Free Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

me as funny.”
    Heavens, if that man didn’t look amazing with flushed cheeks and sawdust-free hair. Made me want to pinch myself , just to prove I was awake.
    Straining to hear the music above the noise of the crowd, I quickly realized that “Simpatico” had been replaced with another tune.
    “Oh, that’s ‘With My Eyes Wide Open,’” I said. “It’s one of my uncle’s favorites. Of course, anything by Dean Martin makes Uncle Laz smile.”
    “Funny how music can have that effect on a person,” D.J. said. His eyes took on a faraway look. “I grew up listening to down-home country music. Mostly stuff from Hee-Haw .”
    “ Hee-Haw ?” This was a new one to me. I’d have to look it up on the Web.
    “Sure, it’s an old TV show,” he explained. “My dad watched it when he was young and got me hooked when the VHS collection came out. There’s some priceless stuff on that show. Great comedy. Amazing old-style country music. Guitar-pickin’. Lots of gospel. That’s my mama’s favorite.”
    Should I mention that I didn’t know Hee-Haw from a hoedown? That my only experience with country music was an occasional song playing overhead at the grocery store? That the theme seemed pretty universal—someone always got drunk and cheated on someone else?
    Nah. I simply smiled and said, “I see.” Perhaps I would . . . with time.
    Jenna hovered around us like a UFO coming in for a landing. “Did I hear something about Hee-Haw ?” she asked, her voice a little more animated than necessary.
    “Yep.” D.J. flashed a now-familiar grin, one sure to snag my best friend’s heart and send her sensibilities reeling. “I’m a fan. What about you?”
    “Oh, I’m a fan all right.” She gazed into his beautiful blue eyes, but I had a pretty strong suspicion she wasn’t talking about the television show. Or music. No, my friend had something else on her mind, something altogether different. Should I remind her that she was practically engaged? That her boyfriend was working offshore to earn enough money to pay for their yet-to-be-announced wedding? The one she’d promised I could coordinate?
    Startling to attention, I made introductions. “D.J. Neeley, this is my best friend in the world”— even when she’s making a total goober of herself —“Jenna Miller.”
    He gave a polite nod, and Jenna gestured for us to take our seats at the counter.
    “I hear you’re from Splendora,” Jenna said as she went back to work scrubbing the already clean countertop.
    “Sure am. Born and raised.”
    “I wonder if you know my cousins—Jimmy John Taylor and his little brother, Beau.” She lifted the sponge and gave him an inquisitive look.
    D.J.’s beautiful blue eyes lit with excitement at the revelation. “I’ve known Jimmy John since we were kids. Played on the same baseball team in high school. Beau was a little younger, but he was light-years above most of us, academically speaking.”
    She tossed the sponge aside and gave D.J. another pensive once-over as she added, “Yeah, he works for NASA now.”
    “No joke. Well, don’t that beat all.”
    For a moment, I thought I saw a hint of jealousy in D.J.’s eyes. Just as quickly, it passed.
    Was this a new side to my deejay? Was he a small-town boy wishing he could make something of his life, like Beau? Had D.J. strived for bigger things only to end up on Galveston Island, doing construction work?
    Thankfully, my brother Nick interrupted my thoughts when he stopped by to shake D.J.’s hand. “You survived having dinner with the family last night, and now you’re back for more? That speaks volumes. Most people can only take our family in small doses.”
    “Hey, I enjoyed it.” D.J. gave him an unpretentious smile.
    “Well, hey, what’s not to like?” I said, hoping the conversation would shift.
    Joey appeared as if by magic and extended his hand to shake D.J.’s. I couldn’t help but wonder what the handsome cowboy thought about my eclectic baby brother.