“Hey,” she said, trying to sound happy.
“How are you?” He asked, looking deep into her eyes.
Lacey was very aware of his hands on her arms. She smiled. “I’m all right.”
“Are you really?”
“Yeah. Miranda’s gone, and that’s a step in the right direction.” She had texted him the night before to tell him her mom was leaving, but she didn’t give him many details.
“I’m just glad that you’re here.” He reached out and took her hand and led her towards the main house. “Oh, and my mom is thrilled that you’re here too.”
Lacey laughed, but the sound felt hollow in her chest. She didn’t know what it was like to have a mom who was happy for you.
Inside the house Lacey was taken aback at the size. The foyer, with hardwood floors, opened up to a spacious living room with a view of the kitchen. Andrew’s parents were in the kitchen and Lacey could hear the sounds of pots and pans bagging together.
“Hey, Mom,” Andrew called out.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Theresa turned and wiped her hands on her apron and came to give Andrew a hug, then she turned to Lacey.
“Mom, Dad, this is Lacey.”
“Hi,” Lacey tried to say, but before the word was out of her mouth, she felt Theresa’s arms around her.
“Hello! It’s so nice to meet you.”
Lacey swallowed hard as the hug lasted, and then when Theresa pulled back, she managed to say, “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“I would like to say that Andrew has told us so much about you, but you know Andrew.”
Lacey smiled as she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Yes, I do.” She elbowed him in the ribs. “But at least he hasn’t said anything bad about me.”
“I don’t have anything bad to say.” Andrew pulled her close to his side.
“Well I’m sure that’s not true, but thanks anyway.” She watched Theresa who had gone back to her food preparations. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Theresa pointed at the counter. “Actually, yes. I was going to put together a salad, but if you don’t mind, that would be helpful.”
“Sure, I’m happy to help.” Lacey made her way to the sink and washed her hands.
“Andrew, I need to move something in the garage. Come on out and help me lift it,” Patrick said, and pulled Andrew out of the room before he could argue.
Lacey covered a giggle as she stood next to Theresa at the counter. She chopped vegetables and added ingredients to the salad bowl as they chatted.
“Lacey, tell me about yourself.”
“Well, I’m a teacher at the elementary school.”
“Oh, really? Then we have a lot to talk about. I taught school until the kids were in college.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Oh, so Andrew hasn’t talked much about us either?”
Lacey smiled. “Like I said, at least he didn’t say anything bad.”
Theresa let out a laugh that echoed through the kitchen. “Yes, that’s true.” She moved a pot off the stove and began to get plates out of one of the higher cabinets. “What grade do you teach?”
“Third.”
“Oh, third grade is wonderful. They’re big enough to do things for themselves, but still too little to have quite as much attitude as middle schoolers.”
“Yes, exactly. They still listen better. So does that mean you taught elementary school? Or you’re speaking about middle schoolers from experience?”
“Both actually. I taught first grade, third grade, and fifth and sixth, and then I taught high school history too.”
“Wow, that’s an impressive career.”
“I really loved teaching. And moving around grades and specialties kept it interesting. And I got to learn new things alongside my students. I firmly believe that as long as you’re still learning, you’re still growing.”
Lacey nodded, mulling the words over in her mind. “I like that. Yes, I agree. I always want to be learning new things.”
“I’m sure that’s why you’re interested in Andrew’s library project.”
Lacey felt her heart race. She and Andrew hadn’t talked much about the project lately. She knew he was considering a compromise, but he hadn’t told her what he was working on. She didn’t want to lie to his mom, so she said. “I love the library very much. I think it’s a great resource for the community.”
“Me too. We’re very proud of Andrew and what he’s doing with his inheritance.”
Inheritance? The word bounced around in Lacey’s head and she wanted to ask what she meant, but there wasn’t time since Andrew chose that moment to come back in the kitchen.
“Mmm, it smells good in here,” Andrew said.
“Everything’s almost ready. Would you set out the plates?” Theresa asked.
Andrew nodded, he went to get the plates and gently grazed his hand across Lacey’s back as he passed by. The touch sent tingles up her spine, and she was sure she could still feel it after he walked from the room. As she finished making the salad, she could barely see Andrew through the opening into the dining room. She watched him carefully place each plate and then set a fork and spoon on either side. Then she carried the salad to the table and placed it in the center. As soon as it was out of her hands, she felt arms tugging her into the corner of the room, away from the view from the kitchen.
Lacey giggled as Andrew tucked her into his arms and backed up against the wall.
“Hey there.”
“Hey, you. What are you doing?”
“I just didn’t really think about it before you came, but I’m not sure I want to share you.”
Fear washed over Lacey’s heart and showed on her face. “You don’t want your parents to know me?”
He leaned his head down until their foreheads and noses were touching. “No silly, I’m happy for them to know you. I just also want you all to myself.”
Lacey grinned up at him. It all felt so playful, but the moment their eyes met, she realized how close they were. His hands held firmly to her waist and her arms hung around his neck. Their lips just inches away. If one of them just leaned in…Lacey took a deep breath as her eyes traveled down to his lips for just a moment before she looked back up to meet his gaze. Her heart pounded, and the room seemed to disappear in the background. Lacey was sure she saw him start to lower his head.
“Andrew, are you done with the table?”
Andrew didn’t take his eyes from Lacey’s, but Lacey took a step back. Maybe she was ready for this, but she didn’t want their first kiss to be here in his parents’ dining room. And she certainly didn’t want Theresa or Patrick to walk in and find them. She reached out and squeezed Andrew’s hand and grinned at him, then she turned and went back to the kitchen.
Theresa thanked Lacey for helping as the two of them worked together to carry each of the dishes to the table and then filled glasses with ice and sweet tea. “Honey, we’re ready to eat,” Theresa called out.
Lacey couldn’t help feel the difference in this lunch from the meal she and Andrew had shared with her mother. This felt peaceful and calm, not like at the restaurant when she had felt stressed every minute. Andrew motioned for her to take a seat and then sat down beside her, Theresa and Patrick taking the seats across from them.
“Let’s pray,” said Patrick. He took Theresa’s hand and bowed his head.
Andrew reached over and took Lacey’s hand in his. She felt warm all over from his touch and from the calm in the air. It was palpable. She bowed her head and closed her eyes.
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for today. Thank You for the service at church this morning, and for the family and friends around our table. Thank You for the food, bless it, and bless our time together here. We love you, Lord. Amen.”
“Amen,” everyone echoed around the table.
The dining room filled with sound as they passed around dishes and plates. Spoons clanged against the serving dishes. Once everyone’s plates had
been filled, they dug in and the room fell quiet as they ate.
“Lacey, Andrew tells us that you two went to high school together. Did you know each other then?”
Lacey looked over at Andrew. “Not really, I knew who he was, but we weren’t in the same circle.”
“Do you keep up with friends from high school much?” Theresa asked.
Lacey shook her head. “Not really.” She didn’t mention that her friends in high school hadn’t been the best influences. “But my best friend went to high school with us too. We became close in college and then taught together at the middle school. Mallory Edwards. Actually, Mallory Collins now.”
“Oh yes, we knew Mallory. Her parents are good friends of ours. How’s she doing?”
“She’s great. She and Pete are living in New York now, but she’s promised me she’s coming to visit soon.”
“That’s nice. Good friends like that can be hard to come by.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Andrew, you were friends with Pete weren’t you?”
“Yep. We’ve talked a few times lately. And I went to the wedding.”
Lacey glanced at him remembering that they talked there. “I saw you at the wedding.”
“Oh,” Andrew dropped his gaze. “I didn’t think you remembered.”
“I didn’t think you remembered.”
“You didn’t say anything.”
Lacey shrugged. “It kind of hurt my feelings that you didn’t remember, so I didn’t bring it up.”
“Really? I didn’t bring it up because I was sure you thought I was weird. So I hoped you had forgotten.”
“I thought you were really nice.”
Patrick cleared his throat. Lacey had almost forgotten they were there.
“Well,” Andrew looked up and gave a small smile. “I guess I wasted all those months when I could have just asked you out then.”
Lacey laughed out loud. “Yes, exactly.”
“I guess that’s a lesson learned. Next time I want to ask you a question, I’ll just come right out and say it.”
Lacey’s heart ricocheted against the walls of her chest, and her breath caught in her throat. Did he mean what she thought he meant? Everyone at the table stared at Andrew for a few moments. He didn’t waver as he looked Lacey in the eyes. When she found her voice and calmed her nerves, only slightly, she said. “Yes. You just go ahead and do that.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Wow! I can’t believe he said that! I had no idea you guys were getting that serious,” Mallory’s excitement carried over the phone.
“I know, it felt like an important moment. I don’t think we’re there yet really, but it was like he was saying that’s the direction we’re headed. I think it’s his business brain that sort of thinks through all the possibilities and makes a plan.”
“Oh yes, I know what you mean about that. Pete is the same way. When we started dating again, I always knew that was the end goal.”
“Did you feel like it took some of the romance out of it?”
“Hmm,” Mallory paused as if she was considering her answer. “For us it was different. We had a lot of romance in high school, and then everything fell apart when he left. So the second time around always felt more serious and I knew where it was headed. But he tried so hard to prove to me that I could trust him, that it was romantic in a different way. So no, I wouldn’t say it lost the romance. It’s just a little more mature and intentional.”
Lacey nodded even though Mallory couldn’t see her. “That makes sense. I think mature and intentional is a good way to describe it. Maybe even a good way to describe Andrew.”
“You mean besides, ‘quiet and comfortable’?”
“Oh, he’s still comfortable, and he has his quiet moments, but he’s much more talkative now. I think he just needed to get used to me.”
“I think that’s great. He just needed to warm up before he opened up.”
“Exactly.” Lacey could hear Mallory talking quietly to someone else and knew Pete must have come in the room.
“Hey Lacey, sorry, I need to go.”
“That’s all right. As long as you tell me when you’re finally going to make that trip home you’ve been promising me.”
Mallory laughed. “I’ll talk to Pete tonight and we’ll pick a date.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
“Alright, I promise. Bye, friend!”
“Bye,” Lacey whispered as she hung up. She pictured Mallory hanging up to be fully present with her husband. She picked up the TV remote, but she didn’t switch it on. She had been doing life alone for so long and thought that was how she would spend the rest of her life. But now, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be at home with a husband. Someone who was not only the love of her life, but her best friend and partner. For the first time in a long time, she let herself imagine that. And she wondered if she just might have found that person.
* * *
“I can’t explain it,” Andrew told Hudson. “It was like all of a sudden I knew exactly what I wanted to say and I just said it. And I meant it, too. I waited way too long to ask her out. I knew her in high school, and she was around town while I was in college, and then I saw her at Pete and Mallory’s wedding. I had so many opportunities and I just didn’t take them. But I’ve always liked her, and now that I know her, I really like her. I just know that this is right. She’s the one.”
Hudson let out a laugh when Andrew finally took a breath. “Man, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that many words without stopping. At least, that weren’t memorized.”
Andrew grinned. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, I’m glad you’ve found something you’re happy to talk about that much.”
“I really am. She’s beautiful, and funny, and just jumps into life with both feet. I’ve spent too long being afraid of just going after things. But she makes me want to grab life with both hands and conquer the world.”
Hudson put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “I know what you mean. You know there’s a word for that.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Have you told her?”
“Not yet. I just wanted it to be right. I want it to be special.”
“I thought you were grabbing life with both hands and just saying what you want to say.”
“I am. But I still want it to be a big moment. It’s a big deal, and as much as I want to blurt it out as soon as I see her, I also want her to know I’m not taking it lightly.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
“What does Lacey think about the library now?”
“We haven’t really talked about it lately. But you know she was pretty adamant about keeping the old building.”
“And has that changed?”
“I don’t think so. I told her weeks ago that I understood why it was important to her and thought we could try to find a way to keep it.” Andrew stopped and shook his head. “But the more and more I look at the numbers, it just doesn’t add up. Updating the existing building would be very expensive, and I just don’t know if it will work.”
“What does the rest of the committee say?”
“They’re all on board with tearing it down. Although, I think some of them don’t want to say it in front of Lacey. But they know it’s the right decision.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I just need to find a way to convince her that this is the best thing for the town. I know she had memories there and it’s part of her past. But that doesn’t mean her memories are gone just because the building is.”
“And if you can’t convince her?”
Andrew paused for a long moment. “I’m not sure.”
Hudson let out a low whistle. “Okay man, I understand from a business perspective, but relationship-wise, that’s going to be a big hill to climb. All I can say is, good luck.”
“Thanks, I’ll need it.”
“You know, I was just thinking about the other thing you want to tell her. If you want to do something big, we have the resources to make that happen.” Hudson gave him a look like he was cooking up an idea.
“What do you have in mind?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The summer heat was still lingering as the sun went down. Lacey was tired from work, but it was payday and, as a treat, she had picked up milkshakes when she got off. She had ignored Andrew’s text asking her to tell him when she left work because she was hoping to surprise him. She pulled up to his house and quietly walked to the door carrying the drinks, hoping that the puppies wouldn’t alert him to a visitor. Stepping up onto the porch, she heard voices around back. She backed down the steps and walked around the side of the house, she was just about to jump out and say, “Surprise!” when she saw Hudson talking with Andrew and ducked back behind the house. She didn’t want to interrupt their man time, so she thought she would walk back to the car and call Andrew to let him know she was there. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop but when she heard her name, she couldn’t help but stop and listen.
“Do you think you can convince Lacey without telling her your plan?” Hudson asked.
Convince me about what?
“Sure, no problem.”
“All right then. I’ll get started on the details, you just handle her.”
“Will do, thanks Hudson. I couldn’t make this happen without your advice.”
“Of course. I’m happy to help.”
Lacey turned to go as the men’s voices dropped lower. She told herself not to try to listen anymore, but she heard them utter one word that stopped her in her tracks. “Library.”
The library! Lacey covered her mouth with her hand to keep from yelling out. So that’s what they’re talking about. Does Andrew still plan to tear it down? Panic rose in her chest and she tried to process everything the men had said.
Lacey could hear footsteps coming, so she ran as quietly as she could back to her car. She tried to look like she was just shutting the door when Hudson and Andrew walked around the house.
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