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“You’re no fun!” Lula rolled her eyes and released an exasperated sound. “It’s been ages since any of us had nice dates. And these put all the others to shame. It’s awfully selfish of you not to think of your middle sister. Try not to keep them waiting forever.”

Jen, her voice calm, gave their younger sister one of her older-sister looks. “Lula, be a dear. Try and curb your enthusiasm about Wickham. You can put your energy to good use by going downstairs and telling our dates we’ll be right down. ”

“I will, because I am nice, unlike some people around here.” Lula gave a harrumph and then jumped up from the bed, leaving them in peace. Her footsteps echoed down the hall as she stomped toward the staircase.

Hensley ignored Lula’s pouting and reached for her pink clutch. Their middle sister was being spoiled, petulant, boy crazy Lula, as usual. They assessed their final looks at Hensley’s oval mirror. Satisfied, they descended the staircase to greet their dates.

Meanwhile, their three younger sisters gathered around the foyer. They’d apparently kept Bing and Blake laughing in their absence. Lula kept peeking out of the windows on each side of the door to wave at Wickham. She brazenly opened the front door and hollered his name, waving. “Lewis! Lewis!”

Then she grinned. Lewis Wickham must’ve waved in return.

Lula stepped back inside, smiling as if she’d been crowned by the Queen of England.

Hensley was thankful when Grandmother called out, asking Lula to fetch her basket of yarn.

Their parents had gone on a date of their own, but nothing slipped past Grandmother.

She knew Lula was the ringleader of all the silliness in the household.

Before any more silliness could occur, Blake held his arm toward Hensley.

Leaning close when she reached his side, he smiled approvingly. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Her cheeks warmed. “You’re looking handsome yourself in your blazer, tie, and the blue Oxford.”

“Thank you. Ready?” Blake glanced at Jen and Bing, who nodded, and then Hensley again.

Hensley smiled. “We are.”

“Don’t be out too late,” Grandmother called after them.

Bing and Jen followed her and Blake outside to the limo where Wickham held the rear passenger door open.

Soon, they were situated inside the limo.

The ride turned joyous when Blake surprised everyone by opening a mini-fridge and drawing out a bottle of chilled sparkling pear juice.

He served it in real glass champagne flutes stowed in one of several private compartments.

Soon they were laughing and toasting each other, setting a celebratory tone for the milestone evening of their first dates.

Bing held up his glass with a grin. “To first dates.”

Blake didn’t hesitate when he turned to gaze into Hensley’s eyes. “To first dates and meeting the most beautiful ladies in Dogwood Creek. The finest Tennessee beauties.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Jen smiled. Seconds later, she tapped her glass against Bing’s.

Hensley found herself lost in Blake’s chocolate eyes, those dimples appearing as she tipped her glass toward his.

Did he truly consider her a Tennessee beauty?

Perhaps she benefited the most from his healing words after doubting herself for so many weeks.

Tonight, she could put those fears and insecurities to rest. With a handsome, successful man of faith such as Blake at her side, why should she continue to harbor doubts about herself?

God had made her beautiful, but perhaps He was navigating her toward Blake instead of Jake or Michael for a reason.

Was Blake the man the Lord had set aside for her? Jake and Michael hadn’t cared much about missions or evangelism the way Blake did. That fact alone began to sink into her spirit.

The four of them clanked their glasses together and sipped some of the sweet refreshing liquid.

She was glad Blake hadn’t brought alcohol along.

It was something she and Jen had given up for the Lord during their teen years when they were both baptized.

She counted it as a testament to Blake’s faith, appreciating the fact that none of them had to ask why he had selected a sparkling pear cider instead of an alcoholic beverage.

“Did you find a place for dancing after the play?” Blake balanced his glass on his knee .

Hensley glanced at her sister, and they exchanged a smile about the surprise they had planned. “Yes and no. We improvised, but I hope you’ll like our idea.”

Blake’s brow arched. “Ah, well, I love surprises.”

“I’m sure it will be fun, whatever it is,” Bing agreed.

“I’ll have a word with Wickham about where to drive us when it’s time to leave the theater,” Hensley said, “if it’s all right.”

“Of course.” Blake tapped his chin. “Now you’ve got my curiosity up.”

Hensley laughed. “You’ll just have to wait, but I think it will be worth it.”

“Will you give us any hints, Jen?” Bing leaned toward her sister.

Jen pressed her lips together and pretended to twist a lock over them. Shaking her head, she grinned, pretending to throw the imaginary key away. “No hints from me.”

“No hints!” Blake playfully protested. “That’s not fair. We’d like at least one clue if we must wait until after the play.”

Hensley eyed Blake, tilting her head to one side. “I suppose we could give you one hint.” She turned toward Jen. “What do you say, Jen? Shall we give them one tiny hint?”

“I suppose one won’t hurt,” Jen relented. “Go ahead, Hensley. Give them a clue.”

“All right, boys. Let me think for a moment.” Hensley dipped her chin and her brows furrowed as she silently debated on what would be an ideal hint. Then she pursed her lips and smiled. “Track twenty-nine. But that’s the only hint we’ll give you until the surprise is revealed.”

Jen chuckled. “That’s a great clue!”

Bing leaned his head to one side. “Hmm. Track twenty-nine? I’m completely baffled.”

“No idea ...” Blake shrugged.

“Looks like we’re here,” Jen informed them a few minutes later as the limo turned into the theater’s parking lot .

Soon, they piled outside of the limo and their dates ushered them inside the dinner theater via a special line.

Hundreds of people lined up to enter the building in various other lines, but since they had V.I.P.

tickets, their line didn’t last long before they were led to a photographer and his crew.

An assistant stepped forward to help position them and asked which background and what kind of photos they wanted.

Blake turned to Hensley. “Whatever you’d like, ladies.”

Hensley smiled. “Thank you, Blake. How about one with all four of us with that English country house background, and another of Bing and Jen, and one of just us two?”

“Sounds good to me,” Jen agreed.

“We can do that,” the assistant said, motioning them forward, positioning them efficiently.

The photographer snapped their photos, rearranging them for each one.

Hensley could hardly wait to see how they would turn out, especially since Kit had curled and styled their hair, pulling some hair back and pinning flowers in place over their brunette locks.

It wasn’t easy pulling Kit away from her book reading time to style their hair early enough for the date, but she’d done a nice job.

Next, they were led to the V.I.P. section near the front and center of the stage. Someone would bring their photos out to them later, the hostess explained as she seated them at a table for four. They had a spectacular view of the stage.

Their hostess introduced their waitress who poured them glasses of southern sweet tea and water.

She gave them a basket wrapped with linen and filled with warm flaky biscuits and cornbread squares.

She slid a crock of whipped butter and a dish of strawberry preserves and another of grape jam onto the table.

“I’ll be back with your dinners soon,” she said before moving on to the next table of patrons.

The place was filling up as they each buttered their bread choices.

“So, have you and Blake been friends for a long time?” Jen posed the question with an arched brow as she leaned toward Bing.

Bing nodded as he slathered butter on some cornbread. “We go way back. We both attended the same private grammar school together through high school along with our siblings, and ultimately Othello Business College, a fairly prestigious business college in Manhattan.”

“And what brought you to Dogwood Creek?” Hensley had been curious about their friendship too.

“When Blake attended a wedding that took place here in Gatlinburg last year for some friends from the area, he spotted the property for sale. Then he called and asked if I’d accept the role of Vice President for his property venture in building Deerpark Cabins.

Maybe we’ll expand into other areas later.

I saw it as a chance to get out of the city and live in the beauty of the mountains covered with pines, rivers, creeks, lakes, plenty of fresh air .

.. God’s glory revealed in every direction we look.

” He waved a hand to one side. “I jumped at the opportunity. It was my chance to get out of my father’s hotel empire and into something more my own. ”

“My sentiments exactly.” Blake buttered one of the golden brown, flaky biscuits.

“I’d been looking for a way out of my father’s business too.

While I haven’t completely escaped, this has been a way for Bing and me to strike out on our own.

It wasn’t easy working for my father. He had some atheistic and worldly views that didn’t sit well with me. ”

“When did you come to know the Lord?” Hensley tilted her head toward Blake as she clasped her glass of sweet tea.