About an hour passes quickly and I’m seated at a table with Caleb and a few of our friends when I get a text from Ava.
Where are you?
In the back of the barn on the left at a table eating dinner. Why?
Be there in a minute!
“Who’s texting you?”
“My sister. She’s got something up her sleeve, I just don’t know what it is.”
“Ava’s always got something up her sleeve,” Caleb comments, taking another muffin and popping it in his mouth. “I have found it best to just go along with whatever it is she’s planned. She definitely makes life more interesting.”
I eye Caleb. I know Ava has plans for them and that they’ve been seeing one another for the past four months. Ava’s had a crush on Caleb since she was in middle school. Honestly, I never thought Caleb would return her feelings for him, but he told me the other day that he didn’t have a choice.
“What do you mean you didn’t have a choice?” I asked.
He just shrugged and said, “You know Ava.”
Yes. I know my sister well, which is why I’m concerned.
About fifteen minutes later, I see Caleb’s eyes widen and he starts to stand. I follow his gaze to see my sister practically dragging someone behind her. All I can tell at this point is that the person has blond hair. I stand too.
“I think we’re about to find out what Ava’s been up to,” he comments.
When she finally reaches us, and I see the person with her, my heart stops. I cannot explain the feeling that rushes over me when I look into her eyes, but it’s as though someone has jolted my entire body with an electric current.
“Everyone this is my new friend, Faith! She just moved here from…” Ava announces and looks directly at me before turning to her new friend. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I ever asked you where you moved here from?”
“Virginia,” she answers, her voice soft and angelic sounding. “Richmond,” she clarifies and I can detect the slightest of Southern accents.
“A Southerner,” I smile and almost catch my breath when her gaze meets mine. “Matt Brooks,” I say, extending my hand. “Welcome to Wyoming.”
For a few seconds we just stand there looking at each other.
Faith. Her hair was dark blond and she had dark blue eyes. When I released her small hand from mine, it was like releasing a bird.
“Thank you,” she says, ducking her head in a shy manner. “Thank you for allowing me to come to your party.”
I can’t help but smile. “My mother likes to throw big parties a few times a year. This is one of those times. I’m glad you could make it.”
“This is my boyfriend, Caleb Connor,” Ava announces, introducing my best friend to Faith.
“It’s nice to meet you, Caleb,” she says and takes the hand he was just scarfing a barbecue sandwich with a few minutes beforehand.
“And this is Brittany, Rachel, Tommy and Brian,” Ava spreads her hands toward the four remaining people still seated. At this point, all of the guys are standing, because we’d never hear the end of it from our mothers if we didn’t.
“It’s very nice to meet all of you,” she says, and her smile melts my heart again. So, this is what my sister was up to. I can’t say that I’m upset. There’s something special about this new girl in town and I’m hoping I’ll get a chance to know her better.
I can tell she’s a bit uncomfortable, but who wouldn’t be? It’s a big party and she really doesn’t know anyone. I see her holding herself and a slight shiver courses through her body.
“Cold?” I ask. “We’ve got a bonfire over in the east end of the yard. I could walk you over there. It should keep you pretty warm.”
“I’m fine, thank you. All of this is just a little overwhelming. I’m not used to such big crowds.”
“You’ll get used to it,” I tell her. “My mother’s got an even bigger one planned for next month! She likes to get most of her parties in during the warmer months before the winter sets in and everyone’s stuck at their own ranch.”
“Does it get that bad?” she asks. “I would think with all of the snow you get around here, you’d be experts at knowing what to do to handle it.”
“Oh, we do. It’s just once in a while a really bad storm hits and that can lay us up for weeks before anyone can get out. Those are some nasty ones.”
I can’t help but think to myself that I wouldn’t mind being stranded this winter with her, but I’ll keep that thought to myself.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” she admits.
“We’ll all help you through it,” Ava loops her arm through the arm of her new friend. “Won’t we, Matt?”
I can see Amanda’s best friends eyeing Faith up. I hope they don’t cause a problem.
“Do you go to college?” Brittany asks.
“I took a year off to get some things in order, but I’m planning to go back to school this fall.”
“What are you studying?”
“I’m studying to be an architect,” she says. “I’ve always like to build things.”
“Wow,” Ava exclaims. “An architect! You must be really smart.”
“I’m no smarter than anyone else. I just like to design and build things.” She modest and doesn’t like to brag. However, I know from the few CAD classes I’ve taken how smart someone must be to be an architect. I’ve been working on designing my own ranch house to build one day, but it’s not as easy as I thought it would be.
“Commercial or residential?” I ask and note the pleasantly shocked look on her face. I’ve surprised her by asking this question.
“I can do both, but I like designing someone’s home and filling in the details of what makes the space special to them.”
“I’ve sketched out some ideas for a house I’d like to build one day. Maybe you could take a look at them and tell me what you think.”
“I’d like that,” she smiles. I hope she’s not just being nice. I could use the help.
There’s an awkward lull in the conversation which Ava saves by asking a question.
“Are you hungry?” she asks.
“I think I could eat something.”
“Matt, why don’t you take Faith to get some of this delicious food?”
I step aside and motion for her to proceed me toward the buffet tables laden with food. We arrive at the first table and I grab her a plate.
“What are you in the mood for? I think my mother has hired every chef and caterer in the area for this party.”
“The fried chicken looks good,” she says. I know it is because I’ve just had two pieces myself.
“White or dark?”
“Both!”
I give her a cautionary look and she laughs. It’s like bells ringing and the sight of her enjoying herself brings a smile to my face.
“As noted, I’m hungry,” she says.
“Breast and leg then,” I tell her and grab two of the best- looking pieces on the platter to put on her plate.
“Vegetables?”
“Potato salad and some of that green bean salad please,” she says, and I give her a heaping spoonful of each. I spy some of my mother’s homemade corn muffins. “You’ve got to have one of these corn muffins. I promise they’re the best thing you’ve ever tasted. This corn casserole is good too. Do you like corn?”
“I love it,” she smiles. “I think that will hold me for now.”
“Let’s get you something to drink. What’s your poison? Water, tea, lemonade or soda?”
“Tea please, sweet, no lemon.”