Sweet Destiny

Chapter 4

By late morning the entire household was awake and buzzing about the news that there would be another Yates later that year. Selena’s announcement that she and Xavier were expecting a baby elicited shouting, backslapping and an abundance of good wishes and congratulations.

After a brunch of scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, sausage links, sliced melon, mini corn muffins and fluffy biscuits slathered with butter or Lily Yates’s homemade jams and preserves, the men retreated to the family room to watch the New Year’s football games.

Wearing a bibbed apron belonging to Geneva, Mia had remained in the kitchen to help out cutting and dicing ingredients for the many dishes that would grace the dining room table for what would become a traditional New Year’s celebration.

It was close to four in the afternoon when everyone sat down at the table in the dining room, but only after Geneva had walked into the family room to turn off the television amid shouts and groans from the men.

Mia had been too exhausted at Selena and Xavier’s wedding to join in the levity and eat, drink and dance with the Yates family, but working alongside the women in the kitchen, and engaging in conversation with the menfolk as they came to get something to eat or drink whenever there was a pause in the game, made her feel as if she was truly a part of their family.

Her gaze shifted to Roland Yates, who’d recovered from overindulging the night before, as he sat down at the table opposite Geneva. The tall, handsome sheriff of Matewan was grinning like a Cheshire cat. If Selena was her mother’s daughter, then Luke and Keith were their father’s sons. Both of them were tall, gangly and had inherited Roland’s light-brown complexion and ruggedly handsomely features. Mia was surprised when she was told the brothers had married sisters Christine and Cassandra. The identical twins reminded her of delicate black Barbie dolls. The only difference between the two was that Christine was six months pregnant.

Mia had been instructed to sit next to Kenyon, and when she glanced around the long, rectangular table she realized all of the men were seated next to their spouses: Xavier sat with Selena, Keith with Christine, Morgan with Sylvia and Luke with Cassandra. Lily sat on her son’s right, while Geneva sat at the other side.

A hint of gray stubble dotted Roland’s recently shaved pate as he gave each one at the table a long, lingering stare. “In all of my fifty-six years I can’t remember welcoming a more joyous new year. I know I speak for Geneva when I say we are truly looking forward to becoming grandparents. My baby girl is now a married woman, and she and Xavier are expecting their first child.” His gaze shifted to his eldest son. “Keith and Christy, we can’t wait to meet our twin grandchildren.”

Lily placed a hand on her son’s. “Are you certain you’re sober?”

A rush of color darkened Roland’s face. “Of course I’m sober.”

Lily gave him a skeptical look. “I’m only asking because your father, God bless the dead, would start preaching like he was in church when he had too much to drink.”

Geneva decided to save her husband further embarrassment when he opened and closed his mouth several times. She extended her hands to Selena on her right and Keith on her left. “Grandma Lily, will you please say the blessing.”

Waiting until everyone held hands, Lily bowed her silver head. “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell it in. Amen.” A chorus of amens followed as everyone reached for the napkins at their place setting.

Mia leaned closer to Kenyon, her shoulder pressing against his muscled one. “You’re going to have to let go of my hand so I can eat,” she whispered, staring at the dark stubble on his jaw.

Staring at her under lowered lids, he smiled. “You have nice hands.”

“Thank you.”

It was with a great deal of reluctance that Kenyon released Mia’s hand. He’d spent the morning and most of the afternoon half-concentrating on the images flickering across the television screen. It had been a tradition for as long as he could remember that the men in the family commandeered the kitchen for a Christmas sit-down supper and the women did the same for the New Year’s Day celebration. His father had had to repeat a question twice before he was able to focus enough to answer him. When asked if he was tired he’d lied and say yes, when the truth was he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman who was to become Jonesburg’s newest resident. Whether in a pair of jeans, or tailored slacks and sweater—everything about Mia Eaton screamed big-city sophistication.

Once his divorce was finalized, Kenyon had promised himself that he wouldn’t get involved with a woman like his ex-wife. As long as he and Samantha were living out of suitcases, sleeping together in hotel rooms or touring the world’s capitals their lives were perfect. However, whenever they returned to Jonesburg it was as if she would become a different person—someone he’d recognize but not know. She’d complained that she felt as if her spirit had died whenever she’d returned to his hometown.

Kenyon had tried to compromise in order to save his marriage when he’d agreed to move to Chicago and into a high-rise overlooking Lake Michigan. Then, the tables were reversed because he felt as if he was drowning in a mass of humanity whenever he walked the streets of the Windy City. He’d found it too noisy and congested, and the weather much too unpredictable. Either it was too hot or too cold—unlike Mingo County, where there was a definite change of seasons.

He was never able to get used to the steel-and-glass buildings and the lack of trees, grass, gorges and mountains. West Virginia was one of the most picturesque states in the country. It had been a while since he’d thought about Sam, as he’d called her, and he knew it had something to do with Mia. Both were tall, slender and extremely attractive. It was Sam’s winning smile and outgoing personality that struck him the first time they were assigned to the same flight—he as copilot and she as a flight attendant. They’d dated for a year. When he decided it was time to make a firm commitment, he proposed marriage. What neither knew when they’d exchanged vows was that their union wouldn’t survive their third anniversary.

“Kenyon, are you certain you’re not coming down with something?”

His head popped up and he stared at his mother. “Of course I’m certain. Why would you ask?”

“You’re very quiet today.”

All eyes were on him when he glanced around the table. He forced a smile he didn’t feel. “I’m good.” And, he was. Physically he was in the best shape he’d been in his life. But emotionally he wasn’t as self-assured as he had been before coming face-to-face with Mia Eaton. He didn’t know what it was about her that had him thinking and looking for her when he didn’t want to.

“I can check and see if you have a low-grade temperature,” Mia said in a quiet voice.

Kenyon smiled again, this time his eyes shimmering in amusement. “The last time I played doctor and patient I was sixteen, and the girl and I ended up butt naked.”

Mia’s hands tightened into fists under the tablecloth. “I didn’t go to medical school to play doctor,” she retorted between clenched teeth.

Kenyon reached for a bowl of hoppin’ John—black-eyed peas and rice—ladling a generous portion onto his plate before he held the bowl for Mia. “I’ll hold it while you take what you want.” He leaned to his left, his mouth only inches from her ear. “I know you’re a real doctor. It’s just that I don’t want or need you to examine me.”

“Let’s hope you never need me.”

Mia shifted her attention away from Kenyon, ignoring him while she ate and interacted with the rest of the Yateses since he was someone who had already decided she was a snob.

She sampled every dish, finding each one more delicious than the previous one. The smothered cabbage, turnip and mustard greens, tender, melt-in-the-mouth roast pork, fluffy buttery biscuits, potato salad, sparkling raspberry punch and spiced apple cider had her wishing she’d worn a pair of slacks with an elastic waistband.

Geneva stood up from the table. “Is everyone ready for coffee and dessert?” A chorus of groans and nods followed her question.

Mia knew she had to get up and move around or fall asleep. “I’ll help you.”

Lily waved her napkin. “Sit down, girl. You’re a guest here.”

“I thought I was family?” The question was out before Mia could stop herself.

Lily rolled her eyes. “You are family, but since this is your first time in our home, you’re a guest.”

Mia debated whether to sit or follow Geneva out of the dining room and into the kitchen. Kenyon helped her to decide. He stood, taking her hand. “I’ll help you.” Waiting until they were out of earshot, he dropped Mia’s hand. “Don’t let my grandmother intimidate you, or she’ll run roughshod over you every time she sees you.”