Sunshine Valley

Dinner 

    Evie took her time changing after church. She strolled out of her house humming the song she had sung. Okay, she thought as a late model big black quad cab dually truck was pulling into her driveway. It must have been one of the original quad cabs. The windows were as black as the truck. She was a little afraid. Chill bumps ran down her spine.

    He stopped short of her when he realized she was staring a hole through him. “What?” She didn’t say anything. “Evie?” 

    She finally saw him. Really saw him and not her ex-husband. “Sorry.” She smirked. 

    “Evie?” Dillon was confused, her reaction concerned him.

    “I’m okay.” She smiled.

    “Evie?” 

    “I couldn’t see inside your windows and had no idea of who might be inside so my mind started running scenarios on me.”

    “Oh honey, I’m so sorry. I should have called first. I didn’t mean anything.” All of a sudden he felt like a heel.

    “No, it’s okay. You had no idea and really neither did I.” She continued staring at the truck.

    “What?” She cocked her head to one side. “Evie?”

    She threw up her hand pointing at the truck. “I really pray you have a farm or a ranch.”

    He gave her a devious grin. “Why?”

    “Because you’re suckin’ off half the worlds resources with that monster. I say only people with work to do warrant a truck like that.”

    He chuckled, “what if I don’t have a farm or a ranch?”

    “Then you’re a selfish person Dillon Pace.” She teased. “And I don’t remember you being selfish.

    They walked toward the Ledbetter’s house together. The Ledbetter’s driveway and yard were littered with vehicles.

    “So tell me,” he spoke. “Does a single gal really need such a big car?”

    “My car’s not big.” She stopped in the middle of the road.

    “It’s bigger than one person needs.” He was grinning from ear to ear. “Followin’ your logic, a single person needs a car designed for one or two people. Your car is designed for four.”

    “Five,” she corrected him. “You’re just trying to be an ellic because I’ve bruised your pride.”

    “Ya think?” He couldn’t stop smiling.

    “Look here mister, my car gets 28 to 30 miles a gallon. I have a 4-cylinder engine. And she has a 14 gallon gas tank. How many miles does your monster get per gallon?”

    “If you must know, I average 13.”

    “My point is made.” She turned to continue walking toward her neighbor’s house.

    Dillon had to fight hard to control the urge to grab her and kiss her. She looked so sexy mad. But, she really wasn’t mad. He told himself. She was playing and he liked it. 

    The Ledbetter’s backyard was filled with people. Della had set up her long table that she was known for. Other than her food of course.

    Dillon couldn’t stop this feeling of freedom he felt. He wondered if it showed? But only for a minute. As long as he could be near Evie, he didn’t care.

    Everyone sat down to eat. Dillon sat across from Evie. His back was toward the fence separating his property from the Ledbetter’s. As far as he knew, they didn’t know who owned it. The sun beating down on his back and the wonderful company sitting across from him made him feel more relaxed than he’d ever felt before. Or felt in a long time? She really was here. He couldn’t stop looking at her.

    The crowd was laughing, talking, and eating. They were oblivious to how he felt and he was really enjoying it.

     He took a glance at Evie’s plate. She had gotten a small amount, maybe a teaspoon worth of 5 of the side dishes but none of the meat. Was she a vegetarian? An upward glance told him he was caught, by Mr. Rice. Dillon thought the old man was about to cry. He shook his head with a heavy sadness. Maybe vegetarian was a poor guess?

Sunshine Valley