“I saw you,” Buddy said. “Evie, I saw you look out at me.”
“No, you didn’t.”
There was silence. “Yes . . . I did.”
“I know that,” I said. Still I leaned against the wall, my head brushing up against a family photo in a frame that said FAMILIES ARE FOREVER. And knowing the things I was learning daily about ghosts and recipes and Bundt cakes, it seemed this saying was more true than I’d thought.
“Hello?” Buddy tapped on the leaded glass of the front door.
My heart beat so hard I thought I might puke. Happy heart beating, yes. And happy puking, too. Throw-up, though, could be a turnoff.
“What do you want, Buddy?”
“Let me in.”
“I can’t,” I said. “Momma and JimDaddy are gone. And so’s the baby.” I was smiling. Huge, huge smiling. I had forgotten about Tommie. No, I hadn’t. Jeez. I was thinking of her right this moment while Buddy stood on my front porch.
“I haven’t had the chance.”
“You have. I seen you come home.”
What? Both Buddy and Tommie watching and waiting for me?
Did he know about the back door?
“Do you know about my back door?” I said.
“How you can jimmy it? Yes, I do. But I am not a trespasser. Let me in, Evie.” His voice had dropped down to almost nothing. I was surprised I could hear his words at all. “I come to finish what I started last night.”
“Excuse me?” My face warmed up. My smile grew.
“The kiss. It wasn’t any good at all. I shoulda . . . I shoulda . . .”
I opened the door and Buddy fell into the room, catching himself against me.
He had me by the shoulders. His fingers so warm. I looked into his eyes. Those nut-colored eyes. Pecans. “You know,” I said, after swallowing three times, “I’m not allowed to have boys in my house while Momma and JimDaddy are gone.” I shut the door closed and turned the dead bolt, locking us both in.
Buddy nodded. “I know Jimmy’s rules,” he said. His voice was a whisper. “But I been thinking about you all night, Evie.” He slid his hands down my arms. Caught my fingertips with his. “How I shoulda held you longer.” He stepped nearer, pulling my arm around his waist. Circled my own waist, pressing into the small of my back. “And really looked at you.”
“It was dark,” I said. I was whispering too.
He closed his eyes. “And then . . .”
I stood on tiptoe to meet his lips.
“Your hair’s wet,” he said. His hand in my hair. He was a fast mover.
I nodded.
“I shoulda done all that,” Buddy said.
Someone knocked.
Buddy started.
“Kiss me,” I said.
“There’s not enough time now,” he said. Then he walked into the living room and flopped down on the sofa while I threw back the latch and opened the door to Aunt Odie.