Summertime Dream (7 page)

Time to finish the what-to-wear debate. She settled on cool and comfortable in a halter-topped dress of white cotton splashed with tangerine and red flowers. She caught her hair back with a white barrette and chose simple gold hoop earrings in anticipation of a breezy ride in the convertible.

Her phone rang again. Debi this time.

Debi launched in. “So, tell me, have you seen Christopher again?”

“Ah, he stopped by the restaurant and we had lunch together. He let me see inside the house today. The house is a huge mess but as amazing as we thought it would be. I had a wonderful time exploring, except for a run in with some bats. I managed to only freak a little.”

“Ick, bats. I’d freak, too. And?”

“And what?”

“And, anything. What’s the scoop? Will you see him again? Do you like him?”

“Whoa. He’s just here for a week to ready the house for sale, and then he’s going home to Los Angeles.”
And I really enjoyed kissing him and I really would like him to kiss me again, even though it can’t go anywhere
. However, she wasn’t ready to confess that to Debi. She bent down to scratch Penny’s ears, as if that could distract the crazy needy butterflies.

“So? What else?”

“We’re going out to dinner.”

“Great! I’m so glad you’re going on a date I didn’t have to drag you into.”

“It’s not a date. I told him I’d show him around Falk’s Bend. He’s curious about his dad’s family history and the town and...”

And she had a chance to do things she wanted to do, hadn’t done before, do differently. Dizzy with the swirling possibilities, she plopped onto her bed. An adventure. Fun.
A normal life
.

She scanned her bedroom, contemplating the white painted furniture she’d had forever, the twin bed covered in the floral Dresden plate quilt Grandma Em had made for her sixteenth birthday, the pink gingham Priscilla curtains she’d sewn with Mom, her shelves crammed with books, the vanity she used as a desk.

She could have something
beyond
normal.

Memories rushed: his strong arms around her, his soothing, intriguing caresses. Oh, yes, she wanted.

The doorbell rang, snapping her from her daze. Debi was still talking, something about Friday and movies. Penny yipped and raced out the bedroom door and downstairs, nails clattering on the hardwood floors.

“He’s here. I’ve got to go.”

“Just relax and enjoy yourself. And, most importantly, call me tomorrow and tell me all about your date. Inquiring minds need to know.”

“It’s
not
a date, but I promise to call you.”

Downstairs, Penny danced around Margie’s feet, nearly tripping her. “Oh, sit, Penny!”

Penny crouched, quivering.

Margie opened the door to find Christopher looking dapper and professional in his charcoal gray suit and red tie, like a fancy city businessman. She might be a small town girl, but she knew enough about fashion to speculate he didn’t shop much off the rack at the local mall.

However, the warmth in his eyes as he scanned her with a growing smile was anything but businesslike and erased her every last worry over what she’d chosen to wear.

They fumbled an ordinary kiss hello and broke into laughter.

“You look great.”

That he was a little shy and off-balance relaxed her more and untangled her tongue. “Thank you. Would you like to come in?”

Penny whimpered.

“Hey, Penny girl.” He grinned and stepped over the threshold.

Penny launched into a frenzy of wiggling canine adoration, but thank goodness, didn’t jump on Christopher when he crouched to scratch her ears.

He had the nicest smile. “I’m ready. I just have to get Penny’s treat from the kitchen.”

“Great.”

“Good news. Dad says we can use the truck, ladder, and tools.”

However, instead of waiting in the foyer, Christopher followed her to the kitchen. “Thanks. I really appreciate the help.”

If only she’d taken a couple minutes before her shower to run around the house and tidy. The house was clean, simply scattered with the stray objects of a busy morning. She should count her blessings the basket of laundry waiting in the kitchen was Dad and Joe’s work clothes and not her underwear. She selected a treat from Penny’s jar.

Penny gently snatched the offered biscuit and dashed to her rug at the back door. She dropped the biscuit and barked, then pounced on her treat.

Christopher chuckled. “Cute. Do I need to get you back here at any particular time to let her out?”

“No, we’re good. She has the dog door. She’s a good girl about going outside when she needs to.” She picked up her purse.

“Great.”

His convertible waited at the curb, top down. He opened the car door for her. “Where would you like to go?”

“I thought I’d take you around town, show you some sights, and then we could eat at Southern Exposure. It’s right on the river, with a great view from the patio. The menu’s a little bit Southern and a little bit steak house. It’s my parents’ favorite restaurant, and they’re friends with the owners.”

“I never considered restaurant owners having a favorite restaurant beyond their own.”

“We have several favorites. The hardest part is taking the time to get away from work and relax. Seems like Dad is always at the restaurant and if it wasn’t for fire calls, I doubt Joe would ever leave the kitchen. They’re real hands-on management. Mom does her best to make sure family stuff and vacations get scheduled in and pries them out of the building.”

Joe was working way too much, sometimes even sleeping in the office. He hadn’t taken a vacation since before the breakup.

“I saw how busy the place was. Owning and operating a restaurant must make for a long day and hard work.”

“Yes, it does, but Dad and Joe thrive on the cooking, and we have great staff working for us. I’ll take you in the kitchen one of these days for a tour, if you like.”

“I’d enjoy that.” He turned the key in the ignition and jazzy trumpet music blasted from the speakers. He adjusted the volume. “Oops, sorry about that. Had it kind of loud. Okay, where to first?”

“Head for Main Street and I’ll give you the highlights of downtown.”

“Downtown?”

“Well, if you use your imagination and don’t blink.”

His laughter rang out. “Highlights it is.”

****

“I love this car.” She fluffed her hands through her hair and the breeze sent the curls flying and fluttering.

Margie’s open delight in riding with the top down doubled Christopher’s pleasure in having made the impulsive decision to go with the upgrade and rent the convertible.

He enjoyed the roundabout driving tour after their cruise down Main Street, crisscrossing through town as she suggested new sights for him: the oldest house in town, the municipal building, the Lutheran and Baptist churches, other historical buildings, and properties formerly owned by his family at times since Falk’s Bend was established.

Her directions to the restaurant led them over a rattling metal girder bridge to a one-story building stretched along the river with a full parking lot, sided in gray planks, with a metal roof and Caribbean shutters painted the color of boiled shrimp.

Inside, the fluffy blonde hostess greeted Margie with a wholehearted hug. “Oh, Margie, it’s so good to see you. It’s been ages since you and your folks have stopped in. I saw you at the picnic yesterday, and wondered how you were doing, but didn’t get a chance to run over and chat. We were so worried about you, but you look fantastic.”

Huh? What had them worried about Margie?

Margie flushed, looking like she wanted to hush the woman, but she smiled. “I’m doing terrific. I had a fun time yesterday. Tootsie, I’d like you to meet Christopher Gordon. He owns the Falk house now. He’s Mrs. Falk’s great-grandson. Christopher, Tootsie Kennedy, owner of Southern Exposure.”

“I heard! So nice to meet you. Let me get you two a table. Indoors or the porch?”

Christopher nodded. “Margie? Which do you prefer?”

“The porch is always my first choice, even in the summer. I love the view.”

Tootsie gathered up two menus. “Follow me. If the heat’s too much out there for you, Margie honey, you can always move inside.”

The view of the peaceful river from the large screened-in deck was as great as promised. A heron glided in for a landing and posed to hunt for its meal. Dragonflies hovered and zoomed. After settling Margie in her chair, Christopher hung his jacket over his chair and loosened his tie. Ceiling fans cut the late day heat, but he should have dressed far more casually.

Tootsie took their drink orders and left them to study the menus, but as she disappeared into the main dining room they could hear her just fine. “Larry, Grace, you’ll never guess! Margie’s here with Reba Falk’s great-grandson!”

Margie blushed deeper and hid behind her menu, faintly muttering, “Whatever was I thinking?”

“Is there a problem?”

She peeped above her menu. “No, everything’s fine.”

Before they’d hardly had a chance to study the menu, a stout man with a gray pointed goatee strode up to their table carrying their drinks. “Margie! Look at you! How are you doing, darlin’?”

“I’m great, Larry.”

“I told Tootsie you’d be fine and here you are, pretty as a peach with roses in your cheeks again. Are you back to work yet?”

“Soon as Dad and Joe stop fussing over me.”

“Glad to hear.” He turned to Christopher. “Sorry, got excited there.” He held out his hand. “Larry Kennedy. Welcome to Falk’s Bend.”

“Christopher Gordon. Thanks. It’s been a pleasure so far.”

“Good. Good. I recommend the rib eye tonight if you’re in the mood for steak. Grace will take your order when you’re ready.”

Larry bustled off and a new flurry of cheerful exclamations burst between him and Tootsie from beyond at the bar. Their waitress, Grace, also gushed over how well Margie looked. Now he was completely curious. Margie kept her blushing face hidden behind the menu, until she had to hand it over. He went for the rib eye and Margie chose the roast chicken special.

“Nice folks. They seem really fond of you.”

“Yes. Ah, I suppose I should explain a little.” She glanced away at the river.

“Only if you want to.”

She took a deep breath and a delicate sip at her wine. “Well, it’s not a secret. A hazard of small town life where everyone knows you. Short version, I was really sick for a while last year. I had to take some time off and, as you can tell, folks worried. But I’m perfectly fine now, and I just want to get back to normal. I love my job at the restaurant and I’m ready to work, but my family is full of worrywarts and they’re taking longer to get past it than I am. I wish they’d relax. I’d honestly like to stop being the one everyone’s talking about.”

Margie appeared vibrantly healthy, but...Crap. He shoved a hand through his hair. “You’re really okay? I mean I had you in all that dust and heat today.” She wasn’t telling him everything, and it was none of his business...

“I’m perfectly fine.” She waved a dismissive hand. “Cross my heart.” She selected a biscuit and gave him a brilliant smile that totally derailed his thoughts for a moment.

He fumbled for a change of topic. “Do you like to cook? Did you ever want to be a chef?”

She sighed. He liked how all her emotions played across her face. “The chef gene skipped me. I mean, I’m not one of those people who can’t boil water. I can make decent meals. I’m good at canning. However, living with a family of chefs? Well, there’s a good reason I’m the hostess. Plus, at home, there’s always someone leaning over my shoulder telling me what to add or not add and someone else disagreeing. Giving in and handing them the spoon is just easier and saves my sanity. How about you? Do you cook? You should try a biscuit. They’re very good.”

“I do and enjoy it. Mom taught me when I was a kid and the skill comes handy now since I live alone. I eat out too much when I travel, so I enjoy cooking for myself when I can.”

“What do you do for fun?”

“I fish whenever I can. I bike. Listen to music. My friend Dave got me hooked on jazz when we were in college. I travel often for business, so I try to mix in a little sightseeing each trip. I try to visit my mom and friends whenever I’m in their neck of the woods. I take a vacation every July with friends for two weeks of camping at Lake Mohave. We’re getting together on the fifteenth.”

“That’s soon.”

“Yeah. Another reason I need to wrap up things here. We’ve been going since college. The trip’s great fun and I look forward to the complete break from work.”

“I’ve never been fishing or camping. I like to bike ride. Tell me about the lake.”

“Even better, I can show you.” He pulled out his phone. “I have some pictures on here from last year. The lake’s part of the Colorado River, located below the Hoover Dam. Southeast of Las Vegas.”

“In July, it must get hot there.”

“Yeah, but we’re in the water most of the day, swimming or waterskiing. So, the heat’s not so bad. We laze around, eat, fish, swim, have some beers, and talk for hours. Good times.”

He shared the pictures with her, naming all his friends and sharing little stories.

“No wonder you look forward to it. I’d love to vacation with friends like that. Looks like lots of fun.”

“No emails or phones for two weeks. Pure heaven. What else do you do for fun? Read, write, bike ride, and what else?”

“I garden. I love flowers.” She wiggled her pretty fingers. “Yes, gloves, to ward off dirt and, more importantly, spiders and other creepy crawlies.”

He laughed.

“My phobia so embarrassing. I have no logical reason to be afraid, no trauma from childhood that I can remember. But, ugh.” She shuddered. “They just make my skin crawl and I want to run for the hills.”

“Everyone’s afraid of something. Well, maybe not my friend, Dave. The man jumps from planes for a living.”

“Really? Is he a paratrooper?”

“No, a smoke jumper.”

“Wow, Joe would enjoy talking with him. I bet they could exchange some good firefighting stories.”

“Dave has some doozies, that’s for sure.” He finished his beer.

“So what are you afraid of?” Her grin sparkled with teasing.