I got up and walked over to their table.
“May I have this dance?” I asked.
The whole table turned to look me over. She tilted her head as I held out my hand. She looked to the grungy guy next to her and he shrugged. I guess he was her date. She smiled and took my hand. No one else was dancing yet, and they were playing a country song we could dance the two-step to.
We took one turn around the floor getting used to each other again.
“You ready, Sugar?” she asked me.
“Let’s do it.”
The key to dancing well is being able to lead. I knew she could keep up, so I took her through her paces by doing different combinations of all the spins and turns I knew. It’s funny that if you have a couple who can really dance, no one else wants to join them. Towards the end, I could tell she was getting winded so I slowed it down. As soon as I did, several couples joined us on the dance floor. When the song ended, she gave me a kiss on my cheek and left me.
I went to find Tami and Mary. It seemed Lucky—I figured out that was his nickname—was missing in action. I alternated between the two, dancing for the next few songs. I was walking Mary back to the table when Bonnie snagged me. I then had to dance with all her girlfriends. They were getting tipsy and a little handsy. My Grandma Dawson saved me. They put on a waltz for us to dance to. My grandmother had some serious dancing skills. We simply glided around the dance floor.
“Davey, your grandfather, was a wonderful dancer. You remind me so much of him sometimes.”
She seemed to be in her own world as we floated across the dance floor. She had a mysterious smile on her face, and I could see she was once a true beauty. She was still a handsome woman, but she must have been a heartbreaker when she was my age. I felt my heart fill up as I watched her relive dancing with my grandpa. I missed him. When the song ended, the band took a break. My grandmother folded herself into my arms and fiercely hugged me. We had just shared a special moment for the both of us.
She took my hand and led me to a private corner so we could talk.
“Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to some very important people. Part of Davey’s legacy was his political and business connections. Neither your dad nor your uncle wanted to follow Davey into politics. I want to make the introductions in case you ever decide to run for office. Service is a high calling, and I see a lot of potential in you. You could make a real difference.”
I was a little taken aback. Davey Dawson had been a powerful man in the state. I had been told he was twice asked to run for governor but had declined. Grandma was offering to introduce me to men and women who could make things happen for me if I ran for office or if I went into business.
I was a little surprised she would be introducing me around at my age. This was the perfect opportunity, with one of Davey’s sons getting married. It said a lot about my grandfather if they all intended to attend Uncle John’s wedding.
I thanked her and she told me how much she loved me and to go have fun. I went back and sat with Tami. She could tell I was distracted by what my grandma had told me.
“Want to talk about it?” she asked.
“Later. Come dance with me.”
Tami claimed me for the rest of the night. I was careful not to read anything into it and simply enjoyed my best friend’s company.
Saturday July 4
I WOKE UP TO FIND TAMI in bed with me. She must have snuck in sometime during the night. I looked at the clock and saw I needed to get up to take care of the cattle. Greg had been a mess last night, so I wasn’t expecting him to get up and help. Sure enough, I was on my own this morning. My slacker brother was sleeping in. I was surprised when my grandma came out in jeans and work boots.
She didn’t say a word as she followed me into the barn to get the feed bags. I backed the pickup into the barn so I wouldn’t have to carry the feed too far. I then loaded bales of hay and bags of feed. We would have to make four trips to fill up all the feed stations. I still had no idea why he didn’t have one station by the barn so he could just call the cattle in to eat.
While I refilled the feed stations, she raked and shoveled manure. I was impressed with the help. It was a nice way to spend the morning, just her and me. After we got done with the cattle, I took her into town and let her buy me breakfast.
THE WEDDING WAS HELD in a little chapel that barely held both sides of the family. It was a nice ceremony. We all headed back to the farm to have the reception. This was where the large crowd was going to be. Everyone was invited, and we had to open one of the pastures for parking. I chuckled when I saw Angie in high heels trying not to step in cow pies.
Uncle John had gone all out. He’d had a cow butchered for the event. The neighbors had all brought covered dishes. It wasn’t what you’d expect at a wedding, but the women all loved to try and outdo the others. I was in comfort food heaven.
A reception line was set up and Grandma Dawson made sure I was next to her. I was a little nervous when the security guys showed up and were talking into their sleeves. Shortly after, there was a caravan of State Police cruisers and three big black SUVs. I recognized Governor Higgins and his wife, along with Senator Dixon and Senator Caster. Several other people unloaded from the other cars. Grandma introduced me to the dignitaries.
“Kurt, Betty, I would like you to meet my grandson, David. David, this is Governor and Mrs. Higgins.”
“Governor, ma’am,” I said as I shook their hands.
“Governor, this is the football player I was telling you about,” Senator Dixon said.
“Senator,” I said as I shook his hand.
“I hope you plan on staying close to home for football,” Senator Caster said.
“I will surely consider it, sir,” I answered.
“We’re holding up the line. Come see us once you’re done here,” Governor Higgins said.
I SWUNG BY TO CHECK on my uncle. He was surrounded by his old college friends.
“John, tell us,” Doug, his former roommate, slurred. “Does Bonnie even let you do her anymore?”
“Not greek, that’s for sure,” Uncle John admitted.
That made me stop and listen in. I might have to record this for blackmail material. My second thought was, how had they gotten so drunk so fast?
“No room, what with the stick she’s got shoved up there all the time.”
“Bite me,” Uncle John said as he halfheartedly shoved Doug. “That’s my wife!”
I rolled my eyes and moved on. They should have had a bachelor party to get that kind of talk out of the way. I suspected that Uncle John would have some regrets in the morning when he slept through his wedding night. That would be something his new wife wouldn’t soon forget. I just shook my head as I realized that none of us were perfect.
I found the governor and two senators outside smoking cigars.
“There he is,” Governor Higgins said when he saw me. “Come join us.”
“I hear you might be the next Dawson to run for office,” Senator Castor said.
“If my grandmother has her way, I very well might be,” I agreed.
“If you’re anything like your grandfather, we would be lucky to have you. When I first got started in the business, he took me under his wing and mentored me. I owe that man more than anyone will ever know,” Senator Castor shared.
“I think all three of us benefited from his wise counsel,” Senator Dixon added. “He was one of the few of us that you could take his word to the bank. If Davey Dawson promised you something, you knew it wasn’t just a ‘political promise.’ He also knew when not to promise something.”
I had the sudden realization that these were lessons my uncle had taught me when I’d stayed with him for the summer. When you agreed to do something, you kept your word. One of my life goals was to learn to say ‘no.’ He must have learned that from my granddad.