Page 75 of CeCe Sloan is Swooning

“Shy!” Cory exclaimed. “You’ve never been shy a day in your life!”

“Oh, dear sister. I cover it well.”

“No way. You may have been awkward, but you weren’t shy,” Cory said. “Was she, Mom?”

“I don’t think you were shy or awkward. You didn’t realize the other girls wanted to be like you,” Christine said.

“Like me?” CeCe scoffed. “Who wanted this mass of unruly, flaming red hair, along with the freckles and legs that could barely walk without stumbling?”

“Are you kidding me! Your hair is gorgeous, your freckles are adorable, and as for your legs, well, we can talk about them when your mom isn’t around.”

Christine laughed and sipped her wine. “I know all of my girls are beautiful in their own ways.”

Alexis noticed CeCe and Cory exchange a look.

“Thanks, Mom,” CeCe said.

“Yeah, thanks,” Cory echoed her sister.

“I want to know what you’re going to do to top this rooftop date last night,” Christine asked Alexis.

“It’s CeCe’s turn,” Alexis said, turning her stool to face her.

“If you’ll remember, I got us invited to Lovers Landing for the weekend,” CeCe said.

“But you’re the one who said last night was our first date,” Alexis countered. “Um, should we be having this discussion right now?”

CeCe chuckled. “You said our first date was the day we had ice cream next door.”

“Isn’t this cute, Mom?” Cory said, taking a drink from her beer.

“It tells me these two don’t know what dating is,” Christine said.

“Oh, and you’re the expert,” CeCe said. “You and Daddy were high school sweethearts and were married for nearly fifty years.”

“And we dated until the day he died,” Christine said matter-of-factly.

“Oh, wow!” Alexis said, amazed. She couldn’t imagine knowing someone for fifty years, much less being married to them for that long. She looked over at CeCe and suddenly saw an image of them in their old age together. Alexis shook her head and took a much needed sip of her wine. When she set her glass down she looked up to see Christine staring at her and smiling.

“It was wonderful,” Christine said.

“You say that now, but I remember some not so wonderful times when you grounded us for various lame reasons,” Cory said, sounding like a petulant teenager.

Christine laughed. “Those were great times! Your dad and I were on the same page, but we suffered more than you girls did because you were moping around the house.”

“I don’t know about Cory’s childhood, but mine was the best and I knew it.”

“Okay, girls. It’s time for me to go home. I can drive,” Christine said.

“Oh, no, Mom. I’ll drive you home,” CeCe said. “Alexis can follow me.”

Alexis started to get money out of her purse to pay for their drinks, but Cory stopped her. “I’ve got this, Alexis. I hope you’ll come by more often.”

“Thanks, Cory. I appreciate it.”

As they got up to leave Christine handed her keys to Alexis. “Why don’t you drive me home and CeCe can follow us.”

“Okay.” Alexis smiled, taking her keys.

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