The living room remained quiet until Caroline approached Georgia in the kitchen, "Georgie, sweetie, what do you mean byit’s no big deal, exactly?" She leaned in closer and whispered,"Are you still upset about everything? I mean, have y'all talked about it all?"
Georgia bit her lip and shook her head at her sister, looking at the other women. Her sisters. Her friends. Waiting with bated breath, letting Georgia quietly work through her thoughts on her own. Even Ginny—who sat on the couch with her arms crossed, her eyebrows raised in question to her eldest sister, and her wild curls beautifully framing her face—was unwaveringly quiet. Waiting on Georgia's response.
"We haven't talked about it, but… but I don't think it would matter."
18
TRACKS IN THE SNOW
THE CIVIL WARS
THEN
Caroline squealed lightly,“EEEEkkkk! My first high school dance. I’m so,so,soooo ready!!” She took a step closer. “You, on the other hand, are… kinda twitchy.”
Georgia dropped her hands, not realizing she’d been fiddling her fingers together. Caroline held Georgia’s hand lightly. “Are you worried about something? You got a hot date meeting you there?”
Georgia rolled her eyes, trying not to be annoyed with her younger sister’s prying and her surprising intuitiveness. She pulled her hand away and put an arm around Caroline reassuringly. “Me? A date? Of course, I don’t. Let's get downstairs before Mama sends up the troops.”
They bounced down the stairs together. Georgia stopped only to slip on a pair of silver wedges and grab her matching clutch from the kitchen counter. After another quick catwalk for their younger siblings and assuring their parents they’d be home by curfew, Georgia stepped into the unseasonably warm December evening with her sister at her side, anxiously ready for all the possibilities.
The school's gymnasium had been transformed into a Winter Wonderland. The decor their group had painstakingly crafted could be seen strewn across every surface imaginable. Where bleachers usually stood, there were beautiful round tables covered in evergreen centerpieces, those precious names of Sugartree’s foster children sticking from the middle of each one, and glitter that looked as if snow had freshly fallen atop each.
Students filled the center of the room, slow dancing under a glittering disco ball, with white balloons nearly covering the entire floor. It was magical and filled to the brim. Georgia couldn't even imagine how much money they must have raised for the cause. For the kids who were so easily forgotten at this time of year.
Caroline looked at her sister in awe. "Is every dance like this?"
"No. Not at all," she said proudly." I'm gonna go meet with some people, “‘kay?"
Caroline squeezed Georgia's arms and squealed one last time before whipping her in for a hug. "I am so, SO proud of you, Georgie. This is magical. "
"Thanks, Caroline. I'll see you in a bit."
Caroline skipped off eagerly to a group of her friends near the punch table, and Georgia started her search for Blaire and Ryan, and—she still couldn't quite believe it—her date, Lake. She found Blaire and Ryan dancing in a small group of friends. The song had changed to a faster paced one, and her friends both threw their hands in the air, jumping around as if the floor were on fire. Blaire’s bright pink dress did not match the decor in the slightest, but it fit her perfectly. Dazzling, loud, and incredibly fun, Blaire tilted her head back, laughing and singing along to the music. Ryan stopped jumping when he saw Georgia and nudged Blaire from the wild dance move she’d just committed her body to. They met Georgia near the center of the room.
“You look incredible, Georgia!” Ryan said, hugging her and picking her up for a spin around. “You’re so shimmery.”
“Thanks. So do you, bud.” Georgia smoothed his navy suit coat and grabbed his arms. “Very dapper.”
He tipped an invisible hat to her. “I, uh… I saw your sister come in earlier. She looked pretty, too.”
“Mhmmm. She sure did, Ry,” Georgia said, smirking.
Blaire pushed through Ryan and squeezed Georgia. “We are so proud of you, bestie!!! This is all so beautiful and, Georgia Remillard, you have made such a difference!”
Georgia blushed under her friends’ praises. “Thanks, y’all. And thanks for bein’ a part of it all. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
“Should we dance?” Blaire asked, nearly jumping at the bit to rejoin the crowd. “Brant just went to get some snacks and see some friends, but he should be back on the dance floor soon. And Georgia, let me tell you, he looksgooooood.” She closed her eyes and looked as if she were eating a warm chocolate chip cookie. Savoring every bite.
“I was actually wondering if you’d…” Georgia looked around the room. “Have y’all seen Lake? He was supposed to…” She hesitated telling her friends the truth, but with the knowing glances and the way they were looking at each other now, she decided to just confess completely. “He was supposed to meet me here… as my date.” She felt the heat rush back to her cheeks as she bit her lower lip and looked at them for reactions to the truth bomb she’d dropped.
But her friends didn’t look excited for her. In fact, they gave each other one last look and pulled Georgia from the dance floor to the side of the room near the archway of silver, navy, and white balloons that served as a photo booth. Blaire grasped Georgia’s fingers in hers and pulled her close. Ryan looked around them, as if making sure they didn’t have a listening audience.
He leaned close. “We didn’t know, Georgia, or we would have told you earlier.”
“Told me what?”
Blaire said just over the music, “Lake was caught with drugs yesterday afternoon. Or at least that's the rumor.”
