Tumble (Dogwood Lane 1)

I stop in my tracks. “Leave it unlocked? Seriously? What if someone steals it?”

She’s unfazed, just laughs at my serious questions and heads up the stairs without me. Throwing my hands in the air, muttering that it’s her car, I follow.

The entry is full of parishioners. Everyone I pass stops to say hello, many asking how I’m doing and asking me to visit more often. I don’t expect the outpouring of love, and it catches me a little off guard.

I enter the sanctuary and spy my mother talking to Mr. Rambis and Lorene, the woman who’s played the piano here my entire life, near the front. Scanning the rest of the quaint little country church, my eyes fall on Dane and Mia near the piano. Gripping the end of a pew, I try to look away but can’t.

He’s in a pair of gray dress pants and a crisp white button-down. Mia is adorable in a yellow dress with pink lace at the edges. Matt stands next to them. He bends down and whispers something to Mia, making her laugh. I laugh, too, even though I have no idea what’s transpired.

“He cleans up pretty well, huh?” Claire comes up beside me.

“He’s not bad.” I can’t stop myself from smiling.

“Not bad? I don’t know what they look like up in New York, but around here, that’s the top of the food chain.”

“Food chain?” I laugh, shaking my head. “Oh, Claire.”

She shrugs. “You sticking around for the potluck?”

“I’m with Mom and she made forty million things, so apparently. Are you?”

“No. A girl I’m going to school with is having a baby shower this afternoon, so I’m cutting out after the service. Wanna go?”

My gaze drifts back to Dane. He’s found me in the crowd and gives me a little wave. I wave back in the most “I haven’t been thinking about you all night” kind of way I can.

“I better stay with Mom,” I say, turning my attention back to Claire.

“Can I just say she and Mr. Rambis are adorable?”

“How long has this been going on? I mean, I’m happy she’s dating or whatever it is, but I can’t tell if it’s serious.”

“Well, they sit together every week. Have for a while now. Since Christmas, I’d say.”

“Wow.”

“He mows her lawn a lot. I know that. My brother used to do it, but she didn’t need help this year.”

I look at Claire. “She’s baking him pie.”

“Is that an innuendo, or she’s actually baking him dessert?”

Laughing, I try to cover my mouth with my hand. “Actual pie, Claire.”

“Well, we are in the South. You get a casserole for everything. I can’t help but think a pie might be some kind of moral woman’s subtle cue. Like, ‘Here, sir. Try my pie.’” Claire bursts into a fit of giggles. “I need to go find a seat before I buy myself a ticket to Hell.”

“Good to see you, Claire.”

“Back at ya.”

I start down the aisle toward my mother, my cheeks flushed as I think of her using dessert as a sexual invitation, when Mia runs up to me. “Hi, Neely! I didn’t know you would be here.”

“Hey,” I say. “You look pretty today.”

“Thanks. So do you.” She smiles sweetly. “Want to sit with me and Dad?”

“Well . . .” I look up at her father. He and Matt are still talking, but both are watching me. There’s a pull across the church that draws me to the other side. I give in. “Let’s go say hello and then I’ll see. Sound good?”

“Yup.” She leads the way across the front of the church, past the piano, and to her family.

Matt whistles softly. “You look pretty this morning.”

“Why, thank you,” I tell him. “It’s my mother’s dress.” I pick at the oversize belt around my waist that’s partially an accessory and partially to make the thing fit. “How are you guys doing this morning?”

Before they can answer, Mia chimes in. “I’m going to go say hi to Keyarah and Madison. I’ll be back before the piano starts playing.” She darts to the back of the church, where her friends have just arrived.

Matt pulls at the collar of his shirt. “It’s hot in here. I’m going to get some water.”

Dane leans against the windowsill that looks over the back of the church. The view over his shoulder is almost as wonderful as he is. Foliage extends forever, dipping and rising with the hills. It’s the kind of view that’s inspired paintings for thousands of years.

“I didn’t know you’d be here today,” Dane says just loud enough for me to hear.

I pull my gaze away from the trees to him. “Mom didn’t give me much choice,” I admit. “But I probably would’ve come anyway. I’ve always liked this place.”

“Yeah. Me too. It’s why we don’t let Penn come. We don’t want it to burst into flames.”