Lone Star Blessings

She met Tucker’s gaze and he was surprised to see a trace of vulnerability in her eyes. It faded quickly as she directed her attention toward Alyssa. “Hey!”

Alyssa scooted into the narrow spot between Marvin and Kate. There wasn’t a chair on the other side of Marvin, but there was one beside Kate. Moving the chair would be awkward, obvious. So he put his plate on the table and sat next to her.

His shoulder brushed hers as he settled in place. She didn’t jerk away, but he could feel her arm stiffen before he shifted over a few inches.

Sipping his punch, he wished he’d thought to choose a bracing cup of coffee instead. He watched his daughter. Her face was lit up, more animated than he’d seen it in…longer than he could calculate.

Marvin cut into his brisket. “Did you get some of this, Tucker? Best brisket I’ve ever eaten. That’s saying something—I eat barbecue at least twice a week.”

Tucker hadn’t paid any particular attention to what he’d piled on his plate. Looking at it, he realized he had about three kinds of potato salad and no meat. “I’ll have to try it another time.”

“I can get you some, Dad.” Alyssa popped up before he could protest.

Marvin looked after her wistfully. “Wish I could bottle some of that energy.”

Tucker guessed Marvin was a man used to doing things on his own. He was probably chafing, being confined to that chair.

“Does she have any brothers or sisters?” Kate asked.

His throat tightened. “No.”

She didn’t press. “I’m an only child myself.”

Marvin looked over at Tucker, then wrinkled his brow. “How is it I’ve never met you? I’ve been coming to this church since I moved here.”

Alyssa arrived with a hearty portion of brisket. “Mr. Carlson said there’s lots.” After placing the plate of meat on the table, she scooted next to Kate again. “And there’s all kinds of cake, too.”

Marvin turned his attention to the girl. “Daisy Ford didn’t make a pie?”

Alyssa shrugged. “Somebody said there weren’t many pies ’cause there’s gonna be a pie sale for the hospital this week. Guess they want to make sure people’ll buy the pies.”

Marvin nodded. “That’s right. Just heard about it this morning. My brain’s starting to act like a sieve.”

“It’s okay to forget stuff,” Alyssa assured him. “I forget things, too.”

Marvin chuckled. “Guess I’ll take your word for it.”

Tucker watched them, remembering the light, easy play they’d shared with Alyssa’s grandparents. But now the visits were one-sided. Shelley’s parents drove down from Dallas, but he and Alyssa hadn’t been out of Rosewood in the last two years.

Kate picked up the plate of brisket, offering it to him. “It really is delicious. Somebody told me that Michael Carlson cooks it over a low fire for hours and hours. I’m not that much of a meat eater, but this just melts in your mouth.”

His gaze dropped to her lips as she spoke. They seemed to be curved in a perpetual smile. Well, at least since they’d sat down to lunch. He easily remembered how well she could frown. Still, he couldn’t miss the tint of some sort of pinkish gloss on her full lips.

At that thought, he straightened up so quickly that he brushed her arm again. His tie felt as though it was made of shrinking elastic, tightening around his neck. “Warm for this time of year, isn’t it?”

Kate tilted her head. “I’ve only visited here before, so I don’t really know, but it seems about right to me.”

“She’s used to the heat and humidity in Houston,” Marvin explained. “It’s like being in a twenty-four hour sauna.”

Tucker glanced back at Kate. “So you are from the city.”

“Born and bred.”

He waited, but she didn’t add any details. Picking at the food on his plate, he hoped they wouldn’t have to stay too long at the lunch. He glanced over at his daughter. Alyssa was all smiles.

And she’d sure taken to Kate.

Something was different about the woman, but he couldn’t put his finger on the change. Same fiery green eyes, pale skin, auburn hair…maybe that was it—she didn’t have her hair scrunched into a ponytail. Instead it was loose, falling past her shoulders in waves.

Pretending interest in his brisket, he snuck another look. With her coloring, he expected a sprinkling of freckles, but he didn’t see any. Maybe she was a hothouse flower who kept inside all the time. She laughed just then at something Alyssa said, throwing back her head, exposing the slim column of her throat. It, too, appeared flawless.

“Tucker, it’s been a month of Sundays!” Old man Carruthers stopped by the table. “Well, more than that, I think. Good to see you back where you belong.”

Tucker stood to shake his hand. Albert Carruthers had been Tucker’s Sunday school teacher when he was in junior high school. Despite his feelings about church now, Tucker knew Mr. Carruthers only meant well.

“You doing all right, sir?”

“Just getting old, Tuck.” He lifted his cane. “But I’m not letting it slow me down.”

Remembering the older man’s endless energy when he was younger, Tucker grinned and lightly touched the cane. “Don’t be vaulting any fences. Mrs. Carruthers’ll have your hide.”

Albert chuckled. “You’re right about that.” Reaching up, he patted Tucker’s shoulder. “Don’t be a stranger. I’ve missed you.”

Tucker would have liked to reassure his old friend, but he couldn’t lie to him.

When Mr. Carruthers left to stroll toward his wife, Tucker sat down.

Kate looked at him curiously. “Sounds like you’re the prodigal son.”

He clenched his jaw, aware of his daughter’s close proximity. “Do you think you’ve been in town long enough to judge that?”

Kate had the kind of face that didn’t hide what she was thinking. And he saw curiosity turn to puzzled concern. “I just noticed a lot of people surprised to…” She glanced at Alyssa and apparently had a flash of good sense. “This is all new to me. Nice, but new.” Picking up a cup of punch, she averted her face.

Tucker felt the brush of her shoulder as she fidgeted. She put down the plastic cup, fiddled with her fork, then straightened out her paper napkin. “So, anyone ready for dessert?”

Marvin and Alyssa looked down at their nearly full plates.

Tucker studied Kate.

Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who wanted to bolt.

That afternoon, Marvin whistled as he sat in front of the large window in the living room. Since Seth had removed the barrier to the entry, he could maneuver easily without help. As he watched the day dwindle toward its end, couples strolled down the street, some hand in hand. Young parents pushed strollers and children shrieked as they let off the last remnants of energy.

Kate brought him a glass of iced tea. “I’ll have to remember to buy some more lemons.”

“This is one of my favorite things on Sunday.” He pointed out the window. “Reminds me of when I was a kid…when it wasn’t so frantic in Houston. It just got too big too fast.”

“Pace is slower here,” she agreed. “I keep forgetting I don’t have to rush somewhere every day and plan, so that I can avoid traffic and lines.”