“Yes. A book.” As soon as he parted ways with Emily, Ezra couldn’t stop thinking about the sad and somewhat mysterious English teacher. She fascinated him, so much so that he started a new story loosely based off their limited interaction. In it, the protagonist meets a beautiful, yet enigmatic woman. He tries to uncover the source of her sadness so she could forever be free from whatever was causing her grief.
He didn’t know if the narrator would be able accomplish his goal.
But he hoped so.
“What’s it about?” Faye asked as she nuzzled her nose into Ruby’s neatly groomed fur.
“It’s same one I told you about last time,” Ezra responded quickly, not wanting to talk about his new story or the woman who’d inspired it. He turned to his grandmother, Verna, a robust and white-haired woman still seated at the table and handed her the remaining bouquet. “For you, Gram. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“You’re a sweet boy, Ezra.” She turned her head, offering up her cheek for the kiss she expected every time Ezra visited with her.
“He’s not a boy,” Todd Cavanaugh cut in, stroking a hand over his meticulously maintained salt and pepper beard. “Ezra turned twenty-nine last month.”
He clenched his jaw and suppressed the urge to sigh as he reached across the table to shake his dad’s hand. Ezra didn’t any reminders of how much time had passed without him accomplishing much of anything. Sometimes, it felt like the seven years since college had been a significant waste of time.
Ezra winced as his grandmother pinched his cheeks with her cold pudgy fingers. “He’ll always be a boy for me.”
“Enough of all that.” His mom put Ruby down and signaled toward the kitchen with a delicate flick of her wrist. “Now that you’re here, would you mind fetching the food?”
A porcelain tea set had already been brought out. Verna and Faye had cups set in front of them, while Todd held a steaming William and Mary mug filled to the brim with black coffee. He’d never cared for tea.
“Sure thing.” Ezra ambled over to the kitchen with Ruby at his heels, wondering if there would be any coffee left in the pot. He didn’t mind tea, but he preferred the rich, bold flavor of the other beverage.
Glad to see there was still a fair amount left, Ezra tossed Ruby another treat before pouring himself a mugful. The aroma met his nose and he was instantly reminded of his morning with Emily. He loved the way the corners of her bow-shaped mouth sloped upward and flirted with the idea of smiling. There had been a few fleeting moments where an actual smile touched her lips, and Ezra found himself endeavoring to increase their frequency.
He hoped making dinner wasn’t a burden for her, but he reminded himself she seemed almost excited about the idea. Maybe it would help take her mind off what was bothering her. Though traces of sorrow remained in Emily’s expression all morning, she never once looked as hopelessly, desperately sad as she did when he saw her crying in the car. He’d been able to distract her then, and he aspired to do the same later.
Ezra sipped his coffee and glanced over the various plates of food his mother had prepared for the occasion: deviled eggs, tea sandwiches, mini quiches, cherry tartlets, and petit fours. Assuming she only wanted him to bring out the savory dishes to start, he gathered the plates and his mug, artfully balancing everything so he could carry it to the dining room in a single trip.
“Wonderful.” Faye clasped her hands under her chin when he appeared in the doorway with the fruits of her labor. She looked to Verna as Ezra delicately slid the fragrant deviled eggs onto the table. “You must have one of those first. I tried a new recipe and I’m dying to know what you think.”
Using a pair of silver tongs with decorative scalloped edges, Verna picked up a devilled egg and placed it on small, white porcelain plate. She then pinched the appetizer in her chubby fingers and took a dainty bite. She chewed thoughtfully, sitting back in her chair as Ezra finished maneuvering things around the table to fit the other plates. While he would eat almost anything, he didn’t care much for deviled eggs. Unfortunately, Faye considered them one of her specialties and he felt obligated to eat one every time she had them out.
“What’s the kick of spiciness in there?” Verna asked after she swallowed.
“Hot sauce.” Faye looked worried by her mother-in-law’s lukewarm reaction. “Is it too much?”
Verna shook her head. “Perfect. I like a little cayenne in my food every now and then.”
Looking triumphant, Faye looked to her son, who was loading up his plate with ham and cheese tea sandwiches. “You’ll try one, right Ezra?”
He paused mid-reach, hoping to grab a sixth sandwich. Reluctantly, Ezra picked up a deviled egg instead. He took a bite right away, looking to get the ordeal of eating it over with as soon as possible. In the past, he’d found that holding his breath helped to mellow the taste. However, there was nothing that could be done about how slimy it felt going down his throat.
“Your best yet, Mom.” He held up the remainder of the egg like he was toasting with it, before shoving the rest in his mouth. As he chewed, Ezra took a swig of coffee to help wash it down.
She grinned from ear-to-ear as she sipped her tea, too pleased with herself to notice his grimace as he finished off the egg and quickly stuffed a sandwich in his mouth to dispel the after taste.
“So who’s the lucky lady you’re taking out tonight?” she asked as she carefully set her cup back into the matching saucer.
“I’m actually going over to a friend’s house.” Ezra tossed back another sandwich and prayed his mom would move on to another topic of conversation.
He didn’t know what to tell his family about Emily. He expected they’d have their reservations about him spending time with a woman he’d met after a minor episode at the dog park. They would wonder why, a man who can usually get any girl he chooses, would chose the pretty girl with the sad smile.
“Don’t Jay, Adam and Travis all have wives and girlfriends?” Faye tipped her chin up ever so slightly in that way she always did when she suspected she’d caught either of her sons in a lie.
Unfortunately for Ezra, all his friends still lived in town and Faye regularly attend yoga with their mothers. She was always up to date on the major events in his three best friends’ lives, including their break-ups.
“It’s someone else. We met at the dog park.”
Faye narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “What’s his name?”
Ezra glanced at his father and grandmother, and both had their eyes glued to their plates as they quietly nibbled on their food and listened as the conversation slowly turned into an interrogation. He didn’t understand what his mother found so odd about him having a friend outside his usual core group.
Ezra quirked an eyebrow in challenge. “You don’t believe me?”
Faye shook her head. “Not particularly.”
“Why’s that?”
“We always know when you’re lying, son.” She smiled over at Todd and placed a hand on his knee.
“Your eyes dart around.” Todd continued, shifting his pointer fingers back and forth to demonstrate. “You’ve been doing it since you were a boy.”
With a sigh, Ezra lifted a hand to massage the back of his neck.
They’d gotten him.
“Her name’s Emily. We met today. We’re having dinner at her place. Benny’s coming. The two dogs get along well.”
Everyone nodded.
“That’s good.” Verna spoke up first and then shrugged. “About the dogs, I mean.”
“Is she your girlfriend?” Faye asked, her voice neutral and careful before sipping her tea.
Ezra didn’t like involving his family in his love life. Typically, he didn’t stay with women for very long and he didn’t want anyone getting attached. As a result, he never introduced his family to anyone he dated and rarely talked about them.
“No, but she is free tonight.” Ezra knocked back a mouthful of coffee, wishing he’d spiked it before he left the kitchen. “The guys ar
e all busy.”
“Well, you two are smart to stay in,” Todd interjected while reaching for another quiche. “It’s busy on Valentine’s Day.” He licked the butter from the crust off his fingers. “So, how’s Benny?”
“He’s good.” When Ezra looked up from his plate, Todd threw him a subtle wink. A cursory glance around the table from both men confirmed neither of the women at the table noticed.
“What have you two been up to lately?”
Ezra perked up and proceeded to explain the new tricks they’d been working on. By the end of the conversation, everyone had forgotten about Emily… everyone except for Ezra.
6:50 PM
The oven timer sounded, and Emily dashed into the kitchen as she shrugged on a navy-blue duster cardigan. She quickly slid her hands into mitts and opened the oven. The aroma of tomatoes and garlic met her nose instantly. She smiled at the familiar scent. It even appealed to Walt, who’d come into the kitchen to sniff around the oven. Emily waved a mitted hand to shoo him away before pulling the lasagna out and placing it on the stove.
Undertones of fresh basil and roasted vegetables met Emily’s nose as she pulled off the mitts and checked the clock. She’d planned it so the lasagna would be cool enough to eat by the time Ezra arrived and got settled in. Now, she just had to finish getting herself ready.
She had on a scoop neck white T-shirt under her duster and her favorite pair of jeans. She’d left her hair down because she wasn’t sure what to do with it. Emily typically didn’t put much thought or effort into her appearance. She wore simple, neat clothes while keeping her hair and makeup basic.
After throwing a measured cup of food into Walt’s bowl, Emily scurried into the bathroom to finish up in there. She dotted a bit of concealer under her eyes, but it couldn’t completely hide the dark circles. Knowing there was no way she’d look quite like herself, Emily continued in hopes a little makeup might help. What she really needed was a cold compress and good night’s sleep, but there wasn’t time for that. Instead, Emily dusted a light tawny powder on her lids and swept on mascara. She finished by applying her favorite strawberry lip-gloss.
If she took the time to survey her handiwork, Emily knew she would find fault in it. Makeup application had never been one of her stronger skill sets. She was better off spending her remaining time in the kitchen whipping up a vinaigrette for the salad. She could make one with a white balsamic that would be more impressive than any feeble attempt at applying eyeliner.
As she returned to the kitchen, Emily continued thinking of Ezra. She’d thought of him all day, so much she sometimes experienced guilt for not feeling the uncompromising misery she was used to on Valentine’s Day. But, whenever the guilt crept in, pleasant thoughts of Ezra and the evening they’d soon spend together replaced it.
Emily went about making the dressing and was whisking the vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and seasonings in a small metal mixing bowl when she heard the knock at her door.
7:00 PM
Benny titled his head to the side and wagged his tail as soon as he heard Walt barking from inside the little house. He probably didn’t expect to see his new friend again so soon.
Ezra, on the other hand, had been anticipating this second meeting most of the day.
He rocked from the balls of his feet to his heels and back again, feeling uncharacteristically nervous as he waited for Emily to answer. It wasn’t the first time that day he’d found himself feeling something unexpected, and it was all thanks to the quietly perplexing woman he’d met at the dog park. He glanced over his shoulder at the innumerable empty flowerbeds, knowing they were likely filled with countless blooms when the weather was warm. He imagined Emily outside tending to them, the freckles on her nose darkening with the sun exposure.
The front door swung open and Walt darted out to greet Benny, drawing Ezra out of his reverie. Emily stood before him looking every bit as pretty as she did before even though there were subtle changes to her appearance. Ezra didn’t know much about makeup, but he could tell she’d put a little on. Her complexion had evened out, her cheeks no longer pink from spending hours in the cold. The most notable change, however, was the one which was hardest to decipher. Though Emily still looked sad, something seemed lighter in her demeanor, like whatever had been weighing on her had lessened as the day went along.
“Hey.” She coyly tucked her hair behind her ear before stepping inside. “Come in. Walt will follow both of you.”
Ezra entered the warm living room, immediately noting the working fireplace. The entire space had an inviting, homey feel. Bookshelves lined the papered walls and lacy doilies sat atop each end table on either side of the blue floral patterned couch. The only contemporary touches in the room were the glossy hardwood floors and flat screen TV.
He wasn’t sure what to expect when he tried to envision Emily’s house, but what he’d seen so far suited her perfectly.
Ezra handed her the expensive red wine he’d bought, even though the bottle was out of his current budget. She thanked him before tucking it in her arms and holding it as delicately as one might a baby.
“Dinner smells great,” he remarked as the scent of marinara sauce wafted in from the kitchen. “Italian?”
Emily smashed her lips together to suppress what Ezra thought might be a cocky smile. “Lasagna. It’s my family’s recipe.”
His brows pulled together. “But doesn’t lasagna have cheese?”
She shook her head, her eyes expressing the grin she’d been fighting. “Not this one.”
Noting Emily’s playfulness, Ezra remembered the way she’d teased him at the café for trying to impress her with his order of oatmeal. He liked her more lighthearted side, no matter how fleeting it might be. Her happiness seemed to be at war with her unhappiness, fighting for an opportunity to be the more prominent emotion. Ezra was optimistic he could help.
After all, she was noticeably less burdened than she was when he found her that morning in tears.
Emily patted Benny on the head as he sniffed the leg of an antique armchair, acquainting himself with his surroundings. “I have something for the dogs, too.” She started toward the back of house, presumably to the kitchen, and motioned to a pre-set circular table in the alcove to the left. “Why don’t you kick off your shoes and sit down. I’ll be right in with the food.”
Ezra started to toe off his beat-up old Converse. “Do you need any help?” he called after Emily’s retreating frame.
“I’ve got it,” she responded after disappearing around a corner. “Just make yourself comfortable.”
Even though he wished she’d let him help, Ezra was glad for a chance to do a little exploring before his hostess emerged from the kitchen. He quickly scanned the contents of her bookcase, unsurprised by the abundance of poetry volumes he’d found. Emily hadn’t been exaggerating her love for the lesser-appreciated art form. It was rare to find someone who genuinely enjoyed poetry as much as she did. Most of the book spines were lined with the names of writers he’d never heard of before.
Next, he wandered into the dining room she’d directed him to. Multicolored, embroidered botanicals lined the blue painted walls. On close inspection, Ezra detected a few imperfections in the fern he’d chosen to inspect and assumed the decorative touches were not store bought.
“My grandmother made them,” Emily said as she swept into the room to place a casserole dish onto the table. Steam billowed off the top, and the aromatic scent of lasagna that had permeated the house before intensified. Ezra pressed a hand to his stomach as it started to gurgle. A quick glance at Emily confirmed she hadn’t heard. Or, if she had, she didn’t seem disgusted by it.
He took a step back and dipped his hands into his pockets. “I hope you don’t mind me looking.”
“No, go ahead,” Emily said. He could tell earlier it was best not to pry into her life and found he had more luck with less sensitive topics of conversation. Not wanting to upset her with more snooping, Ezra clenched the back of a ch
air as he willed his stomach not to groan again. It was a difficult task with the piping hot lasagna taunting him from the center of the table. Luckily, it wasn’t long until Emily returned with salad in one hand and the bottle of wine in the other.
“Let me take that.” Ezra took the wine and retrieved the bottle opener from the table. “I can open this bad boy up while you do whatever you need to do.”
He proceeded to uncork the bottle while Emily knelt by the dogs. Her left hand was tucked behind her back, and Ezra could tell by the way Benny was trying to stuff his nose between her fingers Emily was trying to hide a treat.
“Sit.” She drew out the word like it would make it easier for them to understand. Walt immediately did as he was told, eager to perform his trick to receive his reward. Benny, on the other hand, was too excited to outright listen. He circled around her two times, stopped beside Walt, barked, and finally hoovered his bottom above the ground.
“Benny, sit.” The dog was familiar with the warning tone in his owner’s voice. He sat immediately.
Emily offered each dog a treat. With swishing tails, they enthusiastically accepted the bone-shaped biscuits and munched on them.
“It’s incredible how well these two get along.” Emily stood and dusted the peanut butter biscuit crumbs off her fingers on the front of her jeans. “It takes most dogs a long time to get comfortable eating around others. Some don’t ever get there.”
“They’re a perfect match then,” Ezra said, handing Emily a freshly poured glass. She held it by the stem, her delicate fingers pinching the glass. Ezra watched as her sweet, pink lips parted to taste the deep red nectar. He downed a swallow of his own to help keep himself in check.
Valentine Kisses: A Kiss to Last a Lifetime Page 16