“Come on, Mommy. We need to walk fast. We want to get there right when she opens.”
“What is up with you today? You’re never in this big a hurry. Teresa isn’t going to sell out of cinnamon rolls before 8:15.”
Tabitha didn’t say anything, just tugged Hannah’s arm as they set off. It was a nice morning for a walk. Once they came off Hodge Hill, they were in the morning sunshine. Hannah had to take faster strides to keep up with Tabitha’s pace. Fortunately, they were walking downhill. When they hit Main Street, Hannah slowed down and let Tabs go on ahead. She thought at some point her daughter might slow down or wait, but when Tabitha got to the Post Office and Hannah was trailing by about fifty yards, she decided to call to Tabs to wait. Tabitha stomped her feet and tried to argue, but Hannah held her ground.
“Hold my hand,” she insisted as she caught up with Tabs, who rolled her eyes, but complied. Hannah took the opportunity to slow the pace. “Tabitha, cars drive way too fast through this town and we’re coming up on busy parking lots. I’m just trying to keep you safe. If you’re going to give me attitude, we’ll turn around and go home.”
“No, we can’t go home. I’m sorry, Mommy. I won’t give you a attitude anymore.”
“Ok, sweetheart. I’m going to hold you to that.”
When they crossed Main Street and hit Chevron Park, just yards from the Coffee Shop, Tabitha was practically dragging Hannah along. “Come on, Mommy. Let’s go.”
Hannah let go of her hand. “Go on ahead. I’ll see you in there.” As Tabitha took off in a sprint, Hannah called after her, “Save me a seat!”
She stopped dead in her tracks when she walked in the front entrance of the Coffee Shop and saw Tabitha sitting at a table in the middle of the small restaurant with Aaron.
“Hi,” he said. “You look a little surprised to see me?”
“Uh, yeah, just a little.” Then, the light turned on and it was as bright as the sun.
Hannah remembered hearing Tabitha talking to somebody in her bedroom last night. She thought her daughter was just playing, but a while after that Tabs had come out and returned the phone to its charging dock in the kitchen. When Hannah asked why Tabs had the phone, she claimed she was just pretending to call her friends. It was apparent now she’d been plotting.
The John Stark Coffee House occupied the old Drug Store that Mr. and Mrs. Marshall had owned and operated for decades. There were quite a few regulars that frequented the coffee shop. The owner, Teresa, was a petite woman with short dark hair who always offered a warm smile and greeted the regulars by name.
The creamy coffee colored walls were adorned with photos of local veterans and photos from local artists. A dozen small tables were positioned to allow views of the bustling activity at the corner of Main and School Streets. Today, like most days, music played quietly in the background. Something classical hummed quietly from the speakers, but Hannah knew the diverse selection the stereo offered and wouldn’t be surprised if the next song was folk or fifties. She also loved the delicious selection of pastries and sandwiches. Oh, and the lattes were awesome.
But, it was the atmosphere that drew Hannah in week after week. She loved the quiet bustle the coffee shop offered, both the familiar faces of the regulars and the new faces of passers-by.
Hannah smiled at the World War II veteran she knew only as Francis who sat at the table behind Aaron. She and Tabs saw Francis at the coffee shop most Saturday mornings. She loved his friendly smile and his quick wit, and the way he proudly pointed out his Navy picture on the wall that honored the community veterans. After Francis said good morning, Hannah turned her attention to the man she’d been working hard to ignore all week.
“So you didn’t tell Tabitha to call me and invite me to breakfast?”
He looked sexy, as usual, in a Harley t-shirt and faded jeans. His hair looked freshly washed with the little waves springing out at the ends. She guessed he hadn’t ridden his motorcycle this morning, given the lack of helmet head.
She and Aaron both turned and looked at Tabitha who was just beaming with happiness.
“We’re all here, so let’s have breakfast,” Tabitha said as she got up from the table. “So, Mommy, what do you want? And how ‘bout you Hawk? I’m going to have a cinnamon roll. I’ll give Teresa our orders.”
Hannah tried to smile through the frenzy of embarrassment of Tabitha’s matchmaking efforts. Particularly, since she was trying with desperation to avoid this man – this sexy, wanted-his-hands-on-her-right-now man.
“I can go if you’re uncomfortable having me here,” Aaron said, his expression sincere.
“No!” Tabitha yelled.
Hannah smiled. This was a losing battle. “No, it’s fine. Stay. We can have breakfast together. I’ll let Tabitha enjoy the fruits of her labor … before I lock her in a cage until she’s twenty-five, with no phone privileges.”
Tabitha rolled her eyes, as if she knew her mom would never be able to keep the phone away from her … or lock her in a cage. Hannah ordered an egg and cheese sandwich on a croissant and Aaron ordered the same with sausage. They both asked for a latte. When Tabitha went to place their orders, Aaron reached across the table. Despite the light caress, sparks flew, turning Hannah’s body into a cyclone of activity. The electricity. The fluttering. The skipping.
“I’m sorry, Hannah,” he said quietly. “I didn’t realize she was calling without your permission. She was rather convincing.”
“Well, for future reference, you can assume if she is calling, it is without my permission. I don’t need her making dates for me.”
Hannah regretted it as soon as she said it. Dates. Technically this wasn’t a date, was it? It was just a chance meeting. Yeah, a chance meeting her daughter arranged and Aaron came to knowing, full-well who he was meeting.
She must have cringed because Aaron laughed. “We don’t have to call it a date, if that makes you feel better.”
“I just wasn’t expecting to see you this morning, that’s all.” Maybe it was best to pull her hand away, but she couldn’t physically separate herself from him and all the electricity flowing between them. Hannah could barely think about anything when he touched her, even ever-so-slightly, and the way he looked at her – God, what was he doing to her?
“I was beginning to think you were avoiding me,” he laughed, his hand still caressing hers.
“I was,” she said with a sly smile.
Aaron laughed a little, and she knew from the expression on his face that he didn’t know if she was being honest or joking. That was fine because she was tired of people always knowing what she was thinking and feeling.
“Your lattes are served,” Tabitha interrupted.
“Are you helping Teresa this morning?” she asked.
“Yep. That way you two can get to know each other, and if you want to kiss in public, that’s ok with me. It won’t gross me out or anything.”
Well, so much for Aaron not knowing what she was feeling, she thought as the burn of embarrassment washed over her cheeks. Where did her daughter get this stuff, anyway? There would be no kissing in public – or in private. Ok, maybe in private, but Tabitha didn’t need to know that.
“Maybe I should kiss you just to see if it does gross her out,” Aaron said with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Umm, I think we should just enjoy our lattes,” Hannah responded, imagining that by the heat surging through her, her cheeks were as red as Santa’s suit.
“I’ll consider that a rain check,” he said with a winked.
Wonderful. Now Hannah had the image of his luscious lips on hers burning into her mind. It was exactly what she wanted and all she was going to be able to think about until it happened. All that avoiding she had done did nothing to curb her attraction. At least she was a master at changing the subject.
“So everyone really loved your article, and the pictures. We were surprised to see it covered two whole pages. Donna called me at work as soon as she got the paper Thursday. They hung it up
on the board in the bank.”
“I’m glad everyone liked it.” Aaron took a slow sip of his coffee, keeping his eyes on her. “I called you on Wednesday to ask you out to dinner tonight. I know it’s short notice, asking you now, but I’d really like to see you again. Will you … have dinner with me tonight?”
“Oh, she will, won’t you Mommy?” Tabitha was back with their breakfast sandwiches. Bad timing. Tabitha playing matchmaker made it difficult to avoid Aaron. “I can spend the night at Mimi and Papa’s, or Gram and Gramps, so you don’t have to worry about a babysitter. And you can make out on the couch.”
Hannah blushed again, her annoyance coming out in her stern mommy voice. “Ok Tabitha, that’s enough. Really, what do you know about kissing anyway?”
“Kaylie’s mom has a boyfriend and they sit on the couch and kiss a lot. Kaylie watches from the stairs, but they kiss with their eyes closed and don’t see her there. Kaylie says Chip touches her mom a lot too. On her privates. I guess that’s ok. Grown-ups can touch each other on their privates, right Mommy?”
Oh, boy. “Yes, Tabs, it’s ok for grown-ups to do that if both of them want to, but it’s not ok for little girls to watch from the stairs or tell their friends about it.”
“Oh Mommy, you’re so old-fashioned.” Tabitha rolled her eyes again before disappearing into the kitchen.
“Oh my God. I have no idea who that girl is. She can’t be my daughter.” She seemed more like Malinda’s daughter with all the eye-rolling.
“You shouldn’t be embarrassed. It could be worse,” Aaron chuckled.
“Yeah, I suppose she could be using worse language.”
“Well, I think it would be worse if she didn’t say anything at all. At least you know what kind of an education she’s getting … you know, on how grown-ups touch each other.”
Aaron winked again. Hannah almost melted.
“I guess that’s true, but the fact she’s not grossed out by it is rather disturbing. When did she grow up? I thought she was still seven.” Hannah shook her head. When had Tabitha grown up? Where had she been when it was happening? Maybe she needed to call Kaylie’s mom and clue her in on the kind of education she didn’t know her daughter was getting. Or worse, maybe Kaylie’s mom did know and didn’t care. This is why I don’t date, Hannah thought, though she knew that wasn’t the truth.
Aaron reached out and squeezed her hand. “I think kids know more at seven nowadays than when we were kids. I’m sure they are smarter.”
He released her hand before Tabitha reappeared from the kitchen with a cinnamon roll and smoothie, for which Hannah was relieved. She didn’t need a subtle, friendly touch like that putting even more ideas in her daughter’s seven-year-old head, or lighting her entire body on fire.
They enjoyed their breakfast as Tabitha gave them the lowdown on what was happening in first grade. It seemed like miniature gossip, but Aaron didn’t seem to mind and talked to Tabitha as if he knew all the kids she talked about.
“So, Mommy, can we go to the playground? You promised we would go on the first nice day.”
“Yes, sweetheart, we can go, but you need to finish your breakfast first.”
“Can Hawk come with us? Please, Mommy? Please, please!”
Sigh. “Well, I guess you’ll have to ask him. Maybe he has other plans.” Please let him have other plans.
“Will you come? Please? I won’t make you push me on the swing or anything. I know how to pump and kick, so I don’t need help like little kids do.”
“I’d love to go with you to the playground, Tabitha,” he said.
“Yay!!” Tabitha didn’t stop smiling while she finished her breakfast and neither did Aaron. When Tabitha cleaned up their plates, Hannah grabbed the wallet out of her pocket book.
“Let me take care of this,” Aaron said as he reached for his wallet.
“Oh no. You were tricked into coming here. Breakfast is on me.” Hannah stepped away from the table and approached the register where Teresa greeted her. Normally the two had lengthy conversations during breakfast. Teresa didn’t once interrupt today, probably because Tabitha had clued her in to what had conspired.
After they crossed the street, Aaron reached for Hannah’s hand, holding it loosely in his. She didn’t pull away, and didn’t plan to acknowledge the gesture, but he leaned in and whispered, “For Tabitha’s sake. I’m sure she would nag us if we didn’t hold hands.”
Hannah chuckled on a sigh. Aaron was probably just saying that to make her more comfortable. The truth was, she wanted to hold his hand too. She wanted to touch him – and she was still thinking about his lips on hers. Boy was she ever.
It was a short walk to the playground, just a couple hundred yards down School Street and another couple hundred yards down West Street. When they reached the parking lot, Tabitha took off at a sprint, heading straight for the slide. She was on her fourth or fifth trip up when Hannah and Aaron each took a seat on the swings.
“Is it true this playground used to be at the school?” Aaron asked.
“It’s true. There was actually more than this. There were three sets of swings. One had hard plastic seats. Those were my favorite. They were a little more comfortable than these ass-slings.”
Aaron laughed. Then she caught him peering back at her ass. “Well, the ass-sling looks good on you,” he said as he swung forward.
Ok, so she had opened to the door to that one. At least she had confirmation that he liked her ass.
“There was also what we called the red bars,” she continued, trying not to focus on the fact he had just checked her out. “Of course, they weren’t red, but apparently had been at some point. I think all the red paint had worn off and they just never bothered to paint them again. Anyway, it was just like a horizontal ladder … about seven feet off the ground. I liked to climb the monkey bars, but you had to be strong to climb the pole and get up the red bars. I always needed a boost.”
“What’s your fondest memory of the playground?” Aaron asked.
Hmm, that was a no brainer. “I had my first kiss at the top of those monkey bars.” She pointed to the bars that stood next to the swings where they sat. “I was in eighth grade. So was he. Alan Corveaux. It was a dare.”
“His buddies dared him to kiss you?”
“Oh no. My friends dared me to kiss him. Malinda, mostly. He was super cute, but was a real jerk. He swore he would never go out with a Lisbon girl. They were too simple. So, my friends dared me and I told him I could climb the monkey bars faster than he could. He beat me, but when I got to the top, I planted one on him. We went out for the rest of the school year. I dumped him on the last day of school.”
“That seems harsh.”
“I caught him kissing Samantha Tate outside the library.”
“Ok, dumping him doesn’t seem so harsh then.”
“Yeah, the funny thing was, she was kissing him on a dare, too. She was a year older than us and had a boyfriend a couple years older than her. I guess they had a fight and he dared her to go kiss someone else, so she did. Unfortunately for Alan, he was the lucky chosen one and I happened to have a bird’s eye view. He never went out with another Lisbon girl after that.”
“So what else have you done on a dare?”
“Too many things to tell. So where was your first kiss?”
Aaron laughed, swinging a little harder.
“Oh no, you don’t get to avoid the subject. I shared. It’s only fair.”
“What is this, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours?” Aaron laughed.
Oh, I’d definitely show you mine if you showed me yours. “Something like that,” she replied, giving him a look that prompted him to talk.
He slowed the swing, which made it easier to see his perfect lips move as he talked.
“What if I told you that a girl I had a crush on for a year kissed me on a dare?”
“I’d find that hard to believe.” Aaron was hot. She imagined he’d been cute his whole life. Why would he need to be
kissed on a dare?
“Yeah, well it’s true. She knew I liked her. I was kinda a goofy kid, so she wasn’t that interested in me. Well, not until after puberty anyway. So yeah, last day of seventh grade a bunch of us were watching movies at my friend’s house. Emily Dineen was there. The movie ended and we started playing truth or dare.
“Emily took a dare from my best friend and he dared her to kiss me. I was horrified and excited at the same time. She said she wouldn’t do it with everyone watching. We went in a closet and she kissed me. It was horrible. I don’t know if it was because I didn’t know what I was doing or she didn’t know what she was doing or both, but it was horrible. It helped me get over my crush.”
“You said she wasn’t interested in you until after puberty?”
“Yeah, I left tenth grade a gangly, goofy kid and started eleventh grade looking completely different. It was weird, very Peter Parker becomes Spider-Man. Like I woke up one day in a new body with a new face, except I wasn’t bit by a genetically enhanced spider. Emily was interested after that. All I could remember was that horrible kiss. Also, I had kind of realized what a bitch she really was, so she pursued me and I denied her. It was a little too satisfying, actually.”
As they swung in sync with each other, Hannah laughed remembering Steven being the exact same way – a goofy looking kid, until one summer, he completely changed. He came back from an extended vacation at his uncle’s house in Jersey and was absolutely gorgeous. Of course, he was her best friend’s brother and four years older than them, so Hannah didn’t think too much of it. It was funny to think of the same thing happening to Aaron.
She watched cars pass by the playground, probably going to and coming from the dump. She wondered if her own recycling would magically find its way there too or if she’d go home to find it still waiting for her to run that errand.
“Do you still take dares?” Aaron asked, as he swung a little higher.
“Um, no, not really.” She started swinging harder, trying to match Aaron’s pace. Before long, the two were swinging high and Tabitha was sitting at the top of the slide cheering them on.
Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin' Anthology 2015 Page 221