by Rita Hestand
"I better be going, gotta check on mother tonight, the weather is supposed to freeze up, so run your faucets tonight." Mark instructed them. "Better go now…"
"You don't have to run off," Judy fussed.
Mark left and Judy turned to look at Lori. "Well now, you two looked kind of serious."
"Yeah, we were talking about our parent's deaths."
Judy's face paled a bit. "I suppose that's healthy."
Lori's eyes flew to the floor as she sipped her hot chocolate. The near kiss had shocked her into an awareness she wasn't ready to acknowledge. "I guess we have more in common than I thought."
"I guess you do, dear." Judy smiled and kissed her forehead. "Mark's a nice young man, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is." Lori admitted.
"He really gave you a foot rub?" Judy chuckled.
"Yes, he did. I had no idea he had such talents, but I gotta admit, it felt so good, I didn't dare stop him." Lori found herself chuckling too.
Chapter Nine
When Lori found Mark in the kitchen the next morning having coffee with Judy, she was puzzled. What was he doing here so early in the morning?
"You're up and about early?" Lori commented not dare looking straight into his face.
"Actually, it's snowing and I thought under the circumstances that I might take you to work." He glanced at Judy for some sort of agreement.
"That's right dear, this is no weather to be out in." Judy agreed.
"Oh but, I'm sure you have other things to do than take me to work!" Lori protested.
"Not a one this morning. People will be building fires in their fireplaces this morning, and trying to sweep off the snow and ice before they call me to do anything. I'm sure I'll have a few broken pipes to replace though later." He chuckled.
Judy sent her an approving face, so Lori relented, "Fine, I guess I shouldn't complain."
"You'll be my first good deed today." He told her.
"Good deed huh. You have a lot of them?"
"My fair share." He winked.
"Alright, let me get my jacket then and tools and I'm ready." She told him. "Aren't you going to eat dear?"
"Hmm…I'll just take this bacon and wrap it around one of those scrumptious pancakes, thanks."
Judy gave Mark a high five when she left.
But Lori didn't waste any time and gave Judy a quick peck on the cheek. "Don’t be going out today, missy, I don't want you falling down."
Judy nodded, "Yes dear!"
When they were inside his truck she glanced at him as she put her tools between her legs on the floorboard, "You really didn't have to bother. I don't want to become dependent on someone for getting to work."
"I wasn't kidding, it's my good deed for the day." He winked again.
"Fine." She frowned.
"You don't like being my good deed, I can see that now." He almost chuckled.
"My not driving creates all these problems, doesn't it?"
"Yes, I'm afraid it does."
"Well, I wouldn't drive in the snow anyway." She declared defensively.
"You're right about that. If you don't have to, you shouldn't. Taking you a few blocks to your work isn't an imposition Lori." He said more seriously. "I thought we were friends."
"I'm sorry. I should be thanking you. And we are friends."
"Get up on the wrong side of bed this morning?"
"Maybe."
She looked at him and saw how handsome he looked this morning. She shouldn't be noticing. After all he was trying to catch Heather, and that kiss was way out of line yesterday. Even though it hadn't been a full-blown kiss, his lips had barely touched hers, when the door flew open. She'd spent the night tossing and turning about it. Part of it was that she hadn't experienced a full-blown kiss, and part was that he shouldn't be kissing her in the first place.
"Look, I’m sorry." She began.
"No problem. I guess you are thinking about now that the kiss that almost happened yesterday was way out of line and that it shouldn't happen again." He smiled quite seriously.
"I was thinking along those lines. After all, Heather wasn't there in the kitchen, now was she?" She sent him a slight scowl.
"Okay, I was out of line, but we had just shared some rather personal things with each other. Emotions can do a lot to your thinking process. After all, you are a beautiful young woman. And I'm an unattached young male. And kissing can be a very pleasant experience."
The compliment took her totally by surprise.
She chuckled, "Maybe we should save them for when Heather is around."
"Maybe I need the practice."
She giggled.
"Are you saying the only time I can kiss you is when Heather is around?" He made a mock frown.
"After all, she is the right girl." Lori beamed. "I'm the wrong one."
"How does one know that he has the wrong girl, if he doesn't kiss them to find out? I mean, maybe Heather isn't the right one after all, she's had twenty some odd years to find out."
"You're giving up on her so soon?" Lori studied him.
"Just leaving some options open." He smiled.
"You are a big tease," she said as they pulled up in the parking lot of the salon.
He winked, "I'll pick you up if you call me on my cell." He told her.
"Oh, yeah, maybe I should. Let me write it down."
He gave her the number and shot her a teasing smile as he pulled out of the parking lot.
She was smiling as she came into the shop.
"Wasn't that Mark Sutton's truck?" Frances glanced out the glass door as he pulled out.
"Yeah, he gave me a lift to work." She told her.
"Good idea, the weather isn't very good for bikes." She told her. "I scraped an inch of ice off my porch this morning."
"It's pretty chilly, has anyone canceled this morning?"
"Yeah, Mrs. Culpepper, Mrs. Norris and Mrs. Brown, but they said they'd reschedule as soon as the weather warmed up."
"Good. At least we have enough business to last more than half a day." Lori sighed taking her jacket and hanging on the wall near the door.
"Yeah, I put Mrs. Rollins on your schedule, she wants to try an up do." Frances smiled at her.
"Great, she has such nice hair." Lori muttered.
"So, tell me, are you and Mark good friends?" Frances eyed her a little closer now.
Lori looked up at her and blushed. "If I tell you something will you keep it under your hat?"
"Sure." Frances looked intrigued.
"Mark's sweet on a girl and I’m trying to help him catch her." Lori announced proudly.
"Sweet on a girl. What girl?"
"Heather Marcus." Lori announced in a whisper as though someone might hear.
"You're kidding?"
"Nope. I'm not."
"But she's practically engaged to Bill Cummings."
Lori shrugged, "All's fair in love and war, as they say. Besides, she isn't engaged yet and Mark's had this tremendous crush on her for years. It's time he put up or shut up, wouldn’t you say?"
"All these years, he's been crazy about the most stuck up, arrogant, conceited girl in town?" Frances shook her head. "He's much too nice to be crazy about her."
"Love is strange, sometimes." Lori smiled.
"If he's crazy about her, why is he taking you all over town. I heard someone say he was in a bike shop with you the other day."
"We are friends. He's been a good friend to my aunt for some time now and he's my friend too. He helped me find a bike because I don't drive…"
"What do you mean you don’t drive?"
"I mean; I don't drive a car."
"Why not?"
Lori frowned now. "My folks died in an auto accident. I was in the car. It was snowing and…I just don't drive."
"Aw honey. I'm sorry. I didn't know." Frances looked totally embarrassed and ashamed.
Lori patted her on the shoulder, "I know. Don't worry about it. Mark just helped me find some transportation, t
hat's all."
"I see. Well, that's sweet. He is a sweet guy." Frances nodded. "Everyone in town likes Mark."
Mrs. Rollins came in, hung up her jacket and sat down in Lori's chair. "I saw what you did to Alice Freeman's hair and I want something like that. I'm going to a party this Saturday and I want to look stunning. Can you fix me up, Lori?"
"I sure can. Be delighted to. Now, would you also like some highlights in your hair too?" Lori suggested.
"Oh, highlights!" Mrs. Rollins eyes lit up, and a smile beamed on her chubby face. "What do you think?"
"I think you'd look positively charming with a few here and there."
"Alright, let's try them." The woman chuckled.
Lori got busy and gave her some magazines to look through while she worked on her.
When she was through, Mrs. Rollins was smiling ear to ear. "Would you look at that. I look ten years younger. Oh, my friends are going to be so jealous. But not to worry, I'll tell them where I got the hair-do." She patted Lori on the back.
"Thanks Mrs. Rollins."
She tipped her very well and Lori stuck the money in her pocket.
When she left, Frances came over to Lori. "You are a good saleswoman. She took your suggestion and ran with it. Girl, we are gonna make money."
"I learned it from a fellow beautician. She was practically rich from all the women that came in and were referred by her friends. So, I paid attention to how she did it."
"I've never seen Mrs. Rollins so happy."
"You know, in some strange way, I feel we give people a real lift, sometimes. It makes me feel good to know that I can make someone happy." Lori sighed as she sat down for a few seconds before her next customer walked in.
Frances had a steady stream of customers but Lori did her share of bolstering the lady's confidence every chance she got.
By midafternoon though it was snowing harder and more cancelations called in. Frances looked out the door. "We might as well pack it in and go home. No one is coming in this weather."
"I guess I'll call Mark and see if he can pick me up."
Frances seemed to take note of it, but didn’t' say anything more.
"I'll be right there," Mark told her when she called.
"Thanks."
It was thirty minutes before he made it, but she told Frances she'd see her tomorrow and Frances locked up. "Are you able to drive in this stuff?"
"Oh sure, I've even got snow tires on my car. Don't you fret about me."
"Take care, see you tomorrow." Lori smiled as she headed for Mark's truck in the parking lot.
She jumped into his truck and shivered. "Gosh it's cold."
"You know, I've figured it out. It isn't that it is that cold, but in Texas this kind of weather sneaks up on warmer weather and it suddenly feels like ice. I mean a few days ago, it was seventy something. That's why it feels colder than it is. Our Texas northers are hard to get used to."
"I'll say. I was in New York and not as chilled as I am today." She remarked. "Did you have any trouble getting here?"
"Nope. I was on the outskirts of town though when you called, and they closed up a back road, so I had to go around."
"I'm sorry, I'm putting a burden on you."
"No, you aren't. Quit fretting."
"I don't mind asking for a ride now and then, but I don't want to make it hard on you."
He put his hand on hers on top of her leg and chuckled. "You are a worrier, that's for sure."
"Can't help it, it comes natural." She fretted hugging the door.
"That vent isn't working too well, you could scoot over here a bit." He motioned.
"I'm fine, I have leggings, pants, boots and a jacket on. I'll survive."
"I wasn't thinking of you. I was thinking of me. I'm chilled to the bone." He winked.
"You're a real flirt. I didn't realize that about you." She eyed him, then smiled.
"Only when I get to know a person." He told her.
"And you know me?"
"Pretty well." He said. "Hey, I heard we're going to have a white Christmas. That will be unusual, won't it?"
"Really, a white Christmas in Texas. Haven't seen one in years." She chuckled.
"Are you still on for Saturday and helping me with the decorations?" He asked.
"I have to work Saturday morning, but I should be done by two, is that too late?" She asked.
"No, I work until dark usually."
"Alright, will you pick me up from work?"
"Sure."
"I'll even give you another foot rub if you want, afterwards."
"I could get used to those." She chuckled.
"How do you feel today?" He asked.
"Cold and tired and a bit stiff."
"So, you still on for the babysitting?" He asked.
"Sure, that's next Friday night. Right?"
"Yeah, don't worry I'll drop by and see how things are going." He suggested.
"Are you checking up on my babysitting skills?" She teased.
"Yeah, and I heard you and Judy talking about you planned to bake cookies, so I definitely want in on that." He chuckled.
"You bake cookies."
"You might be surprised at what all I can do." He tempted as he parked his truck and let her out.
"I'll bet," she smiled, he leaned over and opened the door for her, and when he did, she turned and they stared into each other's eyes.
"I better go…." She barely murmured.
"Yeah…I guess you better." He smiled. "I'll pick you up tomorrow if it's this bad again."
"Thanks Mark," she glanced at him again and once again he almost kissed her but a car came down the street and the light shone on them and he pulled away once more.
"One of these days…" he muttered miserably.
She laughed and got out, turning to look at him from the sidewalk.
When she walked inside the house it was nice and toasty inside and she chucked her jacket and went to check on her aunt. Aunt Judy was watching Wheel of Fortune on television and smiled the minute she saw her.
They watched together, then after some good home-made soup and playing three games of checkers her aunt told her she was going to bed. It was still kind of early, but Lori didn't say anything. Still, she worried about her aunt.
Chapter Ten
Saturday Lori went to work, it wasn't snowing and most of the snow had melted away and it was just cold now.
She'd done three tints' one up do and four cuts and she was tired. Her feet hurt but she remembered she promised to help Mark. She hoped her energy didn't give out.
She had a busy morning and was glad when Mark picked her up about two that afternoon.
"Ready to help me?" He asked with a smile.
"Sure, bring it on." She chuckled.
"How's the feet?"
"Sore, but I'll survive." She laughed.
"I'll do my best not to make you walk or stand." He told her.
"Walking's fine, it's standing in one place for hours that hurts so much, on concrete floors." She sighed.
As they pulled up to a sidewalk he saw what some of the others were doing and realized he was going to be working on a ladder most of the time.
But the one thing he'd invested in a long time ago was a good ladder. One that adjusted to many heights and positions and locked in place. So, ladder work didn’t bother him.
He had Lori sorting out different decorations for each thing he would hang and she was very handy, climbing a few steps to hand him things.
It was getting colder and Lori was glad she'd invested in a good coat in New York. He had a corduroy jacket on and a sweater underneath. They were both wearing boots, so at least their feet were very warm.
Heather came by and saw them working together. "Well, looks like you've got plenty of good help." She smiled up at Mark.
Mark glanced down and waved.
"Yeah, we're fine. When's the parade?" Mark asked her.
"Next Saturday, and there's a dance right after. So, you two
plan to come?" Heather asked.
"We'll be there." Mark replied not even bothering to ask Lori.
"Great, see ya. And thanks for helping him out," She looked at Lori.
"Happy to." Lori smiled at her.
"You know I was beginning to wonder about Mark, he doesn't date much and I'm glad to see him getting out more now. You are obviously very good for him. Well, gotta run, see you guys at the parade." Heather smiled.
"Yeah, see ya." Lori studied on that a minute. Heather wasn't a bit jealous. Lori frowned. The plan wasn't working.
When they took a break, and went to get some hot chocolate at a local café, they warmed up a bit. "Well, we've run into Heather again. That's good, don't you think?"
"Uh…oh, yeah."
"Mark, she said you don't date much. Is that true?"
"No…I guess I don't."
"Why not? Is it because you love her?"
"Love her?" He asked with surprise.
"Well, don't you?" Lori asked.
"Well I—"
"That's it. You're so in love with her, you won't date anyone else. Wow. I've never been that stuck on anyone." Lori confessed. "But I hate to tell you this, so far we haven't made her the least bit jealous. I can tell."
"Give it some time. Rome wasn't built in a day." He chuckled.
"Maybe that's your problem. Maybe you need to date a lot of girls. And make her jealous, not just me!"
He sighed heavily and looked into her eyes, "I couldn't handle that."
"What do you mean?"
"Lots of different women. One is enough."
"Mark…you aren't gay, are you?" She frowned at him.
"What?"
"Well, I mean, it's something you don't usually go around announcing. But if you don't date maybe there is a reason for it." Lori reasoned.
A cloud came over his face, and he stared unbelieving at her.
Without provocation, he pulled her up from the chair and took her out of the restaurant and before she knew what he was doing, he hauled her close and kissed her like a man dying in the desert with no water.
Lori felt herself melt, literally melt into his arms. She'd never been kissed quite so thoroughly before. And it certainly was not a gay man's kiss, she reckoned. His lips assuaged an unknown ache inside her and awakened her to something she'd never known existed. A real kiss. Jason's kisses were never like that. Never that good. Never that intense.