by JoAnn Durgin
Not long after, she heard a man cough and sputter. Ah, yes, that must be Sidney. The Moxie must be taking effect.
Isabella rang up the sale for not one, but two, queen-size quilts for her customer. The woman was staying at The Evergreen Inn until Tuesday, so Isabella offered to gift wrap the quilts and have them delivered on Monday afternoon.
“You’re such a dear,” the woman said. “Do you have a website where I can leave a review?”
“We sure do. I’d appreciate that, and feel free to mention the quilts. I’ve also recently commissioned baby quilts and lap quilts for seniors if you might be interested. I’ll post photos on the website soon. You can always send me a message if you have any questions.” Isabella plucked out one of her business cards from the holder on the counter and handed it to her. “Thank you again for coming in today. I hope you’ll tell your friends about us.”
“I sure will. Your little town is absolutely charming.” With a smile and a wave, her satisfied customer departed.
Isabella pulled out her clipboard. Call Francie on Monday and order more quilts. Check on the progress of the baby quilts and lap quilts for seniors.
Seth and Paul strolled over to the counter, and Seth handed her money for their drinks. “I hope you can come to the house for dinner tonight.”
Isabella glanced up in surprise. “Thanks. I’m considering it.”
Seth dropped his change into the small container for contributions to the Youth Services Center where Paul worked as a counselor. “If nothing else, take pity on us and get my brother-in-law out of our hair for a few hours at the dance. I’m sure you can handle him.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Is he a bad houseguest?” Isabella could see the top of Sidney’s head as he slowly made his way to the front. He must be checking out some of the merchandise on the way. Probably taking notes for more suggestions.
Seth grinned. “He’s a blueberry muffin hound. Other than that, he’s not too bad.”
“Hope to see you later, Isabella. See you in a few minutes, Sidney!” Paul called over his shoulder before following Seth out the front door.
“I’ll be there.” Sidney rounded the end of the aisle. Sauntering toward her with a serious expression, he lowered his empty bottle on the counter with a definitive thud. “You could have warned me.”
Isabella batted her eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Give me the truth. What’s in this stuff? Do you dislike me that much?”
“First, let me give you an explanation of what just happened to your taste buds.”
He leaned one elbow on the counter, his hand fisted beneath his chin. “This I can’t wait to hear.”
“I imagine it rolled over your tongue easily and tasted like Coke or root beer. But when you kept drinking it, well, then it tasted more like—”
“Medicine.”
“Exactly.” Isabella grinned. “Wintergreen and bitters, to be specific. It’s made from gentian root, an herb found in the pastures of the Alps and the Himalayas. How’s the aftertaste?”
“I’m sure you know how it is. Bitter as anything.”
“It’s said that the dry, bitter aftertaste is like vermouth. And even though it’s a shock at first, it’s not all that unpleasant once you get used to it.”
“If you say so, Isabella. By the way, I’m not a big drinker. Never had vermouth.”
“I didn’t think you were. A drinker.”
“Oh. It’s just that after the comment Caroline made at the house when I first arrived in town…” His cheeks colored. “Never mind. Tell me more.”
Sidney was extremely cute when he stumbled over his words, but the big city lawyer wouldn’t appreciate it if she pointed that out. As it was, Isabella suffered from a tendency to ramble when in the presence of a highly attractive man.
Moving on.
“It’s one of the oldest, mass-produced soft drinks in the country but started out as a patent medicine,” she said. “The guy who created it was born in Maine, but it was first made in your home state of Massachusetts, as a matter of fact. And now it’s made in Bedford, New Hampshire.”
“Absolutely…scintillating.” Sidney seemed to be half-listening by this point. He was getting that glazed-over look she recognized whenever she spouted too many random facts. That reaction wasn’t exclusive to this man.
“Not impressed by any of that? Try this on for size: the Mainers like it because it’s manly.”
Sidney straightened and pulled at the collar of his T-shirt, glancing down at his chest. “Now that you mention it, I see a new hair sprouting down there that wasn’t there a few minutes ago.”
She grinned. “See? Moxie has its benefits.”
“Answer a question. Have you ever tried this stuff?”
“Um, no. I don’t need hair on my chest.”
He burst out laughing. “You are the most spontaneous woman I’ve ever met.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Go get another drink. My treat. To make up for this one.”
“Nope.” He winked. “I’m all fortified now. And manly.” Pulling out his wallet, he handed her a ten. “Keep the change.”
“You’ve got to stop throwing your money around. People will talk.”
“This is the smallest bill I have. Tell you what. Put the change in the donation jar for the kids at the Youth Services Center.”
“All right, when you put it that way.” Ringing up the sale, Isabella made a big show of dropping single dollar bills and spare change into the jar. “The kids thank you.”
“Now, I need you to do something for me.” Sidney waited until she met his gaze.
“Depends. What is it?”
“Come to the house for dinner tonight. The way I see it, you owe me.”
She couldn’t stop her smile. “How do you figure that?”
“After that drink”—Sidney nodded at the empty Moxie bottle—“you owe me some sweetness.”
“Huh. That’s a line I’ve never heard before. Corny, but also fairly original.”
“See you later, Moxie.” Sidney turned and strutted out the front door. In very manly fashion.
Chapter 18
Isabella stepped into the front foyer as Seth held the door. “What smells so divine?”
“Caroline’s lobster lasagna. New recipe. I sampled it earlier, and you’re in for a treat.” Seth took the two bottles of sparkling grape cider she handed to him. “Thanks. This will be the perfect accompaniment.”
Caroline swept around the corner from the kitchen and gave Isabella a side hug. “I’m so happy you decided to come.” Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a chic chignon, and she wore an elegant, retro-looking green dress with fabric that crisscrossed on the bodice. It was a given that her emerald necklace and matching earrings were her own designs. For a woman who preferred jeans and sweatshirts, Mrs. Barnes cleaned up extremely well.
“Aren’t you at your Grace Kelly-ish best tonight?” Isabella said with a bright smile. “You look spectacular. Sorry, I was running a little behind schedule. Tommy showed up late at the store, so I had to rush. How do you manage to look so put together all the time?”
“Thanks, but I guess I fooled you.” In spite of her words, Isabella could tell the evening’s hostess was pleased by her compliments. “You should have seen me twenty minutes ago. I was running around upstairs, half-dressed with wild hair.”
“You didn’t hear me complaining.” Seth kissed his wife’s cheek.
“Off with you, sir.” Caroline gave Seth an exaggerated wink and a mock push toward the family room. That must be where the men had gathered.
“Isabella!” Bella scampered into the front hallway and wrapped her arms around her knees. “You brought bubbles!”
Laughing at Bella’s word for sparkling cider, Isabella leaned over to tap the child’s cute button nose. “I sure did. Try not to drink it too fast or else it’ll tickle your nose like it did at Christmas. Remember?”
“Uh huh.
It felt funny.” The little girl rubbed her nose and darted off again.
“Bella, no running in the house!” Paul called from the door leading into the family room. “And don’t go in the nursery again. Ellie and Paul need to sleep.” Paul waved. “Hi, Isabella. Glad you could join us.”
Sidney poked his head around the corner and then stepped into the doorway. “Good evening. Thanks for coming.”
Isabella smiled. “Hi there.” They stared at one another for a few seconds. What was she doing? Well, he’d started it. In his dark slacks and V-neck, lightweight blue sweater, the man looked devastating. All clean-shaven and GQ-ish tonight. If she ever saw him in a tux, she might just faint. She’d dealt with a ton of male models at the marketing firm, but not one of them had done a thing for her like this man did.
He’s forbidden fruit. “Oh, be quiet,” she muttered under her breath as she hurried after Caroline and into the kitchen. “Put me to work. What can I do to help?”
“We’re finishing up everything now, and we should be ready to eat in a few minutes.”
“Isabella! Aren’t you beautiful tonight?” In a lovely pale yellow cotton dress, Liesel skirted around her with a tray of fresh bread. After lowering the tray on the granite-topped island in the middle of the room, she tugged off the oven mitts. “Turn around and give us the full view of this scrumptious pink confection. Is this new?”
“No, I’ve had it since Hartford. I just haven’t had the opportunity to wear it here.”
“You look like you’re ready to twirl under the stars tonight.” Caroline’s tone sounded wistful.
“The men will fall all over themselves to be the first to dance with you,” Liesel said with a sweet smile.
“Thank you. This is really fun to get all gussied up for a change.”
Isabella had changed her dress six times before turning to the mirror and declaring, “No more!” More than any other, this pink dress made her feel soft, feminine, and womanly. The sleeveless dress was simple, elegant, nipped slightly below her natural waistline, and highlighted her toned upper arms and calves. The skirt was her favorite feature, made from an underlying layer of tulle with chiffon that swished about her knees with every movement. Whether or not she did any serious twirling tonight remained to be seen. Her silver sandals with a modest heel were the perfect complement to showcase the dress to its best advantage.
“I need to run upstairs and check on Ellie. I’ll be right back.” Caroline darted out of the kitchen.
Isabella’s stomach growled. Loudly. Embarrassed, she moved her hand over her belly. “I guess I didn’t realize I was so hungry. Everything smells fantastic in here. What’s in that bread?”
“It’s herb bread with rosemary and basil. There’s also a sourdough loaf.” Liesel removed the second loaf from the smaller oven. “I heard the stores were crazy busy today. Did you take time for lunch?”
Come to think of it, she hadn’t eaten anything since her bowl of whole grain cereal and poached egg for breakfast. “It was one of the busiest days I’ve had in a long time. I took a tuna sandwich, but I guess I never sat down to eat it.”
Caroline swooped back into the kitchen. “Here, Isabella. Try on this pink amethyst necklace for me.” In her hand, she held a delicate silver necklace with a pink stone pendant. “Turn around, please.”
“It’s beautiful. One of your new designs?” Isabella lifted her hair off her neck so Caroline could fasten the clasp. Sometimes she asked Isabella to wear one of her jewelry creations to get a feel for it—how heavy it was, how people reacted—and then report back to her. Liesel used to do the honors, but with a small child and an infant, wearing a delicate necklace was a thing of the past, at least for now.
“Yes, it is. Okay, there we go.” Putting both hands on her shoulders, Caroline turned her around to face Liesel. “What do you think?”
Liesel nodded. “I think it’s a definite keeper. Brings out your eyes, your hair, and the bloom in your cheeks.”
“Oh, no! I can’t keep the necklace,” Isabella protested. “This is too valuable.”
“I know pink amethyst is your favorite, and I won’t take no for an answer,” Caroline said.
“Then you have to allow me to babysit Ellie until she’s a teenager as a proper thank you.”
Caroline laughed. “Better yet, I’ll let you toss the salad.” In less than a minute, she’d collected everything from the large steel refrigerator and stacked them on the island.
“You’re too good to me, but I’ve got it covered. One tossed salad coming up.” After opening the utensil drawer, Isabella stopped when someone came alongside her. One whiff of the subtle masculine cologne, and she knew it was Sidney.
After nudging her hand away from the drawer, he pulled out a long-handled fork and spoon. “Will these work?”
“They should do nicely. Thank you.” She started to take them, but he resisted, making her work for them. Finally, he released his hold.
“Welcome. You’re beautiful, Isabella.” He turned and addressed his sister. “Caroline, give me a job.”
Sidney was already flirting. This couldn’t be good.
Isabella poured the raspberry vinaigrette dressing over the fresh garden salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, and all manner of vegetables. Lost in thought, she gave up after counting five different kinds of vegetables. Hoping no one noticed the flush in her cheeks, she wondered how Sidney could hold such power over her emotions.
He’s just a friend, Isabella.
Right. And she was…Queen Isabella. She almost laughed out loud. Opening the bottles of sparkling cider on the counter, Sidney glanced over at her with an expression of curious amusement. Ah, skip it. The man already knew she was nutty.
Seth and Paul came into the kitchen, and the three men worked together to fill their glasses.
Finished preparing the salad, Isabella carried it to the dining room. Caroline knew how to set an elegant, inviting table—lit candles, off-white linen tablecloth, fine crystal, her best china. Lush, blooming red roses from Seth’s flower garden sat in a cut crystal vase in the middle of the table. The man nurtured and grew the best roses in the county, maybe the entire state.
Isabella smiled. “Just a simple get-together with friends.” Her gaze landed on place cards. She had to take a peek. Sidney was at one end and Seth on the other. Caroline would be seated to Seth’s right, and she would sit on Sidney’s right. Bella would sit next to her—the little girl’s booster seat and Disney princess plate and cup were already in place—while Paul and Liesel would sit opposite them. The seating arrangement made perfect sense.
Isabella hoped Sidney wouldn’t try to play footsie with her beneath the table. He wouldn’t, would he? She wouldn’t put it past him. Then again, did she want him to flirt? This was getting more dangerous by the minute. Her good sense told her to cut her losses, make her excuses, jump in her SUV, and leave. But no. She’d never been a woman to call upon her common sense when the signs were there that she should. Why start now?
You are completely hopeless.
Standing in a circle in the dining room a few minutes later, they all held hands for prayer. Sidney stood beside Isabella, Liesel on the other. Sidney slipped his hand over hers so naturally, as if he’d been doing it for years, making it difficult for her to concentrate on Seth’s words.
“Thank you, Father, for our friends and family gathered with us tonight. We give you the honor and glory for the love, and for the strong bonds of family, faith, and friendship represented here. We ask that you bless the hands that have prepared the food, may we partake in good health, and we pray that our conversations will be pleasing in your sight. We ask these things in the name of Jesus.”
“Amen!” Bella clapped her hands. “Eat!”
Sidney gave Isabella’s hand a light squeeze.
The conversation flowed freely around the table. Seth told them about his next planned exploratory trip. Paul updated them on new programs at the Youth Services Center. For his part, Sidney seeme
d content to eat his meal and listen to the conversations around him. Other than complimenting Caroline on the out-of-this-world lobster lasagna—layered with baby spinach, mozzarella, parmesan, white cheddar, and Alfredo sauce—he remained quiet except for playing peek-a-boo with Bella. When he let down his guard, Sidney seemed much more relaxed and content. Nothing grabbed Isabella’s attention faster than a man who related well to children.
At one point, she was surprised to find an extra piece of herb bread on the side of her plate. Giggling, Bella pointed to Sidney. When she glanced at him, he shrugged and put one finger over his lips before taking a bite of the sourdough bread.
Sidney helped Isabella clear the table, and they worked together to carry the dishes back into the kitchen. She began to rinse and load them into the dishwasher, and Caroline made the coffee. Paul scooped Barron’s homemade vanilla ice cream into bowls while Liesel and Seth set out a variety of toppings—fresh strawberries, blueberries, as well as chocolate and butterscotch sauces. Bella’s job was to sprinkle chocolate shavings and add a maraschino cherry on top for those who requested them.
Judging by Bella’s giggles, Sidney had apparently taken it upon himself to “assist” her. Isabella smiled as she listened to their lively chatter and darted a glance over her shoulder. He’d perched the little girl on a tall chair at the island and teased her with a cherry, dangling it by its stem and acting like he was going to eat it.
“Uncle Sidney! Stop that!”
Uncle Sidney? Bella barely knew Sidney. When had she started calling him that? None of the adults corrected the child. Huh? When did this happen? Even she wasn’t Aunt Isabella. Not that she was jealous. Okay, maybe a little bit.
“I want Ellie and Paul to get big so I can play with them now,” Bella whined as she left the kitchen a couple of minutes later.