The doorbell made them both jump.
Lydia’s eyes grew round and she jumped up and down. “They’re here!”
Charly held up her pinky, and Lydia hooked hers around it. “Best behavior. Promise.”
Lydia hugged her and started for the door. “Relax and have fun.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Charly couldn’t help but have a good time. It was irritating how much she had laughed since Jake and Matthew had arrived. She almost forgot she was supposed to be on best behavior.
During the game of Trivial Pursuit, she sat back at one point, watching the others. She was skilled in very limited areas of the game, but this guy? He was skilled in all of them. Lydia had insisted on couple versus couple, and Matthew was clearly winning the game for the two of them.
“I’m curious as to where you got all your information on mixed drinks, my friend.” Lydia glared at her over the board.
“I read, and I watch television. For some reason, random useless information sticks, and the science and nature stuff doesn’t.” Charly chuckled.
“Well, thank you for winning us another piece of the pie. It might be what wins the game for us.” Matthew, striking with his dark brown hair and brown eyes, grinned at his partner.
“Are you serious? You’re the brains of this operation.” She smiled at him and then looked at Lucy and Jake. “Speaking of pie…”
“Yes! We have pie. Who would like a piece?” Lydia popped up from her seat. “We can eat pie and drink coffee while we finish the game.”
Jake stretched his long arm on the back of the couch. “Sounds good to me. Maybe caffeine and sugar will help us come back.”
Lydia covered her mouth and mock-whispered to her partner. “We can only hope.”
“I’ll make the coffee, you cut the pie.” Charly got up and followed Lydia to the kitchen.
“So . . .” Lydia pulled a knife and pie server from the drawer and reached up to remove four dessert plates from the cupboard.
“So what?” Charly was carefully measuring coffee beans into the grinder.
“What do you think about Matthew?” She leaned on the counter, waiting on cutting the pie while the coffee was brewing.
Over the loudness of the grinder, Charly mouthed, “He seems nice.”
Lydia grinned. “And he’s cute too.”
“He is. I’m surprised Jake has such a normal friend.” She laughed. “No, really, he is nice, and cute, in a boy-next-door sort of way.”
“Whatever. No, he doesn’t have piercing blue eyes and a smile that would launch a thousand ships.”
“The reference applies to a woman. Helen of Troy, I think?”
“See? You know stuff! Okay, a thousand Amazonian ships.”
“Amazonia doesn’t exist.”
“No, the Amazonians lived in Themiscyra.”
“Themis-what?” Charly stared at her for a second.
“Uh, have you heard of Wonder Woman?” Lydia gave her a look that brooked no argument.
Charly nodded. “Noted. He’s a very nice-looking man, and any woman would be proud to have him by her side. But maybe I’m not any woman.”
“Well, true. We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we? Maybe we could double date?”
“Like you said, we’ll have to wait and see.” Charly transferred the ground coffee beans into the coffee maker and started the coffee brewing. “Are you going to cut the perfect pie, or not?”
Lydia tilted her head and turned the plate, looking at it from various angles. “It’s so pretty, I almost hate to.”
“I know. You could always take a picture of it.” She laughed when Lydia pulled her phone out of her pocket.
“Hey, it’s for posterity.”
“And Instagram.”
Lydia nodded seriously. “And my mother.”
As first date fix-ups went, it hadn’t been half bad. Charly considered the difference in her evening with Matthew as opposed to her dates with Rance. It was easy. There wasn’t anything hidden from her. He told her his parents had lived north of Myrtle Beach their whole lives, and his grandparents, still living, lived in the suburbs.
She was musing the evening before, still lying in bed and thinking her summer break would be over soon, when her phone rang. She looked at it and saw an unfamiliar Myrtle Beach cell number. Surely it wasn’t Matthew already. She had Jake’s number, unless they were together, and he needed something.
“Hello?” She was cautious. Most of the time if it was an unknown number, it was a telemarketer. She usually ignored them.
“Charly? This is Matthew. I didn’t call too early, did I?”
A laugh bubbled up. “No, I was up.” Well, it was partly true. She was at least fully awake, thank goodness.
“Good. I’m heading to a conference in Atlanta and had to leave early, so I’ve been up for hours.”
“Sounds like fun. What kind of conference?”
“Technology. I know. Boring. I’m presenting a session, and there’s equipment I want to check out, and the vendor is going to be there.”
“I understand. Still, Atlanta is fun. Hope it goes well.”
“Thanks. Hey, I was wondering if you had any plans for Saturday night? Would you like to go out? Unless you have a wedding to work. I heard you say you were working for a wedding planner?”
“I am, and no, I don’t have a wedding this weekend, finally. After last weekend, we’re getting a couple of weekends off. I think I’d like that.”
“Great. Can I pick you up around seven? It should have cooled off by then.”
“Sure. Let me know what I need to wear.”
“Casual. I thought we’d go mini-golfing and grab a bite, if that sounds okay to you?”
“Sounds like fun. Would you like me to meet you? Save you the drive down?”
“No, I thought I’d like to try Runaway Bay there in Murrells Inlet.”
“You do realize I’ll have the home course advantage.”
“Ah. Well, I’m a champ at my own course. I think I’ll be ready.”
“We’ll see.”
“Yeah, well, I’d better go. My cell reception is getting spotty.”
“Good luck with your session and have fun.”
“I’ll try.” He laughed. “See you Saturday.”
“See ya.”
Charly stared at the phone as the call ended from his end. Matthew was fun, but she didn’t know if she was ready for a new relationship. She didn’t know if she was done with the old one yet.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lydia was more excited about the date than Charly. When Matthew picked her up, she was the one jumping at the sound of the doorbell.
“Chill, Lyd. I’ve got this.”
“I know. I want this to be a successful fix-up.” Lydia twisted her lips a little when Jake guffawed from the living room. “I’m making this about me, aren’t I?”
“A little bit. We’ll have a good time. I have no doubt. I’m not looking for a husband, simply a nice outing. Got it?” She stared at her best friend, hoping the message got through.
“Got it.”
The pinky-swear sealed the deal.
Charly let Matthew in and was impressed by his casual yet stylish attire. She had chosen her outfit carefully, too, knowing that playing mini-golf, even in the evening, you got hot.
“Hi, Charly. Oh, hey, Jake, Lydia.”
Okay, so he was as nervous as Lydia. Why was she the only one not nervous?
“I’m ready. Let me get my purse, and we can be on our way.”
He rubbed his hands together. “I’ve made reservations for supper at Bisqit there by the Hammock Shop.”
“Wonderful! I love the place, and I won’t feel under-dressed.” She put her purse on her shoulder. “I’m ready and hungry.”
“Good. See you later, Lydia.”
“Jake and I may not be here when you get back. I think we’re going to try to catch a movie up the road.”
“I thought you didn’t like movie dates.”
/> “I don’t like movie first dates. When you’re not sure you want a stranger to put his arm around you, it’s not fun, but when you’ve decided you definitely want said stranger to put his arm around you, it’s lots of fun.” Lydia’s face turned pink as Jake walked over and looped his arm around her shoulders.
“I agree. Let’s get out of here before we miss the previews.” Jake hugged her to him for a second and then went to the door, opening it for everyone. “I hope they have the preview for the new Star Wars movie.”
“Hmmm. They may preview the new Nicolas Sparks movie too.”
“Bite your tongue, woman.” Jake looked at her in horror.
Lydia giggled. “Just kidding. You kids have fun.”
“Thanks, you too.”
Matthew opened Charly’s door for her, and as he went around the front of the car, she looked around at the late-model Ford sedan. It was a top-of-the-line Fusion, with leather interior. It was very nice, but she couldn’t help comparing it to Rance’s Jaguar.
When they turned south on Highway 17, Charly turned toward him. “You know, I don’t remember asking what you teach?”
“Jake and Lydia kind of maintained the conversation the other night.” He laughed. “That’s one reason I like to hang out with Jake. I don’t feel the need to contribute as much to the conversation.”
“I know what you mean. Lydia has always been the one who pushed or pulled me into things, including conversations. She has no mercy.”
“Oh, and I teach high school biology and chemistry.” He turned to her with a smile.
“This explains so much. No wonder you’re a whiz at Trivial Pursuit. The very areas I stink at are the ones you have a degree in.” She shook her head with a smile. “Did you always want to teach?”
He paused, looking pensive. “No, originally I wanted to be a doctor.”
The information hit her straight in the gut. Great. Another one. “What changed your mind?”
He grinned slightly. “Undergrad clinicals. I found out I don’t have the personality for it.”
“Seriously? I would go to a doctor like you. Talkative doctors are annoying to quiet people, like me.”
“True. I’ve thought about going back, after I’ve saved up money for grad school, but it hasn’t happened. In the meantime, I found out I love kids. Amazingly, I can be a clown in front of a group of kids, when I clam up like––”
“A clam?” Charly laughed.
“Exactly. See? I get tongue-tied one on one.”
“Excuses, excuses.”
“Yeah. I’ve been teaching three years now, and I love it.”
“Then that’s what you should do. I love it too. Originally, I wanted to be in broadcast journalism.”
“Well, you have the looks for it.”
“Thank you, kind sir. I decided I didn’t want to live that kind of life.” She shrugged. “Then my mom went blind, and I knew I was interested in helping people with disabilities. It became my passion.”
They drove into the area of little shops that make up Pawley’s Island Hammock Shoppes and found a parking spot. One of these days she would definitely buy one of the handmade hammocks they sold there. They were amazing. Tonight, their destination was Bisqit.
Their order in, they found a table on the outside screened-in eating area.
“I love this place.” Charly sipped on her RC cola and nodded toward his glass bottle. “I’ve never tried Mexican Coke. What’s different about it?”
“I like it. The scientific answer is that it’s made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup. The foodie answer is that it has a hint of root beer flavor I like.”
“Forget it. I can’t stand root beer. Or regular beer either.”
He smiled. “Don’t develop a taste for it then. Unfortunately, I liked it too much during college.”
She looked at him over her straw then set her bottle down and crossed her arms on the table. “I guess everyone has their vice.”
“I can’t imagine you have much of one.”
She smiled then sobered. It was so easy to fool people. “You’d be surprised.”
“One of those hidden ones, huh? I get it. I hid alcoholism for a long time, until I found myself walking to class with beer in my water bottle at eight in the morning.”
“Really?” She stared at him.
“Not something I’m proud of. It lost me my scholarship and the confidence to go to medical school.”
“Wow. I had no idea.” She pondered this as she traced the letters on the dewy bottle on the table. “I was always the ‘good girl’ who never got in trouble, but I’ve always struggled with feeling like I was an imposter, you know?”
“I know.”
Their food came and with it a flurry of excitement. Charly’s Lobster BLT and Matthew’s American Beauty Burger brought with them smells that would dismantle the strictest of diets.
The waitress stood back, checking their order before she left. “Can I get you anything else? More to drink?”
“I think we’re doing great, thank you.” Matthew smiled and winked at Charly.
“Definitely. This looks amazing.” Charly was waiting for her to leave so she could dig in.
“The Lobster BLT is my favorite. You won’t be disappointed.”
“I know. I’ve had it before and love it.”
“Locals, then?”
“Yes, up the road at Murrells Inlet, and he’s from Myrtle Beach.”
“Good deal. Listen, if you need anything, holler. My name is Wendy.”
She smiled and walked away.
Matthew held out his hand. “Can we say a quick blessing?”
“Yes, because I’m starving, and this smells so good.” She took his hand lightly and bowed her head as he prayed.
“Lord, thank you for this food you’ve provided, and for the company of Charly. Bless us, keep us safe, and help us to be a light for others to see You.”
Charly looked up. “Thank you.” She felt a lump in her throat. It had been a long time since she prayed on a date. She took a sip of RC and then picked up her sandwich.
“How did your session go, at the conference?”
He laughed. “It was fine. They gave me half a ballroom, and I had about ten people come to the session. The few who were there seemed to enjoy it.” He took a bite and savored it. “Oh, and I got to see the vendor I wanted to talk to about lab technology. He’s supposed to contact my principal next week, so here’s hoping.”
“I’m glad it was worthwhile. Nothing worse than going to a big, expensive conference and not getting the info you need or can use.”
Halfway through the first half of her sandwich, she felt a touch on her shoulder, and she looked up.
Rance.
“Um, hi, Rance.”
“Hi, Charly. How have you been?”
“I’m fine. Matthew, this is Rance Butler. Rance, Matthew Graves.”
Matthew stood and shook hands with Rance, nodding cordially.
“Lucy said she saw you a few days ago.”
“Yes, she nearly mowed me down with the twins, but I lived to tell the tale.” His charming half-smile threatened to undo her.
“When will the surgery be?”
“In about two weeks, unless they move it up. It’ll depend on the condition of my father. He’s getting weaker.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ve almost called you several times, to tell you.” He glanced over at Matthew, then at her, his jaw working. “I know you’ve been busy. With your class and all.”
Was he jealous? She looked up at him, her mouth set. “I have been busy. Class is over, and now I’m getting ready for school to start.”
“Right.” Rance cleared his throat. “I won’t keep you. I wanted to say hello.” His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out. She thought he paled a little when he read what was on the screen. He closed it, put his phone away, then glanced at Matthew again and smiled. “Have a good evening.” He looked back at Charly, and she co
uld see the lines of worry around his eyes.
When he walked away, she closed her eyes for a second to close out the rest of the world. It must have been longer than she thought because she felt a touch on her hand and heard a concerned voice saying, “Are you okay?”
She opened her eyes. “I’m fine. When does your school start?”
Rance got out of his car, grabbed his gear, and ran into the hospital at a dead run.
Plans had changed. The timetable for the transplant had been moved up to now.
Rance could tell his heart rate was up, but it was from the text, not the run from the parking lot. He reached the surgical wing in time to see the doors swing open. “What’s going on?”
“Your father has been having chest pains, and the dialysis has had to be upped to every day. He can’t wait any longer.” Dr. Hobgood was dressing in his surgical gown. He glanced up at Rance while tying his scrubs. “How long since your last meal?”
“Lunch. I was about to get supper when you sent me the message.”
“Good. Any meds, alcohol, I need to know about?”
“Not recently.”
“Even better.” He looked up at the surgical nurse coming through the door. “Pam, take Rance and get him prepped for surgery.”
“Yes, doctor. Mr. Watson is already in the prep room.”
“Can I see my dad before the surgery?”
Pam looked at Dr. Hobgood, who nodded, then said, “Follow me.”
He wound through the corridors into a surgical prep room where nurses and the anesthesiologist were working on his father. Clifton’s eyes lit up when he saw Rance.
“Son, I’m sorry they had to move it up.”
“Hey, don’t worry about me. I’ll be up and around when it comes time to pick up Sam.”
“Maybe we can both pick him up.”
Rance gave him a big smile. “That would be optimal.” He took his father’s hand and squeezed it. “You’ll do great. I know it.”
Clifton pointed up. “It’s all Him now.” He gazed into his son’s eyes. “What about you? Do you know Him? Do you know what He did for you?”
Rance looked down for a moment and then up at his father. “Yes sir, I do.”
Carolina Grace (Southern Breeze Series Book 3) Page 20