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Authors: Tamara Hoffa
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Are you two up for
a stroll?”
Sharon
nodded.
“I
like to walk,” Aaron said.
“Okay,
then let’s go.”
As
they stepped out into the warm evening air, Sharon thought again how different Gaines
was from Chicago. She just loved the temperate climate and the lack of the
awful Chicago humidity.
“What
a beautiful day,” she said, watching the light breeze sway the leaves on the
tree lined street.
“Yes,
beautiful,” Tanner said. When she looked at him he was staring at her not the
street.
Aaron
walked ahead of them, tapping his fingers to his thumb and counting. Uh-oh, his stress level is ratcheting up. She
needed to distract him .
“Aaron,
didn’t you want to ask Mr. West about your next riding lesson?”
Aaron
turned around and started walking backward.
“Oh,
yeah. When can I have another riding lesson? I really want to gallop.”
Tanner
glanced from Aaron to Sharon. He was probably thrown by her sudden change of
topic.
“I’m
off on Sunday. RNR doesn’t host any trail rides on Sundays, so I’m sure it will
be okay if we use the arena. I usually go riding on the weekends anyway. Is
that soon enough for you?”
“And
then we can go back to the fire station too. Right?”
“You
bet.”
The
distraction worked. Aaron was more relaxed when they arrived at the community
center. Sharon smiled. Life was good.
She
took a deep breath. Now if she could only calm the butterflies that were
currently dive-bombing her stomach,
everything would be just fine.
Tanner
squeezed her shoulder and she relaxed a little. He was nice, so his family must
be nice too. She needed to get a grip and act like the confident woman she was
trying to be and not some nervous ninny.
Thank
goodness the community center was a large building because it seemed the whole
town had turned out for the Fourth of July dance.
There
was a small wooden dance floor sitting in front of a raised dais where the band
was already playing. Couples were already swaying in each other’s arms to a slow
country ballad.
Along
the back of the room, banquet tables lined the wall. Covered in red, white and
blue tablecloths with colorful flower arrangements and an array of wonderful
food, it was both beautiful and inviting.
To
the left, several round tables with chairs were set up for diners, and off to
the right was the kid’s corner. There was a face painting table, the many games
Tanner had mentioned, and a small table with juice boxes, sodas, and snacks for
the children.
The
colorful setting, music and people invited everyone to join in.
Sharon
placed her hand on Aaron’s shoulder to keep him from running off. Tanner
dropped his arm from around her shoulders and placed his hand at the small of
her back.
“I
see my family over there. Let’s go say hello.”
As
Tanner led them toward the table where his family sat, Sharon observed the
group. One of the women had her back to them, along with a man, that must be
Tanner’s sister, Jasmine and her husband. But the woman who drew her attention
was the one facing the couple. She was absolutely stunning. Thick, shiny black
hair fell in a curtain around an exotically beautiful face. Sharon could see
the similarities to Tanner’s features in her sharp cheekbones and full lips.
Her skin was flawlessly smooth, not the trace of a wrinkle showed. She could
have been any age from thirty to sixty. It was one of those ageless faces.
As
if she could feel her scrutiny, the woman raised her eyes and looked straight
at Sharon. She must have spotted Tanner at the same time, because a smile
spread across her face, full of warmth and joy. She stood and rushed toward
them.
It
was apparent where Tanner had gotten his height. The woman approaching had to
be close to six feet tall. She was almost eye level with her son as she threw
her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
She
kissed his cheek and pulled back, cupping his face with her hands.
“Hello,
my darling. We’ve been waiting for you.” She dropped
a stroll?”
Sharon
nodded.
“I
like to walk,” Aaron said.
“Okay,
then let’s go.”
As
they stepped out into the warm evening air, Sharon thought again how different Gaines
was from Chicago. She just loved the temperate climate and the lack of the
awful Chicago humidity.
“What
a beautiful day,” she said, watching the light breeze sway the leaves on the
tree lined street.
“Yes,
beautiful,” Tanner said. When she looked at him he was staring at her not the
street.
Aaron
walked ahead of them, tapping his fingers to his thumb and counting. Uh-oh, his stress level is ratcheting up. She
needed to distract him .
“Aaron,
didn’t you want to ask Mr. West about your next riding lesson?”
Aaron
turned around and started walking backward.
“Oh,
yeah. When can I have another riding lesson? I really want to gallop.”
Tanner
glanced from Aaron to Sharon. He was probably thrown by her sudden change of
topic.
“I’m
off on Sunday. RNR doesn’t host any trail rides on Sundays, so I’m sure it will
be okay if we use the arena. I usually go riding on the weekends anyway. Is
that soon enough for you?”
“And
then we can go back to the fire station too. Right?”
“You
bet.”
The
distraction worked. Aaron was more relaxed when they arrived at the community
center. Sharon smiled. Life was good.
She
took a deep breath. Now if she could only calm the butterflies that were
currently dive-bombing her stomach,
everything would be just fine.
Tanner
squeezed her shoulder and she relaxed a little. He was nice, so his family must
be nice too. She needed to get a grip and act like the confident woman she was
trying to be and not some nervous ninny.
Thank
goodness the community center was a large building because it seemed the whole
town had turned out for the Fourth of July dance.
There
was a small wooden dance floor sitting in front of a raised dais where the band
was already playing. Couples were already swaying in each other’s arms to a slow
country ballad.
Along
the back of the room, banquet tables lined the wall. Covered in red, white and
blue tablecloths with colorful flower arrangements and an array of wonderful
food, it was both beautiful and inviting.
To
the left, several round tables with chairs were set up for diners, and off to
the right was the kid’s corner. There was a face painting table, the many games
Tanner had mentioned, and a small table with juice boxes, sodas, and snacks for
the children.
The
colorful setting, music and people invited everyone to join in.
Sharon
placed her hand on Aaron’s shoulder to keep him from running off. Tanner
dropped his arm from around her shoulders and placed his hand at the small of
her back.
“I
see my family over there. Let’s go say hello.”
As
Tanner led them toward the table where his family sat, Sharon observed the
group. One of the women had her back to them, along with a man, that must be
Tanner’s sister, Jasmine and her husband. But the woman who drew her attention
was the one facing the couple. She was absolutely stunning. Thick, shiny black
hair fell in a curtain around an exotically beautiful face. Sharon could see
the similarities to Tanner’s features in her sharp cheekbones and full lips.
Her skin was flawlessly smooth, not the trace of a wrinkle showed. She could
have been any age from thirty to sixty. It was one of those ageless faces.
As
if she could feel her scrutiny, the woman raised her eyes and looked straight
at Sharon. She must have spotted Tanner at the same time, because a smile
spread across her face, full of warmth and joy. She stood and rushed toward
them.
It
was apparent where Tanner had gotten his height. The woman approaching had to
be close to six feet tall. She was almost eye level with her son as she threw
her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
She
kissed his cheek and pulled back, cupping his face with her hands.
“Hello,
my darling. We’ve been waiting for you.” She dropped
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