Aimee (A Time for Love Book 3)

by Phelps, Brandi

  “Hey, Aimee!”

  Tish was getting out of her car as Aimee pulled into a space near the apartment building’s front door. Aimee wasn’t really in the mood to talk, but she knew she couldn’t avoid Tish without appearing antisocial. And her friend meant well.

  “I just dropped Lucas off, and I’m not ready to go to bed. Want to come in for a little girl talk?”

  “Okay.” Aimee knew her tone didn’t sound enthusiastic, and she forced a smile. “Did you have a good evening?”

  “Yes. Just dinner and a movie, but it was nice. There was a wreck on the interstate, though, and we sat in traffic for almost an hour.” Tish rolled her shoulders as they headed up the stairs. “I thought my hands would never unclench from the wheel.”

  “Lucas doesn’t drive?” Aimee asked.

  “He doesn’t have his Missouri license, and he’s not comfortable driving here yet.”

  “That’s funny,” Aimee frowned. “Frank doesn’t drive either. Not that I’ve seen, anyway.”

  Tish unlocked the door to her airy studio apartment. “Have a seat in the living room. Want a coffee, soft drink, water?”

  “Water, please. With lemon, if you have it.”

  Aimee took her favorite spot on the overstuffed couch. As always, she admired her friend’s decorating style and wished she had such a talent. A past renovation had turned the apartment into a single large area, and Tish used strategically placed dividers to create “rooms,” each decorated with a casual sophistication that made the most of the space’s limitations.

  If I ever get a house of my own, I’ll hire Tish as my decorator, Aimee promised herself.

  A house of her own, or a house with Frank? He would be handy with small repairs and lifting heavy objects. She could just picture him moving a large box, muscles bulging as he waited for her directions.

  “Here.” Tish broke into Aimee’s thoughts and handed her a glass of water.

  “Thanks.”

  “How’re things going with Frank?”

  “Great. I think. We had a wonderful time tonight.” She described the date and finished, “But he had a couple of chances to kiss me, and he didn’t go for it. What do you think that means?”

  Tish shrugged. “Maybe he’s just being cautious. Edwina does emphasize couples should get to know each other, not focus on the physical chemistry.”

  “Then how will I know if we have chemistry?” Aimee complained.

  “I wouldn’t worry about it,” Tish advised. “Just focus on finding out whether he’s the type of person you could see yourself with. If not, the chemistry doesn’t matter. If so, attraction can grow as you get to know him.”

  “Is that what happened to you and Lucas?”

  “Oh, no. We had a spark from the very beginning. If I’d paid attention in high school chemistry, I would compare it to some chemical interaction, but all I can say is, he isn’t the handsomest or richest or best-dressed man I’ve ever dated, but he’s the one who makes me feel Hallmark-card mushy.”

  “How are the wedding plans?”

  Tish waved a hand. “All under control. You, Charlene, and Dana will be bridesmaids, of course. Dana’s talked me into asking my sister Meryl to be matron of honor, and my father’s performing the ceremony. Now that I’m getting married, my family’s revoked my black-sheep status.” She rolled her eyes, but Aimee could tell she was secretly pleased.

  “That’s great.”

  “Maybe. If my mother doesn’t succeed in taking over the reception plans.”

  Tish chatted about her wedding for several minutes. When Aimee finished her water, she set the empty glass on a coaster and stood up.

  “I’d better be going. It’s getting late.”

  Tish walked with her to the door. “I do have one thing to ask of you,” she said. “Keep an eye out for Mandy, will you?”

  “I’ve only seen her once!” Aimee objected.

  “She has to come back eventually.” Tish paused in the open doorway. “I don’t know what’s going on with her, but it wasn’t a simple case of cold feet. Maybe it was something with her family, or maybe her fiancé cheated. I don’t know. But if you find out she needs help, let me know.”

  “I will,” Aimee promised.

  “And anytime you need to talk about Frank, I’m here.” She gave Aimee a quick hug.

  “Thanks.”

  By the time Aimee climbed the stairs to her apartment, she was feeling wrung-out from her day, and she had an early shift in the morning. She hoped her phantom roommate hadn’t chosen this evening to return, but the apartment was as quiet as ever, and she was asleep within minutes.

  She didn’t receive a text about her next date until the following afternoon. She had finished her shift and was packing her tote bag when her phone chimed. Edwina’s message read, “A Time for Love at 10 AM Saturday. Casual. Save pie for next time.”

  Aimee reread the message. Edwina certainly wasn’t giving away many details, was she? Casual, so no fine dining or art show. And Frank had obviously told her about the pie. She had jotted down notes for the recipe but hadn’t had a chance to try it, so she didn’t mind the delay. But what would she and Frank be doing?

  “A sports event,” Tish guessed when Aimee told her. “Lucas and I had a date at a baseball game. Or maybe something at a park? Wear jeans. You’ll be safe.”

  Aimee took her advice and showed up at A Time for Love in jeans and a neat red t-shirt. Work had been stressful Friday, as it often was in a hospital where gossip and worries over budget cuts were constant fare. She had a quiet evening spent unpacking the last boxes from her failed move to Colorado and then went to bed early. By Saturday, she was ready for something more enjoyable.

  “Hi, Aimee,” Whitney greeted her when she walked into the lobby. “Edwina’s in her office. You can go on back.”

  Aimee was looking for Frank, not Edwina, but she didn’t object.

  “Come in.” Edwina motioned her inside, and once Aimee was seated, she asked, “How was your date Thursday night?”

  “Good. Great, actually. Very romantic.” But not romantic enough for Frank to kiss her.

  “Normally, in Phase 2, I plan the first three dates, and then each half of the couple plans a date. I have a date planned for tomorrow. But Frank didn’t want to wait, and he’s planned today’s date. So, unless you tell me you don’t want to, you’ll go on his date today and mine tomorrow, and then you’ll plan one for next weekend.”

  And in a week, she’d have to decide if she was ready for marriage preparation? Aimee hesitated, and Edwina’s gaze sharpened.

  “Is there a problem?”

  “No,” Aimee said. “At least, I don’t think so. Another date tomorrow is fine.” And then she’d have some serious thinking to do.

  “Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”

  Not with you, Aimee thought. Edwina was a lovely person; Aimee just didn’t feel comfortable discussing her concerns over Frank’s apparent lack of physical attraction to her. She shook her head. Edwina studied her for a moment, and Aimee thought she was about to say more. Instead, she said, “Frank’s waiting in the conference room just down the hall. Enjoy your date.”

  Frank was watching the hallway, and as soon as he saw Aimee, he came out and wrapped her in a hug. “It’s good to see you! You look great. Ready to go?”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere fun, I hope. You’ll just have to trust me.”

  He led her towards the elevator, but instead of stopping at the ground floor, he continued to the basement. With another guy, Aimee might feel alarmed, but she trusted Frank. When the elevator door opened, he led her down a narrow hallway under a collection of pipes and vents, and they emerged on the sidewalk of a busy road, just steps from a MetroLink stop. Frank bought their tickets, and they stood on the platform to wait.

  “Have you ever ridden this train?” Frank asked.

  “The MetroLink? Occasionally. My friend Charlene loves it, but I usually drive.”
r />   “I thought you might like a break from driving.”

  Aimee didn’t comment. A whooshing sound signaled the train’s arrival. Frank stepped back, but Aimee pulled him forward so they could board before the doors closed. The car was only half full, so they took seats beside a window and watched as the car sped to the next stop. Aimee glanced at Frank and saw he was sitting in a rigid pose, hands clenched over the arm rests.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s so fast,” he said. “Really, really fast.”

  “Haven’t you ridden on a train before?”

  “Sure, but it wasn’t this fast.”

  “If the train scares you, how do you handle flying?”

  “I don’t,” he said shortly. He unclenched his hands from the arm supports and leaned towards the window to watch the buildings flashing past. “I’ll be okay. I just need to get used to it.”

  They rode the rest of the way in silence. When they got off and boarded a bus, Aimee guessed where they were going. The city zoo. When she was little, her schoolmates had often talked about the animals. Aimee had always wanted to go, but it was a place for normal families, families with a dad and a mom who wasn’t always working.

  Aimee’s grandparents had taken her once, when they were visiting from Oklahoma, but the excursion had been cut short by a thunderstorm. Later she’d gone with a school group to see a special exhibit, and she’d been the only one who didn’t know her way around.

  “We’re going to the zoo!” Frank cut into her memories to announce.

  She didn’t spoil his excitement by telling him she’d already figured it out or that the zoo was the least romantic place she could think of. “Great.” She managed a small smile.

  “You probably go all the time, but I’ve never been.”

  “You’ve never been to a zoo?”

  “No. I’ve always wanted to.”

  “Me too. When I was little, I mean. And I haven’t been here in years.”

  “Then we can discover it together.”

  His tension over the train had completely vanished, and he turned to her with a grin that dispelled her gloomy mood. Maybe this date would be fun after all.

  “Let’s do it,” she said and held out her hand.

  Chapter 11

  Aimee and Frank toured the exhibits. Aimee didn’t particularly enjoy the area that featured the big cats, even though she knew there was no way the bored-looking lion could reach her. Frank was fascinated by the sea lion show, and Aimee enjoyed watching the penguins waddle along the rocks and play in the water. One penguin waddled back and forth on the shore as if dithering over whether to join his friends as they splashed in the pool, and Aimee smiled when he finally dove into the water after them.

  They moved on to the polar bears, and Aimee marveled at how graceful they were in the water, for such large animals. Then Frank wanted to tour the reptile area. She liked the turtles and didn’t mind the lizards and frogs, although Frank walked past them without stopping, but she shivered when she saw the snakes. Frank put his arm around her, and she snuggled against him as they toured the rest of the exhibit.

  By the time they had visited all the areas of the zoo, Aimee’s feet were starting to hurt from all the walking. Frank guided her to a vacant bench beside a beautifully landscaped fountain, and Aimee stretched out her feet.

  “What was your favorite?” Frank asked.

  “The penguins. I could watch them all day! What about you?”

  “The tigers. I can’t believe I’ve seen an animal that fierce up close. As close as I’d ever want to get anyway.”

  They chatted about the zoo exhibits for a few minutes. Frank kept glancing at his watch, and finally he stood up. “Ready to go?”

  “Where?” Aimee hoped it was to the zoo cafeteria for a late lunch, or her stomach would soon be growling.

  “You’ll see.”

  They caught a bus from the zoo to a stop Aimee didn’t at first recognize. The buildings were not as old as the Art Deco in the heart of historic downtown St. Louis; instead, they were mostly small shops and former homes from the sixties and seventies. Several had been renovated recently, and the neighborhood had the Bohemian feel of an area in the process of renewal but not yet completely gentrified. They strolled along, past a thrift shop, a pottery studio, a barber shop, and a couple of houses with For Sale signs in the yards. Then they turned the corner, and Aimee immediately recognized where they were.

  “Eat Street!”

  The street that had once been the main thoroughfare of the neighborhood now housed small cafes, bakeries, and food-themed shops. A craft brewery held the anchor spot, where the street ended in a small open square. Frank led Aimee to a building with a red-and-white-striped awning, and Aimee’s mouth began to water.

  “Lucy’s Yummies? I can’t’ wait!”

  After she’d met Lucy at the pizza party, she’d promised herself she’d visit the shop soon, but she hadn’t had time. Frank said nothing, just guided her inside, where Lucy was waiting.

  “Aimee, it’s great to see you again!”

  Lucy, wearing a red apron that matched the awning, hurried forward to give her a hug. Her smile was as warm, and the smell of freshly popped corn was tantalizing.

  “Your shop smells delicious. It makes me want to buy everything!”

  “Not yet.” Lucy pulled away from Aimee, and this time her smile was mischievous. She reached beneath the cheery red countertop that held the store’s cash registers and returned with a single sheet of paper, which she handed to Frank. “Have fun. Enjoy yourselves. I’ll see you later.”

  She ignored Aimee’s attempt to ask a question and held the door as Frank led the way out of the small shop.

  “I wanted popcorn!” Aimee objected.

  “Not yet.” He echoed Lucy’s words. “I called Lucy and asked her for advice on a fun meal, and she set up a snack menu. We’ll have the best treat at each shop.” He held up the sheet. “Here’s our menu, which is also our map.”

  A culinary tour of Eat Street? Aimee loved the idea. “Where do we start?”

  Frank studied the sheet. “Stop 1 is chips and salsa at La Comida.”

  He checked the map, and they started down the street. Inside the first stop, the owner, a stocky middle-aged man with a shaved head and a full mustache, greeted them. “You must be Lucy’s friends. Come in, please!”

  He showed them to a table and brought them a huge basket of green and yellow tortilla chips with a divided bowl containing two types of salsa.

  “Spinach and corn chips,” he explained. “Hot and mild dip.”

  The hot dip was spicy queso with jalapeno, which Aimee thought was perfect with the spinach chips. The mild dip was a tomato salsa, very fresh and flavorful.

  “I could eat another basketful of these,” Aimee said as they nibbled on the last crumbs.

  “This is just the first stop,” Frank reminded her.

  The proprietor reappeared to thank them for coming, and when Frank tried to pay, he waved away the money. “Lucy’s taken care of it,” he told them.

  Their next stop featured crispy snoots, a dish Aimee always thought of as a cross between bacon and barbecue. Frank looked dubious at first but had to admit the meat, dipped in a tangy sweet sauce, was delicious. They also shared Vietnamese crepes, cups of dill cole slaw, spicy red pepper potato chips, and frozen custard. By the time they returned to Lucy’s snack shop, Aimee felt like she could barely move.

  “The popcorn still smells delicious, but I can’t eat another bite!” Aimee said sadly.

  “Actually, I was hoping you could help me,” Lucy said. “I’m supplying popcorn for an arts event downtown tonight. Normally, I’d cook the corn fresh onsite, but the organizers think it would distract from the event, so I’m preparing it ahead of time. Would you like to help me make it?”

  “Help you?” Aimee didn’t hesitate. “Definitely!”

  They spent the rest of the afternoon following Lucy’s directions as they popped corn in t
he traditional oil cooker and in the newer hot air cooker. Aimee stirred sugar for caramel sauce, and then sprinkled Parmesan cheese and other toppings on the fresh corn. Once they had cooked the popcorn, they packaged it in red- and white-striped boxes that matched the shop’s awning.

  When they finally finished, Aimee surveyed the rows of boxes packed into plastic crates. “That looks like enough food to feed an army!”

  “A small army with fat checkbooks, I hope,” Lucy smiled. “I can still get tickets for you two, if you’d like to attend.”

  Frank looked questioningly at Aimee. She shook her head. “Thanks, but I think I’m ready for a quiet evening,” she said.

  Lucy hugged Aimee again, thanked her and Frank for their help, and handed them boxes of popcorn to take with them. They walked back to the bus stop, and Aimee slumped into a seat.

  “Are these dates, or is Edwina just trying to get free labor for herself and her friends?” she groaned.

  “If you’d like to end the date, I understand,” Frank offered. “But we do have a quiet evening planned.”

  “Doing what? Scrubbing city sidewalks?”

  “You get to pick a favorite movie, which we can watch in the lounge at A Time for Love.”

  “Any movie?” When Frank nodded, Aimee teased, “Even one with no horses?”

  “Even one with no horses.”

  Aimee thought for a minute. “You seem like you’re not very familiar with movies.” She wasn’t sure why, but that was a question for another time. “Have you ever seen Gone with the Wind?”

  “No.”

  “Then we have to see it. I used to pretend I was Scarlett O’Hara. I’d put on one of my mother’s old party dress and walk around saying, ‘Fiddle-dee-dee!’ and ‘I’ll think about it tomorrow!’ because if I said the other famous line, my mother would have washed my mouth out with soap!”

  “What other famous line?”

  “We definitely have to see the movie!”

  They stopped by Aimee’s apartment long enough for her to shower and change out of clothes sticky with caramel. She was thankful she’d taken the time to tidy the place, and she settled Frank on the couch with a glass of ice water and the TV remote.