by Doreen Alsen
“I don’t know!” Patsy turned back to the phone and made her voice all sugary sweet. “Who may I say is calling?”
Ainslie sighed. At least Patsy was remembering some of her phone manners.
“It’s a man. He says he’s Dave Mason.”
Shanna gasped. “Why is the principal calling?”
Ainslie moved to a standing position, cracking and popping joints as she unrolled herself. “I just have to go find out.”
Patsy handed the phone to Ainslie then danced into the living room. “Bet you’re in trouble.” She smirked at her older brother and sister.
“Not me,” Shanna retorted. “It has to be Ruark.”
“No way.” Ruark slumped back into the pillows of the couch, pointed the remote at the TV and flipped by channel after channel.
Ainslie took a second to catch her breath. She finger combed her hair, even though Dave couldn’t see her over the phone. Why did this man make her so nervous? “Hello?”
“Hi, Ainslie, it’s Dave.”
“So Patsy told me.” She bit her lower lip. “Is there some sort of problem?”
He chuckled. “I hope not. I’d like to ask you to dinner Wednesday night.”
What? “I don’t think I can. It’s one of my few nights off with my children.” She smashed her eyebrows together. “How do you know I have Wednesday night off?”
“I went to The End Zone and begged Spike. She thinks it would be a good idea for you to have dinner with me.”
“Oh, really?” Someone needed to have a talk with Spike.
“It would really be nice to know something about you before we chaperone that dance. Less awkward and all that. I could have you home again real early.”
“Hm.” At a loss for something to say, Ainslie’s heart did a big ol’ belly flop. If it weren’t for the children, she’d say yes in a New York minute.
“Please? I do promise I’ll have you home early so you don’t spend too much of your family time with me.” He cleared his throat. “I wish more of my parents believed in family time.”
Oh, no. That wasn’t playing fair. “If you’re sure you won’t mind an early night, then yes, I’ll go to dinner with you.” She said it before she talked herself out of it. It had been so long since she’d spent time with a handsome man who made her hormones sing out “Hallelujah!”
“Great! How about I pick you up at six?”
“Six is perfect.”
“Okay, then. I’ll see you Wednesday. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Sure. Good night.”
The phone clicked as Dave hung up. Ainslie cradled the receiver between her breasts, partially to slow her heart down.
She gathered her wits and moved back to the living room to finish pinning Shanna’s dress. Keep things normal. If she didn’t act like it was a big deal, the kids would be okay with it.
Three intense faces greeted her.
“What did Mr. Mason want?” Ruark re-focused all his attention back on the TV.
“Nothing bad, sweetie.” She sighed. “You know how I’m chaperoning the dance on Saturday. Mr. Mason just wants to take me to dinner to discuss it.”
“Dinner?” Shanna’s eyes got as big as Frisbees. “You’re going out to dinner with the principal of the school? Way to go, Momma! He’s soooo hot for an old guy!” Her voice squeaked a little at the end.
Oh, Sweet Baby Jesus in a Manger. “Yes. And I won’t lie to you. It is a date. A casual date, nothing special.”
Ruark turned up the volume on the TV.
Patsy stuck her thumb in her mouth. Ainslie’s heart sank. She’d stopped sucking her thumb when she was four. She began to do it again when Bobby Lee went to jail. She hadn’t done it since the move north.
“It’ll be okay, baby.” Ainslie sat down beside her little girl, pulled her onto her lap and stroked her soft, buttercup yellow hair. “It’ll be just fine. Ruark and Shanna will be here to take care of you, and you’ll have fun. I’ll even order a take out pizza for y’all.”
Take out pizza had been unheard of since Bobby Lee’s arrest. Ainslie simply couldn’t afford it. It was a bribe through and through, but Ainslie wasn’t going to let guilt stop her. She really did want to have dinner with Dave Mason. She wanted to very much.
The thumb stayed planted firmly in Patsy’s mouth. Ruark’s gaze lazered on the TV. Shanna said, “Real pizza?”
“’Course, baby.” Shanna was the easiest of her children to bribe. “It’ll be fun. Won’t it be fun, Patsy?”
Patsy, taking a cue from Shanna, nodded.
“Okay, now. Why don’t you go on and get ready for bed.” She let Patsy slip from her lap. To Shanna she said, “Come on back over here so we can finish pinning up your hem. It’s such a pretty dress, and you look so pretty in it.”
Ruark got up. Shutting off the TV, he tossed the remote onto the couch. “I’m going to bed.”
“Well, sure, sugar. Sweet dreams.” Ainslie angled her cheek for her bedtime kiss. It didn’t come.
She let it go. He was a young man now, not a boy. He probably needed some space.
“Momma?” Shanna ran her hands down the emerald satin of her dress. “I really like the dress. Thank you.”
Wow. Just…wow. “You’re welcome.”
Shanna giggled, then got serious. “I think it’s kind of cool you’re going on a date with Mr. Mason.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Shanna smiled. “Whatever you say, Momma. I think it’s romantic.”
Romantic? Of course, Shanna would think a date with Dave Mason was romantic. Ainslie really needed to nip this in the bud. “Sorry, sweetie. Move along. No romance to see here.”
Giggling, Shanna moved another quarter turn. “’Course it’s romantic, Momma.”
Ainslie slid the last pin into the dress. “All done! Why don’t you take this off so I can take up the hem.”
“Sure, Momma! Thank you so much for this awesome dress!”
Ainslie smiled as Shanna hopped off the hassock. “You’ll be the prettiest girl at the dance.”
Shanna flung her arms around Ainslie’s neck. “It’s all ’cause of you! You’re the best mom in the entire world!”
Ainslie swallowed hard against the tears lodged in her throat. Never had a dress meant so much.
It never would have meant anything in Charleston. Shanna had two closets full of clothes. A new dress for the Homecoming Dance wouldn’t have made a ripple in the pond.
But this one emerald green, pre-owned satin dress made her big girl just shine.
Ainslie would do whatever it took to make them happy and give them back a portion of the wonderful life Bobby Lee the Wonder Dad stole from them. Ruark and Patsy were a bit harder to please, but eventually they’d find something to make them happy. And perhaps she could find some happiness for herself that would be part of the whole package.
A picture of Dave Mason floated into her brain. He was handsome, charming, caring and great with children.
He was younger than she was. She frowned at that thought. She shouldn’t put too much into this. It was one dinner date.
She had only dated one man in her entire life; Bobby Lee. She’d only slept with one man her entire life; again, Bobby Lee.
She felt like a silly school girl, not a grown woman. Pitiful. Just pitiful.
It was just dinner! She should keep things in perspective.
****
A couple of hours later, the house quiet, the last piece of clean underwear folded, Ainslie stretched the kinks out of her muscles. Ready for bed, she began her nightly routine.
First she tiptoed into the girls’ room. Shanna had fallen asleep while reading Puddin’ Head Wilson, which had to be an English assignment, because the only things Shanna read on a regular basis were Elle and Marie Claire. Ainslie bent to kiss her forehead before she turned off the reading light.
Patsy had long been down for the count and slept fiercely, her brows furrowed and that thumb jammed in her mouth. Ainslie b
ent and kissed her as well, with gentle fingers rubbing the lines away.
Ruark’s room was next. She opened the door, causing a flurry of covers over the boy’s head.
“Ruark?” The lump under his bedclothes went very, very still.
She mentally sighed. “I know you’re awake. I love you.” She bent over him and kissed the top of his head. “I’ll always love you.”
Suddenly exhausted, she made her way to the bathroom. The morning came way too early.
Chapter Eleven
Dave considered himself to be a man of the world, someone who had been around the block a time or two or three. He’d taken women to dinner before. But none of them had ever been married to a kajillionaire. What could he bring Ainslie that would in any way, shape, or form, measure up to what her ex-husband gave her?
Never mind that he didn’t know how far to take it when she had very vulnerable children at home. How much was overkill?
Well, he was about to find out. He pulled up the parking brake. He adjusted his tie and bounded up to the front door of the little bungalow where Ainslie lived with her children. Rolling his shoulders, he took a deep breath and pushed the doorbell.
A flurry of footsteps came from behind the door. It cracked open, and a little blonde girl peeked at him from the inside. Her thumb was stuck in her mouth like a cork in a wine bottle.
“Hello,” he said in his friendliest voice. “I’m Mr. Mason.”
The child nearly broke his nose when she slammed the door shut. Okay, this might not go the way he wanted it to.
After more bumps and some clumps coming from inside, the door opened again, and this time, a gracious Shanna Logan appeared. The little girl, Patsy, stood right behind her, eyes wide and suspicious. Shanna, however, turned her mouth into a warm smile. “Hi, Mr. Mason. Momma’s not quite ready yet, but please come inside and wait for her.”
“Thank you, Shanna.” He stepped across the threshold. Ainslie’s heart gave a great big thump. Dave held out two mini flower bouquets he’d gotten on the advice of his florist, one in each hand. “These are for you girls.”
Shanna’s eyes absolutely sparkled as she accepted the nosegay. “Oh, a tussy-mussy! It’s beautiful! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. What did you call them again?”
“A tussy-mussy. That’s what they called them in the olden times, so they wouldn’t know how bad everything smelled.” She brought the sweet little package of roses, ribbons and a doily up to her nose and inhaled deeply. “It smells so good. Go ahead, Patsy! Check yours out.”
Crouching so that he was face level with Patsy, he held out the flowers. “I made sure there were a lot of pink flowers in here, because I bet pink is your favorite color.”
Patsy just stared at him, mouth slack around her thumb. Shanna reached down and yanked Patsy’s thumb out of her mouth. “Please don’t suck your thumb in front of guests. It’s rude.” Looking up at Dave, she shook her head sadly. “I apologize for my sister.”
Dave just kept looking at Patsy, just kept holding out the little bouquet. “That’s okay. Why don’t you take the flowers now, and if you don’t want to keep them, you don’t have to.”
Patsy nodded and took the flowers. “Thank you, Mr. Mason.” Following Shanna’s lead, she buried her head in the bouquet and sniffed loudly.
Dave smiled as he stood up. At the same time, Ruark ambled out of the kitchen. “Hey, Ruark.”
Ruark barely spared him a glance as he dropped onto the sofa. “Hey.”
“I’ve, uh, got something for you.” After patting his jacket pockets a couple of times, he pulled a CD out of the left one. “Mrs. Kelly says your favorite singer is Miles Maxwell, so I picked up a copy of his newest CD. Is Boris Gudonov a favorite opera of yours?”
Ruark stood. “Max was my voice teacher in Charleston. I got a copy of the demo right after he finished recording it.” Dave forgot that back in Charleston, Ruark had a world famous bass as a teacher.
The kid wasn’t going to give him an inch. “Well, I hear those demo things don’t last long, so you can listen to this after it wears out.” He held out the CD.
Ruark took a couple of reluctant steps toward him. Dave gave him the CD, and held out his hand to shake.
Shaking Dave’s hand, Ruark looked directly at him, albeit reluctantly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“May I get you something to drink?” Shanna jumped into hostess mode. “Please sit down.”
His butt nearly made it into the offered chair when Ainslie made her entrance. He just managed to stay on his feet.
As before, Ainslie’s transformation from End Zone waitress to woman in charge kicked him in the gut. She had that just-out-of-bed tousled hair, those big, velvet brown eyes, all pulled together with an angelic smile. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”
“It was worth it. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Patsy went up to her mother and held up her flowers. “Look, Momma! See what Mr. Mason gave me and Shanna.”
****
Ainslie looked at Patsy, who had her nose buried deep in a sweet little tussy-mussy and her heart went kerplunk. How could she possibly resist a man who brought her girls flowers?
Short answer, she couldn’t.
She could barely see anything because of the sudden stars in her eyes. “It’s very pretty, baby. Can I have a little sniff?”
Patsy held it up. Ainslie took the adorable bouquet of flowers and inhaled deeply. Over the bouquet, her gaze caught Dave’s. The look in his eyes made her feel all squiggly wiggly. She took another deep inhale and caught the scent of little tea rose buds. “Mm.” She handed the flowers back to Patsy. “It smells like roses.”
Patsy nodded as she took back her tussy mussy. “I counted. There are ten pink ones.” She turned and looked up at Dave. “Do you have flowers for my momma?”
Tears pricked at Ainslie’s eyes at the look on her daughter’s face.
So earnest, so hopeful.
“You know, I just might have something for your mom in my car. It’s a surprise.” He winked.
“Can I come with you and see the surprise?”
Shanna scoffed. “No, Patsy. You know you can’t go with Momma on her date. No kids allowed.”
“That’s okay, sugar,” Ainslie intervened when Patsy began to pout. “You can see my surprise when I get home.”
“But I’ll already be in bed, then.” No doubt about it, Patsy Logan had a killer boo-boo lip.
“I’ll be home before bedtime, and I’ll tell you all about my surprise, and you can read a little bit to me from your library book.”
“’Kay.” Ever the drama queen, Patsy sighed mournfully.
“Give me your hand, baby.” Ainslie placed a lipstick kiss on Patsy’s palm. “If you miss me, just check out the palm of your hand.” She turned to Shanna. “I’ve got the cell so call me if there’s an emergency.”
Shanna rolled her eyes. “We’re not babies, Momma. We can take you being away a couple of hours. We take care of ourselves every night when you go to work.”
“You’re right, sugar, but I’m your mother, and it’s my right to worry about you.” She grabbed up her purse. “I’ll be home before you miss me.” She reached for her coat, only to find Dave holding it out for her to slip into.
Oh, the simple courtesies, how she had missed them. “Thank you,” she murmured as she slid her arms into the sleeves.
His eyes twinkled. “You’re welcome.” He tapped his watch. “We have a reservation for 6:30. Are you ready?”
His grin was infectious. She found herself also grinning like a fool. “Okay.” Turning back to her children, she said, “I’ll be home soon. Call me if there’s a problem. Promise?”
Shanna nodded. “Have a good time, Momma!”
With that, Ainslie turned around and left her children to go out to dinner with a man who was not their daddy.
****
; Damn, Ruark thought. He wished Patsy wouldn’t make so much of those stupid flowers. Obviously, they were a bribe.
It didn’t matter to him one way or another if Mr. Mason brought him Max’s recording of Boris Gudonov, even if his own had died ages ago. He couldn’t be bought.
Patsy spun and danced around the room with her flowers, while she sang a very bad, very out of tune version of Here Comes the Bride. “Just shoot me now,” he mumbled. “You know Mr. Mason only gave you those flowers to bribe you.”
Patsy stopped whirling. “What’s a bribe?”
Shanna frowned. “What are you doing, Ruark?”
He stood up. “I’m telling her the truth.” Turning to Patsy, he said, “A bribe is something someone gives you to make you like him.”
“Ruark, stop it!”
“Think about it, Patsy. He wants you to like him so you won’t mind staying by yourself when he takes Momma to the Homecoming Dance.”
Patsy’s lower lip began to quiver. “Momma won’t leave me alone. You’re going to stay with me.”
Ruark shook his head sadly. “I’m going to the dance too. I’m taking one of Shanna’s friends.”
Shanna stomped her foot. “Ruark, why do you have to be this way?” She went to Patsy and hugged her. “Nobody’s leaving you alone. I know Momma’s getting a babysitter for you.”
“Who’s it gonna be?”
“I don’t know yet, but I know she wouldn’t leave you here alone.”
“I don’t wanna be by myself. It’s scary.”
“It’s gonna happen all the time, now that she’s dating Mr. Mason. They’re gonna keep goin’ on dates until she marries him, and she’ll forget all about us for her new family.”
“Ruark, stop it!”
Patsy was on the verge of tears, but he couldn’t stop himself. “We’ll be orphans because Daddy’s in jail for life. We’ll have to go to foster care.”
“I don’t want to go to foster care. I wanna stay with Momma.” Patsy hiccupped, a prelude to a crying jag.
“That’s enough! Don’t listen to him, Patsy. He’s being a brat. We won’t be orphans, and Momma won’t leave you alone.” Shanna glared at Ruark. “Why don’t we leave Ruark here to be his mean ol’ self, and I’ll listen to you read.”