At last, all was right with the world again. Except for one small thing. She could still feel the prince’s arms around her as he carried her over the finish line and how for a brief moment, all the pain had completely vanished.
* * *
Around five Imani found Gemma winning a game of Hearts.
“I’m going over to Justin’s now, okay?”
“Who’s going to be there?” Gemma counted her cards, happy to see she’d won the round.
“Justin’s parents, if that’s what you mean.”
“You know me so well.” Gemma excused herself from the table and faced her “daughter” of two years. Imani had arrived on her doorstep the day she’d signed the papers for the property and they’d moved in together.
“Am I wrong?” Imani snatched a carrot from the veggie platter on the food table.
“Miss Gemma, I promise my parents are going to be there.” Justin looked like a scared rabbit, standing there with his ball cap crushed in his hands, not sure whether to look at Gemma or her father, the formidable Mac Stone, or Mama, the even more formidable Mauve Stone.
But the kid was a star. Smart and considerate, an excellent musician, and about the best-looking boy at Rock Mill High. “My dad is trying out his new smoker. Pork and chicken.”
“Gemma, you won that round.” This from Mama’s other friend Betty—not to confuse things—who hated to lose at cards. “Are you playing again?”
“Go ahead without me.” Gemma grabbed a bottle of water from the ice chest and chose a folding chair next to Daddy—who was inspecting Justin like he’d just confessed to breaking and entering.
Never mind he was good friends with the boy’s father and played in a guitar circle with him once a month.
“He was bragging about that smoker last time I saw him,” Daddy said with a side glance at Gemma. He tipped his head toward the waiting youngins with a look of, “Let her go. He’s a good kid.”
“Don’t you want to be here for the fireworks?” Gemma said. “Folks came from all over Tennessee and neighboring states to see our tiny town’s display.”
“Dad bought a bunch this year. Said he didn’t want to fight the crowd.” Justin emphasized his point by holding his hat in a death grip. “Going to have our own show tonight.”
“Seems like a lot of effort.” Gemma twisted the cap from her water bottle and took a long drink. “Be home by ten, Imani.”
“Ten?” Her protest was quick and sure. “What happened to midnight? We’re going to make S’mores after his dad’s fireworks.”
“Did I agree to midnight?”
“Sort of,” Imani said. Which was the same as a “Yes” to every teenager on the planet.
“Can she stay, Miss Gemma?”
Justin asked so sweetly, so kindly, she had to relent. If for no other reason than to rescue his poor hat.
“Fine. But not a second after. Points if you come home before the clock strikes twelve.” Gemma glanced at Justin. “She turns into a pumpkin, you know.”
Justin started to laugh but Imani grabbed him by the hand and yanked him away.
“You’re the best, Gemstone,” she called over her shoulder.
Gemma watched as they dashed off—Justin setting his cap backwards on his head—and a piece of her heart went with Imani. Heaven help her but she’d do anything and everything to give that girl a life she deserved. To keep her from more hurt, from making the big mistakes. She owed it to Imani’s parents. She owed it to herself. Imani was a future wonder woman and nothing was too good for her.
“You can’t do it, Gemstone.” She turned to Daddy as his subtle words landed with a resounding truth. “Can’t keep her in a bubble. From mistakes. She’s got to live her own life.” He cut a slice of apple with his pocketknife and popped it into his mouth. “Let her learn while she’s living under your roof so’s you can guide her, help her.”
“Who said I want to keep her in a bubble?”
“It’s written all over your face.”
“I just don’t want her to be hurt. It’s enough her parents are dead.”
