I walk toward the door, open it, and almost immediately slam it again. I lean against the hard wood and lay my head back. I might need another minute... then I’ll go out there.
Carter
As soon as Pastor Blake and I get outside, someone comes to talk to him, and I’m partially thankful for it. I know he’s curious about my intentions toward his daughter, and right now, I don’t know how I can explain it.
“Excuse me. Are you Carter Grant?”
I turn my head toward the voice and barely am able to hide my reaction to who’s coming toward me. I’ve heard of Gina Johnson. I’ve even seen her in town plenty of times, but I’m usually able to avoid her. She’s dressed all in pink with her low-cut blouse and short skirt. The strong odor of her perfume hits me before she gets within ten feet, and I look around, hoping that I can get away, but just as quickly as I turn, she has her hands gripping my arm and her nails digging into my skin. She’s at least fifteen years older than me, and I’ve always been taught to respect your elders, but maybe I can get away and make her think I hadn’t heard her or something. “Carter, you must not have heard me. I’m Gina Johnson and I’m part of the church’s welcoming committee. Now I’ve saved you a seat right over here at my table.” She starts pulling me with her, and I go, albeit reluctantly. I already feel like I stick out like a sore thumb; I don’t want to draw any more attention to myself.
I walk beside her and sit down in the seat she all but pushes me into. I’m a big man, so the fact she is forcing me into the seat is definitely saying something. “Gina, thank you, really, but...”
“No buts about it. Now you sit here and I’m going to get you a plate.” She pats my shoulder like I’m a child, but I’ve heard all about Gina. Her intentions toward me are anything but on the up and up.
She walks off before I get a chance to talk her out of it. I look around the table at the three women all sitting here with their smiles and fancy looking hats. They’re eyeing me, and I nod my head at them before looking around at the rest of the picnic tables that are set up on the lawn. I’m trying to find Janie, but I feel it in my gut that she’s not out here. I would know... I would feel it.
It isn’t long before Gina is back and sets down a filled plate in front of me. Pulled BBQ chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, and a big glass of sweet tea. “Thank you, really, but I can’t...”
“Nonsense now Carter. You go ahead and eat. You don’t want to hurt our feelings, do you?”
I shake my head. “No, ma’am.”
I pick up the fork and start to eat as everyone at the table stares at me. Any other time I would wolf this down without a second thought. My rumbling stomach tells me I should eat it, but I’m too off kilter and on edge, and I don’t think it’s going to get better until I talk to Janie.
I thank the ladies for their food and respectfully keep eating while I continue to search the yard for any sign of Janie. Ginger continues to talk and she’s moved her seat as close to me as she can get. I act like I’m listening, that is until I feel the small hairs on the back of neck stand up and I know—I feel it to my very core—that Janie is here.
I look around again, and I spot her almost instantly. She’s standing at the buffet table. She touches the shoulder of a woman, and they smile at each other as the other woman hands her the serving knife and Janie takes over the job of handing out pie. I sigh, thankful that I finally see her and that she didn’t just leave before I could talk to her.
I watch as she puts a slice of pie on a man’s plate. He stands in front of her a little too long for my liking. She’s smiling at him and even giggles at something he says. I clench on to the fork in my hand and stare straight at her. As the man walks away, she looks at me. I try to relax my fierce gaze, but it’s too late. She frowns at me, and her eyes look beside me and then back again before dropping to the table in front of her.
I stand up, done with all the niceties. “Ginger, thank you for the meal. I truly appreciate it, ladies, but I’m going to go get some pie.”