Page 35 of Evan

Letting go of her hand, he spread the blankets while she opened the basket. He had brought the wine as well as some fruit. Slipping off her ankle length boots, she stretched her feet out and leaned back against the thick trunk, busying herself by making plates for both of them.

“Think you have enough food?” He asked teasingly, staring at the loaded plate, she handed him.

“If not, we can always go to a fast-food place. We passed several on the way.” Her dark brown eyes twinkled.

“Let’s see how much we can through first before making that decision.”

She nodded solemnly as if taking his suggestion seriously. She was unique, sweet and her utter lack of sophistication made him want to get to know her – all of her.

“Tell me about growing up.” He bit into possibly the most delicious fried chicken he had ever tasted.

“I told you about my dad dying and my mother marrying someone who didn’t care about me.”

He nodded.

“I was always trying to try and appease her for being the spokes in her wheel. I questioned myself constantly – wondering if I was the reason she was so unhappy.” She nibbled on a drumstick almost absently.

“When they both died, the first thing that hit me was that I was free, the second was that I was going to end up in the system and I started praying.”

“And?” He had polished off the drumstick and started on another. There was fruit, and the requested watermelon, grapes, oranges, and cherries as well as potato salad, fruit salad, cheeses, cakes and sandwiches.

“Pastor William was the one who came for me at school, and he took me to the chapel and sat me down in his office.

The police had agreed to leave the unwelcome task of telling me the awful news and I recalled him sitting there on a sofa and just staring at me as if he was trying to find the words. When he told me that they were dead, I just sat there at first and then I started to cry.”

She reached for a can of cherry coke and handed it to him.

“Soda first and wine later.”

He took the soda and popped the tab.

“What happened after?”

“He told me that I would be going to live with him and his family. They had a daughter and a son.” A smile played around her lips. “Chad was delighted to have another ‘sister’ – one he could tease mercilessly.

He was so sweet, so protective of both me and Darcy, that I fitted right in. Darcy was a little more cautious and was only appeased when she realized that I would not be sharing her room.” Pulling up one knee, she propped her chin there and drank her soda.

“But from the beginning, Chad and I got along. It is funny. I was a black kid living in a white household, but I never felt out of place or inferior. They embraced me from the beginning and made me feel at home.”

“Do you miss her? Your mother?”

She considered for a few seconds. “I suppose I did, a little. I had lost my only parent, and it was disturbing to think that I am all alone in the world. But she was never really a mother to me. It didn’t take me long to forget about her.”

They were silent for a few minutes; the only sounds were the birds chirping and squirrels scampering up the trees. Uncorking the wine, he poured them into plastic glasses she had brought with her.

He leaned back against the trunk of the tree, a wine glass in his hand. Everything was peaceful and serene. She was right. It would make a perfect setting for the elderly. It was far back from the road and there could be trails for short walks.

Seats could be added beneath trees where they could sit and enjoy the scenery while drinking tea. He could see it in his mind’s eye.

“This is delicious.”

Turning his head, he stared at her. She was supping the red wine, and her lips were stained from it, making him uncomfortably warm.

“What do you taste?”

She took another sip, a very slow one as she tested the liquid on her palate. “It’s kind of fruity, with just a touch of alcohol.” Picking up the bottle, she studied the label. “I don’t recognize the name.”

“I did not know you were a connoisseur?”