There were lots of "Sure does" and "Welcome to Keeneston" going around. Kenna gasped in a deep breath when Miss Violet released her and found a circle of people surrounding her.
"As you probably guessed, I'm Violet Fae, and it's a pleasure to meet anyone who's a friend of old Mrs. Ashton. Will, too, I guess." She gestured to the soccer mom who had come over, "And this is Pam Gilbert. She's on the school board here."
Pam, with her dirty-blond hair and traditional soccer mom uniform of pressed jeans and a button-up polo shirt sporting her son's team colors, shook Kenna's hand. "I am so sorry I asked about your parents. I just feel terrible. I sure do hope you'll forgive me."
"Of course, it's nice to meet you." Pam stepped back and was replaced by the young man who had blushed beet-red when asking her about her relationship status.
She felt Will come stand next to her. Miss Violet and Pam had moved back to Pam's table and continued to talk to each other, so Will took over the introductions. "This young man is our running back on the high school football team. Trey Everett, meet Miss Mason." Trey shook hands with Kenna and then he nervously looked back and forth between Will and Kenna.
"It's nice to meet you, Trey. What year are you? And please, call me Kenna."
Trey's shy expression vanished and was replaced with a grin. "Thanks, ma'am, I mean, Kenna. I'm a junior this year and can't wait to start my senior year of football in the fall. You'll come to a game, right?" Trey asked with eagerness.
"I'd love to," she said with a truthfulness she hadn't felt in a long time. Even though she was pretty sure Ferdinand and Isabella could've used these people for the Spanish Inquisition, they appeared to be well meaning and were now welcoming her to the town.
A very handsome man about her age approached with the “sex scandal” old man on his arm. The younger man was tall with blond hair and eyes the color of the sea. He wasn't intimidating in size like Will but was probably five-ten and more bookish looking. The “sex scandal” man took Kenna's hand in his old, arthritic hand and patted it. "I know what it's like to lose family, dear. I know we set a date for me to walk you home tonight, but maybe we can just have dinner soon instead."
"That's so kind of you. I'm McKenna Mason, but I insist you just call me Kenna."
"I'm Roger Burns and this is my grandnephew, Paul Russell. I'll call that young buck of a son of mine tonight and tell him to hire you if you promise me a kiss goodnight on our date." He winked at her then as Will and Paul broke out laughing.
"I take it your son is the D.A.? Well, in that case I'll do you one better and start a scandal right now." She leaned over and placed a kiss on his paper-thin cheek and then whispered in his ear, "If I get a job, do you think they'll all say I kissed my way to the top?"
Roger chuckled and looked at Will while giving Kenna's hand another light pat. "Son, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to encourage my Paul here to ask this one out. She reminds me of my sweet Martha, God rest her soul." He squeezed her hand and then slowly started to work his way back to his table.
"I'll gladly take my great-uncle's suggestion. May I call you at Miss Lily's sometime this week?" Will's hand found its way back to her waist and as if staking a claim, he pulled her a step closer to his side. "After all, Will, you know as well as I do that no one can outlast Whitney. So you may as well save yourself the time."
Kenna saw Will's jaw clench. Apparently there was a story there. Maybe Will wasn't as free as she thought, even though he appeared to be singling her out. Either way, she didn't like to be treated like she was spoken for, so she smiled at Paul. "I'd love that. Thank you, Paul".
"It was great meeting you, Kenna. I'm glad you've come to Keeneston and look forward to seeing you soon. Good luck with your interview with my uncle," Paul said and then turned to head back sit at his table with his great-uncle.
"Come on, you two, sit down and eat. Violet took charge and brought you out tonight's special, on the house, as a welcome to the town for Kenna." Miss Daisy ushered them back into the booth and placed a plate loaded with meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, and some steamed carrots in front of Kenna.
"Thank you, Daisy Mae. This is so nice of you both."
Miss Daisy harrumphed and went to fetch more orders.
"I have to apologize for my actions with Paul," Will said after a couple of bites of dinner. "We have been rivals since high school. He was a couple of grades behind me and a star on the soccer team. We often clashed over girls. He's right. I have no claim on you. But that's not saying that I wouldn't like to," Will said as he looked her right in the eyes. He lowered his gaze and went back to eating. Periodically through the meal, patrons would come up to the table and introduce themselves and talk about the law with Kenna or about the town in general. However, most came to talk to Will about his horses or how the football team would look in the fall. After the tension between Will and Paul, it was a nice break to meet so many of the town and avoid thoughts of either man. After all, it wasn't as if she were looking for a boyfriend. She was pretty sure she was cursed in that respect anyway.