unavoidable thing to attend to. "
Maggie, Michael, and Penny exchanged a look of mock disappointment, sighing in perfect unison as they looked down the table at their lazy friends.
"So lazy," Maggie muttered with a playful sniff, though she couldn't hide the tender, happy smile that tugged at her lips.
Everyone burst into a round of genuine, easy laughter, the lighthearted banter completely dissolving the remaining tension of the competitive day.
The chatter at the tables gradually died down as Pete walked back up to the center of the elevated stage, tapping the microphone twice to capture the room's attention.
The speakers let out a small, high-pitched feedback squeak before he adjusted the stand, his weathered face crinkling with a welcoming smile as he looked out over the crowded floor.
"I want to thank every single one of you for joining us for the Summer Lake Games today," Pete announced, his deep voice carrying clearly over the speakers to the very back corners of the barn.
"Thanks to your incredible participation, your registrations, and the purchases at the stalls, we've raised a record-breaking sum of money.
Every single penny of the proceeds from today's games is going directly to the regional children's hospital fund that our bay has proudly supported for years. "
The barn erupted into another loud round of applause, several people stomping their boots in approval.
"Now, I know you're all starving after running around in the sun all afternoon," Pete continued, gesturing toward the long, steam-capped buffet tables set up along the side wall. "So please, go ahead and line up to grab some food. The kitchen crew has prepared a classic summer feast. We’ve got barbecued burgers, slow-smoked ribs, thick-cut steaks, grilled corn on the cob, potato salad, and fresh peach cobbler. We’re going to give everyone about two hours to eat, relax, and let your food digest before we clear the floor to start the dancing. Enjoy the evening, folks!"
The crowd cheered again, the smell of charred hickory and sweet barbecue sauce instantly setting Maggie's mouth to watering.
She and Michael stood up, joining the relaxed line heading toward the buffet.
They piled their plates high with the smoky ribs and grilled corn, carrying their feast back to the table where the kids were already laughing and comparing their custom stickers.
As Maggie took her first bite of the tender, slow-cooked meat, she let out a sigh of pure satisfaction.
Sitting here under the balmy glow of the fairy lights, her shoulder brushing against Michael's as they ate and talked, she felt a deep, unshakeable sense of peace.
The agonizing, drawn-out battle of her divorce from Kevin and the constant legal threats against her boutique seemed miles away, completely powerless against the safety of the family surrounding her.
Two hours later, the heavy wooden picnic tables and paper plates were cleared away by Pete's hardworking staff, and the folding chairs were moved back against the cedar walls to open up the spacious wooden dance floor.
The air inside the barn had grown cooler as the night settled over the lake, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of sweet pines and lake water through the open double doors.
The local country band moved back onto the elevated stage, the steel guitar player testing his chords with a slow, slide-glide pass, while the drummer tapped a testing rhythm against the snare.
Suddenly, the bright overhead lights in the barn dimmed, the white fairy lights strung across the massive oak rafters casting a romantic glow over the entire room. A single, bright spotlight hit the center of the stage.