Page 95 of Grown-Up Second Chance

I almost spat out my coffee trying to hold in the laughter that bubbled up.

“Don’t forget to take a brownie,” Charlotte said. “I know chocolate is your favorite.” She plopped a good-sized piece on his plate, almost tipping it to the ground.

Putting my coffee on a nearby table, I pulled out my phone and took a few candids.

“Um … thanks,” he said, trying to balance it all, but finally putting the plate back on the table. He picked up another plate and the cake knife the blonde had put down, and sliced both the cake and brownie in half, placing them on the other plate. “I can’t possibly eat all these sweets,” he said. “You don’t mind if I share them with my friend, do you?”

All three turned to me, and I snapped a photo of Joe’s smiling face caught between twin pairs of dagger-like glare.

“You are evil,” he said as he held out the cake plate.

I slipped the phone back in my purse. “Can’t possibly be,” I said as I took his offering. “We’re on holy ground.”

“Somehow I don’t think that’s stopping you in the least,” he said.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the two women hissing at each other, then looking at me.

Trouble in paradise.

“I think you better get me out of here before they start assembling wood and a stake,” I said.

He laughed.

“Eat your cake. Father Tim will protect us.”

“I think he’s having too much fun watching.” I nodded my head to where the priest stood with a few other men, his gaze on the group by the snack table.

Father Tim glanced at us, then marched to the women, picked up a plate, and held it out. Immediately, all attention went to the priest who was gesturing wildly as he talked.

The blonde grabbed for the plate, missed, grabbed again, and snagged it.

The group around the priest chuckled.

“Now,” Joe said.

We put our plates and cups down and walked toward the parking lot. Just before we left the grove, Joe turned back and waved.

“Thanks for everything!” he yelled.

Father Tim waved. “Safe travels! See you soon!”

With a final wave, we made our escape.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Church still standing?” Kathleen asked as I entered the trailer.

“Appears to be,” I said, dropping my bag on the couch. “But Joe was lucky to escape with his life.”

“Why?”

I told my sister about the antics of the two would-be suitors for Joe.

She laughed. “If I ever get like that, put me out to pasture,” she said.

“You’d marry again?” I asked.

“If the right guy came along, I might consider it.”

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