Second Chance Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 2) Read online

  “I don’t blame you, Kay. We need to show the younger generation we can still have a good time.” Mavis handed a basket to Jude. “Biscuits?”

  He took two and handed the basket to Kay.

  “I think I’ll only have one to start.” She handed the basket to Red. “The ones you had last night were better than cake, and I expect these to be just as good, Mavis.”

  “Thank you, Kay.”

  Jude drained his coffee cup and stood. “I need more coffee. Anyone else want some?”

  “I’ll get it for you.” Kay started to stand.

  “Let me get it this time. You women deserve to be waited on.” He went to the counter and picked up the pot. He poured coffee for Kay first, then Mavis. Finally, he served the men and filled his own cup.

  “I like being waited on like this, don’t you Kay?”

  “Oh, yes, being waited on is always nice.”

  “At least we don’t stink the way they did last night when we had to serve them.” Mavis chuckled.

  “What do you mean stink, woman?” Neil cocked an eyebrow at her. “We’d been working our butts off. What did you expect?”

  “Well, I wasn’t expecting Aqua-Velva, but every one of you smelled worse than a polecat. Didn’t you notice that after we served you we hurried back to the kitchen to keep from being close?”

  “I guess we do have to admit we weren’t spit and polish last night.” Neil smiled at her.

  “I know we weren’t,” Jude said. “I was offensive to myself, so I’m sure I was to everyone else.”

  “Well, you smell good this morning.” Kay looked at him.

  “Thank you.” He was delighted by her comment and was secretly glad he’d taken the extra bath.

  “Wait until we get to shoveling manure and cleaning the barn today. You’re going to have to put clothes pins on your noses when we come in for lunch,” Red said, looking at Kay. “You’re going to wish you’d stayed at the house with Darlene and the kids, then.”

  Kay patted his arm. “Honey, I can take it, I think. Just in case I can’t, maybe Mavis and I will feed you on the porch where you can air out.”

  “Now, wait a minute,” Neil said. “It’s cold out there.”

  “But it’s going to be cold in the barn, isn’t it?” Kay looked at him with a coy smile.

  “It sure is.” Mavis looked at Neil. “What’d be the difference in the porch and the barn?”

  Jude shook his head. “You can’t argue with a woman, Neil. Why bother?”

  Neil laughed. “You’d think after all these years of being married to this one I’d know that.” He reached over and pinched Mavis’s cheek.

  “It’s because you’re a slow learner, old man.” Mavis playfully bopped his hand.

  Jude reached for the ham plate. “I think I’ll have another slice.”

  “Honey, you go right ahead and have all you want.” She looked at Kay. “Would you like some more?”

  “I think I’ll have a small piece.”

  Jude passed her the plate and she glanced at him. “I doubt I can out eat you, but I can come in a pretty close second.”

  Jude was about to retort, but Red’s cell phone rang. He looked at it. “That’s Darlene. I’d better take it.”

  He stood. “Excuse me.”

  “I hope the kids are okay.” A worried look crossed Mavis’s face.

  “They were still asleep when we left,” Kay said. “Red went in to kiss them good-bye and he said they didn’t feel as if they had a fever.”

  Red was only gone a short time. He came back in smiling. “It’s okay, Mavis. Darlene was calling to say she loves me.” He grinned at his in-laws. “She does, you know.”

  “I don’t think we’ve ever doubted that, son.” Neil chuckled. “We don’t worry about your feelings about her, either.”

  Red blushed and ducked his head toward his plate. They were finishing up breakfast when Alex and Heather appeared at the back door. They took a seat at the table shoving Jude closer to Kay, which he didn’t mind at all. They had already eaten breakfast, but had a cup of coffee. It wasn’t long until it began to get daylight and the men started donning coats.

  Neil and Alex kissed their wives and Jude had an impulse to lean down and kiss Kay, but he knew better. He simply smiled and nodded to her then headed toward the barn with the others, never dreaming she was wishing she could get a kiss, too.

  •♥ •

  It wasn’t long until the side road to the barn filled with trucks and a few cars. Word had spread about the lightning strike and droves of friends and neighbors showed up to help. Some of the men came to the door and handed Mavis a box or a basket of food. It wasn’t long until the counter was full of casseroles, meats, assorted vegetables, and desserts. Still, they kept coming. Women brought them in and stayed only a few minutes to chat.

  Bertie Williams was the exception. She brought a baked ham, a sweet potato casserole and a broccoli salad. She said Mavis looked as if she hadn’t slept a wink, and insisted her friend go rest and let her take over the kitchen for a while.

  Though Mavis objected, Bertie wouldn’t take no for an answer. She shooed Mavis into the den to call Darlene and check on the grandchildren. “If the other men are like my Bruce, they’ll come in here starved. We’ll have to work our tails off keeping their plates full. Now you rest until then and I’ll call you when they start coming in.”

  Mavis finally gave in and Bertie turned toward the counter and began organizing the food. She said it wouldn’t take her long to get everything ready to serve lunch.

  Mavis seemed to be a little overwhelmed at the outpouring of generosity. Finally, she settled in the den, called Darlene and leaned back to rest for a little while. Bertie sent Heather into the den to keep her company.

  Kay liked Bertie immediately and offered to help her in the kitchen.

  “Well, honey, there isn’t a lot to do, but if you insist, why don’t you get out the plates and silverware? Since we have so much food I’m going to set it up like a cafeteria line and let the men choose whatever they want to eat. We’ll have it all ready by the time they come in.”

  Kay smiled at the stout gray-haired woman and went to the cabinet where she’d put the clean dishes after breakfast. She couldn’t help thinking how wonderful it was that all the people had rallied around Neil and Mavis. She thought this was the way it should be during a time of disaster or death. She remembered well when James died, no food arrived, but there had been a slew of calls and impersonal telegrams. It dawned on her that their friends probably thought it would’ve been too folksy for a senator to bring over food. They must’ve felt the notes, the phone calls, and a few visits were the best way to show sympathy. Then, when Jimmy…she stopped her thoughts. There was no way she was going to let herself go there today. It was a day to help out the Parkers, not resurrect painful memories.

  CHAPTER 5

  It was noon when the first group of eight men came to the house for lunch. Red was in this group, and he winked at his smiling aunt as they headed to the mud room to wash up. Bertie and Mavis stood at the counter to refill bowls as they emptied. Heather and Kay were stationed to keep the tea glasses and coffee cups filled. Though Mavis introduced Kay to the men as they came in, the only ones she remembered were Bertie’s husband Bruce Williams, the Reverend Clyde Albertson, Hunter Armstrong and Luke Hargrove, Alex’s son. Soon they lined up and took plates. As they filled them they commented on the wonderful food and how nice it was to sit down to such a feast. When they found seats at the table, Kay and Heather poured their drinks. Kay couldn’t help wondering where Jude was. She hoped he hadn’t decided to go home. Then she realized this was a silly thought. He’d certainly be in the second group coming to eat.

  Gracious as ever, Mavis gave the neighbors and the church women the credit for the cooking. “I only made the biscuits,” she said.

  “Well, they’re great,” Reverend Albertson said. “Of course, I don’t know a woman in the area who isn’t a first-rate cook.�
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  Most of the men had seconds before taking a dessert and having more coffee. When they finished, they donned their coats and headed back to the barn, thanking the women as they went out the door. Kay couldn’t help noticing that Heather’s stepson leaned down and kissed her cheek as he went out. She knew they must have a wonderful blended family.

  As soon as the men were out the door, Heather cleared the table and put on a clean tablecloth, Bertie put the first set of dishes in the dishwasher, Mavis made a fresh pan of biscuits, Kay made more coffee, and she and Heather refilled all the platters and bowls for the second crew. The kitchen had acquired a wonderful smell. Like it was when I was a kid and grandma was alive, Kay thought. Given the chance, I could really get used to living like this again.

  The sound of men’s voices filled the air when the door opened and the second group trounced in. Alex and Neil were with them, as were three other men. She didn’t have time to wonder where Jude was because Mavis was introducing her to Brock Pendleton and Seth Armstrong. She didn’t catch the third man’s name, because she was wondering if the Hunter who was in the first group was related to Seth. She also wondered why Seth walked with a limp and used a cane because, otherwise, he looked healthy.

  “Where’s Jude?” Mavis asked when they returned from the mud room and began filling their plates.

  All the men laughed and Neil said, “He kind of got hung up.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Well this…uh…lady cornered him as we were coming up the driveway. She was telling him he needed to go to our church singles group because there’s a dance coming up Saturday night and she knows he’ll want to attend because she heard he’s a great dancer.” Neil plopped a big spoon of potato salad on his plate.

  The men sniggered and Heather glanced out the window. She looked back at her husband. “Alex, I can’t believe you did that to Jude.” She playfully reached across the counter and punched his arm. “You know better than that.”

  “Why should I help Jude out? It used to happen to me all the time and none of these rascals ever came to my rescue, including my good friend, Jude.”

  “At least, when she’s after him she’s leaving me alone,” Brock Pendleton said. “I’ve been the brunt of her assaults before.”

  “Believe it or not, so have I. She’s so desperate even a cripple like me looks good to her when nobody else is available.” Seth chuckled.

  “She’d be lucky to get you, Seth Armstrong. Any woman would.” Bertie shook a finger at him. “You’re going to meet the right woman one of these days.”

  “Bertie’s right about that, but since you both know what’s happening to Jude one of you should’ve stayed there and helped your friend out.” Mavis shook her head at then.

  “Why, Mavis? I knew Jude would turn her dance invitation down and then she’d turn on me and I didn’t want to be anywhere around.” Brock took a slice of ham.

  “Neither did I.” Seth picked up a chicken leg and headed to the table.

  Everyone in the room laughed, with the exception of Kay. She was confused, but she didn’t let the group know. She began pouring coffee as Heather poured tea.

  Most of the men were drinking both. She got an especially nice smile from Brock when she poured his. He didn’t have time to say anything, though, because Mavis shushed them.

  “Be quiet,” she warned. “Here they come.”

  The men all ducked their heads toward their plates as the back door opened, but Kay was sure she heard a snigger or two.

  A skinny woman with bleached blonde hair, too much makeup, and wearing a dress designed for a teenager came in. Jude was behind her. He looked exasperated, but the woman had a big grin on her face.

  “Mavis, I hope I’m not too late. I brought two cherry pies. I was busy this morning working on the singles’ dance or I would’ve come sooner.”

  “That’s perfectly all right, Minnie.” Mavis bit her lip.

  “I had to help decide on the food and decorations for Saturday night. I was afraid they wouldn’t be done right.” She continued to grin. “I’ve invited Jude to come to the dance. I sure hope he’ll make it.” This was followed by a girlish giggle.

  Jude didn’t say a word. He hung his coat, none too gently, on the peg and went to the bathroom to wash his hands.

  “It was nice of you to bring these, Minnie.” Mavis took the pies. “The men will love them, I’m sure.”

  “I really hope so. I told Jude to be sure and try them.”

  Jude came back into the kitchen and picked up a plate to get his food.

  “Would you like to sit down and rest and let me make you a plate, Jude?” Minnie asked.

  “No, thanks.” His voice was blunt as he began filling it with an assortment of food. He didn’t look at anyone.

  Kay noticed all the men at the table again ducked their heads. Heather was pouring tea and her mouth was pursed to stifle a grin. Mavis was busy opening the oven to look at her browning biscuits and Bertie was filling the green bean dish with her head to the side so nobody could see her face.

  Jude came to the table and put his plate down with a thud. He glared at his friends as he jerked back the chair and sat down.

  Heather started back to the counter to pick up the other filled tea pitcher. Minnie grabbed it. “Would you like some tea, Jude? I’ll bring you some. Would you like more ice in your glass?”

  He glanced up and saw Kay. For the first time, he looked friendly. “I think I’ll have coffee.” His eyes pleaded with her to get to him in a hurry.

  “Oh.” Minnie took a big breath and looked disappointed as she sat the pitcher down. She didn’t offer to serve anyone else.

  Kay moved beside Jude and filled his cup. She actually heard one of the men almost choke to stifle a laugh.

  Jude looked miserable.

  Kay had seen similar situations in Washington. If a single man was in the room, the widows and the other single women tried to devour him. On impulse, she leaned down and whispered in Jude’s ear, “Play along and I’ll help you get out of this.”

  He looked at her, puzzled, but nodded.

  She straightened and said in a soft voice, but loud enough so all could hear, “I see you have a plate full of food.”

  “I’m hungry,” he mumbled and gave her a puzzled look.

  She put her hand on his shoulder. “Now, don’t you eat so much that you can’t enjoy our candlelight dinner tonight. I have it all planned out with champagne, caviar, music, the works. There’ll be everything you like there.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be able to handle it,” He mumbled again, and looked at her, almost in shock.

  “You better be able to handle it.” She leaned down again and kissed his cheek.

  The men at the table stared at her as she turned and headed back to the kitchen. Mavis opened the oven and checked her biscuits again. Bertie turned her back and put a dirty dish in the sink. Heather had a gleam in her eye as she picked up the filled pitcher. Minnie stood staring at Kay with her mouth hanging open.

  Kay smiled at her. She held out her hand. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Kay Littleton, Jude’s friend.”

  “Minnie Cox,” the woman stammered.

  “I’m delighted to meet you, Miss Cox. Did I hear you say you brought cherry pie?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad. I love cherry pie. I can’t wait to try it.”

  “I, uh, hope you like it.”

  “Oh, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it very much.”

  Minnie turned. “Mavis I’d love to stay and help, but I have…uh…uh…there’s something I have to do this afternoon.”

  “I understand. Thank you for coming by and bringing the pies, Minnie. We can always count on you in a crisis.”

  “Sure…sure.” Without another word, she scooted out the door.

  In a matter of seconds, there was the sound of a motor in the driveway and Minnie’s car pulled out. Jude shoved back his chair. He had a big grin on his face. W
ithout a word to anyone, he walked to Kay, grabbed her around the waist and twirled her in the air. “Lady, I love you. You saved not only my life, but my sanity.”

  She laughed. “Think nothing of it. I was glad to do it.”

  “You’re one surprising woman. How in the world did you think of that little act?”

  “It was easy. You have to be a great actress to survive Washington.”

  Jude let her down, but before he could speak, Neil said, “Doesn’t look like Minnie will be chasing Jude for a while, does it?”

  “Right, but no thanks to you so-called friends of mine.” Jude moved back to his place at the table. “I’ll get every one of you for this. Just wait and see.”

  “Well, I think it was a wonderful display of what an intelligent woman can do. Until today, Mavis, Bertie, and I are the only ones I know who aren’t intimated by Minnie Cox. I’m glad we can add you to the club, Kay, and I personally want to thank you for that little show.” Heather put her arm around Kay’s shoulder. “It was a show, wasn’t it?”

  Jude stood with his plate in his hand. He joined Alex at the food to get seconds. “Of course, it wasn’t a show, Heather. Don’t you know Kay and I have been seeing each other for months?”

  “Now, wait a minute,” Kay started.

  Brock followed Jude. “Damn you, man. How did you work it out so fast?” He looked back at Seth. “Another beautiful woman makes her appearance here on the mountain and Jude has her hog-tied before we get a chance to make a move.”

  “Yeah,” Seth said. “You’re as bad as Alex was with Heather, Jude. Neither of you guys have a heart.”

  “Gotta move fast in this old world, my friends.” Jude eyed them.

  Mavis said, “Kay, honey don’t pay any attention to these goons. They’re worse than teenagers, sometimes.” Neil came to the counter when Alex and Jude sat down. “I have to admit, you put the old gal in her place.”

  Neil nodded his head at Kay with approval. “You must be one of the few smart cookies in DC.”

  “Yes, Kay.” Heather said. “I wasn’t as subtle when I confronted her. Minnie upset our grandson while Alex and I were on our honeymoon. When we got home I had a talk with the lady.”