by Terry Fowler
“I’m hungry. I skipped lunch. Hope you like steak?” He frowned. “I suppose I should have asked before choosing this place.”
“There’s not much I won’t eat. Mom’s rule was that we ate what she put on the table or did without so I have fairly diverse tastes.” Then she qualified, “Except for the things I vowed I wouldn’t eat once I became an adult.”
Josiah grinned at that. “Me, too. Know what you want?”
“The grilled chicken and strawberry salad and a sweet potato with cinnamon butter and sugar.”
“Sounds good.”
She glanced down at the menu and then back at him. “Josiah, I wanted to thank you for being so helpful the other night and to apologize for that pity party I forced on you.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You experienced a tragic loss.”
“It’s more than that. Oh, never mind. I’m just dealing with my insecurities.”
“About what?”
She sounded like a real loser. If she told him the truth he’d never ask her out again. Everyone murmured platitudes to make her feel better about herself every time she brought up the subject. “Where I am in life. Oh, never mind. That conversation is too heavy for a first date.”
He laid down the menu and paid closer attention to what she said. “I’m a good listener if you need to talk.”
Leah touched his hand and was surprised when he flipped it palm up and closed his fingers about hers.
“You are a good listener but I think we need lighter conversation.”
He nodded. “So what do you do for fun?”
That was too easy. “I love to read, and I often hang out with my church friends. I see them two or three times a week. I sing in the choir. And volunteer when we have church work days. And I’ve been painting my condo.”
“You stay busy.”
“My organized home gives me more free time.” Leah grinned at him.
“What about your college friends?”
“Things aren’t the same. Everyone has their own life and our paths rarely cross. Some are off pursuing careers. Others are married and having kids.”
“Same here. I get tired of being the odd man out.”
Leah knew exactly how he felt. “They invite you out of a sense of obligation but hope you have other plans or at least find a date.”
“Yeah, they feel guilty because you’re all alone and think it’s their duty to entertain this single guest who can’t seem to find someone to love.”
Leah smiled and pointed at him. “Do you know my friends?”
He chuckled and said, “Maybe their doppelgängers.”
A sudden revelation hit her. “Josiah, this is what your mom is experiencing with her friends. They must feel uncomfortable because she lost her husband. Maybe even guilty because they’re thankful it wasn’t them.”
Josiah raised his brows and nodded. “Good point. I’ll have to mention that to her.”
“Okay, next question. What’s your favorite dessert?” Leah was a dessert fiend. She loved ice cream most of all.
“Birthday cake. I like the frosting.”
Leah smiled and pulled a hand up to touch her chest. “Me, too. I never turn down birthday cake.”
“Want me to tell them it’s your birthday?”
She gasped and laughed at the same time. “No.”
“Okay, should I tell them it’s mine?”
She shook her head at his playfulness. “They don’t bring birthday cake.”
He looked little boy disappointed. “Then we’ll both order the best dessert on the menu and celebrate our birthdays.”
The waitress appeared at that moment and looked from one to the other. “It’s your birthdays?”
“No.” Leah and Josiah responded in unison.
The young woman looked confused.
“First date,” Josiah said as to explain their conversation.
“Oh.” She didn’t look convinced. “Ready to order? Or do you need more time?”
They told her what they wanted and watched the woman walk away before breaking into laughter.
“Well, it’s official. She thinks we’re nuts.”
“She shouldn’t judge us on hearing only part of the conversation.”
Leah sorted out her silverware. “So how’s the real estate world? Make any big deals this week?”
“A couple of leases. Lots of people looking, few buying.”
“Their dreams don’t match their wallets?”
“Something like that. Or else reality strikes cold dead fear in their hearts. Where are your parents this week?”
“London. They move on to Ireland next week and then home.”
“Spain, Paris, London and Ireland. That’s quite a trip.”
“Dad picked the top four places Mom always wanted to visit. She’s loving every minute of it. This trip will be her all-time favorite gift.”
“Quite a gift.” His expression grew serious. “You know Mom is going to want to see your dad when they get back.”
Leah nodded. “And you’re concerned.”
“I am. Mom has no idea why our fathers stopped being friends. She’s sure to ask how long your dad has been back in Wilmington and why he didn’t look them up.”
She could feel him bouncing his knee underneath the table. He was nervous, and rightfully so. “We can’t control this, Josiah. I’m sure my parents won’t freely offer an explanation of what transpired with your father.”
“I hope not.”
She touched his hand. “Give it to God. Trust Him to take care of your mom.”
Their food arrived and the conversation ceased with the consumption of food. “How’s your sweet potato?”
“Delicious.” Leah scooped up a bite. “Want to taste?”
He did. “It’s good.” He cut off a piece of steak and returned the favor.
“Um, good.” Leah enjoyed the tender bite of steak.
A few minutes later she patted her stomach and declared, “I couldn’t eat another bite.”
“No dessert?” He looked disappointed.
“Maybe later.”
Josiah paid the check and took her hand as they walked out to the car.
“Thanks for dinner.”
“Thanks for the company.”
They drove over to the concert area and found a parking space. He pulled two chairs from the trunk and carried them over to where people sat on blankets and in chairs watching the band perform. Children ran about the area, their voices rising in the warm summer evening as they played in bounce houses. He rested one chair against his leg and opened the other, indicating she should have a seat. Then he opened his own and sat down. The band performed a mixture of country and pop music.
Her gaze shifted over the area. “This is nice.”
The band finished another song and they applauded. “I read about the concerts but this is a first for me. Mostly I do dinner and a movie or hang out with friends watching sports.”
“Crowds aren’t generally my thing.” Leah felt she had admitted something major to him. “I prefer small gatherings with family and friends.”
“Good to know.”
“What about you? What do you like?”
“I’m more of a small-group person.”
Leah smiled at him. “So we’ve both stepped outside our comfort zones and found it’s not too bad after all?”
“Looks that way.”
She tapped her foot to the music as the band continued to perform. When they took a short break, they sat waiting for breezes in the unseasonably warm June night. Leah swiped at her forehead, feeling the perspiration and wondering what it was doing to her makeup. She should have known better. She fanned her face with her hand, shooing away the gn
ats. “It’s so humid.”
“I should have bought insect repellent. It never did cool down like I thought it might. Had enough?” At her nod, Josiah said, “Let’s go.”
She folded her chair and held it under her arm. Josiah held out a hand. “Let me take that.”
“I’ve got it.”
At the car, he removed a boogie board to get the chairs back inside the trunk. “You any good with that?” Leah asked.
“Pretty good.”
“You a surfer dude?”
“Not so much.”
He opened her door. “What do you think? Should we visit an ice cream shop?”
Leah grinned at him. “Your sweet tooth begging for satisfaction?”
“Good way to cool off.”
“Or we could pick up a fast food dip-cone and go for a walk on the beach.”
“Yeah. I like that idea even better.”
They bought ice cream cones and drove down to Wrightsville Beach. Josiah parked in the public access next to the big hotel on Lumina Avenue. Both left their shoes behind and climbed over the hills of sand leading to the ocean. It was low tide. They walked across damp sand, leaving a trail of footprints behind them. The incoming waves felt wonderful against their bare feet and legs.
The wind whipped tendrils of hair loose from the clasp. Leah shoved them back and licked the cone several times, hoping to keep the melting ice cream from running over her fingers.
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” she said.
“There’s a trash barrel. Want to dump them?”
“No. It may be messy but it’s good ice cream.” The vanilla soft serve was very creamy and twisted upwards on the cone. “Eat faster.”
They raced to finish and laughed when it was a tie, each crunching the last bite of their cones at the same time.
Josiah rinsed his hand in the ocean, slinging off the excess water. “Let’s walk that off.”
Leah stuck the paper band from the cone in her pocket and rinsed her hands, rubbing them dry. They walked toward the pier in the distance, light coming from the half-moon and structures on the shore.
“This breeze feels wonderful.” She picked up her pace, trying to keep up with his longer steps.
“Why didn’t you tell me to slow down?” Josiah stopped and took her hand in his. “I’m sorry. It’s not a race.”
They walked a bit farther before he suggested they turn back. The heat made her tired and Leah was more than ready to head for home. At the car, Josiah took a towel from the trunk and brushed the sand off her feet.
She looked down at him as he knelt before her. “Thank you, kind sir.”
He grinned, stood up and leaned in to press a gentle kiss on her lips. “Nothing’s too good for you, my lady.”
Chapter 9
Watching the incoming passengers, Leah spotted her parents and waved at them from the area in front of the baggage claim.
They beamed when they caught sight of her. Leah hurried forward and was wrapped in a three-way hug. “Welcome home. It’s so good to have you back. I’ve missed you.”
Marty took Leah’s face in her hands and kissed her cheek. “We missed you, too.”
Ben slipped an arm about her waist and hugged her again. “It’s good to be home.”
“How was Ireland? And your flight?”
“Beautiful. Long.”
Leah laughed. “I imagine even your jet lag is confused with all the moving around you’ve been doing.”
The buzzer sounded and the carousel began to move. Ben took a step forward and said, “I’ll get our luggage.”
Marty grasped Leah’s hand in hers. “We need to help. I had to buy an extra suitcase to bring home all our goodies.”
More stuff, Leah thought as she walked with her mother.
“We took lots of pictures. And Ben shot lots of video. Just wait until you see how incredible these places are.”
Her mother’s enjoyment of their travels thrilled Leah. She deserved every moment. She’d done the kid-friendly vacations for many years so this had been even more special for her. No doubt she looked forward to sharing her experience with everyone. Leah knew with certainty that there would be photos in the Wright family newsletter this Christmas.
Soon they were loaded in the SUV and headed for home. Leah had stocked their fridge the previous day and checked to make sure the house was ready for their arrival. Before leaving for the airport she’d put a pork loin in the slow cooker and placed fresh flowers on the entry hall table to welcome them.
Her father parked in the driveway and they carried the bags upstairs. They left her mother in the bedroom and went downstairs to the family room. Ben flopped down on the sofa and inhaled. “Smells good.”
“I thought you might be hungry. I’ve got potato salad, corn and fresh tomatoes from the farmers’ market. And I made a pitcher of tea.”
He grinned. “Now I know I’m home.”
“You want a glass now?”
He nodded and Leah went off to prepare iced tea for everyone. She returned to the living room and handed him a glass. She placed her mother’s on a coaster on the end table and went back to get her own. Leah sat in the armchair, lifting her legs up onto the footstool. “So did you enjoy yourself?”
He nodded. “I really did. I wasn’t so sure when I first contacted that travel agent but after seeing the joy on your mom’s face these past weeks, I’m glad we did this. I think I made up for all those bad gifts.”
“You did. Would you go again?”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I would. In fact, I plan to take your mother on more trips in the future. Shorter trips, mind you. Though she was talking about Alaska and Australia on the way home. I hope she doesn’t plan to run the alphabet.”
Leah laughed. “Good thing we mailed out that flyer last week. You’re going to need more patients if she does.”
“How did that go?”
“Great. I delivered it to the printer and they handled the mailing. I suppose we’ll know soon enough if it’s successful. We included the whitening coupon you suggested.”
He nodded. “So what have you been up to while we were away?”
Though they had communicated regularly there were little details that were missed. “Mom told you about her letter?”
He nodded, his brown eyes searching her face. “What on earth possessed you to mail that old letter?”
Her hands shot up. “Stupidity? Though I can say it’s brought some new experiences into my life.”
“What kind of experiences?”
“Well, I’m working for Cecily Byrd, for one. And I’ve been on a few dates with Josiah Byrd.” They’d been out three more times. He’d suggested a trip to the beach on Sunday afternoon. Cecily had joined them for that and they had gone out the following Friday and Saturday night.
That caught his attention. “Really? What’s he like?”
“Nice guy. You’d like him. Cecily says you were Joseph Byrd’s best friend in high school. She can’t wait to see you again.”
Ben glanced up from the stack of mail and frowned.
“You don’t want to see her?”
“Not particularly. I never had problems with Cecily. But I do have problems with the questions that will arise as a result of seeing her again. And more importantly, how this is going to affect your mother.”
Leah understood his reluctance to renew the old friendship. “I’m afraid she’s going to ask why you didn’t contact Joseph when you came back to Wilmington.”
He leaned forward and jerked the pillow from behind his back. “It would have been uncomfortable for everyone involved. Your mom and I made a joint decision to put him out of our lives.”
“Didn’t you like him anymore?”
“Can’t say
I liked the man he became. But I am thankful he moved on and gave me the opportunity to win your mother.”
Marty entered the room and sat down next to her husband. “I am not a prize to be won, Ben Wright.”
He leaned to kiss her. “So true. You’re my gift.”
She blushed like a new bride. “Stop it. What were you two talking about?”
“What your daughter’s been doing in our absence.”
Marty turned to Leah with an enthusiastic smile. “Do tell.”
“Well, she’s working for Cecily Byrd and dating her son.”
Marty looked concerned. “Really? You’re dating Josiah Byrd?”
Leah nodded. “He’s a nice guy.”
“Must not have taken after his father.”
The cutting comment was so unlike her mother.
“Josiah isn’t his father’s biggest fan, either.”
“Smart man.”
Leah saw her father squeeze her mother’s hand. “Mom, I’m sorry. Does it bother you that Josiah and I are dating?”
“Not if you like him. Ironically, this could be God’s way of making me forgive Joseph.”
That shocked Leah even more. All her life Marty Wright had taught forgive and forget, and here she admitted she hadn’t forgiven someone. “I didn’t read your letter.”
“Thank you for that. I’m mortified that it was read by anyone.”
Leah felt lower than dirt. “I’m really sorry, Mom. I told Josiah it was private and he shouldn’t have read it in the first place.”
“Where is the letter?”
“Josiah has it. Said he was going to destroy it because the contents could devastate his mom. He’s very protective of Cecily.”
Marty sighed and shook her head in dismay. “I hate this. I never had any intention of telling Cecily Byrd anything about the man she married.”
“Would you tell me what happened?”
Marty shook her head. Ben’s arm slipped over his wife’s shoulder and he pulled her closer. “It’s not something I care to discuss.”
Leah accepted her mother’s stance. “Cecily knows about Dad. She’s anxious to see him again.”
Marty looked at her husband and rolled her eyes. “And the news just gets better and better.”