NOT What I Was Expecting (29 page)

I wasn’t like Fry,
and I didn’t feel my eyes were going to perspire.  I admit I’m attracted to Luke. 
Maybe I’m even extremely fond of him.  Possibly he intrigues me more than anyone
I’ve met lately.  He definitely makes me act stupider than any man I’ve ever
met.  That would make my actions his fault.  That thought made me smile, because
I hate it when I act stupid and it turns out it’s my fault.

I decided I needed
to mingle with the barbeque people, and I felt I could pull off a smile, so it
was time.  I popped into the bathroom to make sure my hair wasn’t doing that
unicorn thing with part of it sticking up like a horn at the front and made a
brief stop in the kitchen.  After grabbing a diet soda, I let myself out through
the sliding patio doors to join the others. 

My smile was in
place, and I had the good-to-see-ya nod down pat.  I was prepared to make it
through the festivities, and think about anything or anybody that might be
upsetting
after
it was over.  Luke was there by the time I joined
everyone, and while I spoke, smiled, and waved, I kept my distance from him due
to the fact that I was in deep conversation with a friend of the sisters.

Since I have
excellent peripheral vision, I noticed he looked my way several times.  What he
saw was a very animated discussion, so it would make sense that I couldn’t get
away.  In truth Mr. Duhe was describing how his Banana’s Foster recipe is
supposed to be timed and measured so the fire is just right, while I was
describing a mishap CeCe and I had trying to recreate his recipe in our
kitchen.  When I told him what the firemen said after they put out the small
blaze, we both laughed.  

Apparently, Luke
decided the laughter concluded our conversation and seized the opportunity to
ask Mr. Duhe if he could borrow me for a moment.

“Take her for as
long as you like, Luke,” Mr. Duhe answered.  “I was heading for the potato
salad anyway.  See you later, Maggie.”

“Hi, Luke,” I
said, all nonchalant and smiling.  “How’s it going?”

“Look, Maggie, I
need to talk to you,” he said softly, glancing around.  “Maybe we can go . . .
.”

“PESO!” I yelled,
probably a little louder than I intended.  Peso had been running around in the
back yard and came running over to me just as Luke was going to tell me he was
leaving.  So I panicked, okay!  Maybe I’m not taking it as well as I thought I
was, but nobody has to know.  I decided to try to distract myself with Peso and
hope that helped.  Not likely, but it was all I could think of on short notice.

“I’m sorry, Luke,”
I apologized, since I didn’t want to be completely rude, which I sort of just
was.  As I bent down to scoop up Peso, I had an idea.  “I just realized when I
saw him that I’d better squeeze in all the quality Peso time I can, because his
week with you starts tomorrow, right?” I explained.  “Seriously, I’m sorry,
what were you going to say?”

“That’s what I was
trying to talk to you about,” Luke said, smiling as he petted Peso’s head that
rested on my shoulder.

Here it comes Peso. 
Be strong.  We’ll be fine without him so don’t let him see you sweat.  I really
hope Peso’s eyes don’t start to perspire, because that would be so embarrassing
for him.

 “I know we agreed
Peso would stay with me every other week, but I wondered if it’s okay if he
stays with you another week or so,” Luke leaned in toward my ear and said
softly.  “You saw all that damage Hoss and Little Joe did to Uncle Barney’s
house when they were searching for the painting.  I can’t take any of my crew
off the library job if I want to finish on schedule, because we have to make up
for the time I was away.  That means I’ll have to do the work on the house myself,
so it will take a little longer.  Anyway,” Luke shook his head and smiled like
he was trying not to laugh as he continued, “with drywall and paint having to
be done, I’d rather Peso wasn’t in the house until that’s finished.  That way
he doesn’t have to breathe that junk, and why are you smiling at me like that? 
What’s so funny?”

“What?  Nothing. 
I don’t know.  Nothing.  I’m not smiling,” I said smoothly, even as I felt the
breeze on my teeth.  “Oh, sure, that’s no problem at all.  Peso is welcome to
stay until you’re ready for your week.  But why are you practically
whispering?”

Luke laughed and
answered, “Paranoia.  Mr. Duhe is on the Library Board.  I don’t want him
worried the work on my house will take anything away from the library
expansion.  I intend to have that job finished by the completion date even if I
have to work nights and weekends to get it done.  Uncle Barney’s house will
wait if necessary, but I don’t think we’re so far behind schedule that we can’t
make it up with the extra workers I’m hiring.”

“Um, I thought you
were – I guess you decided to finish the library job before you go to the
Pacific Islands?” I asked as I held Peso’s big satellite ears down so he
wouldn’t hear.

“Maggie, I’m not
going to the Pacific Islands,” Luke said looking over my shoulder.  When I
turned to see what he was looking at, Ben was whispering something in CeCe’s
ear and had his arm around her waist.  Whatever he said made them both laugh
and CeCe gave him a sweet little kiss.  When I looked up at Luke, he was
watching me.

“You know, when I
first decided I needed to come back to Oakman to look after Uncle Barney, I
wasn’t sure I wanted to come back, but I knew I had to do it.  Now, I don’t
need to be here, but I want to stay,” Luke explained as he took Peso from my
arms.  “I like the area.  I like what I’m doing.  I like the wildlife,” he said
with a chuckle nodding toward Peso.  “I like the people – even the ones who
tire me.”

“Really,” I
replied, more as a statement than a question, since I was being all cool. 
“Well, if you need help with that dry wall and painting at your house, I could
help.  You know, since you don’t feel you can ask your guys,” I clarified.

“Is that so?” Luke
asked looking at me appraisingly.  “Have you ever done any dry wall or painting?”

“No,” I answered
honestly.  “Well painting sure, mostly finger painting, but yeah the other kind
too.  No dry wall, which just means I haven’t picked up any bad habits, so you
could teach me to do it the way you want it done.”

Luke raised one
eyebrow and smiled.  I wasn’t sure he was taking that statement in the spirit
in which it was intended.

“Sounds like fun,”
Luke said, confirming my suspicions since I don’t think dry wall is supposed to
be all that much fun.

Hmm.  Maybe I’ll
see what he has in mind.