WG2E All-For-Indies Anthologies: Viva La Valentine Edition

by Scott, D. D.

  “But you had her for fifty-five years.”

  A noise at the side door caught her attention and she turned to see Dane in the doorway, his face in shadows.

  “Who’re you talking to?”

  “Just myself.” Amanda forced a smile. “I didn’t expect you to show up.”

  “I promised you, didn’t I?” The furnace in the garage clicked on, and Dane stepped out of the cold and closed the door.

  “Tell him the truth about love, bumpkin.” Grandpa flicked on the radio and an old time melody drifted through the tiny speakers. “You die and get discarded with the trash.”

  Dane tugged off his jacket, tossed it on the clean surface of the workbench, and picked up the radio to examine it. “Must have a short.”

  Amanda glanced at her grandpa, who had started to dance around the room to the melody, his arms lifted to encircle an imaginary woman. His steps were smooth, and for the first time ever, she noticed how handsome he must have been in his younger days. How could Grandma love Morty more than she loved the man she married?

  Her attention turned back to Dane, who was focused on the radio as he searched for a loose wire. She studied his face, the crows feet around his eyes, the smile lines around his mouth, the strong masculine angles belonging to a face she’d known forever.

  Could they be both friends and lovers? Or would that destroy the special bond they shared?

  He set down the radio and turned back to her. “I can’t see anything wrong with the radio. Better tell your dad to get a new one.”

  He flicked off the radio button.

  Grandpa reached out and turned it back on.

  Dane stared at it for a moment, then reached out and unplugged the portable unit from the wall.

  Grandpa plunked down on the stool, which caused the legs to scrap against the floor. “I need some entertainment to take my mind off Elvira’s wedding.”

  Dane stared at the stool for a moment. Amanda coughed to regain his attention. He looked up at her, his hands in his pockets, tall and broad and somber, different from the boy she once knew and yet so much the same. She wiggled her eyebrows. “Wanna know a secret?”

  “You’re holding my Mandy hostage in the city and you’re just a cheap copy?”

  “Ha ha.” She crooked her finger at him and beckoned him toward the car. When he stood shoulder to shoulder with her, she leaned against him and whispered, “Yesterday I caught my parents making out in the backseat of this car.”

  In the background, Grandpa hooted. “Elvira and I use to — you know — like rabbits.”

  Amanda thought, Go away, Grandpa. And in a poof of white light, he vanished.

  Dane squinted at the car window. “Seriously?”

  “Serious as a heart attack. I am never getting that picture out of my head,” she said, only to realize she’d already replaced the offensive image with a much better one of Dane climbing out of the shower to greet her at the door, wearing nothing more than a towel and a smile. Still, he looked so serious and uptight, she had to do something to loosen him up. “I’m never riding in this car ever again.”

  Dane smirked. “It’s kind of cute.”

  “What? That my parents are screwing their brains out in the backseat of a car like a couple of teenagers? They have a bed. Not to mention they have a door they can shut.”

  When he finally looked at her, there was heat in his eyes and something more than affection. “You have to admit, there’s something really hot about pretending you’re sixteen again. Making out with your girl in the backseat of a car. Pretending it’s her father’s car and you’re doing it for the very first time.”

  She laughed and then she caught back the laugh because she had an idea. “I wouldn’t know. I never made out in the backseat of my dad’s car when I was sixteen.”

  He paused … and took the bait. “Your mom’s car?”

  “Not even my date’s car. See what a poor deprived teenager I was.” She shifted around until she stood almost toe-to-toe with him. Dane kept his arms at his sides, so she grabbed him by the shirt front, tugged him toward the car, and gave him her best leer. “Want to show me how it’s done?”

  “Geez, Mandy.” Grabbing her wrist, he tried to pull back, but she could tell he wasn’t trying all that hard. “Do you want to ruin our friendship?”

  “No. I’m trying to figure out if you could be my first honest to goodness Valentine.”

  He kept following her. “We might never be able to go back.”

  “Why not? If we don’t like it, we’ll pretend it never happened.” She saw heat in his eyes and the ever present humor. “Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to kiss me? I’ve wondered what it would be like to kiss you.”

  Against the back of her legs, she felt the edge of the car seat and she let herself go, toppling backward into the car and pulling him down on top of her.

  He managed to absorb most of his body weight with an arm on each side of her head, but he still landed on her with a soft satisfying bump and grind. It was full body contact and more pleasure than she’d experienced in eons.

  When his mouth meshed with hers, Amanda realized she had never felt anything so sweet or so heady, and everything inside her paused to feel the impact of his kiss. Soft and desperate and new mingled into one as he slanted his mouth across hers, and she wrapped her arms around his back to hold him closer still.

  Definitely more than just friends. There was passion in his kiss. But before she could suggest they go further, he pulled back. “I can’t do this.”

  She whispered, “What are you afraid of, Dane?”

  “Losing you forever.” His gaze was intense, his frustration evident in the clench of his jaw. “You only think you want me because it’s almost Valentine’s Day and you’re afraid to be alone.”

  Amanda’s heart thumped in her chest. She put her hand to his face and felt the scratch of his whiskers against her palm. “I don’t feel alone when I’m with you.”

  She looked into his eyes. Deep, deep, deep into his eyes.

  He pushed up off of her and out of the car, grabbing her hand to pull her up after him. “Come on, let’s get this car decorated.”

  His expression was closed, distant.

  And she felt a crack in her chest, like she’d already lost him.

  Six

  Amanda managed to avoid Dane for the rest of the day, until she headed down to the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. She’d put on a simple skirt and blouse for the occasion, and now she carefully walked through the snow. Guilt hit her square in the gut.

  What had she been thinking? She had wanted to bring them closer together, but all she’d accomplished was to push him further away. The smartest thing she could do was keep her hands to herself, then immediately after the wedding, return to the city.

  The memory of her encounter with Dane in the front seat of her mom’s car — and the kiss that followed — washed over her. She felt her body flush, but she pushed it away.

  There was a huge difference between lust and love, she reasoned. She loved Dane like a friend, but she lusted after him like a lover. Lust could be controlled, but love —

  Dane fell into step beside her. “Hey there. Still talking to me?”

  “Always,” she replied easily.

  They hit an icy patch on the sidewalk and he held out his hand. “Hold on so you don’t fall.”

  “Thanks.” She took his hand and smiled at him. Yes, friends forever. She could do this, control her desire and just be his friend. “So what have you been up to since this morning?”

  “Gramps wanted to make sure his clothes were ready for tomorrow. How about you?”

  “Grandma spent the afternoon fussing with everything in her closet except her wedding dress. I can’t believe how nervous she is.” The sole of her boot slipped against the ice and as Dane grabbed her by the arm to steady her, they ended up face to face.

  She caught her breath.

  Just like when she’d set eyes on him yesterday
morning, he looked tall and broad and strong.

  There were times over the years when she had cursed him, and times when she had loved him, but through it all, their friendship had remained. No matter what happened after today, she knew he’d always be her friend.

  Her heart skipped a beat, only to do double time in her chest. She focused on keeping the moment light. “Just can’t keep your hands off me, can you?”

  He looked down at her, his brows drawn together in a frown. “You know I can.”

  “Too bad.” She made a face at him and pulled away. “Never mind. I’m okay now. I promise to be careful.”

  Thankfully, it took most of her concentration to maneuver her way over the ice and they walked the remainder of the distance in silence. Once they reached the restaurant, Dane took her coat and went to hang it up, leaving her alone to regroup.

  A repeat of this morning could ruin their relationship, she knew that now. After just one kiss, they were stumbling around each other like newly introduced strangers. So why did she continue to taunt him?

  Grandpa appeared beside her, his face almost red with his glower. “Now she’s just rubbing Morty in my nose.”

  Amanda followed his gaze to where Grandma and Morty were seated at a table, the urn set on the middle of the table like a centerpiece.

  “She doesn’t even know you’re here,” Amanda whispered as she headed across the restaurant toward the elderly couple. “Doesn’t Grandma look radiant?”

  “She’s making a fool of herself over that bastard Morty.”

  “Quit calling him a bastard,” she hissed. “He had a mother and father, just like you.”

  He turned his glower on her. “Are you switching sides, too?”

  “I’m not on anyone’s side, but isn’t it time you let go? Grandma is trying to move on. You should, too.”

  Grandpa poofed out, then reappeared on the chair beside her grandma as Dane caught up to her. “Your parents aren’t here yet.”

  Amanda focused on ignoring the deep rumble of Dane’s voice in her ear and the way her insides reacted with pleasure. “Guess we should’ve gone home after the rehearsal and checked the garage, huh? They better not mess up the decorations.”

  He laughed, which she took as a positive sign because he hadn’t laughed with her since the kiss in the garage, and took her elbow to guide her the rest of the way to the table.

  As they approached, Amanda noticed the elderly couple looked stiff and unnatural. When they got to the table, she asked, “Is everything okay?”

  Morty huffed and pointed at the urn on the table. “I’ve asked Elvira to leave that thing at home tomorrow, but she refuses.”

  Grandma sent him a look she only used when she was mad.

  Amanda sat down on an empty chair. “Grandma, surely you don’t want Grandpa at your wedding.”

  “For fifty-five years, he was my husband.”

  Morty tossed a crumpled wad of tissue at the urn. “He’s dead. Get over it, Elvira.”

  The restaurant door flew open, letting in a blast of cold air, and Amanda’s parents rushed in. Her mom’s cheeks were flushed from the cold, her eyes bright, her coat buttoned up crooked. “I’m so sorry we’re late.”

  “We had a flat tire,” her dad explained.

  Amanda slid a glance toward Dane, who was staring at them, laughter in his eyes. He pushed to his feet and went to hold out the chair beside Grandma. “Here, Mrs. G. Sit down and catch your breath.”

  She stopped beside him and reached up to pat him on the cheek. “You’re going to make some lucky mother a wonderful son-in-law.”

  Her mom sat down, pulled the scarf off her head, and gave Grandma a peck on the cheek. It was clear by the flat hair on the back of her head that she’d been laying on her back since the rehearsal. “So what are we talking about?”

  Amanda let out a heavy sigh. “Grandpa’s urn.”

  Her dad took the seat next to her mom and leaned forward. “Ma, what’s this about?”

  “My rights as a widow. I want George at the wedding.”

  Grandpa popped up in the middle of the table, his head and shoulders sticking out above the urn. “That’s right, Elvira. You tell Morty how it’s going to be. Don’t you let him stomp all over you.”

  Morty grimaced and rubbed his shoulder. “What about my rights as the groom? I’m not going to live out the rest of my life in the shadow of George’s memory.”

  Grandpa George cackled. “Fricking Morty. Your mother was a whore and your father was a bastard.”

  Amanda stood up and grabbed the urn, which thankfully made her grandpa disappear. Ignoring Grandma’s gasp and Morty’s cheer, she stuck the black box under her chair. Sitting down, she picked up her napkin and placed it on her lap.

  “Morty has a point. He shouldn’t have to feel like he’s in competition with a dead man.” Relieved she wouldn’t have to stare at the ghostly figure of her grandpa anymore, she picked up her menu. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”

  Her dad tapped her on the arm. “Don’t be rude to your grandma, young lady. Put the urn back on the table right now.”

  “Don’t you dare listen to your father,” her mom snorted as she shifted her chair away from her husband. “Morty has a point. Elvira needs to let go. There shouldn’t be three people in a marriage.”

  Grandpa stuck his head and shoulders through the table, and gave Amanda a death stare. “Morty was so ugly, his parents had to tie a pork chop around his neck so the dog would play with him.”

  Amanda sighed and slumped on her chair. “Oh crap.”

  Grandpa turned his attention on his nemesis. “Morty has to take Viagra to get it up. Morty is so slow, he thinks he’s first. Morty is so —”

  Morty rubbed his arm again, a pained expression on his face, and toppled onto the floor.

  Seven

  The ambulance arrived in record time and the emergency personnel stabilized Morty before whisking him away. Amanda grabbed the urn from under the chair and along with everyone else, piled into her dad’s car for the short ride to the hospital.

  In the waiting room, she tried to pass the urn to her grandma, but Elvira pushed it away and plopped down on a chair. Surprised, Amanda stood back and clasped the urn to her chest.

  Grandpa George appeared beside her. “Bumpkin?”

  She shook her head, and when he fell silent, she turned her attention back to her grandma.

  Gone was the radiant glow the elderly woman had worn earlier. Now she looked old and frail and scared. “I don’t understand. Morty just had a checkup. The old fool said his health was better than the average fifty-year-old.”

  Dora sank down on the chair beside her mother-in-law and put one arm around her narrow shoulders. “He’s going to be okay, Elvira. Isn’t that right, Tom?”

  Tom slid onto the chair on the other side and linked hands with his wife around his mother’s shoulders. “Morty is strong, Ma. Have faith.”

  Dane crouched down in front of Elvira and took both her hands in his. “Grandpa loves you and he won’t go without a fight.”

  “You’re right. Your grandfather wouldn’t want me to give up hope.” Grandma cupped his face between her hands and her tear-filled eyes gazed at him with earnest. “Would you do me a favor, Dane?”

  “Anything.”

  “When he wakes up, I’d like his room to be filled with red roses and heart shaped balloons. Could you arrange that for me?”

  “You bet.” He leaned forward and kissed the top of each of her frail hands before he pushed to his feet and faced Amanda. His mouth was set in a taut, unsmiling line and as he passed her, he quietly said, “I should call my parents, let them know what’s going on. If there’s any news, come get me.”

  He pulled his cell out of his jacket pocket and wandered to the window where he spoke quietly into the phone.

  Her grandpa floated up and down, an aggrieved expression tugging at his face. “Tell her, bumpkin. Morty isn’t coming to the other side, not yet.”

  Elv
ira pressed her face into her hands and burst into tears.

  Grandpa gave Amanda a shove and she stumbled forward, nearly dropping the urn. “He’s going to live, bumpkin. Tell your grandma I said the wily bastard is going to live many more years to make her life — and mine — miserable.”

  Over Grandma’s bowed head, Amanda’s mom and dad were staring at each other, their gazes filled with a mixture of love and regret. Without a single word uttered between them, they’d forgiven each other for the little tiff in the restaurant.

  “Tell her, bumpkin, about how you can see me. Tell her I still love her. I’m so sorry I took her love for granted.” Grandpa gave her another shove. She gasped and staggered forward another few inches, drawing her grandma’s attention.

  “Amanda, what’s wrong with you, girl?”

  “Nothing, Grandma.”

  Grandpa glided to her side and poked her in the back. “While you’re at it, you should tell Morty’s grandson how you feel about him.”

  “Oh, no, I couldn’t.”

  “Don’t be afraid to use the L word. People need to know when they’re loved.”

  “Amanda?” Her grandma’s sharp voice filled the room. “Who are you talking to, girl?”

  Amanda handed her dad the urn, knelt down in front of Grandma, and took her hands. “Grandpa’s here.”

  Grandma wrenched her hands away. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

  “Remember how you’ve been smelling Grandpa’s aftershave lately?” At her grandma’s nod, Amanda recaptured her hands. Tears stung her eyes. “He’s here and he wants me to tell you Morty is going to be fine.”

  Grandma gave a sob and clung harder to Amanda’s hands.

  “He says he still loves you and he’s sorry for taking your love for granted.”

  “But how can you —” Elvira peered past Amanda, searching the room with her gaze.

  “I don’t know, Grandma. He’s here. And he wishes you and Morty many years of happiness —”

  Grandpa howled. “That’s not what I said —”