Jane sat in the pew of the small Baptist church, attired in her Armani suit and feeling overdressed. The Marvel brothers had on jeans and flannel, while Cadence paired jeans with a burgundy turtleneck. Genevieve and Dona, however, wore dressy slacks with blazers. I'm dressed like the old ladies.

She glanced around, noting the aged wooden pews upholstered with new cushions; green stained glass windows, some with cracks; homemade Christmas-themed banners hanging on the white plaster walls, and a Christmas tree flanked by American and Christian flags. The congregants were a homogeneous mixture of white middle-aged couples and elderly widows. That is, until a large contingency of young Asian families trickled in, interspersing among the welcoming parishioners. Jane was trying to reconcile this when the female pastor took the podium. This isn't what I expected for a small-town church.

After the pastor made announcements, everyone stood to mingle in the center aisle, shaking hands and giving hugs. Genevieve greeted the Marvel brothers and Jane while Dona once again focused in on Danny's long hair. Prett shook Cadence's hand, asking her, "Shouldn't you be home cooking?"

She smirked. "Why? You don't want peanut butter and jelly?"

"White bread or wheat?"

"Wheat." Prett made a sound of mock disgust and pushed past his brothers to get to the center aisle. Cadence smiled at Jane. "Don't worry, I have a roast in the slow cooker. You're coming, aren't you? I'm a little nervous about this lawyer."

"You'll do fine. I can help. You know, stir gravy or whatever." This made Cadence grin.

"How are you getting on with them?" Cadence asked as jerked her head towards the brothers.

"Fine. Do Val and Prett always manipulate each other into doing what the other wants?"

Cadence expressed surprise. "Manipulate? Why would you think that?"

"Prett calls Val, 'The Master Manipulator.' "

"Val?" Cadence said with a laugh. "Prett's teasing you. Val's a sweetheart. Wouldn't hurt a fly."

He would a spider. Prett got Jane's attention and introduced her to a succession of people. She recognized the Asian woman with the three daughters Val had drawn as Disney princesses. The organ music started, and they took their seats for the remainder of the service.

Jane enjoyed singing Christmas carols and listened with pleasure at the Asian people's presentation of two songs in their native language. Prett and his brothers clapped heartedly after each performance.

After the service, Genevieve bustled out the door while Cadence guided Dona out. A middle-aged woman near the front of the sanctuary captured Prett's attention. Slightly overweight, with highlighted brown hair and an attractive face, she wore glasses, and a festive red sweater over jeans. Again with the jeans. I'm asking for a dress code next time I attend a church.

"Well!" the woman exclaimed with a brilliant smile. "And how are the Marvelous Brothers this morning?"

"Doin' well, Miss Jill," Prett said. "And yeself?"

Jill laughed. "And that's why I dragged myself here this morning–to hear a little Karen music and some good ole' mountain talk." She turned to Jane and smiled. "Hi, you must be Jane. I'd shake hands, but my family's all been losing the fight against the flu this week."

"Forgot my manners," Prett interjected. He introduced Jane. "This is Jill Marquis."

"Oh! The one with the fireplace mantel."

Prett shifted with discomfort at the mention, causing Jill to grin. "A sore subject, that. P.J. here will never forgive me."

"You need to let me replace it," Prett muttered.

"For the hundredth time, no. I'm not letting you anywhere near it." Jill turned to Jane. "He's such a perfectionist. That's why Auggie loves him, but I think he needs to loosen up. Don't take life so seriously, like the Vals here. Speaking of which," she focused her attention on Val, "I hear you're to thank for the beautiful decorations in the hotel. I drove by extremely slowly last night for a long looky-loo, just like everyone else in town." She gave a side glance to Prett, who scowled and looked away. "Did you have to sit on P.J. to keep him from putting those awful pink foams back up?" Val shook his head and pointed towards Jane. "Jane held him down? All the better." Jill turned back to Prett. "I won't keep you. I know you have that dinner with Alex. Be nice to him. He's a good kid. Don't torment him."

"Torment? Me?" Prett's face revealed nothing.

"I know how you are. Anyway, I have two things to tell you." Jill's expression turned apologetic. "First, I won't be able to watch Dona tomorrow. Auggies's sick now, and this morning I woke up feverish myself. I really ought to be in bed. I don't understand it. We all had flu shots. Anyway, I called Sherry and Kat, and they can't help, either."

"We'll manage," Prett said.

"I hate leaving you high and dry."

"You've done a lot this week. I can't complain."

Jill sighed. "Well, it makes it harder to tell you this. Hartley Investment Group filed for bankruptcy." Prett growled, and Jill added, "All that work for nothing."

"A.J should have listened to you."

"I'll let you tell him that. He feels bad enough. Anyway, there's no money coming from there any time soon, and we'll be lucky to get pennies on the dollar if it does. You'll be all right? Auggie doesn't have anything else lined up for you."

"We wun stayrve, Miss Jill. How 'bout yeself? Will we soon be seein' ye' sellin' pancils on the street kerner?"

Jill threw back her head in laughter. "You kill me." She touched Prett's arm. "All right, I'll let you go." As she moved past Danny, she said to him, "You keep these boys in line now, Sergeant." Danny grinned and saluted her.

*****

They parked next to a beat-up Chevy at Genevieve's. When they entered the kitchen, Cadence grasped Jane's arm, whispering, "He's young and handsome and early. I need help getting the food on the table."

Jane tried to check out the young, handsome, early lawyer chatting with Genevieve in the family room, but Cadence shoved a relish tray and a bowl of gelatin salad into her hands. Jane caught Prett's bemused look as she hurried past him. He shouldn't be surprised she and Cadence had become fast friends. They belonged to an exclusive club: women he'd brought home. Now Jane realized a new twist. Prett's spur-of-the-moment wife had been the first member. No wonder Genevieve expected romantic components with his subsequent arrivals.

"Put the potatoes and carrots in that bowl while I cut up the roast," Cadence said when Jane returned to the kitchen. As she complied, Jane shot glances towards the family room where Prett introduced himself and his brothers.

Alex kept his back to the kitchen, revealing only dark blond hair, tan slacks and a blue and white striped polo. He was slightly taller than Prett.

"We're right glad ye' could join us," Prett said. "I know it's unusual to in-vite ye' here instaid o' meetin' at yer office." Danny stared at his brother in perplexed amusement, but Val kept a straight face. Jane stifled a smile. Prett's tactic hadn't been funny when used on her, but it seemed so now.

"Uncle John said he would've retired sooner if not for these business dinners with Mrs. Gingery," Alex replied. "I'm partial to a good home-cooked meal myself."

"Don't git many o' those do ye'?"

"Only at family get-togethers. When I cook for myself it's something out of a box or a can."

"Mebbey ye' need t' git yerself a wife."

Alex laughed. "You've been talking to my mom. Next you'll mention kids."

"Got somethin' agin 'em?"

"Not at all. Hope to have two or three someday."

"Maht need to bump up ye' bidness first t' afford a family. Saw yer vehicle outside. Not metch o' one fer a hot-shot lawyer like yerself."

I can't believe he'd say such a thing!

"That it isn't," Alex agreed affably. "I'm saving for a car worthy of hot-shot status. Didn't want to go right back in debt after paying off my student loans. And I've gotten attached to my broke-law-student car. It has character."

"Quite right," Genevieve said. "We focus too much on outward appearances. It's what's in here," she patted her thin chest, "that counts."

Prett caught Jane's eye and held it a long moment. Not until he turned away did she realize her spoonful of vegetables hovered halfway between the slow cooker and the bowl. Prett's enigmatic gaze had frozen her in place. She dumped the spoon's contents into the bowl and finished her task, feeling flustered.

Cadence finished her meat carving and made a sign to Val, who tapped Prett with a nod. "Looks laike dinner is ready," Prett said. "And I failed t' introduce ahr chef's new assistant, Miss Jane." He twitched his head for Jane to come, so she made her way towards the family room.

Alex turned around, almost causing her to stop in her tracks. Cadence is right. With medium blue eyes, an easy smile and a smattering of freckles, Alex looked the stereotypical Midwestern farm boy as depicted in a beefcake calendar.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Jane," he said, taking her hand in a firm grasp. "Dinner smells delicious."

"Uh, that's all Cadence. I'm just stirring–dishing out food." I sound like a blithering idiot. Her face burned. Oh God, I hope I got all the paint off this time.

"Dishing up food is important, too. We can't eat otherwise." Alex revealed double dimples as he released Jane's hand. She let it linger in the air before withdrawing it to her side. "I like being a taste tester, myself," Alex said. "Though I don't always ask first, so tend to get my hands slapped away." He grinned and said as an aside to Prett, "But that's always worth it at Aunt Jill's."

Prett gave a nod and lead the group to the dining room, holding out a chair for Jane to sit next to him. Genevieve offered a prayer before passing the plate of roast beef to Alex. He complimented Cadence on the food then said to Prett, "Last night Aunt Jill took me by the hotel you're renovating. She's excited to see the improvements. She loves old buildings. Hates to see them torn down."

"She would've bought the place if we hadn't." Prett put a spoonful of gelatin on his plate.

He's dropped the accent already? Did Alex pass the test that fast?

"A.J. convinced me to take on the project so he wouldn't get saddled with it," Prett continued. "He knew it was a money pit. Some days I wish I'd torn it down and built a replica in its place."

"Aunt Jill wouldn't have been happy with that."

"No," Prett replied with a sigh, "she wouldn't've."

"George and Lindy are going to run it as a bed-and-breakfast?"

"Yeah. You know them?"

"Grew up next door. Dated both Adair and Holly." Alex grinned. "Not at the same time, of course." His face sobered. "I still see Adair. Philip was my best friend." The brothers acknowledged this quietly, and Genevieve patted Alex's hand.

Adair. Her husband died of cancer.

"Haven't seen Holly since her wedding," Alex said.

"You were at her wedding?" Prett asked.

"I was. I remember I didn't like the cake frosting. What's it called? Fondant."

"Like eating rubber."

Alex laughed. "Exactly."

"I must have seen you there." Prett scrutinized Alex's face. "But I don't remember you."

"I'm not terribly memorable. You and your brothers, on the other hand..." Alex glanced at Val and Danny. "Though I can't say I recall you, either."

"We looked a lot more civilized back then. And I'm the only one who attended the reception. Val got sick and skipped it. Vel was in Iraq." Danny glanced up at his mention before continuing to aid Dona in filling her plate.

"I spent most of the reception helping her brothers decorate the car." Alex chuckled. "Too bad it was just a decoy."

"I tried to tell Gerry that," Prett said. "But he didn't care to listen. So tell me, how do you go from vandalizing cars to taking the bar?"

Jane shot a glare at Prett. But Alex just laughed again. "It was a tough decision; a life of crime or a life of defending criminals." He speared a couple pickles and put them on his plate. "I ended up prosecuting them instead."

"You were a deputy county attorney?"

"For about seven years. Good experience. But criminal law isn't my thing. I much prefer estate planning. I've been an associate with Hornsby, Nance and Starlin for a couple years now."

"Nepotism get you the job?"

Seriously?!

"Absolutely," Alex said with a grin. "Uncle John brought me on board. And the best part is, if I make partner now that he's retiring, they won't even have to change the letterhead."

Danny caught Prett's eye and signed to him. Prett nodded and turned back to Alex, saying, "Vel wants to know if you've ever jumped out of a haymow." Danny gave a laughing snort followed with a resigned shake of his head.

"No, I haven't," Alex replied.

Jane picked up the glass butter dish in front of Prett and passed it across to Danny, who flashed a grateful smile. My ASL lessons are paying off.

Alex watched this exchange and shot an amused look at Prett before turning to Genevieve. "My dad was dared once to jump out of a barn into a hay pile. What he didn't know was the hay covered a wagon. He ended up with several broken bones. The friend who dared him knew full well the wagon was there because he'd made the jump the day before and had managed to escape with just a bruised rib."

"That's terrible!" Genevieve exclaimed. "What kind of friend would deceive your father that way?"

"Dad says George was so remorseful he went into the ministry as atonement."

Genevieve's eyes grew wide. "George? My George? He dared Robert to make that jump?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Reverend George? My lands!" Genevieve dropped her fork on her plate, sitting back in her chair. Then she gave an impish smile. "Always was a handful, that one. Took a switch to him more times than I can count. I should've known his version of that unfortunate event wasn't the truth. Goodness! I hope your poor father didn't suffer lasting effects."

"On the contrary. That jump won over my mother, who decided that day Dad had more honor than George." Alex grinned. "They laugh about it now. They've been good friends and neighbors all these years."

"How is your mother?" Genevieve asked, and before he could answer, added, "I haven't seen her in so long. I babysat her once or twice, you know. Such a sweet little girl. You have an older brother and sister, don't you?"

Alex cheerfully engaged the old woman in a discussion about his parents and siblings, and soon expanded the dialog to include his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, most of whom Genevieve also knew. He spoke about his education, his work, his interest in running for political office, and his love of golf. Jane spent the dinner trying not to stare at him. He's the perfect guy. Like Brandon. Only nicer.

When dinner concluded, Prett, Alex, and Genevieve retreated to the latter's office to review the old woman's legal affairs, while Val and Danny led Dona to the family room. As soon as they were alone, Cadence squeezed Jane's arm. "Isn't he a dream? I couldn't stop looking at him." She released Jane to clear the table. "He's nothing at all like his uncle. It's too bad I'll probably only see him once a year."

And I probably won't see him again, ever. Jane felt a twinge of jealousy. "I didn't think he was all so special," she lied, stacking dirty plates. "I met lots of guys like him in college."

"You're lucky, then. The only guys I'm meeting in college are teenagers and middle-aged married guys."

Jane looked at her in surprise. "You're in college?"

Cadence gave a shy smile. "Community college. I'm getting a nursing degree. Genevieve won't live forever, so I'll need to find a real job after." She headed towards the kitchen.

"This isn't a real job? You cook and clean. You take care of Genevieve."

"But it doesn't feel like it. It feels like getting paid to be part of a family. Genevieve's like a grandmother to me." Cadence glanced at Val and Danny arguing over what music to play on the stereo. "And they're like annoying brothers."

By the time they finished clearing the table, Danny had enticed Dona to dance. The old woman waltzed with him as best her unsteady legs allowed, her giggles mingling with the big band music.

"He sure is good to her," Jane commented, putting leftover salad in the fridge.

Cadence handed her another dish. "He has a few good qualities."

"What did he say that you can't forgive?"

Cadence expressed surprise, then wariness. "Who told you that?"

"He did." Jane stood up from her crouching position and shut the fridge door. "And Prett and Val. But none of them will tell me exactly what he said. He's really remorseful, though. He wishes you'd forgive him."

Cadence stiffened. "He knows how to apologize. He just won't do it."

"He hasn't apologized?!"

"Oh, he made some gestures." Cadence curled her lip in derision, circling her heart with her fist. "He needs to use his mouth."

"But...that's how he talks. He doesn't speak."

"But he did."

Jane took a step back. Now I understand. Danny had spoken his insult. Cadence demanded he speak the apology. But for whatever reason, he refused. He didn't tell me that part.

"But what did he say?" Jane asked again. Cadence's hard expression left Jane with little hope of ever finding out. But after a glance towards the family room, Cadence's resolve broke, and her face softened.

"Not here," Cadence murmured. She waved her hand at the partially loaded dishwasher. "And after we finish this." 

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please help me improve my writing by pointing out problems. And if you like what you read, please click the Vote button below. And comment! I love comments! 😊

Fun Fact:  I use a lot of ancestral names in my story. As mentioned in Chapter Eight's fun fact, I'm a descendant of a real-life Prettyman Marvel. 

Gingery is the last name of a branch of cousins, as is Starlin.

Adair was my grandmother's maiden name. Sidona (AKA Dona) was the first name of my great-aunt. Hulit (mentioned in Chapter Fifteen) was my great-grandmother's maiden name.

Rufus (mentioned in Chapter Ten) was the name of my great-great-uncle. Here's a picture of him: 

Rufus Aurand (1837-1914)

The Rufus in The Marvels of Prairie Creek is a kind old man who plays a significant role in Prett's childhood. But you'll have to wait a while to find out  how—because I haven't written that chapter yet. 😁

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