A little boy in a Spider-Man costume ran through the kitchen and threw himself into Lake’s legs. “Uncle Lake!” He wrapped his arms, and then legs, tightly around Lake’s legs like a koala on a tree.
“Hey, Spider-Man!” Lake reached down and pulled him up effortlessly, throwing him into the air, and then held him in his arms. “Have you seen my big buddy, Theo? I thought he was supposed to be here tonight.”
Spider-Man giggled behind his mask and shook his head vigorously back and forth. Georgia sat in her seat, unwittingly entranced by the scene before her.
“No?” Lake looked around the room as if searching. “Okay, then. I guess I won't have to share Grammy’s apple pie with him after all. It is my favorite, so…”
“Wait, wait.” Theo pulled his mask above his eyes. “Uncle Lake, it's me! Theo! I want pie!”
Lake mocked surprise and hugged the toddler, blowing raspberries into his neck and tickling his belly in the process.
Griffin whispered into Georgia’s ear, interrupting the trance she’d been put in, “You are in so much trouble.”
Before she could argue, Griffin took the spot to her right, Mr. and Mrs. Lovett took the seats at either end of the table, and Lake—looking smug and ready for battle—took the seat across from her, with his nephew, the absolute cutest Lovett boy, sitting at his side.
Just as soon as Pastor Lovett said grace, Mrs. Lovett began spooning heaping bowls of chili over spaghetti noodles, topped with corn chips and cheese, and passed them down the table.
Georgia dug in, taking a slurpy, less than lady-like bite. She chewed vigorously and looked up, finding Lake’s wide, admiring eyes staring back at her.
“So, Georgia,” Mrs. Lovett interrupted their stares, “Lake tells us you were quite the success up in Atlanta before coming back here… Working for that marketing company… What was it called again…?”
“Direct Link Marketing, Mama,” Lake interjected.
Georgia raised an eyebrow and felt her foot begin to tap beneath the table, that same nervous energy beginning to run through her. Lake looked back unapologetically and shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s it,” his mother said, pointing at her son with her fork and then turning to cut her grandson’s noodles. “Direct Link. Thank you, sweetheart. They market the college bowl games, don’t they?”
Georgia smiled graciously. “Yes, ma’am. I loved working on those. We did marketing for a few independent corporations in the city and a few contracts with universities, too. It was a cool job.”
Griffin nudged her with his shoulder. “Georgia’s always been great at that stuff. You used to do the Winter Formal, right?”
Georgia felt Lake stiffen at the reminder of the event that had led them apart—and that had still yet to be discussed. “Um… Yes, I did,” she said and took another bite of chili.
Pastor Lovett coughed into his hand, quiet up until then. “Lakeland, son, didn’t you help with the Winter Formal the year that…”
“Yes, sir.”
“Grammy, this has beans. I don’t like beans!” Theo nearly shouted across the table.
“Theo,” Griffin adopted a fatherly tone, “don’t be rude to Grammy. Try it, alright?”
Theo looked into his bowl. “But, Daddy,” and then he whispered across the table to his father, “beans make you fart. I don’t wanna be smelly. Ms. Georgia isreallypretty.”
Georgia nearly spit out her noodles, holding a hand over her mouth.
Griffin, matching his son’s loud whisper over the table, responded, “She sure is, buddy. But you may have to fight for her.” He winked and then kicked his brother—who’d not taken his eyes off of Georgia—in the shin. “Looks like Uncle Lake called dibs.”
14
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEARS’ EVE
HARRY CONNICK JR
THEN
After a weekof frustration and pouting, and much dodging of questions from her friends and family, Georgia decided to move on from her short dalliance with Lakeland Lovett. She would not be affected.
It didn’t matter that Lakeland Lovett had shown her attention in a way no one ever had before. That their one date had blossomed a hope inside her, not just for herself but for who she thought Lake was. She told herself she wouldn’t be distracted again by his charms and the persona he had so easily adopted for her benefit. Or rather, for his own benefit.
