by LuAnn McLane
“Mama!” Carrie Ann answered the phone brightly, somehow feeling guilty that she was still in bed after eight o’clock. She cleared her throat so she wouldn’t sound groggy. Her mother was one of the few people who called her on her home line this early and often when Carrie Ann was thinking of her.
“Hey there, sugar pie, what’s going on?” Mary Spencer asked innocently but the underlying tone in her soft Southern drawl suggested otherwise.
Carrie Ann sat up and propped a pillow behind her back. “You mean with White Lace and Promises?” Carrie Ann asked just as innocently. “Sophia has been working her tail off to get the salon ready to open in time for spring weddings. Her sister, Grace, is a marketing whiz. We have a Web site, a Facebook page, and gorgeous glossy pamphlets on display at all of the related shops in Wedding Row.”
“Oh, I cannot wait to see it,” Mary gushed.
“We’re going to have an open house soon and have some models brought in to do some updos on. Some of the other shops are joining in with us for a day of festivities.”
“You were always good at fancy updos. I didn’t have the patience for all that fluff.”
“Oh, thank you, Mama, but Sophia does absolutely stunning work. I’ll send pictures, or better yet, you should come up for a visit.”
“I might just do that. Ava and Ellie are bringing the grandkids down for spring break. Maybe I’ll fly back to Lexington with them and then rent a car and drive down to Cricket Creek for a spell.”
Carrie Ann wasn’t too keen on her mother driving but her mama would not even dream of giving up her car keys. But even though years of standing on her feet behind the chair had taken its toll on her physically, Mary Spencer remained as sharp as a tack. Florida sunshine and the abundance of friends kept her going at a fast social pace and even though Carrie Ann missed her mama dearly, she loved hearing the happiness in her voice. And while her mother had never come close to remarrying, she was still a stunning, vivacious woman and had her share of what she referred to as “gentlemen callers.”
“So . . . anything else going on?”
Carrie Ann rested her head against the pillow and grinned. “Hmmm, let me think. Well, I did Mabel Grammar’s hair the other day. She brought me a dozen butter cookies from the bakery.”
“Oh, those are my favorites. How is Mabel doing these days?”
“Just fine and dandy. She asked about you. Wanted to send you some cookies but we wondered if they would be cookie crumbs by the time they made it to Naples, Florida.”
“Carrie Ann Spencer!” She cut to the chase. “Are you going to make me come right out and ask?”
“Okay, Mama, I’ve been . . . seeing Easton Fisher.”
“Well, I know this very fact and I got this information via a group text message from my circle of friends in Cricket Creek. The two of you were spotted at Wine and Diner all lovey-dovey. Arrived together rather than your usual just-so-happened-to-be-at-the-same-place-at-the-same-time shenanigans you two like to pull. As if we all didn’t see right through that nonsense.”
“A group text message?”
“Hey, I know how to use my newfangled smartphone, thank you very much,” she said, but then chuckled. “Well, I know some of the features. I do have a habit of sending texts to the wrong person, which can end up in some pretty sticky social situations, especially involving my gentlemen callers, but that’s another story best saved for another time.”
Carrie Ann rolled her eyes. “I won’t ask.”
“Let’s get back to the subject at hand. Of course, I acted as if I was already privy to this vital information about you and Easton dating, but mercy me, Carrie Ann, why am I always the last one to know things?”
“Mama, I’d say you’re usually the first to know and start spreading the news.”
“Well, yes! I mean, being a hairdresser in the heart of town made me the queen bee at gossip central. You know as much. Not that I spread gossip, mind you.”
“Seriously, Mama?”
A low chuckle reverberated through the phone. “Well, at least not much anyway. And I didn’t ever repeat anything that I didn’t know to be factual. As you know, being a good listener is part of a hairdresser’s job.”
“I’ll give you that.” She knew about affairs, lovers’ spats, babies on the way, and any other news both big and small. Like her mother, Carrie Ann was much more of a listener than a talker, but being the first to know things was something she’d grown used to. And truth be known, she rather enjoyed it. “Well, yes, Mama, to answer your question, Easton and I are . . .” What were they really?
“He’s your boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend sounds so silly for someone my age.”
“It’s not silly at all.” Her mother became silent for a few seconds and Carrie Ann could feel the emotion coming through the phone. “It’s about time, sugar pie,” she finally said with a slight tremble in her voice.
“Oh, Mama.” Carrie Ann felt moisture gather in her throat. “I’ve been friends with Easton for so long that I didn’t want to ruin it by doing something stupid.”
“Falling in love is never stupid, even if it ends badly. You know all too well that I wouldn’t have changed a thing in my life, even knowing what was going to happen. I treasure every moment I had with Charley even though he was taken from us way too soon.”
“I know, Mama. I still miss Daddy every single day.”
“Yeah, the old time-heals-all-wounds notion is a big bunch of bull feathers.”
Carrie Ann was surprised by her mother’s candor about a subject that they rarely discussed.
“But the sharp pain has dulled over the years. My big regret is that I didn’t get a chance to say good-bye. It happened so suddenly without any warning. I mean, your daddy was a fit man and so young.” She paused as if to regain her composure, and then chuckled softly. “And that morning I’d run out of his favorite lunch meat so I had to pack a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich instead. Just to be funny I added a strawberry Fruit Roll-Up and a juice box like I did for you kids. Put a little note sayin’ I was sorry and that I loved him. You know, I never put notes in his lunch. Funny how it happened that way.”
Carrie Ann closed her eyes and inhaled a shaky breath.
“Used to bother me that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was the last meal I gave your daddy but I just knew he found the whole thing amusing. He was so good-natured. Wasn’t a mean bone in that man’s body. He was just . . . good, you know?”
“Oh, I know. Shame I didn’t get his laid-back disposition.”
“You’re a feisty one like me. But you know what? Your daddy could calm me down with a gentle kiss on the forehead. Or sometimes he’d just grab my hand and squeeze. He just seemed to have that power. Oh, but he wouldn’t tolerate anyone disrespecting me—or anyone else for that matter. You didn’t want to cross that line, let me tell ya.”
“He stood up for what he believed in.” Carrie Ann smiled because she knew all of this to be true. They didn’t come any better than Charley Spencer. And it wasn’t too difficult to understand that she’d never found anyone who could measure up to her father. Carrie Ann knew all too well why she had so many issues with commitment.
“Oh, Lordy.” Mary sniffed and cleared her throat. “Anyway, Carrie Ann, what I’m trying to say is that you’ve got a lot of livin’ left to do. You just don’t know what’s waiting around the corner. So embrace this relationship. From all I’ve ever known of Easton and the Fisher family, they’re good solid folks.”
“Yes, he’s a good man. It’s hard to believe he’s remained single all these years too.”
“Maybe Easton was waiting around for you to come to your senses.”
“Mama . . .”
“Is he a good kisser?”
“Mama!”
“Well?”
“I am not going to kiss and tell!”
“Mama!”
“Quit sayin’ ‘mama’ like that.”
“Well, then quit asking me those kinds of questions.”
Mary chuckled again. “Aw, sugar. I sure wish I was there to give you a big ole hug. But next time tell your mother juicy news like this first, you hear me, child?”
“I promise,” Carrie Ann said, and then smiled. “I sure do love you to pieces.”
“Oh, now just hush before we both start blubbering and ruin our makeup. And it takes me a long time to look this good.”
Carrie Ann pictured her mother fluffing her hair and smiled. “I’m still lollygagging around in bed. Can you believe it?”
“Well, you get yourself up and stop wasting daylight. And I want a full report after your next date with cutie pie Easton.”
“You’ll get one.”
“Now that’s more like it. Send me a selfie next time you’re out with him.”
“A selfie?” Carrie Ann had to laugh.
“Just remember to hold the phone up high and tip your head back so it looks as if you’d had a face lift. Or better yet get one of those selfie sticks.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for the tip.”
“Or even better yet, FaceTime me but do the same thing and hold the phone up or it puts a good ten pounds on you.”
Carrie Ann had to chuckle. “I do believe you’re savvier about this stuff than I am.”
“I’ve got a lot of time on my hands, sweet pea.”
“Are you kidding? Mama, you have a full social life.”
“True, but I sure do miss my girls.”
“I miss you something fierce too. Love you, Mama.”
“Love you too, Carrie Ann. Well, time for my water aerobics. Gotta run! Or should I say ‘gotta swim’? See you in the funny papers.”
Carrie Ann smiled at the old-fashioned saying that her father used to say with a wave over his head when he headed off to work. She hadn’t heard her mother say it in a while and perhaps chatting about the past was much more healing than Carrie Ann wanted to admit. Ava and Ellie had rebounded with the resilience of children, but for a long time Carrie Ann felt guilty about feeling happy. Well, it was high time that she put that silly notion to rest for good.
While shaking her head, Carrie Ann looked at the phone. Her mama was one piece of work. But it did her heart good to hear her mother’s voice and to know that in spite of the tragedy she endured she’d managed to carve out a fulfilling life for herself.
Carrie Ann leaned over to put the phone back in the cradle, and then rested back against the pillows. If the news of her getting cozy with Easton at Wine and Diner up on Main Street in Cricket Creek, Kentucky, had found its way down to Naples, Florida, then it was highly likely that she and Easton were the talk of the town.
And yes, Mama, the man was a good kisser and so much more than that. Carrie Ann closed her eyes and caught her bottom lip between her teeth. No, Easton was an amazing kisser. Thorough, deep, and yet somehow tender but with enough heat to make her simply melt. Just thinking about making love to him made her all hot and bothered. With a groan she reached up for the chain to her ceiling fan and yanked it up on high. She tilted her flushed face up to catch the breeze.
She wanted to make love once more to Easton Fisher. No, not just once more . . . but a lot . . . as in over and over.
“Oh, mercy, I should give myself a little overhaul.” Carrie Ann looked down at her cherry red toenails peeking out from the edge of her pajama bottoms. Holy cow, it had been a long time since a man had seen her naked. Carrie Ann rested her palm against her forehead. Before had been spontaneous but now she had time to think about when it would happen again.
“Where do I begin?” Well, for starters she could use a manicure, pedicure, and facial. She needed to buff puff, exfoliate, tweeze, and moisturize from head to toe. Maybe drop a pound or two. Of course making love to Easton had been quite the workout. Maybe her weight-loss plan could be . . . sex-ercise. She chuckled at her own joke.
Carrie Ann looked at her light blue flannel pajamas and shook her head. “Lingerie. Candles.” She looked her best in soft lighting. “Mood music . . . oh, mercy me, I need to make a list. No, several lists.”
She’d invite Easton over for dinner, set the mood . . . and then have her way with him. Her heart thudded at the thought of having Easton in her bed this time and having his bare skin sliding against her body. She would take her time, exploring, teasing, kissing, licking every inch of him to her heart’s content.
Reaching down, she cupped her breasts, lifting them higher. “Oh, girls, you aren’t as perky as you once were.” But even as a cheerleader she was never one of those as-skinny-as-a-stick kind of girls. She had curves and she liked to eat. But blow-drying and washing hair and being on her feet all day long kept her toned and in pretty darned good shape. While she primped and fussed with her appearance, she felt fairly comfortable in her skin. She just wasn’t as confident about the whole naked part.
“I’m not one bit nervous,” she told herself with a lift of her chin but her wildly beating heart told a much different story. Still, she smiled and hugged a pillow to her chest. “You can do this, Carrie Ann Spencer. Oh yes, you can.”
9
Could It Be Forever?
Easton stood on the front porch of Carrie Ann’s house holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and clutching a bottle of red wine in the other. He looked at the round doorbell but instead of pressing it, he stood there for a moment feeling a bit uncertain. He wanted their relationship to go to the next level, but he didn’t want her to think he expected her to fall into bed with him every time they got together. Making love to a woman wasn’t something he did casually. But thinking about her was becoming sweet torture and he wanted her naked and in his arms once more.
Her invitation to dinner at her home seemed like the perfect occasion to ramp up the romance but he didn’t want to appear too obvious or too confident. He’d actually wanted to bring a box of chocolates along with the wine and flowers, but thought that might be going a bit too far. He told himself to just enjoy the night and to see where it led. But just thinking about Carrie Ann sent his libido into overdrive. In fact, making love to her was just about all he had thought about since he woke up that morning.
Easton took a breath of the cold evening air in an attempt to clear his head and calm his ardor.
Shouldn’t have worn these damned tight jeans, he thought and nearly laughed. He hadn’t been this revved up in . . . well, maybe never. Now that he knew what it felt like to make love to her all it took was thinking about it and he sure as hell was thinking about it right this minute.
Easton couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken such pains with his grooming and appearance. His smoothly shaven face was as soft as a baby’s behind. The new aftershave he wore was more expensive than he thought reasonable for a mere two ounces of anything, but the perky young clerk at Macy’s assured him that the Acqua di Gio was certain to please.
Easton was the type of guy who spent more money on fishing gear than his wardrobe and a rare trip to the mall yesterday evening set him back nearly two hundred dollars. But if his new sweater and designer jeans impressed Carrie Ann it was worth every penny and then some. Even his boxer briefs and socks were brand-spanking-new. And because Carrie Ann was his hairdresser, he’d put a bit of pomade in his hair, slicking it back just a bit like she’d done in the salon. Most days he wore a baseball cap, but tonight, he wanted to look his best.
All in all he felt as if he’d cleaned up pretty well. Now if he could just muster up the gumption to push the damned doorbell, things would be just fine. Or so he hoped.
Easton looked at the flowers, wondering if he should have gone with the roses. “Oh for Pete’s sake,” he grumbled under his breath. Okay, just t
ake it slow and easy, Easton told himself and then reached over and pressed his knuckle to the round button nearly dropping the bottle of wine in the process. Geez, could he get any more nervous? He felt like a teenager going to the prom. He squared his shoulders, put a smile on his face and waited.
A heart-thudding moment later, Carrie Ann opened the front door. “Hello, Easton. Come on in,” she said breezily and stood back for him to enter.
When Easton stepped into the foyer he leaned over and gave Carrie Ann a light kiss on the cheek. “Something sure smells wonderful.”
“Meat loaf,” she said with a rather shy smile. “I wanted to make sure I fixed something that couldn’t go wrong. I’m a decent cook, but I tend to get distracted and I always seem to forget to set the timer. Meat loaf is pretty much foolproof,” she said as she took the bouquet of flowers from him. “These are lovely! Thank you!” She angled her head at him as if in question and Easton realized he was gawking at her.
“You . . .” he began but could only shake his head. She looked absolutely stunning in a dark green dress that clung in all the right places and showed just enough cleavage to make him want to put his mouth against the soft swell of her breasts. She wore a single strand of pearls and her hair was gathered up into some sort of sexy bun that had him imagining her taking bobby pins out one at a time until her the deep red mass of curls fell to her shoulders. And she was wearing high heels. Some strappy black things that were as sexy as all get-out.
“Easton? Everything okay? Am I overdressed?”
“No . . . I . . . you . . . damn, Carrie Ann. Well, obviously you’ve got me all tongue-tied and rendered me speechless. And that’s pretty hard to do.”
“In a good way, I hope?” She sniffed the flowers and looked at him.
“You take my breath away,” he said as he shook his head slowly.
“Are you trying to get me to give you mouth-to-mouth?”
Easton laughed. “Are you making fun of my cheesy comment?”