He told Frances Adler she wore a becoming shade of rose. When he got to Lorabeth, she waited expectantly.
“You make me…um…with you I, um, you make my face happy.”
Lorabeth laughed at his avoidance of the word smile.
“You’re kind and generous.”
Her cheeks warmed. “Thank you.”
“You catch on to new things fast.”
“Like croquet?” she asked.
He grinned. “You’re sweet and innocent and not at—not the—not jaded or affected.”
“How many was that?” someone asked.
“You have a good heart,” he added.
“One more,” Zeta said.
“You’re the prettiest woman I know.”
One of the ladies beside Lorabeth sighed.
Lorabeth blushed to the roots of her hair, and Benjamin took his seat beside her.
Conversation swelled around them, and she looked over at him. “Truly?” she asked.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean, even in a game.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Zeta called. “The ladies will compliment the gentlemen now.” Carrie Bennett began, making rounds and earning three forfeits. Frances was next, but she made it all the way around the gathering without a penalty.
When it was Lorabeth’s turn, her heart fluttered. She didn’t relish making a fool of herself, but that seemed to be the sport of the evening and everyone took it with good nature.
She approached Carter first, because she knew him from church.
“You are prompt,” she told him.
He nodded in amusement.
“You are good to your mother.”
A few guests “awed” at that comment.
“Your—” She stopped herself before she said clothing or always. “Your attire is fresh and neat.”
Pleased with her first attempts, she smiled and glanced at the accepting expressions of the others. For the rest of the young men she commented on their smiles and clothing, earning a forfeit when she told Hobie he made her laugh.
She reached Benjamin and her mouth went dry. So many things came to mind when she looked at him, but none of them were appropriate for a game and most of them contained L s. She smiled, and the corner of his mouth inched up in return.
“That,” she said, pointing to his mouth, “thing you do is very handsome.”
He raised his brows in wordless response.
“You’re good with—the young ones.”
He nodded.
“You’re a good teacher.”
But so much more than that.
“And a good friend.”
“Two more!” Zeta called.
“You don’t judge. You’re smart—and kind-hearted.”
The gathering clapped as she finished. Lorabeth gave Benjamin a last look before moving on to Damian and commenting on his neat appearance and shiny hair.
By the time they played Grecian statue, everyone had enough forfeits to make the party finale interesting.
Zeta placed a fish bowl in the center of the room on an oak pedestal.
“Draw as many slips as you earned forfeits,” she instructed.
They plucked folded slips of paper from the bowl, and Zeta explained they would go around and pay them one at a time. Hobie was first, and he had to recite a poem.
He chose a silly one about a cat in a rowboat, and the game moved on. Carrie’s first forfeit was to give something she was wearing or holding to another person. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to Carter.
Jenetta’s forfeit was to crawl on her knees like a kitty and rub against the legs of the person beside her.
Beside her sat Damian, and he quite enjoyed Jenetta’s catlike performance.
Benjamin unfolded a slip of paper.
“Kiss a person of the opposite gender,” he read.
Lorabeth widened her eyes at that request. She’d thought the kitty had been risqué!
Benjamin seemed to consider his options for a moment, then got up and walked across the room to lean over Carrie Bennett and kiss her right on the lips!
The crowd applauded, and Carrie blushed. Benjamin returned to his seat beside Lorabeth without meeting her eyes.
Frances Adler caught the attention of the room with her next
“You make me…um…with you I, um, you make my face happy.”
Lorabeth laughed at his avoidance of the word smile.
“You’re kind and generous.”
Her cheeks warmed. “Thank you.”
“You catch on to new things fast.”
“Like croquet?” she asked.
He grinned. “You’re sweet and innocent and not at—not the—not jaded or affected.”
“How many was that?” someone asked.
“You have a good heart,” he added.
“One more,” Zeta said.
“You’re the prettiest woman I know.”
One of the ladies beside Lorabeth sighed.
Lorabeth blushed to the roots of her hair, and Benjamin took his seat beside her.
Conversation swelled around them, and she looked over at him. “Truly?” she asked.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean, even in a game.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Zeta called. “The ladies will compliment the gentlemen now.” Carrie Bennett began, making rounds and earning three forfeits. Frances was next, but she made it all the way around the gathering without a penalty.
When it was Lorabeth’s turn, her heart fluttered. She didn’t relish making a fool of herself, but that seemed to be the sport of the evening and everyone took it with good nature.
She approached Carter first, because she knew him from church.
“You are prompt,” she told him.
He nodded in amusement.
“You are good to your mother.”
A few guests “awed” at that comment.
“Your—” She stopped herself before she said clothing or always. “Your attire is fresh and neat.”
Pleased with her first attempts, she smiled and glanced at the accepting expressions of the others. For the rest of the young men she commented on their smiles and clothing, earning a forfeit when she told Hobie he made her laugh.
She reached Benjamin and her mouth went dry. So many things came to mind when she looked at him, but none of them were appropriate for a game and most of them contained L s. She smiled, and the corner of his mouth inched up in return.
“That,” she said, pointing to his mouth, “thing you do is very handsome.”
He raised his brows in wordless response.
“You’re good with—the young ones.”
He nodded.
“You’re a good teacher.”
But so much more than that.
“And a good friend.”
“Two more!” Zeta called.
“You don’t judge. You’re smart—and kind-hearted.”
The gathering clapped as she finished. Lorabeth gave Benjamin a last look before moving on to Damian and commenting on his neat appearance and shiny hair.
By the time they played Grecian statue, everyone had enough forfeits to make the party finale interesting.
Zeta placed a fish bowl in the center of the room on an oak pedestal.
“Draw as many slips as you earned forfeits,” she instructed.
They plucked folded slips of paper from the bowl, and Zeta explained they would go around and pay them one at a time. Hobie was first, and he had to recite a poem.
He chose a silly one about a cat in a rowboat, and the game moved on. Carrie’s first forfeit was to give something she was wearing or holding to another person. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to Carter.
Jenetta’s forfeit was to crawl on her knees like a kitty and rub against the legs of the person beside her.
Beside her sat Damian, and he quite enjoyed Jenetta’s catlike performance.
Benjamin unfolded a slip of paper.
“Kiss a person of the opposite gender,” he read.
Lorabeth widened her eyes at that request. She’d thought the kitty had been risqué!
Benjamin seemed to consider his options for a moment, then got up and walked across the room to lean over Carrie Bennett and kiss her right on the lips!
The crowd applauded, and Carrie blushed. Benjamin returned to his seat beside Lorabeth without meeting her eyes.
Frances Adler caught the attention of the room with her next
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