Page 75 of Holding Ground

I walk in behind her, and it’s hard not to notice the way every head pivots in our direction.

We’re in the gossip mill of Echo Lake now, if we weren’t already.

I knew that tongues would be wagging when I decided to take Emelia here and figured that I don’t care. With the way news travels around here, there’s a good chance that even if we didn’t go out in public, word would still travel, so we might as well enjoy going places with each other. Besides, it’s not as if any of the adults in town are going to snitch to my daughter.

Taking Emelia’s hand, I thread our fingers together and walk over to the bar where Fowler is pouring a beer.

He gives me a chin lift as we approach, looking between the two of us. “Hey, guys.”

I raise my free hand. “Hey, I think you’ve already met Emelia.”

He gives her a smile. “Good to see you again.”

“Same.” Emelia returns his smile.

“Any space out on the patio?” I nod toward the door that leads out there.

“Yeah, head on out and grab whatever table you want. I’ll send someone out to take your order.”

“Thanks, man.”

The two of us make our way onto the patio that overlooks the lake. There are only about three tables open, and I lead us to the patio’s edge, closest to the water and one of the heaters.

String lights hang from one side of the patio to the other, and music drifts from some unseen speakers. The moon reflects on the still water, and across the lake, we can see a few lights, either on the ends of various docks or from the houses themselves.

We take a seat, and I immediately feel the warmth of the heaters radiating over us.

Emelia looks at them. “You should get one of these for your dock, then you could sit out there even when it’s this chilly.”

“Not a bad idea.” And it’s not. I enjoy the peacefulness of sitting near the water, but around this time of year, it becomes too cold at night to do so without bundling up.

A couple of minutes later, Tammy comes over and takes our order. She returns in record time with a beer for me and a seltzer for Emelia, takes our food order, then disappears again.

It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a woman on a date, and before tonight, the idea of doing so might have made me anxious. But being here with Emelia feels natural.

“Did you see how everyone turned and looked at us when we came through the door?” Emelia asks.

I chuckle. “We’ll be the main topic of conversation for the Thermos Crew tomorrow, I’m sure. Does that bother you?”

She shrugs. “Not really. I’m from a small town too, so I know how it is. My aunt had a radio show where she spread the town gossip for years and years, so it’s nothing new to me.”

“Seriously? She’d just get on the radio and talk about everyone’s business?”

“Pretty much.” Emelia goes on to tell me more about the radio show her aunt used to do, and some anonymous app that another town near hers uses to spread the word.

“That’s wild. And I thought the Thermos Crew was bad.”

We both laugh.

“In all fairness, it’s been a long damn time since I was seen out with a woman. I’m surprised some of the gawkers didn’t keel over in shock.” I take a pull from my beer.

“You didn’t go try to date anyone after Kate?” She arches an eyebrow, disbelieving.

“I took one or two women out. No one from Echo Lake and not around here. I wasn’t interested in starting up the rumor mill about my love life. And they were one-date wonders. Never went anywhere. My priority was Baylor.”

She smiles. “That’s because you’re a great father.”

“Maybe.”