43
It seemed like half of Muskogee had turned out for The Night Before The Night Before banquet. The display lights were on now and washed the length of the Batfish, though her conning tower disappeared upward into the darkness. The field was a patchwork of glowing fires in the picnic fire pits they’d installed three summers ago. People gathered about the warmth and flowed from one fire pit to the next, clasping steaming mugs of cider to aid the chilly passage between.
Connie would have felt battered by the mayhem of it, but the Wallaces kept her close and she felt the protection of the family. Felt the welcome. If only every person there hadn’t known John quite so well. Within moments of each one greeting John, she could feel the looks turning her direction.
Like Dave, smoking a whole
