“And he’s just a friend?” Harper asked.

“Yes, Aunt Harper. He likes a girl, but he’s too shy to tell her.”

“If he’s that shy, then how come he talks to you?” Dana asked.

“Because I talked to him first. He was reading a book I just finished and I asked him how he liked it and we got to talking and he and his uncle are coming to the lake to fish tomorrow and I invited him to come meet all y’all at the end of the day. He lives with his grandma and two uncles,” Brook spit out before anyone could say another word.

“A friend that’s a guy, huh?” Dana asked.

“Don’t judge him until you’ve met him,” Tawny said.

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I had a best friend in junior high school and when I brought him home, Mama threw a hissy because he was black and came from a poor side of town. He was a good kid, sang in the church choir and made excellent grades, by the way. If she’d let us be friends, who knows what path my life might have taken,” Tawny said.

“Kind of like Granny and Uncle Zed?” Brook asked.

“That’s right,” Tawny said. “They had such a sweet friendship. It would be easy to be jealous of them. No wonder he misses her so bad.”

“I wasn’t going to judge him, but thanks for tellin’ me that,” Dana said. “It’s not his race that made me flinch. It was the fact that he’s a guy.”

Brook frowned. “Girls are whiny and gossipy and bitchy. Boys are different. We talk about books we’ve read and our favorite movies and he even likes to fish. So?”

“Well, I would like to meet your new friend,” Dana said.

“Thanks, Mama, and I’m real sorry about you getting fired. You should have told me, and I wouldn’t have thrown such a fit about leaving the ranch.”

“Water under the bridge. What does this new friend look like?” Dana moved around the quilt to drape an arm around her daughter’s shoulder.

“He’s a nerd. Glasses that won’t stay up on his nose. Black hair that’s too long. He’s taller than me but only a little bit, and he’s got braces. His folks are originally from somewhere in Oklahoma. Don’t start, Mama.” Brook gave her a knowing look.

“He can be your friend, but not on the Texas-Oklahoma football weekend. Not if he’s rootin’ for the Sooners,” Dana said.

Brook got one more bite of ice cream and then carried the container back to the kitchen and put it in the freezer. “He’s not into football, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Braces hurt when you kiss. I’m speaking from experience,” Tawny giggled.

“Johnny is my friend, not my boyfriend. I don’t want to kiss him,” Brook yelled.

Another stab of jealousy hit Tawny in the middle of her heart. Brook had a new friend, and both her sisters had someone promising in their lives. She took a long, hard look at her niece chattering away about some book she and her new friend were both reading, then at Dana, who had to be happy that Brook hadn’t let the drama with Cassidy hold her back. After that she let her eyes shift over to Harper, who was actually wearing a smile. Granny Annie would be proud of them that evening, for sure.

Sunday was always busy at the store, but there was usually a ten-minute break a couple of times a day. Not so that day—if a guest wasn’t checking out, then the store was full of folks needing supplies. From the time Dana opened the doors that morning until noon, she hardly had time to even sip on a cup of coffee.

Pretty weather had brought folks out in droves—on the edge of the lake and out on it. Kids’ laughter and the buzz of conversations filled the air. But about three o’clock in the afternoon, there was a lull that let Dana sit down on the stool behind the counter. She’d barely gotten her aching feet propped up when Brook popped into the store with a teenage boy right behind her. “Mama, this is Johnny. Johnny, this is my mama, Dana.”

“Nice to meet you, Miz Clancy.” The poor kid looked like he could easily either faint or run. His hand trembled when he shook hers. “I was wonderin’ if it would be all right if Brook came fishin’ with me.”

That’s when the guilt trip struck Dana. Brook went to school and worked. She and Cassidy had giggled on the telephone a few times and had talked about having a sleepover, but the child hadn’t had time to play since they’d arrived.

“I can’t, Johnny. Aunt Tawny needs help in the laundry,” Brook answered for her mother.

“If you’d like the afternoon off, I think we can manage,” Dana said. “Tawny and I can finish up after we close down the store and café this evening. You go on and have a good time. Y’all fishin’ from the bank or do you have a boat?”

“From the bank today, down on that big flat rock. You know where it is?” Johnny asked.

Dana nodded. “And we’re plannin’ on you comin’ back to the house with her this evening for pizza.”

“Thank you.” Johnny finally smiled, showing off orange braces. “You ready, Brook? Me and Uncle Nick brought extra gear so you don’t need to bring anything.”

“You sure about this, Mama?” Brook asked.

“Yes, but I do think you should let me braid your hair. It’s awfully warm out today and the wind is blowing. You’ll be fighting it in your face all day. Johnny, you mind waiting about three minutes while us ladies make a trip to the bathroom?” Dana asked.