Page 20 of Meant to Be
“This is Lexie, Mitch’s sister.”
Julia extended a limp hand to Lexie and lifted her nose with an air of superiority, while Patrick graciously said hello. Sydney glanced at him, hoping he’d read her mind. I thought you said you’d make her behave.
“Are we having a committee meeting?” Drake strolled up, draping an arm around Lexie.
“We’re having something,” Lexie murmured. “This is my husband, Drake Carmichael. These are Sydney’s friends, Julia and Patrick.”
“Drake Carmichael?” Patrick extended his hand. “As in Carmichael Corp?”
“That’s right.”
“The stores?” Julia gaped.
“Yes.”
“I’d heard one of the brothers married and moved away. That’s you?” Julia gave him a hearty handshake.
“He visited his granddaddy down here and, well, once you meet a southern gal, you never go back. Isn’t that right, sugar?” Lexie laced her voice with an affected southern drawl.
Sydney stifled a laugh at Lexie’s over-the-top accent while Drake blushed but smiled at his wife. “Absolutely.”
Fortunately, Julia didn’t reply.
“The baby wants a deep fried Oreo.” Lexie looked at her husband.
“I guess we better find one. Excuse us.” Drake led Lexie away.
Sydney had half a mind to join them.
“Did she say deep fried Oreo? It sounds disgusting. I want one.” Julia followed after Lexie and Drake.
“I better go with her. You coming?” Patrick asked.
“Give me a minute.”
Mitch lingered, which meant he had something to say. She had something to say too. They’d have it out and then she’d do her best to avoid him, which wouldn’t be easy in a small town, but she’d try.
“Have you seen the star grove?” Mitch nodded toward a group of trees at the far end of the row of booths.
“No.”
Mitch started walking. With a roll of her eyes, Sydney followed.
“This land used to be owned by the Cahill family. Old Jasper Cahill came to America as an indentured servant at the age of ten, worked his seven years, and then spent the next twenty years buying land and building this farm.”
Sydney wasn’t sure why Mitch was telling her Jasper Cahill’s story, but she continued to follow him to the trees.
“But Jasper didn’t want to build the dream alone. He set his sights on Lucy Mae, the most beautiful girl in the county. Jasper loved her so much that one of the first things he did was cut this grove.”
Mitch stopped in the middle of the group of trees. “You see, he wanted to give her the stars.” He looked up.
Following Mitch’s lead, Sydney tilted her head back. “Oh, the trees make a star.” She smiled, charmed by the story and the lengths Jasper went through to impress Lucy Mae. “That’s a romantic story.” And it was one that made her second guess Mitch’s intentions.
“Well, yes, until Lucy Mae betrayed old Jasper and left him for Sam Shiflett.”
And just like that, the lightness of the moment was gone. She understood, even if she didn’t agree, why Mitch was angry, but not why he continued to be a jerk about it.
She stood with her hands on her hips, shaking her head at him. “That’s why you brought me here? To tell me again how awful you think I am?”
