Love of Truth

by C. T. Oliver

  Amelia walks into the place looking so young and happy, she makes me feel as if I am a teenager again. So much so that I can’t control my hard-on.

  A tall rotund man with salt and pepper hair sporting a Hawaiian shirt and khaki pants hanging from ready-to-snap suspenders comes out from the doorway behind the counter. The man takes one look at Amelia, and smiles until his face is bright red. She has that affect on people.

  “Annie, look who finally graced us with her presence,” the red-faced man shouts into the kitchen. In seconds, a thin silver haired woman with a warm weathered face wearing faded jeans and a t-shirt comes sauntering out. She smiles brightly when she gets a look at Amelia and comes around the counter to give her a welcoming hug.

  “Melia, it has been too long, dear,” Annie says.

  “I was just here a couple of months ago. You guys are too much.” Amelia giggles softly, while returning Annie’s hug with one arm.

  “Girlie, you drove through here, only stopped for an apple and left like your ass was on fire the last time,” the man says while eyeing me and looking at our hands.

  I put on my best Southern manners. “Hi, I’m Craig.” I hold out my hand. The man eyes me more closely.

  “Phillip, don’t be rude!” Annie admonishes and turns to shake my offered hand. “Craig, I’m Annie, it’s so nice to meet you. Are you Amelia’s boyfriend?” Amelia’s eyes widen in surprise and making me chuckle.

  “I’m working towards it,” I say, giving Annie a wink that makes her giggle nervously.

  “You have good intentions with her young man?” Phillip asks in a stern voice.

  “Yes, sir,” I answer looking Phillip respectfully in the eye. Then Phillip holds out his hand, still eyeing me closely.

  “Phillip,” he huffs.

  “Craig,” I say, shaking the man’s hand.

  Amelia laughs looking back and forth between Phillip and me. “How’s everything with the store, you guys? Still making a killing with the taffy?” She hands Larry over to Annie then wanders over to a basket and starts to unwrap a candy.

  “We’re doing great. Well, we’re gettin’ up there you know…we thinkin’ we’re gonna try to sell the store soon, girlie,” Phillips says, still keeping an eye me from behind the counter.

  “WHAT! You guys haven’t aged a day since I met you fifteen or so years ago,” Amelia says between chews of her candy.

  “Being good lookin’ like I am doesn’t mean I ain’t tired at the end of the day,” Phillip states with a serious face.

  Amelia looks kind of sad about the news. “But who’s going to make me elephant ears? I only like your ears, Phillip,” she says with a pout. If possible, Phillip’s face got even redder.

  Annie giggles looking at Phillip. “Phillip, go make her a batch of ears.”

  “You don’t have to, it’s not in season.”

  “Ahhh girlie, you know I’ll make you as many ears as you want anytime of the year,” Phillip says before walking into the kitchen.

  “So, how’s school, dear? You get used to teaching ‘em kiddies yet or they still makin’ fun of you for lookin’ younger than ‘em?” Annie asks while tickling Larry’s belly.

  Amelia lets out a little laugh. “Yeah, it’s different every term, but I’m still hanging in there.”

  “You tell ‘em, ‘I may be small, but my brain will beat up your brain’,” Phillip hollers from the kitchen, laughing at his own joke.

  Amelia smiles, but it doesn’t look as cheerful as before. Annie looks at her with such a mother’s love. “Dear, you know you are making a difference whether you see it or not.”

  What’s this? Amelia doesn’t think that she makes a difference? She’s so nice and selfless, how can she not see that she makes a difference just by being herself. Everyone around her loves her.

  Phillips comes out with three elephant ears the size of huge dinner plates with a light dusting of powdered sugar on top. “Oh my gosh!” Amelia lights up. She takes them from Phillip and heads over to a booth at the corner of the parlor.

  Amelia and I sit across from Annie. “Okay, here’s the deal. If I let you guys sell this place, you’re going to have to give me the recipe for these ears,” Amelia says after a big bite. She tears off a piece and holds it to my mouth. I can’t hold back from the temptation. I take the piece of vanilla and buttery flavored dough into my mouth and wrap my lips around her fingers, licking off the sugar slowly with my tongue. I can see a blush creeping up her cheeks as she tries to maintain eye contact and conversation with Annie.

  Annie looks at us for a second before she gives me a warm smile. “Of course, I’ll show you how to make them dear.”

  “Annie can’t make ‘em as good as me,” Phillips says, coming back again with three more elephant ears. He sits down next to Annie and tears a big bite out of one. Powdered sugar snows down his chin and lands on his rotund stomach.

  Annie shakes her head but looks at Phillip with so much love. “So Craig, tell us about yourself. I sense you’re not from around here.”

  “No, ma’am. I’m here for law school. I wanted to spend my break catching some waves.”

  “Law school? Good for you, dear,” Annie smiles happily looking between Amelia and I.

  “You seen girlie here take on the waves yet?” Phillip asks, reaching for another elephant ear only to have Annie slap his hand away from the plate.

  “Haven’t yet had the pleasure, but tomorrow I’m sure I’ll be in for a surprise.” I look over to Amelia and pull her closer to me. It’s where she belongs. She looks up and smiles warmly and I can feel it in my heart.

  “Melia, what else do you have planned this trip? Stayin’ for a while?” Annie asks as she feeds Larry a piece of elephant ear.

  “Just until next Friday. But I’m planning a dessert birthday party for Blu next Tuesday. Do you mind if I get some chocolate from you guys?” Amelia asks, casually licking and sucking the sugar off her fingers. I can’t look away from her. God, her lips are so cute.

  “Take whatever you need, girlie. You bring that Purple guy here and we can give him a birthday sundae.” Phillip laughs at his own joke even with Annie’s disapproving look.

  “You’re too much, Phillip,” Amelia laughs at him.

  Phillip wraps up the leftover elephant ears and four caramel apples for Amelia while she goes about the store getting chocolate, caramel, and other ingredients she thinks she can’t get at the grocery store. Amelia loads everything in a couple of bags before handing them over to me. She quickly rushes behind the cash register and before I can blink, she is back standing next to me. She rushes through goodbye hugs with Annie and Phillip then dashes out of the parlor as fast as her little legs can take her. Outside I feel as if she is running from the scene of a crime.

  “Amelia, what’s going on? Did we just rob them or something?” I ask, stepping up my pace to stay up with her. For such a small girl, she is quick on her feet—even with Larry hugged to her chest.

  She laughs, turning to see if we’re being followed. “No, I just don’t want them to catch up with us.” She quickly grabs my hand, pulling me into the grocery store.

  “So you did rob them, and we’re now trying to blend into a grocery store. As a lawyer, I wouldn’t take you on as a client. You’re not very good with the getaways,” I deadpan. I walk over to grab a shopping cart and start following after her dutifully.

  Amelia can’t stop her giddy laughing. “No, Phillip and Annie never let me pay for anything whenever I’m there. So when they’re not looking, I always slip money into their till. For a while, they didn’t know because they weren’t very good with bookkeeping. Then when I taught them how to manage their books on the computer a while back, they kind of figured out it’s me because their books never balance every time I’m there. Now, I have to be a little trickier.”

  “Okay, well now that I’m in on the plan, I’ll help you next time.”

  She looks up and winks at me. “Deal! So I’m thinking Italian for tonight.”

>   “Ummm…Baby is going to cook me Italian. Yes, please!” I lean over and plant a kiss on her. God, she smells so good. Citrus and mint.

  We make our way around the store grabbing sausage meat, ground beef, tomatoes, herbs, cheeses, noodles, and all the ingredients for the desserts. I don’t think I’ve ever been around a girl who is so laidback about everything. She keeps her cool and thinks things through before making her next move. If she plays chess, dad is going to have a challenge with this one. She is so friendly as she moves about the store, talking and asking me what the guys would like all the while taking the time to smile at people who pass by her.

  “So how do you guys feel about Thai food for tomorrow?” she asks, looking up at me with those beauty wide eyes.

  “You’re not cooking us dinner tomorrow.”

  She looks a little confused and sad. “Well, I was going to cook for myself anyway, and I always make a lot and it’s just me so why don’t you guys come over and eat with me,” she rambles.

  I raise her face to look at me. “Amelia, the guys and I are going to cook you dinner. I don’t want you catering to us. Cory may eat like a pig, but he’s also a decent cook.”

  “Oh,” she says, her lips forming an adorable O. “Okay, but I’m still getting the stuff to make Thai food because my friends are coming Saturday. And you guys are coming over for that, right?”

  My heart swell at the way she has incorporated me into her life. “Okay, but I’m helping.”

  It seems like Amelia knows practically everyone in this town, even the lady who rings up our purchases. It makes me wonder how someone who is so friendly and nice, so selfless from the inside out, can think that she is not making a difference in the world.

  Chapter 11

  Walking back to the SUV, Craig is carrying almost everything except for a few light bags. It’s sweet he doesn’t want me to carry anything, only take care of Larry, but I put my foot down at that notion. I’m not an invalid. I can pull my own weight.

  I should find it annoying that he doesn’t want me to exert myself, but I don’t. With Craig, I feel protected and cared for. I know he doesn’t think I’m incapable or lacking, he just cares. I enjoy exerting my independence, and he has this smile that I love to see every time I stand up to him. It seems to be his tell that he’s giving into me and that smile is panty-melting hot.

  I slow my steps a bit for a chance to see the muscles flex and stretch under his blue oxford shirt. He is so confident and comfortable with every move he makes. So deliciously handsome and I can’t help the face splitting grin. This man who is warm and sweet yet stern and strong is interested in me. He wants to try to get to know me, and it sounds long term. I take a moment to let the idea sink in. A shiver runs down my spine, whether from excitement or anxiety, I can’t be sure. I do know that I’m a little worried. Even though we live in the same city, I wonder if it can work after this little vacation of ours is over or will it be just a big mess once we make our way back to the city?

  “What?” he asks, looking over at me with a sexy grin on his lips. Deep in thought, I forgot that I’ve been shamelessly staring.

  “Damn, got caught gawking!” I laugh.

  He chuckles. “See something you like, baby?” Whenever he calls me ‘baby’ I nearly swoon, completely lost in him.

  “Maybe, but you know that already.” I look ahead trying to hide my face. I can already feel it warming up.

  “No, no I don’t. You’ve never said anything,” he gasps. “As a matter of fact, you’ve never said anything about what you think of me,” he says with a mock hurt tone.

  “Oh, my gosh! Are you fishing for compliments?” I try to contain my laugher.

  “It doesn’t hurt to hear a compliment here or there from you once in a while.” He tries to sound like a nagging wife, but fails because of the giant grin on his face.

  I burst out laughing, scaring Larry into barking. “Well, since you’ve put it that way, let’s just say I don’t go around kissing gorgeous neighbors.”

  “Hmm…” he says. We reach the SUV and start loading the groceries in the back.

  “That’s it, just ‘hmmm’?” I climb into the passenger side, letting Larry cuddle in my lap for the ride.

  “Hmmm.” He nods as he pulls onto the street and heads out of town.

  “Well, some lawyer you’re going to make,” I smirk. Larry barks and climbs over to Craig’s lap, and tilts his head as to argue with me.

  Craig laughs and reaches over to take my hand in his. “Okay, missy. Tell me about Phillip and Annie. They’re such a nice couple.”

  “Oh goodness, they’re the best! I’ve known them since my first clamming trip out here with my uncle. We always go eat at the Chowder House and then get dessert at the ice cream parlor before heading back to the city.” Those are my favorite childhood memories.

  “When I was in high school, my family and I came out here for a weekend and got news they were having trouble keeping the place afloat. Either their only son was stealing from them for drug money, or they were burning through money trying to get him help.” I look down at our hands. “I just couldn’t stand the idea of them losing the place, so that summer I came out here and worked for them. I said I wanted to learn how to run a business and asked if they would allow me to intern there. They figured if their business was going down, at least they could use it one last time to help someone.”

  “Wow. So you just came out here by yourself?” he asks, taking a quick glance over at me.

  “Yeah, why not?” I shrug.

  Craig’s brow knit with curiosity. “How old were you?”

  “Fifteen. Why?”

  “That’s a lot of heart and responsibility for a fifteen year old. I can understand how you felt, but I’m just really surprised. You were so young.”

  I don’t know what to say to that, I shrug it off.

  “Please continue,” he says, taking another quick glance at me.

  “Well, Phillip taught me all he knew about how to run the place, which wasn’t much. You see, their passion is making the candy, ice cream, elephant ears, and treats, not management. So the second week in, I asked to manage the books and set up a system for them. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but at least I had the power of the Internet on my side. Also with me there, Josh, their son, couldn’t get money out of the till like he used to. I would do multiple deposits throughout the day and only left enough money for change. And because of that, Annie and Phillip kept the parlor over the summer and into the fall of that year.” I smile at the memory.

  “What happened to Josh?” Craig asks, giving my hand a squeeze.

  “Well, after cussing out his parents for being stupid and not seeing that I was stealing money from right underneath their noses, he left the small town where drugs cost more than the bigger cities.” I take in a breath to control the memory of the anger, sadness, and discomfort I felt for coming between Annie and her only son. “They found his body a year later in Portland.” I can still remember when Phillip called with the news and explained how sad Annie was. How she wouldn’t talk to anyone for weeks and just made candy to get through her days.

  “They tried to help him. Even went so far as asking him to come home once things started to pick up again, but he just—he just didn’t want help. He had to want the help in order to get well, but he didn’t want it,” I sigh. The justification doesn’t take away the discomfort I still feel when I recall the situation.

  “That’s a very mature understanding of it.”

  “It took me a while to accept it. For a long time I did feel like it was my fault. If I hadn’t shown up that summer, he might have gone into treatment and his parents would still have him and the parlor.” That lingering guilt still creeps up every now and then. Especially whenever I see Phillip and Annie.

  “No, Amelia. That would’ve only happened if he wanted help, and clearly he didn’t. He took advantage of his parents’ help long before you came along.” He gives my hand a reassuring squeez
e as he pulls into the residential area.

  “Yeah, I know. Phillip was the one who told me that. For quite some time I couldn’t face them because I was afraid they would blame me for causing him to move to the city. They knew how I felt, I guess. They came to visit me one day and told me about them asking Josh to come home and get help, but he didn’t want it.” I laugh at the irony of it. “I guess they saved me from myself, so to speak.”

  He looks at me closely as if he’s thinking over what I said before a smile crosses his chiseled lips. “I think it’s a fair exchange for the help you gave them,” he says as he pulls the SUV into the parking space.

  I sigh “Yeah.” I’m ready to get out of the SUV, but the next thing I know I’m sitting in Craig’s lap on the driver side. Larry is in the passenger seat. Craig pulls me into a tight hug.

  “Amelia, I think it takes a person with the biggest charitable heart to do what you did for Phillip and Annie, and I respect you for it. From what I saw, I don’t think that Phillip and Annie hold anything against you. If anything, it looks as if they adopted you as their own.” He lets go of me and takes my face his both his hands as he look into my eyes. “You know, peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding. You have to truly understand that what happened to Josh was not your fault.”

  I look at him for a second before moving in to give him a quick peck on the lips. “Quoting Albert Einstein. A fine feather in your cap, Mr. Patrice. I guess you do have what it takes to be a lawyer.”

  He smiles smugly. “Thought you might like it”.

  The movement of the trunk opening scares me into a squeal.

  “If you two are done making out, some of us haven’t eaten since our early lunch!” Cory growls.