Read Online The Color of Hope by Kim Cash Tate - Free Book Online

warn you? You have to eat when you attend a Sanders reunion. It’s, like, a law. Those who don’t mysteriously disappear, never to be seen again.”
    Someone walked a pan of fresh fried fish by them. Charley followed it with her eyes to the buffet table.
    “That smells really good,” she said.
    “I’m sayin’.” He extended his hands like it was a no-brainer. “You can enjoy good food and keep your life. Win-win.”
    “All right, I’m sold,” she said. “But I think I’ll wait for Janelle or Stephanie.”
    Marcus took a glance around. “I don’t know where Janelle went, and I still don’t see Steph.” He shrugged. “I’m a lame substitute, but I can join you.”
    “Did you eat already?” she said.
    “I did, but I’m willing to get seconds just to be gracious.”
    She took the plate from him. “I’ve got to at least try that fish.”
    Marcus nodded. “That’s the Sanders spirit.” He got a plate himself and proceeded to pile it on.
    “Wow. I thought you were just being gracious.”
    “Oh, I don’t play.” He scooped some butter beans and plopped them next to the potatoes and two pieces of fish. “I’ll pack on a couple of pounds for the sake of being gracious.”
    She shook her head at him, following him to the second buffet as he added dessert. They stopped at the beverage station and got bottled water, then walked toward a picnic table that had space. Marcus introduced her to the others at the table—great-aunts and uncles—and they settled on the end.
    Charley pinched off a piece of fish and tasted it. “Mmm, I love whiting. This is really good.”
    “I’m impressed,” Marcus said. “I couldn’t have told you what it was.” He lifted a forkful himself. “So I know Coach Willoughby’s résumé. But tell me about Charley. You grow up playing volleyball?”
    She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Started in middle school, played club through high school, then went on to college.” She took a sip of water. “What about you? Did you play a sport?”
    “Basketball. Point guard.”
    “In college?”
    He nodded. “UNC-Greensboro.” Smiling a little, he added,“We’ve got a game tomorrow morning at the high school. Looking forward to hurtin’ the older dudes in the family, but hoping the younger ones don’t hurt me.”
    Charley laughed. “Sounds like fun. So you grew up in Greensboro?”
    “Raleigh. But I was in Hope Springs a lot, right here at my grandmother’s house. My mother grew up in this house.”
    “Janelle said she and Stephanie are the third generation to live here. That’s pretty cool.”
    “Charley!” Stephanie walked up and took a spot next to her on the bench. “Sorry. Janelle came to get me, and I was in the middle of cheer practice.”
    “Cheer practice?” Charley asked.
    Marcus gave Stephanie a look, then turned to Charley. “She’s a traitor, cheering for the Over 30 team tomorrow morning.”
    “Excuse me,” Stephanie said. “I might be in my twenties, but my husband is on that team, so that’s where my loyalty lies.” She hit Charley’s arm. “Hey, you should join us. It’s a ragtag group of cheerleaders, so it promises to be a riot.”
    “Hold it,” Marcus said. “I know you’re not talking about Charley cheering for the Over 30s. We need some Under 30 cheer support.” He looked at Charley. “You got our backs, right?”
    “I’d definitely have to go with my Under 30 peeps.” She laughed. “But I’ve never cheered a day in my life . . . so enthusiastic hand claps will have to do. Actually, I was planning to go to the school tomorrow anyway, to start moving my things out of the gym office.”
    Marcus eyed her. “But you haven’t made a final decision yet . . . have you?”
    “It was final all summer,” Charley said, “until you threw in that monkey wrench yesterday.”
    “He’s throwing monkey wrenches into everybody’s life,” Stephanie said. “Approached me earlier today about subbing.”
    Charley’s eyes got big.