Because of Blake by Christine Layne

Author:Christine Layne [Layne, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-06-12T16:00:00+00:00

The block party isn’t actually held on the block. Instead, it’s hosted in the park next to the pool. It’s quite the grand event, and I would expect nothing less since Joanna heads up the committee. Balloons and streamers hang from endless folding tables littering the park, and children’s laughter mingles with loud conversation as the din thrums through the air. Everyone seems to be having fun, and I’m not dreading it with Blake by my side.

I walk to the HOA table to greet Joanna. Blake parts ways with me and takes our offerings to the food tables.

“Maggie! Hi, so glad you came!” Joanna says loudly, eyeing Blake as he walks away. “And with Blake Averson. How long has that been going on?”

“Hi, Joanna. Um, about a week.”

“A week, is that all? Huh. We all thought it was longer. After the Christmas party last year, everyone started saying you two–”

“Uh, Joanna, I’m really hungry. I’m going to get some food and we’ll catch up later, okay?” I don’t even wait for her response before I’m walking toward Blake. I meet up with him, hook my arm in his, and nudge him toward the food.

“Joanna?” he asks with a knowing grin.

“Uh huh. Keep walking.”

We pile a couple of plates with food. A hot dog and plain Lay’s potato chips for Blake, and a bunch of sides for me. Vegetarians are very rarely considered at these types of events, but I’ve grown used to it.

Once we have our food and drinks, Blake searches for a place to sit. “Well, there’re two choices. Either at the table between drunk Mark and his drunk buddies, or over there under a tree.”

“The tree, please.”

Settling down into the grass, I welcome its coolness. July is always so hot, and while evening is closing in, the heat hasn’t wavered. At least we found some shade.

“So, what did Joanna say this time? More interior decorator advice?”

“She wanted to know about you and me. How long we’ve been...together. She said everyone thought it was longer, which means people have been talking about us.”

“Does it bother you? To be the talk of the town?”

I shake my head. “No. I’m used to being talked about.”

Blake furrows his eyebrows. “Why?” he asks, but instantly relaxes his face and says, “Charlie’s death.”

My head turns so quick, I’m afraid my neck will snap. I stare at Blake, wondering how he knows all the answers. “It’s one of those things. When you walk into a room full of people and it goes silent. When you come around a corner and someone stops in the middle of their sentence to say hi, but never resumes their conversation. Certain topics are danced around or avoided completely. It’s not malicious, though. People’s hearts are in the right places.”

“Even now? Talking about our relationship behind our backs is having their hearts in the right places?”

My breath catches in my throat. “Relationship? What a big word,” I say with an exhale. “Is that what you think we have?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, I know it’s only been a week, but I like you a lot, Maggie.

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