Thirty miles wasn’t that far. Not when you didn’t always pay attention to the speed limits, and thankfully you had yet to get pulled over. With everything going on, the meeting new people, the search for her mother, the moving from the Dogwood Plantation into the Picket Plantation, which thank the heavens above it was so much more relaxed, she darn near forgot the fact that the under privileged kids were on their way to her pa’s plantation. Georgia Grace did a lot of charity work, in her spare time, and she hosted a few events for children at the plantation. Cooper had been busy with business, but she had filled him in that she was going back home for the night, but he wasn’t getting rid of his house guest that easily. Harris made her promise to be safe, along with the promise that she would be there the next day for lunch. That man sure liked to make sure that people he cared about ate, it was endearing.
When she pulled out of the Picket Plantation’s drive, her windows of the truck had both been rolled down. Hair was pulled back and up. The radio was set the to the local country station, because really she might venture out into other music, she always went back to country. The best part of driving was singing your heart out with the radio.
Honestly, she was looking forward to seeing the kids again, they always brought her spirits up. The head of the program for them, Amber, had offered to reschedule until she knew what was going on with Marie Michelle, but Georgia Grace felt that she needed to see the kids as much as they enjoyed coming. Some of the kids had been in the program for years, and there were always new kids joining up. It was the only thing her pa had given in to, when she had practically begged him to let her do something for the kids. And she still wondered if her ma hadn’t stepped in saying how good it looked if he would of catapulted. Georgia Grace didn’t do it because of how it looked, but because of how it felt, but now she didn’t have to worry about that.
Still unsure of how she was going to handle Matt, thankfully she had a while to figure that out, because she only had a short time to get things set up once she pulled up the long driveway. Or so that was how she thought things would go. But did things EVER go as you had them planned? She knew he would be there, he had sent her a text a few nights ago, asking if she would like some help. And really who turned down help? As soon as her classic Chevy truck pulled into the long drive of her pa’s plantation, bless his eternal soul, it was as if people knew she had pulled in.
Before she could even put the truck to a full stop, her truck door was opened, and as soon as she had the keys out of the engine, she was pulled out and wrapped into a pair of strong arms, and spun about, before she was peppered with kisses. Pulling her head backwards she blinked up at Matt. “Hello.” While that wasn’t the sort of greeting that he wished for, he could handle that, for now. Because he had a plan, as he always did, what man went into a battle without a plan? He had told himself he was going to let the girl get out of her truck and he wasn’t going to rush her, but then he saw her, and it had all been lost. “Hey Georgia Grace.” That deep voice with the Texas twang drew out the words. “Matt….could you please let me down?” Her feet were dangling in the air, and right now she wanted her feet to be planted firmly on the soil. Almost regretfully he lowered her down his body till she was on the ground, there was no hiding the fact that he missed his little spit fire.
Once she was firmly on the ground, and not dangling from Matt’s 6’2” frame, she was rather happy. It wasn’t that she didn’t miss the guy, it was that she had a feeling that he was to attached for her liking, and she was going to have to figure out how she wanted to handle that. But her thoughts were inturrpted by him. “Did you have any bags or anything you need me to carry?” A simple shake of her head. “I am going back tomorrow, I just came home for today.” “Oh.” That one word sounded mostly dejected but he would take it. “Matt…I am glad you’re here to help today.” She gave him a smile, and then she started towards the plantation house.
Not that she got to far because before she could get the door open, Mary was there, wrapping Georgia in a tight hug. “Miss Georgia Grace, mercy me, we were worried you were goan forget and you know them chillin’s they adore you so. Mercy me child you gave us a fright.” All of that was said before Georgia was released, and held out from Mary’s bosom as she was looking her over with her chocolate gaze. “Least you dun look all starved, I take it your getting good meals.” Mary was the one that had always taken care of Georgia Grace to make sure she didn’t get into anything she wasn’t suppose to get into, and Georgia Grace simply adored the woman to pieces. When she could finally get a word in Georgia Grace’s honey tone held a warm trace in it. “Miss Mary! Of course I am being fed! And I would not miss this for anything. You know I never have. I always make sure to plan things around the events here for the kids.” She was almost hurt that Miss Mary would think that of her. Mary’s clucking of the tongue, as she tugged Georgia Grace into the big homestead. “Dun be giving me that look, I see it in your face! I just meant with everything going on….” Miss Mary left out with your mama, and Georgia Grace expected none the less from the woman. “Well, is everything ready? The treats? The outside all set up? Do you know if the new pony has been properly trained?” The questions were shot to Mary as Georgia Grace, Mary and Matt made their way through the house to the kitchens. Even though she was asking Mary, they all knew that Georgia wanted to see things for herself.
Once Georgia was sure that the other food had been prepared, she went to get the ingredients she needed out of the pantry. She made a mean pecan pie. The one year that she did not make some up, the kids had looked at her like she ruined the whole day by not ending it with her pie. Once she had a few of them whipped up, and placed in the ovens, she knew she could count on the others to not let them over bake, if she was busy in a different aspect of getting everything ready.
Like a mad woman she had inspected everything, because it had to be perfect, she needed today to go off without a hitch. Part of her heard her momma’s voice in her head. ‘Georgia Grace, you knew better then to let, such a such happen.’ ‘If today doesn’t go without a hitch I don’t want you blaming it on me.’ A shake of her head, because she knew today would go great. And a part of her really was happy that Matt was there to help out.
She returned into the house just in time to help take the pies from the oven. The smells filling up the kitchen and beyond. Smile slipping over her features, as she slowly turned to go get dressed, and found herself face to face with Matt again. Okay so it was face to chest but you get the point! Her head tilted up to look at him. “Uh…hi.” He just grinned down at her, as he moved his arms about her lower back, before leaning down and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Today is going to run smoothly….then tonight we can celebrate.” Then just as quickly after his words, he released her, and slipped off to finish his last few duties before the bus got there.
Shaking her head she went off to her rooms, she did not need to be thinking of Matt at the moment, but he always seemed to find a way to worm his way into her thoughts. And it was usually not thoughts that he would have been happy with her thinking of. After changing into a fresh pair of shorts that were not as short as her normal ones that she wore almost daily and a plain pink t-shirt, she slipped on a pair of black and pink tennis shoes before re-securing her hair into a loose yet messy bun.
No sooner had she gotten outside that the bus pulled up. The kids all came rushing off the bus, and she felt herself being swamped, but she was laughing because how in the world was she going to be able to follow that many conversations!? The kids all had stories that they wanted to tell her, and things that had happened since the last time they had been out here.
The time with the kids flew by, she made sure to spend time with each child, so that none of them felt left out. There were so many things going on, with the pony rides and the tours through the fields and the food. But once it was all over, the clean up began, which she did not expect others to do and she pitched right in.
She had all plans of going back to New Orleans that night. But the day had worn her out, and the yawn that she had felt escaping which she covered with her hand, settled it. She would wait and leave in the morning light. Moving her head to her left shoulder then rolling it backwards to her right and lifting it, as her hands pressed to the small of her back, fingers massaging lightly.
Not that she had a lot of time on her own, because it seemed as if Matt simply appeared out of no where. A hopeful grin forming over his lips. “So…how much convincing is it going to take to keep you here with me tonight?” He hated that he did not have control over what was going on with them, it played havoc on his ego, but he was like a druggie, doing what you had to do for your next fix. She knew exactly why he wanted her to stay, and at the moment, she merely lifted her head to look up at him, it was a look that he knew rather well.
One moment her feet were planted firmly on the ground, but not even a minute later her legs were wrapped around his middle, arms were wrapped around his shoulders. His own arms were wrapped around her back holding onto her as he was carrying her towards the house. Georgia Grace slowly lowered her head to his shoulder, resting it against him, as he carried her into the house. Once inside the house, without asking he went to the kitchen, and over to the fridge, where he grabbed out two beers. Though the way he was holding onto her, the bottles would be pressed against her back. The cold bottles on her back had her body straightening her eyes popping open. “I can hold them…” Which had him laughing as the fridge door closed and he headed for the stairs. He knew the way straight to her bedroom, and as it was everyone else in the house was asleep, except for Miss Mary, who after the duo were on their way up the stairs went to lock the house’s door.
Once they reached Georgia Grace’s room, he walked over and dropped her onto the bed, which caused her to bounce on the soft mattress, a soft laugh escaping from between parted lips. “So are you going to give me one of those…or am I going to have to earn it?” Her head tilting as she looked at him from her spot on the bed. He just grinned before he set the beers down and joined her on the bed.
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The next morning when Matt awoke he would be alone in Georgia Graces bed. She had thought about leaving without talking to him, but she couldn’t do that, well she could she could text him later, but she figured she should talk to him face to face. Last night would have been the opportune time but she had other things on her mind, as did he. She had already said good bye to everyone on the plantation, she was just killing time, down in the stables.
She had picked up the brush and was getting ready to lead Storm Chaser out of his stall, when she felt arms clamp around her middle. Closing her eyes she leaned back into him just a moment, before she turned to look up at him. “We need to talk.” The brush was set back down, as she watched Matt shake his head. “How about we just go back to your bed?” A soft sigh escaped from Georgia Grace. “That’s not going to work this time….” He frowned at her. “And why not its worked every other time…come on Georgia Grace, you know we are good together.” She almost laughed because it was true it had worked every other time. “I wasn’t ready to say goodbye then…I am now. You’re going back to Texas…I’m sorry.” Now he felt like a chick but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t think the Texas thing was that big of a deal. “And last night?” His brow raised. She wouldn’t say it was a mistake, but she wouldn’t go and repeat last night again. “It was good bye. I mean we can still be friends, you really were there for me, before I decided to go to New Orleans.”
They could be friends! Was she kidding? Did she think that’s what he wanted? That was the fucking kiss of death. “Fine…go. But don’t expect me to wait around for you, Georgia Grace.” Lids fluttered in a close and open and close fashion as she looked back up at him. “I don’t expect you to wait around. But I have to get going…I have things I need to do. I’ll see you around.” She gave him a little smile, not wanting him to think that he could get her to change her mind. He mumbled something but then he ducked his head and planted one on her, before he let her go.
Instead of the truck that she had driven to New Orleans the last time she was bringing her jeep back with her. The truck had been parked inside of her car barn.
