“What if she doesn’t? It’s not the end of the world.” Grandma shrugged. “But you sure aren’t gonna find out by dripping on the carpet, now go after your woman.”
“Fine, but if it doesn’t work out, I’m moving in with you.” And then my life will truly be over.
****
Alice only stepped out of the shower once all the hot water had run out. And that stinking Mark had been wrong. It hadn’t made her feel any better. In fact, not having any more hot water made her feel even more like an emotional wreck. She bawled like she had when she’d been a little girl and had lost her Wee Wee Wets-Her-Pants doll at the park. Wrapped in her favorite fluffy, terrycloth robe, Alice cried yet another river of tears because this time, it was Mark she’d lost and not some stupid baby doll. Mark couldn’t be replaced.
Did I make a mistake telling him I was done? Did I not try hard enough?
“Alice?” Her father’s soft call blended with a light knock on the closed bathroom door. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Hearing the concern in her dad’s voice gave imparted a semblance of calm to her. She snatched a wad of tissues from the box on the vanity and then blew her. “Just ducky.”
“Um, you came home wet and looking like you’d had a mud wrestling match. Plus, you took a forty minute shower, which you never do, and you’re crying — again, which you haven’t done since Frank dumped you.” Silence reigned from the other side of the door. “I think you and I need to have a heart-to-heart talk.”
She couldn’t argue. “Okay.” I need him to tell me it will all be okay. Alice wiped off a circle of steam from the mirror and checked her appearance. With a groan, she ran a comb through her hair, threw it into the sink, and then opened the bathroom door. “I’ve messed everything up, Dad.”
“Nah, stuff is rarely as bad as we think.” He wrapped an arm around her and gave her a hug. “I made you some hot chocolate.”
“Well, that always cheered me up before. Thanks.” She trailed him down the hall and into the comfy, dated kitchen. It still had the avocado-colored appliances and the hideous vinyl-covered seat cushions at the four-chaired table. She sank down on one of the chairs. Air whooshed from a crack in the pad. “My life’s a big ball of confusion right now.”
“Oh yeah? Seems to me everything’s coming up roses for you.” He set a mug of steaming hot chocolate in front of her. Six mini-marshmallows bobbed on the surface — the exact number she used to request in her childhood days.
She smiled and fished one of them out, sucking it off her finger once she did. “Maybe so. The shop is doing well. I might need to make my assistant full time soon.”
“And that Mark fellow? When he was over the other night, you two had the look of being a cozy couple. You had that special something two people share, that when someone else sees it, they just know it’ll be all right.” Her dad slid into a chair across from her. “Is he the reason you’re a basket case?”
“I’m not a basket case.” She snorted then took a sip of her hot chocolate to cover her confusion. “Well, maybe I am. That’s what I can’t figure out.”
“From what I can see, you’re all hot and bothered every time you’re around this guy. That has to mean something.”
Alice stifled a bout of hysterical laughter. Hot and bothered for a guy who’d admitted he’d never slept with a woman. Is that even possible at his age? “Maybe.” Whether it was in response to her dad or her own thoughts, she had no idea.
“You haven’t been that way in a long time, and not even when you dated Frank.” His eyes were kind as he smiled. “I think you know that too.”
She refused to admit it to herself — at least not right now. Not until she could make sense of things. “But Dad, the guy sells bait for a living. He doesn’t aspire to do anything else, except maybe teach folks how to fish.”
“People need bait, and the world needs guys to sell it. Plus, fish is a healthy alternative to beef. It takes all kinds to make the world go round.” He patted her hand. “Does his seeming lack of ambition bother you or is it his job? You’ve never been concerned about stuff like this before.”
“I know. I guess it hasn’t really mattered all that much before.”
“And why’s that, kiddo?” Her dad’s eyes sparkled in the kitchen fluorescents.
She sighed. “Because with Mark, I started thinking about the future, and it scared me that he doesn’t have a plan. If he can’t support himself, how will he be able to support a wife or even a family not that things have progressed that far. You always told me to make a plan, have a plan, do what I can and don’t depend on anyone else.”
“Right, and I meant in terms of having a savings account and a good job, just in case getting married wasn’t something that would happen early in your life.”
“Well, I used my savings on the shop. When sales get better, I’ll build it back up, but can I take a chance on a guy who’s all over the place in his own life?”
“Only you can answer that question. There’s more to life than financial security.”
An unexpected laugh escaped her throat. “Oh, that’s rich. You saying that? The world must be ready to end. The bad thing? I babbled about not being sure he was good enough.”
“Well, that couldn’t have been good. Us men have big egos. Beating up on that is like cutting us off at the knees.”
“Just great.” Alice took another sip of her chocolate. It warmed her throat and put her in mind of the days when she still had her mom with her. “I miss Mom.” She could have told me what to do in this situation or just understood how I’m feeling from a woman’s perspective.
“I do too. Some days more than others.” Her dad squeezed her hand. “But I’m glad you brought her up.”
“Why?” She held her parent’s gaze. A mix of joy and sadness lurked in his blue eyes — eyes she’d gotten in the genetic pool.
“It’s true I’m a big fan of planning, of making certain nothing will leap up and surprise me.” His Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow. “Two things I didn’t plan with your mom. One was you and look how that turned out.”
She gave him a watery smile and nodded.
“The other thing was, I didn’t plan on Mom’s cancer. That kinda smacked me upside the head like a train.”
Alice’s chest tightened for him. “I know. It wasn’t fair.”
He nodded. “It wasn’t, and it made me realize you can’t plan for everything. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches. Life’s important moments sometimes get in the way.”
“What’s your point, Dad? I’m too worn out to think clearly.”
“My point is don’t fight the happiness because you’re afraid of what the future might hold. Nothing good ever came from being afraid. I know this from experience.” He patted her hand again then scrambled to his feet, turning away. “Your mom and I were afraid those last months. Afraid of what would happen when all along we could have enjoyed her last time on earth and each other instead of worrying.”
“Oh, Dad…” She shot out of her chair and went to stand behind him, a hand on his shaking shoulder.
“I can’t get that time back. Don’t make my mistake, Alice. Be happy no matter what else you think you’re facing. Sometimes, you don’t get a second chance. Find your joy, always.”
“My case and yours are hardly the same—” A loud banging on the front screen door interrupted the rest of her speech. “Who in the world could that be?”
“Alice! Open up. I’m not leaving until we work things out!”
“Mark?” Her dad guffawed. He slapped a thigh. “That’s rich. You can’t beat coincidence or God’s plan, can you?”
“I can’t see him in this robe.” Flutters filled her stomach while trembles played down her spine. Despite the ugly things she’d said to him, Mark had come after her.
“Well, Daffy, go change your clothes. I’ll let Mark in.” He continued to chuckle while he left the kitchen.
She’d never gotten dressed so fast in he
r whole life. As her heart pounded, she pulled on a worn pair of jeans over her panties and then zipped up a fleece hoodie over her bra. There just wasn’t enough time to find a clean t-shirt. By the time she pelted into the living room, Mark paced over the rag rug and her dad was nowhere to be found.
“Where did Dad go?” She would have risked a glance, but she couldn’t take her gaze off Mark. He hadn’t showered, hadn’t changed clothes since his impromptu swim in the creek. Did it mean he didn’t care or had he been in such a rush to come here, he’d refused to take the time?
“He said he’d forgotten about a TV show he just had to watch. Went to his room without much in the way of conversation.” Mark’s shrug pulled his damp sweatshirt across his chest.
Alice chewed her bottom lip. It’s too bad he didn’t take his shirt off when he dove into the creek. She shook her head, determined to clear her thoughts. “Right.”
“This is better. I don’t want an audience.”
“Um, for what?” She tried to swallow, but her throat was so dry, it didn’t help. A guy who wasn’t interested in a woman didn’t just drop by to shoot the breeze, especially after the woman in question had acted so badly.
“To fight for you.” He gestured to the sofa. “Sit.”
Alice sat as her knees gave way from the authority in his voice. “Okay. Now what?” She’d never seen him so grim. The lines around his eyes crinkled, not with amusement or laughter, but of stress. Even his mouth was tight.
“I’m taking a page from my brother’s book in not wasting words.” He rubbed his chin, and the scratch of his stubble captured her attention. “Here’s the thing.”
She stared at him, her breath stalled, her heart beat off the charts, her palms sweating. “Yes?”
“Take a chance on me, Alice.” Mark sat on the coffee table regardless of the newspapers and magazines scattered over the top. “I may not be your ideal guy or have the flashy job or a bank account full of money, or have skill in the bedroom, but I’m worth a second look.”
“I’m sorry about what I said. I’m—”
“Let me finish.” Emotion lit his eyes from deep within. He held her gaze. “Yeah, dating might be rocky at times. Things might get messy. We owe it to ourselves to explore what’s between us.” He grabbed one of her hands. “I don’t know about you but what I feel when I’m with you is completely different than what I’ve experienced with any other woman.”
Her stomach trembled. Was he serious? “What do you feel for me?” She had to know.
A tiny smile pulled at his lips. “I want to know everything about you. I think about you when I’m not with you. I know I can’t wait to see you again.”
“Me too.” The silence in the room swallowed her whisper, heightened only by the ticking of the clock on the wall.
“Well, that’s a start.” He stood and pulled her up with him. “We’ll have fun. We’ll laugh and share a sense of humor, and when that wears out, we can talk about worms or whatever else you decide to change the topic to.”
Tears crowded her throat. When she attempted to tug her hand from his, he tightened his grip. “My conversational rabbit holes don’t bother you? They annoy some people.”
“No. It’s one of your quirks. It’s weird and wonderful. Don’t ever let anyone tell you different.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her middle knuckle. “Bottom line: I am who I am, and I’m happy with that. I might not be the bait guy all my life but if I am, that’s okay.” The tendons in his neck worked as he swallowed heavily. “If you’re not happy with it, this will never work regardless of how I feel about you.”
Why did he have to be so cute while summing their relationship up so nicely? She brushed a tear from her cheek. “Okay.”
“Okay? What does that mean? I don’t want any misunderstandings this time.” Wariness crept into his expression. “I’m not good trying to figure out woman-talk. Just tell me.”
She couldn’t help her smile. “It means okay. I want to see where dating you will lead.” Alice stared up into his face, so dear with lots of potential. “I spoke out of line earlier, and said all of that out of fear. Do whatever makes you happy in life. I’ll be fine with that, and I’ll support you in it.”
Hope lit his expression. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” Unable to stay parted, she threw her arms around his shoulders. A thrill careened down her spine when he responded with an embrace of his own and held her close to the hard lines of his body. Butterflies tickled her insides. “Every time I’m with you, when you kiss me, talk to me, laugh with me, I feel like flying. I want to dance and sing and act even dorkier than I usually do, but I need you to go the distance with me.”
“Good news. I don’t want you to be less dorky.”
She burrowed her face in his chest. He smelled of the creek, the outside and man — everything she’d always associate with him. “Thanks for wanting to start over. I was afraid. I’ve never not planned for anything.”
Mark pulled her a bit away from him. He tipped her face with a finger beneath her chin and met her gaze. “I think the not knowing will be part of the fun.”
“I do too, and Mark?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t worry about your lack of experience. It doesn’t even matter because you’ll be your own person in that way too. You’ll have your own style.” When she smiled, her mouth trembled. “Does that make sense?”
“It does, and it takes a load off my mind, let me tell you.” A faint flush rose up his neck.
“Good.” She stared at his lips. For heaven’s sake, when will he kiss me? “I’m promising you I’ll try and enjoy the journey if you’ll promise you’ll try mapping portions of it out every now and again.” After all, there had to be a compromise or two in a relationship.
“Deal.” He brushed his lips against hers. The kiss wasn’t nearly as long or satisfying as she hoped, but it started tiny fires over her skin and threw them through her blood stream.
Alice sighed while a glimmering insight hit her. He wasn’t as experienced in the physical side of relationships as he wanted everyone to believe, but he’d been honest enough with her to tell her the truth even though the risk was huge. Warmth spread through her body and heightened her awareness of him. How fun. I’ve never taught a guy how to kiss — or do anything else — before. Yet there was more to that heat than giving him pointers. He hadn’t been around a lot. That meant he’d be faithful and true.
I can deal with everything else to have a loyal man by my side.
Happiness welled into her throat. It bubbled out as hopeful laughter. “My dad was wrong.”
“Another rambling side topic?” Confusion blanketed Mark’s expression. “How so?”
“Everything’s coming up daffy, and I’m perfectly okay with that.” Not wanting to talk anymore, she urged his head down until their mouths met again. She sighed with the bliss of it then fit her lips to his more comfortably, lifting on her toes to keep him in place.
Whatever happened in the future, she had no doubt it would let her grow into a better woman with a better man by her side. And that was the best plan of all.
About the Author
Sandra Sookoo is a writer of romantic fiction. Her portfolio includes historical, contemporary, sci-fi, and paranormal romances in full-length books as well as shorts and novellas. No matter if the heat level is spicy or sweet, she loves to blend genres and oftentimes will add humor to the mix.
When not immersed in creating new worlds and engaging characters, Sandra likes to read, bake, taste new teas, watch The Big Bang Theory as well as Finding Bigfoot and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World: it’s where dreams come true and the soul can play. When she’s not writing, she’s keeping things interesting at her Believing is Seeing blog or spending time with her husband, who patiently answers questions she has about men, sci-fi-related subjects, and the odd “what if”.
Sandra loves to hear from her readers. You can write to
her at [email protected], visit her website at www.sandrasookoo.com, or look her up on Facebook and Twitter. All links are provided on the front page of her website.
Also by Sandra:
Chapter One
"There's no way I'm getting in that kissing booth." Lucy Duckworth crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head for emphasis. The vigorous motion sent her brunette curls bouncing over her shoulders. She glared at the closed bathroom door her roommate had disappeared behind. All three of Lucy's cats lined the hallway, staring as well. "The only way that would ever happen is if you were dying."
"I think I am." The unmistakable sound of barfing followed the pathetic statement.
"Pam, are you okay?" Lucy knocked on the door. Her anger evaporated in the face of her concern. The calico sat on Lucy's feet.
Another round of heaving preceded an answer. "I knew when that grumpy woman coughed on me two days ago I'd get the flu. I just knew it." The toilet flushed. The tap water ran, and seconds later, the bathroom door opened. Pam stood in the frame, her skin pale, her eyes watery, and her chin quivering. She wiped her nose on the sleeve of her oversized blue Indiana Pacers sweatshirt. She must really be sick if she'd chosen to cover all possible skin like that. "Holy crap, there's no way I can go to the Winter Carnival like this, let alone kiss guys, unless you want me to infect the whole town."
Lucy's shoulders slumped. The black cat, Shadow, brushed against Pam's shins. "No, you should be in bed." She followed her friend into her room and waited while the other woman climbed under the covers, closely followed by Shadow. "Do you want some ice water or ginger ale?" She tucked a brown paisley comforter around Pam then smoothed sweaty blonde bangs away from her warm forehead. "You have a fever." Shadow curled into a ball at her side, purring.
"I just want to sleep." Pam's brown eyes widened. "Please say you'll take my place at the booth? Or do it at least until I can track down someone else, okay?"
Coming Up Daffy Page 9