Page 51 of Panty Dropper

CHAPTER 24

Reagan

Ismoothed down the skirt of my favorite black dress. I’d gone back and forth about what to wear today. While I’d always leaned toward the dress that I had on, I also had reservations. It was just a little too form-hugging and sexy to make me feel totally comfortable in it on such a solemn occasion.

But…that was the problem, because those qualities were exactly the same ones that made me want to wear the dress—or, more specifically, to have Billy see me in the dress.

Get it together, I admonished myself. The man is burying his father today. I think the way your ass looks in this dress is going to be just about the last thing on his mind.

At any rate, I’d solved the dilemma by pairing the dress with a conservative charcoal grey cashmere sweater. I felt it struck a good balance between looking good and looking goooood.

I felt a little out of place as I stepped into the foyer of Firefly First Baptist Church and looked at the crowd of people milling around. There were quite a few of them. James Comfort, who I gathered had definitely had his faults, had clearly been a loved man in this community. Nadia and I were supposed to be there together, but she’d come down with a twenty-four-hour bug, courtesy of her students, and she’d bailed at the last minute.

So, I was here on my own. I still couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me, but I was starting to chalk it up to being a small town thing. There was most likely at least one person paying attention to something I was doing at any given time…I just hoped to avoid ending up back on the town’s Facebook page.

I walked over to sign the guest book and discovered it was a silver-plated decorative keg with a plaque attached that people were signing. I could only imagine that it would be on display in Southern Comfort in the future as a memorial. I shook my head but had to smile. Cheyenne had mentioned that besides the burgundy attire, James Sr. had made quite a few unorthodox requests for the service and reception. This must’ve been one of them.

“Hey, Reagan.”

Speak of the devil. I turned to see Cheyenne and held my arms out for a quick hug, which she returned and held for a long moment. When she stepped back, she smiled as she bit her lip anxiously. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

I smiled back, “And I’m even wearing a bra.”

“So am I!” she chuckled.

“Miss Shaw will be so proud.”

When I saw her look around, her eyes brimming with trepidation, I asked, “How are you holding up?”

She breathed out slowly. “It’s been a little tougher than I expected,” she admitted, then saw what I was standing next to and smiled. “I see you found the guest keg.”

“I did. I figured that was one of the requests you were telling me about.”

“Oh, yeah. And there are more. A lot more. Trust me, it’s going to be an interesting day.”

“Just let me know if there’s anything I can do to make this easier for you?”

“I will.” Cheyenne squeezed my forearm. “Thanks!”

“Cheyenne!” A woman I didn’t recognize called out to her from across the room. “Come here, sweetie!”

Her grip tightened. “That’s Mrs. Rhonda. Apparently she was my preschool teacher. She keeps parading me around and introducing me to people like it’s my debutante ball.”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No, that’s okay. I can handle it. You can go in and find a seat. You’re coming to the reception, though, right?” Her eyes were wide and hopeful.

I hadn’t planned on it. A service was one thing. I knew I’d be able to keep my distance from Billy here. The reception was a different beast altogether.

But just like I couldn’t turn Cheyenne down the first time she’d asked me to go to Southern Comfort, I couldn’t say no now.

“Of course, I am.”

Relief visibly washed over her and she hugged me again, and when she pulled back, there were tears in her eyes. “Thanks, Reagan. Really. I don’t know how I’d get through this without you.”

“I’m glad I can help.”

She nodded and squared her shoulders, all prepared now to head back into battle. She glided across the room with grace and greeted the group that Mrs. Rhonda was standing with warmly. I watched just long enough to make sure she really was okay, then turned my attention back to signing in.

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