Time to Laugh Romance Collection

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “I’ve heard that, too.”

  “Seth’s a little worried about his ventriloquist shop, but he was caught up on all repairs before we left, so I think it will be okay if he’s gone another few weeks.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” Lois agreed.

  “What’s new with you?” Tabby asked, changing the subject. “Did that cute, funny clown ever call?”

  “Yes, and we’ve gone on a couple of dates. In fact, he’s taking me out again this Saturday.”

  “That’s great. Where are you going?”

  “Joe said it was a surprise.” Lois drew in a breath then released it in a contented sigh. “I don’t see how he could top our last date.”

  “Where’d you go?”

  “To the Puyallup Fair, and Joe talked me into riding the roller coaster.”

  Tabby’s sharp intake of breath indicated her reaction. “And you lived to tell about it?”

  “It turned out to be a lot of fun,” Lois admitted. “I think I’ve finally overcome my fear of the crazy ride.”

  “That’s wonderful. I’m glad you and Joe are getting along so well. You two should be good for each other.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You tend to be a bit solemn sometimes, and Joe’s playfulness will help you see the humorous side of life. Joe’s a big kidder, so your serious side should give him some new perspectives.”

  Lois nodded, not even caring that Tabby couldn’t see her reaction. Her sister was right. Lois definitely could use more joy in her life, but Joe more serious? Was that even possible?

  Chapter 11

  As Joe prepared for his date with Lois, he began to have second thoughts. He enjoyed her company. More than he had any other woman he’d ever dated, in fact. He knew she was a Christian, and he was physically attracted to her, but something was holding him back. Was it the serious side of Lois that bothered him, or the personal questions she’d asked him? Joe never talked to anyone about his mother’s emotional problems, his brother’s leaving home, or even the details of his parents dying. It was too painful, and he’d found his own way of dealing with it, so why dredge up the past? Yet several times, when he and Lois had gone out, she’d brought up his family. So far, he’d managed to distract her or change the subject, but how long could he put her curiosity on hold?

  Joe hopped into his truck and slammed the door. “Guess I’ll have to keep her too busy laughing to ask any serious questions today.”

  Lois grabbed her sweater and an umbrella from the stand. She’d looked out her living room window and saw Joe pull up to the curb in front of the apartment complex. It was fifteen minutes after he’d said he would be there, so she hurried out the door, glad her apartment was on the ground floor and within easy reach of the street.

  “I would have come to the door to get you,” Joe said when she opened his truck door and slid into the passenger’s seat.

  “I was ready and figured it would save time.”

  “Looks like you came prepared.” He nodded toward her umbrella.

  Lois glanced out the window at the cloudy sky. “Even though it’s not raining at the moment, it could be later on.”

  “You’re probably right,” he agreed.

  “So where are we heading?”

  “Remember? It’s a surprise.”

  Lois glanced at her blue jeans and peach-colored knit top. Joe had told her to wear something casual for their date, so she hoped she looked okay. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a pale blue sweatshirt, which probably meant they weren’t going anywhere fancy. Relieved, she leaned against the headrest and decided to enjoy the ride. She had a habit of worrying over little things, but being around Joe was helping her relax.

  By the time they turned onto the freeway and headed north, Lois’s curiosity was piqued. Were they going to Seattle? Whidbey Island? Vancouver? She was about to ask, but Joe posed a question just then.

  “Heard anything from your sister and brother-in-law lately?”

  She nodded. “Tabby called me the other day. She said their evangelistic tour has been quite successful, so they’ve decided to keep on going for a couple of more weeks.”

  Joe tapped the steering wheel with both thumbs. “That’s great. Maybe I should have gone with them. It’s always rewarding to put on a gospel program and see folks turn their lives over to the Lord.”

  “I’ve heard Tabby say that many times,” Lois agreed. “Sometimes I feel jealous when she tells me how many people accept Christ after one of their performances.”

  “Why would you feel jealous?”

  She sighed deeply. “My sister is using her talents for the Lord and helping people find a personal relationship with Him. That’s part of what she and Seth do. I, on the other hand, have no talents to share.”

  “You’re a secretary for the church, right?”

  “Yes,” she said, nodding, “but it doesn’t seem like much.”

  “Not everyone has the ability to type, file, organize, and keep an office running smoothly. I’d say that’s a talent in itself.”

  “You may be right, but it’s not the same thing as what you and Tabby and Seth are involved in.” Lois paused a moment. “Sometimes I think I should pursue some kind of Christian ministry that could be part of a gospel presentation.”

  Joe reached across the seat for her hand. “How about becoming a gospel clown? There’s always room for one more.”

  She giggled. “Me?”

  “Yes, you.”

  “I don’t know the first thing about clowning.”

  “You don’t have to. There are plenty of classes you can take. In fact, I’ll be teaching one at a seminar in Bremerton next month.” He winked at her. “It might be fun to have someone enrolled in my class who likes to ride roller coasters and eat cotton candy.”

  She swatted his arm playfully. “You’re the one who likes to do those things, silly. I was coerced into riding the roller coaster, and one bite of cotton candy was enough to last me all day.”

  “I stand corrected,” he said with a chuckle. “Think about what I said, Lois. Even if you decide clowning isn’t for you, I promise it’ll be a fun class.”

  “I’ll consider it. Thanks for telling me about it.”

  Half an hour later, Joe exited the freeway and headed toward the Seattle Center. He was glad their conversation had been kept light and upbeat. Lois hadn’t once mentioned his past. Of course, he’d kept her busy listening to his stories about the birthday parties he’d recently done, and then he’d told her several corny jokes.

  “Ah-ha! So you’re taking me to the Seattle Center!” Lois exclaimed.

  “Yep. Sound like fun?” He glanced over to gauge her reaction.

  She offered him a pleasant smile. “More carnival rides?”

  “Nope—the Space Needle!”

  Her mouth dropped open like a broken hinge. “You’re kidding, right?”

  He shook his head. “I thought we’d eat lunch in the restaurant up there. We can enjoy the magnificent view of Puget Sound.”

  Lois’s face paled. “Uh, I really would rather eat at the food court, with my feet on solid ground.”

  Joe laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid to go up in the Space Needle.”

  “Okay, I won’t tell you that.”

  “Scared we might have an earthquake while we’re in the elevator heading to the top?” he teased.

  “I hadn’t even thought about that prospect.” Lois gripped the edge of the seat. “How about if I wait on the ground while you check out the beautiful sights?”

  He shook his head. “No way! I planned to do something special for this date, and I aim to see it through to the finish.”

  When Lois didn’t reply, he glanced her way again. She was leaning against the headrest with her eyes closed. “Lois, are you asleep?”

  Her eyes snapped open, and she shot him a pleading look. “I don’t want to go to the Space Needle for lunch. I’m not up to it today.”

  Not up
to it? What exactly was Lois saying? “Want to explain?” he asked.

  “I’m afraid of heights, Joe. I have been ever since I was a little girl and my dad took me to the top of the Space Needle.”

  “But you’re all grown up now,” he argued. “And I won’t let anything happen to you—I promise. Besides, you went on the roller coaster at the Puyallup Fair, and that’s pretty high off the ground.”

  She shot him an exasperated look. “That wasn’t half as high as the Space Needle, and it was moving at such rapid speeds. I didn’t have time to think about how high I was.”

  “How about this—we’ll go up and see the sights then come right back down and have lunch at the food court. Does that sound okay?”

  “Lunch at the food court would be great, but I’m still not sure about going up in that needle.”

  “It’ll be a breeze.”

  “Anything like riding the roller coaster?”

  “You said you had fun.”

  “I did, after I got over my initial fear,” she admitted.

  “This won’t be any different. Once you take in the beautiful scenery below, you’ll be begging me to bring you back for another ride to the top of the world.”

  “Okay. I’m not thrilled about it, but I’ll give it a try,” Lois said with a deep sigh.

  They pulled into a parking lot near the Seattle Center, and Joe found a spot before she could change her mind. He felt confident that once they were on the observation deck she would relax and enjoy her surroundings.

  Lois fidgeted and pulled nervously on the straps of her purse as they stood inside the enclosed area, waiting for the next elevator to take them to the top. “The top of the world.” Wasn’t that what Joe had called it? I only hope I don’t do something stupid up there. What if I get dizzy when I look down? What if I don’t look down and still feel faint? What if—?

  Joe slipped his arm around Lois and tickled her ribs. “It’s going to be okay. Trust me.”

  She squirmed, giggled, and tickled him back. The distraction was helping her relax. Each time Lois was with Joe, she liked him more. He could make her laugh, and he’d convinced her to ride the roller coaster. Now she was standing at the foot of the Space Needle. Was there no end to this man’s persuasions?

  The elevator door zipped open, and the attendant ushered them in. Lois felt herself being crowded to the back of the elevator, as the elevator filled with people. Joe’s arm tightened around her waist, and she leaned into him and whispered, “I hope I don’t live to regret this.”

  He chucked her under the chin. “You’ll be fine.”

  “I sure hope so.”

  Without warning, Joe bent his head and kissed Lois’s lips, snatching her breath away and causing her arms to go limp at her sides. Before she had time to regain her bearings, they were at the top, and Joe had pulled away.

  “Here we are,” he announced.

  Lois gulped and took a tentative step forward. Mount Rainier and everything in the distance radiated beauty beyond compare, but the things directly below resembled ants, toy cars, and tiny buildings that looked like children’s blocks. A wave of dizziness hit her, and she inhaled deeply, hoping to squelch the dizzy feeling before she toppled over.

  “You doing okay?” Joe asked as he pulled Lois closer to his side.

  “I—I feel kind of strange.”

  “It’s the gorgeous view. It takes your breath away, doesn’t it?”

  She pressed her lips together and stood there like a statue.

  “Come on! Let’s go to the railing and see what we can see.”

  Before Lois could respond, Joe grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the wall where she’d been hovering. A few seconds later they were standing on the edge of the world. At least that’s how it felt to Lois. Joe was right. The roller coaster at the fair had been child’s play compared to this. Even though the rails were enclosed, Lois felt as if she might tumble over the edge to her death. No way could she stay up here long enough to eat lunch in the revolving restaurant!

  “Can we go back down now?”

  Joe didn’t seem to hear what Lois was saying, as he whistled some silly tune and studied the panorama below.

  Lois stood slightly behind him, leaning into his back, and praying she wouldn’t pass out. She closed her eyes, hoping it would make her feel better, but the knowledge of where she stood was enough to make her head spin.

  After what seemed like an eternity, Joe turned to face her. “Have you seen enough?”

  Lois had seen more than she cared to see. She headed toward the nearest elevator and was thankful they didn’t have to wait as long as they had when they went up. She breathed a sigh of relief when the elevator door opened.

  “That was awesome!” Joe announced as they stepped inside. “We were up so high I think I saw some of the passengers’ faces looking out of the window in a jet that whizzed by.”

  Lois moaned. How could Joe make a joke at a time like this? Didn’t he realize she’d nearly died of fright up there?

  “Hey, you know what I think?”

  She glared at him. “I can’t imagine.”

  “Maybe we should go up in a plane for our next date.”

  “You have to be kidding!”

  “I love being in the air. The only thing I don’t like about plane travel is the waiting and, of course, having some airline personnel go through my belongings.” Joe chuckled. “Airport security has been really tight lately. In fact, the last time I boarded a plane, they confiscated my most important possession.”

  “Really—what was that?” Lois asked, feeling a little better now that they were heading for solid ground again.

  Joe’s lips curved into a dopey little smile. “My sharp wit!”

  Chapter 12

  The rest of the day in Seattle passed swiftly. Joe bought Lois a souvenir replica of the Space Needle, to remind her she’d actually gone up in it, and they ate lunch at the food court, sharing a Mexican dish large enough for two. After walking around the entire Seattle Center and enjoying the sights and sounds, Joe suggested they go to the waterfront.

  Lois loved the salty smell of the bay and eagerly agreed. The next several hours were spent browsing the various gift shops, touring the aquarium, and finally having fish and chips at Ivar’s Fish Bar. Now they were on their way home, and Lois dreaded having to tell Joe good-bye. She enjoyed being with him and wondered if she could love him. It amazed her sometimes that he could see the humor in almost any situation.

  Leaning her head against the window, Lois closed her eyes and relived the memory of Joe mimicking the seals they’d seen at the aquarium. He’d done everything but stand on his head to get them to bark and slap their fins against the wooden deck when they begged for food.

  “What’s that little smile about?” Joe asked, breaking into Lois’s thoughts.

  She opened her eyes and glanced over at him. “I was thinking about how much fun I had today.”

  Joe grinned like a Cheshire cat. “You mean you’re not mad at me for dragging you into the Space Needle?”

  Her lower lip protruded. “Well, maybe a little …”

  “But I kept you well entertained the rest of the day, and you’ve decided to forgive me, right?”

  She nodded and smiled.

  “Maybe we can go to Snoqualmie Falls for our next date,” he suggested. “We’d better do it soon, though, ’cause it’s almost October, and the weather will be turning cold and damp soon.”

  Lois’s heartbeat quickened. Joe wanted to see her again, and he was already talking about where they might go. “I haven’t been up to the falls in ages. It’s beautiful there, and we could take a picnic lunch.”

  His forehead wrinkled. “Since the weather is turning colder, and rain is a likely possibility, I’m not sure the picnic idea would fly, unless we eat in my truck.”

  She agreed. “A picnic lunch inside your truck sounds like a great idea.”

  “When would you like to go?” Joe asked.

  �
�I’m pretty flexible. It’s your hectic schedule we’ll need to plan around. When will you have another free Saturday?”

  He shrugged. “I’d better check my appointment book after I get home. I’ll give you a call as soon as I know which day will work best.”

  “Sounds good to me,” she said.

  Joe was glad they’d made it through the day without Lois’s asking too many personal questions. Maybe she had given up on the idea of digging into his past and decided they could simply have a good time whenever they were together. That was all he wanted, wasn’t it—just to enjoy Lois’s company? No strings attached and no in-depth conversations about confidential things. It was too painful to talk about the past. Joe had managed fine all these years by clowning around, and he wasn’t about to let his guard down now.

  “Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee before you head back on the road?” Lois asked as they stopped in front of her apartment complex.

  He smiled. “Sure, that would be great.” Joe hopped out of the truck and sprinted around to the other side to help Lois down.

  As they strolled up the front sidewalk, Joe noticed a broken beer bottle lying in the grass. “Looks like folks choose to litter no matter where they live,” he muttered.

  “I know,” Lois said. “My apartment manager does his best to keep the yard free of debris, but it’s almost a full-time job.”

  Joe bent down to pick up the shattered glass. “I’ll carry this in and drop it in your garbage can, if that’s all right.”

  “Sure. It will be one less thing for poor Mr. Richards to face in the morning.”

  In Joe’s hurry to retrieve what was left of the bottle, he didn’t notice the jagged edge and cut his hand. “Ouch!” He cringed and dropped the piece of glass as a sharp pain shot through his hand then continued up his arm. “Guess I should be more careful when I’m playing with glass.”

  Lois frowned. “Here—let me take a look at that.” She reached for Joe’s hand, and a stream of dark blood oozed between his fingers and landed on her palm. “Oh, my! That looks like a nasty cut. I think you may need stitches.”