With yesterday’s drama at the café forgotten, we’re now sitting in our pew at church. Mom and Dad are to my right and Colt is to my left at the end of the pew. I make a joke that it’s the best place for him to make a quick exit. He doesn’t find it funny. Once again, all eyes are on us. I think more so today than yesterday.
When Pastor Greg takes his stand at the pulpit and scans the crowd like he always does, I know he takes count of who is here and who isn’t. When he sees Colt, his eyes go wide, and he starts the service like nothing is out of the normal.
As we stand and sing, Colt wraps his arm around my waist and shares my hymn book. We’re in a small Southern town, and this small action still means something. It means we’re a serious couple. I know this is Colt’s way of once again staking his claim to me.
Mom and Dad haven’t stopped smiling since they saw Colt walk in with me. I did give Mom and Dad a warning he was coming last night which led to a lot of questions, but they did give us their blessing. I guess Colt talked to them too once he told me he was coming.
Being their opinion was one of the things that scared us last time, this is a weight off my shoulders. Though I know if we were still in high school, things would be different. We were still kids, still living under their roof then.
The next battle is talking to Megan, Mac, and Blaze. Jason already knows because Colt talked to him before our date at the bar, though I don’t think he knows the details. Riley knows because she picked up on how we act around each other weeks ago. I have given her just enough info, but she doesn’t know the details either.
If I’m being honest, I’m terrified to tell Blaze. Not to beat around the bush but keeping this from him is like flat-out lying to him. He’s going to be hurt and mad, and I can’t blame him one bit. I just hope that since Riley is on our side, she will help rein him in and talk to him.
After the service, we head to the event room for the church potluck brunch. Colt gets a few dirty looks as we make our way into the room, but most everyone, including Pastor Greg, is welcoming of him. Mom and Dad stick near us almost like we’re going to battle.
We pretty much are. We’re making a statement that not only are Colt and I together but that Mom and Dad approve. Colt’s reputation will factor into the gossip.
We make our way over to fix our plates of food.
“What’s good?” Colt asks.
“I brought the taco salad. Mom brings her biscuits and some jam, Miss Dorothy makes the pizza rolls, and everything else is pretty good.” Then I think again. “Avoid the Jello… just trust me.”
We sit at a table with Mom and Dad. People come over to talk a bit while we eat. When we’re done, we mingle a bit more, and that’s when Miss Dorthey Carrey herself comes over. Dorthey is a leader of the church’s widow club, also known as the best gossips in town. I’m sure they elected Dorothy to come over and get the juicy details.
“Well, Heavens to Betsy, how did you manage to drag Colt here today, Sage?” she asks me.
Yup, she’s the one who was nominated to speak for the group. I see her group of friends whispering and watching our every move.
Before I can even come up with a response, I feel Colt place his hand on my waist.
“I told her I wanted to come. She’s giving me a chance, and I know the church is important to her, so that makes it important to me.”
Then Dorothy looks right at me like Colt isn’t even standing right next to me and whispers loudly enough for him to still hear, “You do know about his reputation, right?”
I instantly straighten my back. It looks like we’re going to battle right here and now.
Colt starts to say something, but I place my hand on his chest and say, “I know this town likes to gossip, but you have to go straight to the source. That’s what I did. As much as I love this town, I’m ashamed of how the gossips turned the good deeds into something horrible and twisted.”
I hadn’t realized I had raised my voice until I see Dorothy’s jaw drop, and the room goes quiet. I’m proud to say I keep my voice steady even when I feel anything but.
Colt leans over to whisper in my ear, “Love, it’s okay. We don’t have to explain ourselves to anyone. You want to get out of here and get some ice cream?”
I take a deep breath and nod. Just like Colt, he takes over the situation and guides me outside to his truck. Once inside, I shoot off a text and apologize to Mom and Dad for leaving them to handle the fallout. All I get back are a bunch of laughing emojis, so I can’t help but laugh too.
We head toward the Dairy Queen just outside of town. Colt backs into a space at the far end of the parking lot, and we head inside to order. This is the place the farmers like to meet to talk ranch business. Blaze comes up to join them and get the news once a week or so.
It’s also a popular spot on Sundays like this for the guys to hang out while the wives are at church. We get a few looks when we walk in but for the most part, the guys are friendly and smile or wave before returning to their conversations.
We step up to order, and Colt doesn’t even flinch. He orders himself a Mint Chocolate Chip Blizzard and me a Double Fudge Cookie Dough Blizzard. This has been our order for as long as I can remember. We would get these two, then share.
It started one night when we came out for ice cream, and I couldn’t pick, so Colt ordered both. One for me and one for him so I didn’t have to choose. It’s just been our tradition ever since.
After we order, we head back to the truck and put the tailgate down to sit and eat our ice cream, overlooking the pasture behind the Dairy Queen with our backs to the building.
“You know, we did this for so long, even after you left, I found myself ordering Mint Chocolate Chip. It became my favorite because it was yours.”
I smile at him. “I would buy a carton of both at the store and have a bowl with a scoop of each.”
He laughed. We eat in silence for a few more minutes before he breaks the quiet.
“Thank you for standing up for me back there. Having you stand up for me…” He trails off and shakes his head. “I have no words.”
I sigh. “One step at a time, Colt. Thank you for coming with me today. It means a lot.”
“Well, I’ll be by your side every week that you let me.”
I look over at him and can’t believe he’s willing to go back after today. Why he would want to, is beyond me.
Like he can read my mind, he answers, “Dad does it for Mom, and I’ll do it for you. They’ll get used to me eventually, or they won’t.” He shrugs his shoulder. “Either way, I’ll be there every Sunday with you.” He leans over and gives me a chaste kiss and steals some of my ice cream.
We sit on the tailgate long after we finish our ice cream, just talking. We talk about the online schooling we did, the ranch, and funny memories growing up.
It may be Sunday, but that doesn’t mean ranch work stops. Once we get home from Dairy Queen, I head to check on the horses, although I know Riley is already out there with them, and Colt heads to see if Blaze needs anything. I find Riley in the pen, working over a horse I bought a few months back. She was abused, and the owner was more than happy to trade her for money. She has been skittish but seems to have taken to Riley. Another month, and I think she’ll be ready to ride.
Riley sees me and smiles. “Hey, how was church?”
“Fine until the potluck. Dorothy made a scene about Colt’s reputation.” I make air quotes with my fingers.
“She didn’t!”
I nod. “She did, and I put her in her place. Colt dragged me out and took me for ice cream.”
Riley laughed. “That man knows how to handle you.” She pauses. “You’re both happier now, ya know? We can all see it.”
“Crap. I need to talk to everyone. I don’t want to hide this anymore, and they don’t know the story of what happened all those years ago,” I say then shoot off a text to Colt.
Colt agrees we can talk to everyone tonight, so I shoot off a mass text to tell everyone to meet for dinner at the house. Mandatory attendance.