Page 3 of The Widow's Dom

She saw Sandy standing at one of the tables and waving to them.

“I see them. Let’s go,” Natalie said.

It took a long time to get there because she kept getting stopped for a hug or a short chat. When they reached the table, Sandy and a few other friends hugged her before she sat down.

“Can I get you girls a beer?” Lewis asked.

Janessa nodded. “I’ll take one. Thank you.”

Lewis walked off, and she turned to talk with the people.

He came back and set a cup in front of her.

“Janessa, you look good tonight,” Dennis said.

“I told her that, too,” Lewis said.

“No, you said she looks better than roadkill. They’re two different things,” Natalie yelled at him. The whole table erupted.

“I would take that as a compliment,” Mike said.

“Of course, you would. You’re a guy,” Bre, his wife, said.

Janessa couldn’t help but have a great time. This group of friends had always been fun to be with.

Chuck stood up and patted his stomach. “Let’s get some food. I’m starving here.”

More rude remarks started, but the group moved toward the tables and filled plates. For the next hour, they ate and joked with each other. It made Janessa wish she’d come before, but she knew she hadn’t been ready.

After they finished eating, the women, Judy, Bre, Natalie, and Sandy, pulled her out to the dance floor, and they stayed until the songs slowed. Thirty minutes later, Janessa exhaled when she sat on her chair and took a drink of her beer. She watched as some of the couples swayed to the slow music, seeing them still in love. She prayed they had more time together than she and Kevin had.

Chapter Three

Janessa stiffened when Henry, a man she went to school with, stopped by her table.

“Will you dance with me, Janessa?”

She shook her head. “No, thank you.”

He got a hard, cold look in his eyes. He did every time she told him no, but it wouldn’t change. She didn’t want anything to do with him. He had always creeped her out, and since Kevin died, he stopped out to the farm at least once a week, no matter what she told him. Fortunately, he was afraid of Luna. Her dog hated him, so she usually kept him from leaving his car. She had always been a good judge of character.

She relaxed when the song ended, and the couples came off the dance floor. Henry immediately walked away with his head down.

Sandy sat down next to her. “Is he still bothering you?”

Janessa nodded. “I don’t know why he can’t take no for an answer.”

“Because he has a screw loose,” Natalie said.

They nodded.

“If he gives you any more trouble, call one of us,” Dennis said.

“Thank you. I might take you up on that offer sometime.”

Lewis stopped at the end of the table. “Hey, Roadkill, I want you to meet my cousin and some of his friends. These guys have already met them.”

She gasped. “That’s your new nickname for me?”

---