Xiomara
Alma was nervous. Of course, she was typically nervous. Growing up, her mother had slapped her wrist plenty of times with the flat side of a knife for the way she'd shake the dinner table with her ceaseless foot tapping. Now, she nervously bunched her fists in her skirts to keep herself from opening the smoker for the hundredth time and prayed that the cotton might keep her palms from sweating so much.

Normally a lunch with Darlene was a pleasure. There were no expectations beyond maybe giggling over some boys that mighta caught their eye or sharing some berry wine recipes, but Alma just couldn't get her mind off the fact that Papa still hadn't come home. She'd been a nervous wreck about it for days now, and it showed. The careful bun Alma had constructed this morning was a frazzled mess, threatening to fall apart over a solid gust of wind. The bags under her bloodshot eyes betrayed the sleepless nights she'd spent distracting herself at her Mama's still. And she'd dropped two eggs right onto the kitchen floor when she was making the deviled eggs.

And now? Now she was just nervous about being nervous. 

Alma liked Darlene. She was fun! Alma herself... Was not. But she wanted to be! She so desperately needed fun. So, she asked her Mama to help her smoke some brisket, washed her softest picnic blanket, whipped up some deviled eggs, soaked some watermelon slices in a Mason jar, kneaded up the dough for blackberry pie— it was enough to feed a whole family! But, if Alma's hands stopped working, she'd go back to worrying. It was much better for her to cook! 

Alma wouldn't even notice her friend's approach on their famously creaky front porch steps until the family's old hound dog announced Darlene's arrival. "Oh, sugar!" Alma 'cursed' as she stumbled around the side of the house, a jolt of pain shooting through her ankle as she stepped in a hole one of the chickens had dug up. "I'm around back!" She called breathlessly, leaning against their wooden wall in a de

Sperate attempt to save face. She put a hand on her hip and tried a smile on. The hound dog's excited braying didn't stop until Alma snapped her fingers at him. "You hush now! You know Darlene! Mama's gon' be real mad if you wake her up and you know it!"
Toni
Darlene liked going to parties. Hell, she was practically known for her ability to hold her drink while she danced. This was another one of those get togethers she'd been waitin' on for a minute now- how often was it that she was able to get this mysterious little lady out for a day in the sun? Alma was so quiet, but Darlene didn't mind it all that much; she was a good listener. Papa Rowerty let her use what was left of the eggs to bake a batch of raspberry cookies, which... Were admittedly halfway gone by the time her heels clacked against those old annoying floorboards. 

Her hips swayed and bounced as she followed that voice, holding the plate of cookies at her side. "I brought cookies, sugar- oh! Hey, honey- hey, now!" She let out a melodious, unfiltered chortle when the pup jumped up to plant kisses all over her cheeks. "Y'all missed me that much, huh? Sweet thing. Hush, now. Sit!" She slipped a tiny piece of cookie into its mouth after it settled down. The blonde let out a pleased hum when she herself got a good whiff of the air, "Ooh, honey! Smells better than a rich man's empty pockets, and trust me, ain't much smells better than that. Ain't it just beautiful today?" 

She paused, noticing Alma's awkward position. "Are you okay, sugar?"
Xiomara
"Lord help us," Alma whispered under her breath. It was less a prayer and more of an exasperated curse as she overheard poor Darlene get accosted by Dog. The old hunting hound just couldn't help himself! Especially when someone smelled like food! Soon as the word 'sit' left Darlene's lips, the dog sat his rump right down as if there had never been a rowdy bone in his body. 

"It's a wonder he likes you so much! The poor thing acts as if he ain't seen a spec of food in his life!" Alma laughed through the pain - which was fading quick! - and tucked a wild section of hair behind her ear. Of course, Darlene looked put together as ever. Cookies and all. But a thick glob of drool dangled from Dog's lips now that he'd gotten a scrap, and it threatened to land right on Darlene's dress if she wasn't careful. 

"You can thank Mama for that! If it wasn't for her, I doubt I'd ever have been able to figure out Memaw Cooper's recipe cards! But I appreciate the kindness! I just figured a day like today shouldn't be wasted inside, so we got the smoker going!" 

Alma took a hesitant step forward, but it was a bit more of a hobble than she would have liked. So much for saving face. "Those gosh dang chickens got me again!" She admitted, an embarrassed flush coming quick to her cheeks. "I told Dog here to keep them off the side of the house, but he's too friendly for his own good!" She feigned an exasperated look and Dog's tail kept thudding happily on the wooden porch as if he understood any of it. "But don't you worry about me! I'm just fine. Are you thirsty?" She was all too happy to divert attention away from herself before she started squirming. "I just made a fresh batch of sweet tea, and I'm sure you must be awful tired after all that walking!" Alma hobbled up the steps of the wrap around porch, finding each step easier than the last. "You can come in through the back here if you'd like!" Alma tugged open the kitchen door for Darlene, where their feast was waiting to be ca

Rried up the hill to the picnic blanket in the backyard.