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Changing Lanes
“So,how long have you and my cousin been dating?” Farrah is now as over the Magnolia conversation as I was the Joanna one.
I try to remember what we told the others. Or did we? Shit. I shoot out a number that feels right. “Almost a year.”
“He must really like you,” she muses, meeting my eyes with a genuine smile.
I mirror hers with a smile of my own. “So I’ve heard.”
“You’ve heard right then. He never brings women home.”
Unless you’re a journalist getting an inside look.
The tap of a microphone and the familiar, momentary shriek of feedback snags our attention and I search the lawn for a podium and speakers. I don’t recall seeing anything like that set up. Ruby’s voice is the next thing to echo across the lawn. “Good morning, everyone,” she says calmly, reverently—in a way I didn’t realize she was capable, and it makes my skin crawl.
I then spot her bob and shimmery dress behind a clear, acrylic podium between the tables and the lake. Great staging for photos.
The conversations haven’t quite died down yet, so she says again, “Good morning, all. Can I have your attention?”
This time, everyone turns and quietens.
“Please find your name cards at the tables. The food is about to be served.”
Everyone disperses and looks for their assigned seats.
Dread clenches my stomach as I watch them. I hate sitting with people I don’t know. Reminds me of high school when the teachers didn’t let you pick your partners.
“Looks like it’s time to take our seats,” Farrah says with mock enthusiasm, looping her arm with mine again. I guess she’s as excited as I am. “Come. You’re sitting with me.”
“I am?”
“I have no idea,” she admits. “But since you’re new to the family, and I’m guessing you don’t know many others, I’ll make a spot for you.”
Yes, I’m definitely in love with her. “Thank you,” I say, and the familiar pang of guilt hits deep in my chest. I try to swallow against it. Like with Preston, I’m only making nice with people who will hate me once they realize my deception. This would be so much easier if they were all as unlikable as his mother and sister.
As we walk to our seats, my eyes land on Ruby at the podium, and the repeated thoughts of betrayal are replaced with Meaghan’s face. Her tears. Her fear and desperation for clearing her name and record. And it momentarily dampens the remorse.
She deserves for her side of the story to be told and investigated, and as I’ve learned in life, sometimes the right thing isn’t always the most popular. Will even gain you some enemies. But if something good can come of me being here, if I can find something to corroborate her story, then it was worth it. It was worth all these small betrayals.
Besides, it was one of their own who invited me here in the first place. The ‘betrayal’ isn’t all on me. Though, somehow, it doesn’t make me feel any better as Farrah devotedly tugs me along.
The foodand Farrah’s company are the only things interesting about the meal. The others at our table are a bore.
I learn she’s from McDonough but lives in Roswell now. She went to school for interior design but ended up majoring in architecture and works at a firm in Atlanta. She likes being closer to the city because there are more restaurant and entertainment options, and I can’t agree more. I don’t offer much about myself…because I can’t. But we do discuss our favorite places to eat and our favorite buildings.
Halfway through our crepes and breakfast potatoes, Magnolia takes to the podium, thanks everyone for joining, and calls some ladies from Feeding Henry County, the local foodbank, to stand beside her. They settle into place and Ruby materializes with a large cardboard check, the back facing us until the big reveal.
Everyone around me is getting their phones ready to take pictures.
Magnolia preens and straightens her shoulders before bringing her mouth closer to the microphone. “Thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars,” she gushes.
Gasps from the attendees.
An eruption of applause.
Everyone stands.
I stand along with them and watch as Ruby flips the giant check around and takes pictures with the charity ladies.
