elaborate so he let it drop, sticking close.
The server took their order and brought over a glass of wine for Maggie and a beer for Kyle. He held her hand, running his thumb back and forth over her knuckles. He couldn’t get enough of touching her skin.
“So, you had a story to tell. I want to know about you. About your family.”
She shook her head and put a hand up. “Oh no, we don’t need to go there. Tell me about your family instead.”
“Huh uh. It’s your turn. We’ve already talked about Polly Chase. Let’s hear about Cecelia Wright. Come on, please?” He fluttered his lashes at her making her laugh.
Sighing, she took a drink of her wine and a bolstering breath. “Okay, the truncated version, then. Cecelia Bradshaw was Miss Georgia. Before that Junior Miss Georgia. She was also homecoming queen two years running, the Magnolia Festival Queen, and a whole host of other titles that she’d be happy to tell you all about any old time you wish. When Cece was nineteen years old, she met the son of the man who owned the largest orchard in the county and of course, Tom Wright was immediately and forever in love with her. They married at twenty and moved into the house I live in now.
“Cece, has one tall, regal, golden haired daughter who is married to the quarterback and has two adorable children and they live in a brand new home over in Cherry Hill Estates. That daughter keeps a spotless home, always has perfect hair and makeup, and bakes cookies and embroiders. Butter would not, and never has, melted in Jane Marie’s mouth. Janie, as you know, followed in Cece’s footsteps and was homecoming queen and Magnolia Festival Queen and a host of other pageants that my mother would also be happy to talk to you about.
-83-
Lauren Dane
“Now poor Cece has another daughter. This one is not tall, is not beautiful and hated the very idea of pageants. No, poor Cece’s youngest child liked—gasp—books! Not just books but history. Of course Cece’s suffering went even deeper when her husband would brave her wrath to occasionally nurture this child’s love of books and history.
“Luckily, this daughter went to college and graduate school out of town, only returning for holidays and continually disappointed her beautiful mother by not bringing home a quarterback, heck, not even a defensive end. Worse, said short, bookish daughter with the red hair—
Margaret, you can have a variety of hair colors these days, darling, why don’t you let me make you an appointment at my salon —became a teacher! Are you aware how much money teachers make? Are you aware that that daughter will never marry an appropriate man if she hangs around a school all day?
“Doesn’t this all sound like I should be on some daytime talk show? It sounds bitter but honestly I’m not hindered by it. I’ve moved on and Cecelia Wright is a nice enough woman. I was just not what she expected. Anyway, now you know the whole sordid tale and you should feel free to run for your life.”
Enraged and utterly shocked, Kyle’s hands balled into tight fists. Why on earth would any mother act like that? Cece Wright should be proud to have a daughter as wonderful as Maggie. That she didn’t treasure Maggie made him sad.
“Honey, I’m not running anywhere and you know what? Red hair—
your red hair—is incredibly beautiful and downright sexy. Plus, I love history and my house was always filled with books. Heck, you’d probably know that working with my momma on the Historical Society Board. Oh and I voted for Amylynne Jessup for homecoming queen.”
“Oh my, you flatterer you.” She laughed. Relief moved through him as he saw the strain leave her face.
-84-
Giving Chase
“I thought that was you,” a female voice said. Kyle and Maggie both looked up to see Janie standing there.
“Hey, Janie.”
“Maggie.” Janie nodded her head at her sister and then looked to Kyle, her face breaking into a smile. “Hi Kyle. What are you doing
The server took their order and brought over a glass of wine for Maggie and a beer for Kyle. He held her hand, running his thumb back and forth over her knuckles. He couldn’t get enough of touching her skin.
“So, you had a story to tell. I want to know about you. About your family.”
She shook her head and put a hand up. “Oh no, we don’t need to go there. Tell me about your family instead.”
“Huh uh. It’s your turn. We’ve already talked about Polly Chase. Let’s hear about Cecelia Wright. Come on, please?” He fluttered his lashes at her making her laugh.
Sighing, she took a drink of her wine and a bolstering breath. “Okay, the truncated version, then. Cecelia Bradshaw was Miss Georgia. Before that Junior Miss Georgia. She was also homecoming queen two years running, the Magnolia Festival Queen, and a whole host of other titles that she’d be happy to tell you all about any old time you wish. When Cece was nineteen years old, she met the son of the man who owned the largest orchard in the county and of course, Tom Wright was immediately and forever in love with her. They married at twenty and moved into the house I live in now.
“Cece, has one tall, regal, golden haired daughter who is married to the quarterback and has two adorable children and they live in a brand new home over in Cherry Hill Estates. That daughter keeps a spotless home, always has perfect hair and makeup, and bakes cookies and embroiders. Butter would not, and never has, melted in Jane Marie’s mouth. Janie, as you know, followed in Cece’s footsteps and was homecoming queen and Magnolia Festival Queen and a host of other pageants that my mother would also be happy to talk to you about.
-83-
Lauren Dane
“Now poor Cece has another daughter. This one is not tall, is not beautiful and hated the very idea of pageants. No, poor Cece’s youngest child liked—gasp—books! Not just books but history. Of course Cece’s suffering went even deeper when her husband would brave her wrath to occasionally nurture this child’s love of books and history.
“Luckily, this daughter went to college and graduate school out of town, only returning for holidays and continually disappointed her beautiful mother by not bringing home a quarterback, heck, not even a defensive end. Worse, said short, bookish daughter with the red hair—
Margaret, you can have a variety of hair colors these days, darling, why don’t you let me make you an appointment at my salon —became a teacher! Are you aware how much money teachers make? Are you aware that that daughter will never marry an appropriate man if she hangs around a school all day?
“Doesn’t this all sound like I should be on some daytime talk show? It sounds bitter but honestly I’m not hindered by it. I’ve moved on and Cecelia Wright is a nice enough woman. I was just not what she expected. Anyway, now you know the whole sordid tale and you should feel free to run for your life.”
Enraged and utterly shocked, Kyle’s hands balled into tight fists. Why on earth would any mother act like that? Cece Wright should be proud to have a daughter as wonderful as Maggie. That she didn’t treasure Maggie made him sad.
“Honey, I’m not running anywhere and you know what? Red hair—
your red hair—is incredibly beautiful and downright sexy. Plus, I love history and my house was always filled with books. Heck, you’d probably know that working with my momma on the Historical Society Board. Oh and I voted for Amylynne Jessup for homecoming queen.”
“Oh my, you flatterer you.” She laughed. Relief moved through him as he saw the strain leave her face.
-84-
Giving Chase
“I thought that was you,” a female voice said. Kyle and Maggie both looked up to see Janie standing there.
“Hey, Janie.”
“Maggie.” Janie nodded her head at her sister and then looked to Kyle, her face breaking into a smile. “Hi Kyle. What are you doing
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