Michael struck a pose and echoed back with the second line. He grinned at her as they took turns singing the lines of the verses.
Charity snickered as Michael swiveled his little hips and danced with Rachel and they sang the choruses together. To Justin she said, “Think he knows he’s singing a woman’s song?”
Justin laughed. “I don’t think he cares! Oh, look. Little man is fixin’ to bust a move!”
Michael looked up at Rachel, grinning like a Cheshire cat, and sang to her about how her kisses were sweeter than honey.
Rachel swiveled her neck and shook her finger as she swung her hips in her best Aretha Franklin imitation, telling him that so was her money.
Their antics had everyone laughing and wiping tears from their eyes as Rachel and Michael brought it home with style.
Grace nudged Ethan and arched a brow. “I saw ‘Homeboy’ by Eric Church in the playlist, Ethan. You sounded so good when you sang along with the radio the other day. Why don’t you give it a try?”
Ethan chuckled. “I don’t know. I need to check that last brisket that’s still on the pit.”
Grace giggled and shrugged. “Oh, okay. That’s all right. I wanted to sing Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ anyway.” As she rose from her chair all eyes were glued on Ethan imploringly. Charity put her hands to together in a prayerful gesture that made him roll his eyes, but he nodded. The guy was blessed with golden pipes, just like Eli. Charity was relieved when he stopped Grace and got up instead.
“Well, maybe just this once, Gracie, but I’m a little rusty.”
Duke cued it up and handed him a mike. “I owe him one,” Justin whispered. Charity elbowed and him and snickered.
The instrumentals began and Ethan didn’t miss a beat, singing about a small-town boy trying to pretend he fit into a culture foreign from the one he was raised in.
His voice was compelling as he sang the song from the perspective of a big brother just trying to protect his sibling and keep his family intact. Charity found herself nodding her head as he sang the song, making it look effortless. Justin tapped his foot on the end of the chaise as he flicked his thumb against the armrest.
Charity looked around the group and smiled. What a wonderful gathering of family and friends. Laughter bubbled inside her as she watched Beau and Justine talking quietly together while they ate. She could recall a time when she understood why some species ate their young when they used to bicker constantly. Now high schoolers at fifteen and sixteen, they made Charity feel like she and Justin were on the downhill slide in raising them. Soon they’d spread their wings and make their own choices.
Will Peterson played in Ash’s lap while Juliana sat at his side, leaning in for a kiss and looking like the newlyweds they still acted like. Seth and Jayne sat side by side at a picnic bench, eating and listening to the music.
Charity had to admit that from all appearances, Seth and Jayne were hitting it off nicely. He hadn’t made any moves to kiss her or anything, but he also wasn’t giving Buck and Chad much room to work their charms, either.
Charity knew that Buck and Chad were looking to follow in the Divine tradition and share some lucky woman. Charity had a feeling they’d lost their shot with Jayne, judging by the way she’d remained focused on Seth. He’d put his white T-shirt back on after getting out of the pool, which Charity thought was a crying shame because his body art was riveting. Justin had even teasingly passed his hand in front of her face earlier when Seth had removed the shirt to get in the pool.
Charity caught Jayne’s eye and nodded her head toward Duke, giving her a nudge. Jayne smiled shyly but looked away. Ethan’s song came to an end, and Duke asked, “Who’s next? Any takers?”
“Hmm? What, Jayne?” Charity called helpfully. “Sure! You can take a turn.” Jayne screwed up her mouth and looked like she wanted to throw something at Charity, but she just laughed. “Grace, remember how good of a singer Jayne is?”
Grace jumped right on board with her and nodded. “Hey, Jayne, Duke has that Jo Dee Messina song you used to love to sing. Remember?”
“Oh! Yeah!” Charity chirped, getting an even uglier look from her cousin as she shook her head. “You mean ‘Bring on the Rain,’ right?”
“Yup! That’s the one. Come on, Jayne. You can do it.”
Jayne looked like she was caving, and then Buck and Chad started chanting, “Jayney! Jayney! Jayney!”
Seth whispered to her, and she gazed at him soulfully and nodded, then rose to her feet.
Oh, yeah, that girl is in deep.
Jayne stopped in front of Charity and said, “I’ll sing ‘Bring on the Rain’ if you’ll sing ‘Wildfire.’”