揘ot by choice,?Oscar said, 揵ut yes, she was here, and yes, she danced with me, and yes, her picture doing that will be on the front page of the newspaper on Wednesday when it comes out, and no, she was not happy about any of it. But that should stop her from being so nasty in public to all of us.?
揝weet Lord!?Risa抯 eyes were as big as saucers.
揧ep, He is very sweet at that.?Mary Nell giggled.
揇id anyone see what those brochures were all about??Haley asked.
Oscar laid one on the table. 揕ooks like it says that folks should turn from iniquity and be saved.?His phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket and raised a finger. 揧es, this is Oscar,?he said and listened for a few minutes. 揑t抯 negotiable. What have you got to give me??He rolled his eyes and shook his head. 揟hat won抰 do.?
Wade was standing close enough that he heard a woman yell, 揟hen you can go to hell. I抣l tell everyone the picture was doctored.?When Oscar put his phone back in his pocket, Wade raised an eyebrow.
揟hat was Stella, trying to make a deal,?Oscar said. 揑 guess the folks that had cell phones posted on social media, so the newspaper will just be an afterthought. She抯 been getting calls all night, and she抯 plenty mad. She doesn抰 realize that I might have the power to keep it out of the newspaper by offering Tommy a few more drinks, but there抯 nothing I can do about the internet.?
Lily whipped out her phone. 揑t抯 blowing up Snapchat. They抮e saying that an old couple was the first ones to dance at the grand opening of Danny抯 Place. You can抰 see your faces so well, but I can tell it抯 Granny Stella.?
Wade bit back laughter. 揑t抯 been a night to remember, but I抦 beat. The party is over. Let抯 turn out the lights and clean up the mess tomorrow afternoon.?
揑抦 all for that,?Jessica said. 揅hurch starts at eleven, so it抯 going to be a short night.?
揋ive me a hallelujah,?Lily said.
揋ive me an amen,?Daisy said and then covered a yawn.
Jessica could hardly hold her eyes open, but she managed until Wade finished his shower and crawled between the sheets with her. She cuddled up beside him and laid her head on his chest. 揇o you think every night will be this busy??
揚robably not, but I expect Saturdays just might.?Wade rubbed her back.
揑 liked that we opened and closed with 慏anny Boy,挃 she whispered. 揑t seemed fitting.?
揑t did,?Wade agreed. 揗aybe we should do that every night.?
揑 think so. Have I told you today that I抦 in love with you, Wade??she asked.
揅ouple of times, darlin? but I抣l never get tired of hearing it,?he answered. 揂nd I love you right back.?
Epilogue
NINE MONTHS LATER
You do know that if we抎 gotten married right after basic training, we could have kids this age,?Wade whispered to Jessica as the senior class marched down the sideline of the football field and took their places in front of the stage.
揑 was just thinking the same thing, but I抦 glad that things worked out for us the way they have. We had a beautiful little private wedding at the bar at Christmas. I loved every bit of it.?
揂nd now we抳e got our little guy on the way, and he should be here by homecoming in the fall. Do you think they抣l want y抋ll to ride on the float this year??Wade teased.
揑f they ask, we抣l probably turn them down like we did last year,?she told him. 揥e抣l let the ones who still relive the glory of being cheerleaders in the past have that honor. I don抰 need that kind of claim to fame.?
Haley leaned forward from right behind them. 揑 agree with Jessica. Do y抋ll realize it was one year ago today that we all met in the parking lot of the old church? Fate steps in again.?
揊ord is chewing his fist.?Oscar handed the four-month-old baby over to Haley. 揌e doesn抰 care about a graduation. He wants a bottle. There抯 Mary Nell and Zach coming up the bleachers. I抦 so happy for them. He treats her like a queen梠r better yet, like a father wants a man to treat his daughter梐nd she抯 so happy since I finished the loft apartment out in my barn so I could move out there and give them the house. I抦 hoping that Ford will have a little cousin before long.?
揥ouldn抰 that be wonderful??Jessica touched her belly, which had just begun to protrude.
揑t抯 about time. Ain抰 a one of y抋ll getting any younger,?Oscar said.
The superintendent of Riverbend Schools tapped the microphone and said, 揥e抎 like to thank you all for attending the Riverbend High School graduation this afternoon. It抯 been a year to remember.?
揧es, it has,?Risa said with a smile.
揑抦 not ready for them to go off to college this fall,?Oscar said.
揗e neither,?Risa told him, 揵ut I抦 going to give them wings to fly.?