Leaving the door ajar, he stepped back out onto the carport and opened the left saddlebag, removing a backpack filled with clothes and toiletries. Moving around to the other side, he took out another bag that contained a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a towel. He’d sleep in the office until he could find a little place to rent somewhere in Versailles.
Checking his watch, he noted the time, 4:20, which left him forty minutes to shower, shave, change, and head up to Apple Valley. Shutting and locking the door of his place behind him, he walked across the showroom and into the office and threw his bags on the floor. And then he took a moment to appreciate everything that belonged to him . . . and ignore his despised longing for the girl who never would.
Chapter 19
Ginger
“Hey, Gin,” said Woodman, kissing her cheek as he joined her behind the serving table at the BBQ. “I have to talk to you about somethin’.”
The oversize aluminum container of Leigh Ann Chumsky’s potato salad that she’d just picked up was just about ripping her arms from their sockets. She offered him the tray and sighed with relief when he took it.
“I swear she uses rocks instead of potatoes. I have to put that in the fridge,” she said. “How’d it go with the tuxes?”
“Good, but Gin—”
She led the way back into the firehouse with Woodman at her heels. “Y’all liked the simple white shirts? I liked them better without the pleatin’. You too?”
“Yeah, they’re fine.”
“You’re goin’ to have to choose a best man from one of these guys sooner or later,” she said.
Of course, her choice of attendants had been commandeered by her mother, who’d nixed the idea of Ginger’s nursing friends standing up with her and had recruited five cousins from Charleston instead. It hadn’t mattered a bit to Magnolia that Ginger barely knew them. They were all Tri Deltas and would look “gorgeous” in the pictures.
“Yeah, about that . . . ”
She opened the lobby door for him and held it. “Oh, shoot! I forgot to get the tray of coleslaw. That’s got to be refrigerated too. How about you take that to the basement fridge, and I’ll—”
“Cain Wolfram!”
Ginger’s neck snapped around so fast, it’s a wonder it didn’t break. Her hand dropped from the door handle, and her entire body froze except for her eyes, which scanned the crowd with a mixture of greed and panic.
“Cain Wolfram, as I live and breathe!”
Her mouth went dry and her hands started to shake as she heard a woman’s voice say hello. He was here? Oh God, was Cain somehow here? It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be. Why would he come back now? Out of the blue?
“You come over here and give me a hug!”
Ginger blinked, watching as a tall, dark-haired man threw one leg over the motorcycle he’d just parked in the lot, took off his helmet, and placed it on the saddle. She gasped, deafened by the thundering of her heartbeat in her ears, transfixed by the sight of him.
“Cain,” she murmured, the sound a hiss of breath.
“I tried to tell you,” said Woodman.
She didn’t acknowledge Woodman’s words, didn’t look at him, couldn’t look away from the sight of Mary-Louise Hayes sprinting over from setting up the dessert buffet to welcome Cain Wolfram back to Apple Valley. Ginger stiffened as she watched Cain’s ex-girlfriend wrap him in a tight embrace, fleetingly thinking that it was pretty damn inappropriate, considering the fact that Scott Hayes was looking on.
Firehouse BBQs were busy. There were several picnic tables set up, a huge serving table with the big smoking grills in the back, country music playing, and about a hundred people milling around, eating and visiting. It was busy enough that Cain hadn’t noticed her yet, though she was only a few yards away.
Ginger watched his lips intently as he greeted Mary-Louise.
“Hey, darlin’,” he said, grinning as he hugged her back. “What’re you doin’ here? You a firefighter now?”
She leaned back in his arms, smiling flirtatiously. “Ha! As if! It’s the monthly dinner. All the wives and girlfriends come.”
Cain raised his eyebrows, still grinning but releasing her and taking a step back. “And which are you, Mary-Louise Walker?”
With a huge smile, she raised her left hand, waggling her fingers to flash her wedding ring in his face. “That’s Mary-Louise Hayes to you, Cain Wolfram. Couldn’t wait for you forever.”
Ginger rolled her eyes at Mary-Louise’s easy flirting, even though her stomach flipped over. Neither could I.
“You married ole Scotty Hayes?”
“Sure did. Two years ago. My momma’s watchin’ our l’il ’un tonight.”
Scott Hayes had finally stood up from his spot at a long picnic table, and now he offered his hand to Cain as his other arm slipped around his wife’s waist, pulling her against his side. “Thanks for stayin’ away so long.”
“No problem.” Cain chuckled good-naturedly. “You’re a lucky man.”
“Don’t I know it,” said Scott, kissing his wife’s temple. “Get you a beer, sailor?”
“Sounds good to me,” said Cain, following Scott to the keg over by the dessert table.
Ginger’s lungs started to burn, and she realized she’d been holding her breath. Letting the air out in a dramatic wheeze, she took another breath quickly, trying not to out-and-out panic.