“Yes you can, A!” Mia assured her, holding out the red dress. “This is the one I really want to see you try on. Puh-lease?” Annie scowled before reluctantly yanking the dress out of Mia’s hands. Karrin poured Annie a glass of wine while she slipped into the dress and cautiously stepped in front of the full-length mirror hanging on her closet door.
“Shoes!” Mia shrieked, flinging Annie her nude open-toed high heels. Annie wrangled the shoes on and stood awkwardly in front of the mirror, scrutinizing her reflection.
“It’s too much,” she whimpered, simultaneously trying to pull up the front of her dress while tugging down the bottom.
“It’s supposed to hang like that,” Mia assured her. “You’re allowed to wear a hemline above your calf, you know.”
“I’m too old to wear this. I’m a mom.”
“You’re not his mom,” Karrin snickered, taking a sip of wine. Annie stuck out her tongue before considering herself in the mirror. After spending time with William at the art fair, she had been feeling... Well, that was part of the problem. She didn’t know. He’d touched her hand and bought her a present and told her he’d wished he could have been with her to stare at the moon. For her entire adult life as she’d given her heart away to Julian and then Sean, secretly she’d always desperately missed William. Her heart had flown to him years ago and when he’d promised she could always trust him, she realized she had never ever gotten it back.
“Mom, you look hot.” Betsy giggled. Annie spun around to discover her daughter gawking at her from the hallway.
She gasped. “Hot? Where did you learn that word?”
“It’s true, A,” Karrin agreed. “Don’t try on any more dresses. That is the winner.”
“No. I’d rather wear this one,” Annie whined, pulling the only formal dress she owned out of her closet: a peach-colored floral sundress that fell midcalf.
“No,” Mia moaned, prying it from Annie’s fingers.
“It’s a pretty dress,” Annie objected, hoping to rally Betsy for moral support.
“I like the red one much better, Mom.”
“Everything else is coming with me so you can’t chicken out later,” Mia ordered, frantically gathering the peach sundress, along with the rest of the dresses and shoes.
Karrin retrieved a falsie from the floor and held it out for Annie. “Speaking of chicken...”
“What is that?” Betsy asked, carefully reaching for the strange flabby pad Karrin wiggled in the air.
“No!” Annie laughed, snatching both pads and tucking them in her sock drawer. “You got me in a halter dress, and that’s as much as I’ll do!”
“Now take it off so I can color your hair,” Karrin ordered. “Betsy, would you grab us an old towel?”
Annie stood in front of the mirror for a moment and took a dainty sip of wine, wondering what William would think of her. With the dress and heels and coloring her grays away, she was doing a running leap outside her comfort zone. But as she gazed at herself in the mirror, even she had to admit she didn’t look half bad.
CHAPTER TEN
WILLIAM HUNG UP with Arnold in time to wave goodbye to Mia. She wafted her engagement finger in the air while making a grandiose exit out of the diner.
“When next you see me, I’ll be Mrs. Mia Howards!” she sang before letting out an excited whoop and holler.
“She’s excited,” William uttered with an exaggerated eye roll. Annie sighed as Mia disappeared around the corner.
“I hope she knows what she’s doing.”
“Do you have any reason to think she doesn’t?”
“I meant,” Annie quickly continued, “I hope it’s what she wants.”
“Maybe it will be.”
“Maybe.”
William slid the buyer’s sheet he’d picked up earlier that day across the table.
“Speaking of getting everything we want, check out this place. Arnold says the sellers are highly motivated.”
Annie scanned the sheet before offering a half shrug.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe,” William said, sliding back the sheet. “You’re a difficult woman to impress, Annie Curtis. Did you know that?”
“I’ve grown more discerning with age.”
“Discerning or scared?” he teased. Annie’s eyes narrowed, making him instantly regret his words.
“Scared? Of what?” she demanded.
“Take it easy, Annie. Jeez. I was only kidding.”
“I’m not scared, William Kauffman. You’re the one pushing things along faster than they should go.”
“With the diner?”
Annie’s throat went dry, his question catching her off guard. The discernment in his eyes read as much into his question as in how she fumbled to answer.
“Of course with the diner. What else would I have meant?”
“You’re oscillating with such a fury over there, I wasn’t sure we were still talking about real-estate hunting.”
Annie willed her cheeks to not flush under his scrutiny. He planned to make all the changes to Joyce’s restaurant and her life, and then abandon her to navigate a new normal on her own. It wasn’t a ridiculous reaction for her to be a little upset about it. But as she sputtered to answer him, she knew the person she was most concerned with was herself.
“And just what is it you think I’m scared of?”
William contemplated her question for a moment before playfully continuing. “Taking a risk?”
“I’ve taken plenty of risks,” she spat on her way to the end of the counter. “And don’t you laugh at me.”
William ran his hand down his face. “I wouldn’t dare,” he called after her.
Annie cashed out a few customers as she noticed Earl stumble into the diner while fumbling with his hat. Taking it off and tugging it on again, he nodded briskly when he spotted Annie watching him.
“Earl?” Annie called. “Did you forget something?”
“No,” he replied, his stance and voice equally stiff.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Uh...no.”
“How about a piece of pie?”
“Well,” he replied. “I was tinkin’ about dat.”
“What did you decide?”
“I’ll let you know.”
Before Annie could press him further, his face broke into a grizzly grin. Joyce had hobbled out into the dining room and stopped short in front of him.
“Fancy seeing you here, Earl.” She smiled warmly.
“I’m trying to decide on pie,” he said, strumming his calloused fingers on the counter. “Whatdya like?”
“Apple is my favorite.”
“Ah, yes. Dare’s nothing more American than a slice of ol’-fashioned apple pie.”
“With a slice of melted cheese on top.”
“Is dat right?” he said as Joyce continued to the front door. “Now where are ya off to dare, Joyce?”
“I need a little fresh air to lift my spirits. Would you care to join me?”
“I could do with some fresh air myself,” he said, moving ahead of her to hold open the door.
“Earl had better not end up as my new dad,” William said with a groan once they were out of earshot, but Annie’s face had softened at the sight of them.
“Don’t say that. They’re sweet together.”
“I guess.”
“She could do worse, you know.”
William nodded. He had to agree with her. Joyce could do a lot worse—and she had.
* * *
WILLIAM PARKED IN the rear and followed a crowd of college-aged students through the back door of The Grove. A Chinoodin staple since William’s youth, The Grove offered more than food and drinks on Thursday nights. By ten o’clock the place was crowded with folks ready to sing along with Snips
and Polly, a husband and wife duo who covered classic rock songs armed with a couple of guitars, a harmonica and a mental repertoire long enough to impress any musical aficionado. He entered the room, spotted Brandon at the bar and jogged through the crowd to meet him.
“Another round?” William asked, signaling to the bartender while easing onto a barstool.
“I’m ahead by two,” Brandon said, his eyes glassy from drinking.
“Then I need to catch up.”
“Making any headway?”
“With Annie?”
Brandon chuckled. “I meant Pop’s Place, but we can talk about her instead if you’d like.”
William gave a half shrug. “We put in an offer on a new location. Hopefully it’ll pass inspection. Long day?”
Brandon forced out a deep breath, swirling the last swigs of beer in his glass. “You could say that.”
“Politics are slimy, man.”
“That’s especially true when you work with worms. I’m half inclined to go to The Chinoodin Chronicle myself.”
“What’s wrong?” William turned to study his friend and strained to hear him amid the boisterous crowd.
“I think the mayor is taking kickbacks.”
“Is that news?”
“It is if it’s as bad as I suspect it is. Someone in the office is working both sides.”
“Anything to do with the land preservation?”
A microphone powered on, a brief static cutting through the crowd’s excitement as Snips strummed a few notes while tuning his guitar.
“Speaking of worms.” Brandon nodded to Sean, who had moseyed in through the back entrance. He squinted when he noticed them and lumbered over, much to William’s disappointment. Calmly sipping his beer, William stared straight ahead, but Sean wasn’t the type to be ignored.
“What are you doing here?” he challenged, towering over William; his breath reeked of whiskey. William slowly cocked his head.
“Excuse me?”
Sean sneered a few vulgarities under his breath before slamming his palms on the bar, making the bartender and nearby patrons snap their heads in alarm.
“Hey, sweetie,” he bellowed. “Take your time over there. I don’t need a drink anytime tonight.”
The bartender gave Sean the once-over. “You’ve had enough. I think you’d better move along.”
“No, thanks.” Sean cackled. “How about you stick to your business and pour me a Jack and Coke?”
“Bouncing you is my business,” she replied. She had more weather on her face than the three of them combined and had the easy saunter of someone who knew how to handle things.
“You want me to come over this bar and fix it myself?”
“Five hundred dollars bail, and a criminal record says you won’t,” Brandon jested.
Sean gnashed his teeth for a moment, pondering his options.
“Give me something for the road, sweetie.”
“My liquor license ain’t worth you.”
Sean scoffed at her dismissal and turned around to face the stage, leaning back heavily against the bar and uncomfortably close to William.
“‘Free Bird’!” he yelled over the murmur of the audience. William took a swig of his beer and jabbed his elbow into Sean’s side.
“Are you trying to start somethin’?” Sean growled.
“You’re the one standing so close, sweetie.”
“Like hell I am. Brandon, you’d better keep an eye on your buddy here or he’ll hate the day he ever met me.”
Brandon hurried a few gulps of his beer. “Sean, old pal—” he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand “—everyone hates the day they met you.”
Sean lurched after Brandon, but William anticipated him, spinning on his stool and shoving Sean to the ground, thanks to his own momentum.
“Timber!” Brandon called as Sean sprawled out on the floor for several seconds before hustling to get up. William pointed to the bartender to call the police, but the phone was already pressed to her ear. He and Brandon scrambled to their feet, knowing full well that Sean was going to come up off the floor swinging.
Sean stood hunched over, trying to catch his breath as the crowd anxiously scattered.
“I called the cops!” the bartender yelled, his voice forceful, but it did little to squelch Sean’s aggression. The slits of his eyes rose to meet William’s gaze and he charged like a linebacker into William’s gut, toppling him to the ground. It wasn’t his smartest decision of the day, but William knew this was one fight he had to win.
* * *
ANNIE PARKED HER car at Sean’s apartment complex and eyed the front doors, which loomed like the gateway to her next nightmare. James slunk silently in the back seat, staring down at the toy steamliner clasped in his little hands.
“Your dad wants to see you for a couple hours, and then I’ll come right over and pick you up.”
“You won’t be late?” he asked, his voice no louder than a mouse’s squeak.
“I would never be late. Never. Maybe he’ll order a pizza and let you watch cartoons the whole time.”
James caught his lip between his teeth, carefully holding his toy boat. Her eyes fell over his mop of wavy hair and how delicate his profile was, still that of a little boy. Her nerves tinged with concern, an ache only a mother could suffer.
After Sean buzzed them up, they found his apartment door swung open with him sprawled on the couch, his back to them. James peered up at her and she slipped her hand around his shoulder reassuringly and led him along. They rounded the corner of the couch to face Sean, and James broke free and crept to the far side of the kitchen table.
“What’s your plan for today?” she asked.
Sean didn’t break his gaze from the television.
“I’m not a cruise director,” he said.
“Are you staying here?”
“Probably.”
“James hasn’t had lunch yet. Do you have anything in the fridge?”
“It’s only ten thirty, Annie. I know how to take care of the kid.”
“I didn’t know if you had groceries or not.”
“I’ll order a pizza if it comes to it,” he grumbled.
Annie eyed his profile carefully. His hair was disheveled and his cheek reddish. The button-down shirt he normally wore to work was wrinkled and untucked, and his dress trousers were all scuffed up. She quickly scanned the apartment. Aside from the fact he’d apparently slept in his clothes, the place was spotless.
“Are you okay, Sean?”
“Never better.”
“You don’t seem...”
“James! Tell your mother to quit her worrying,” he burst out, never taking his eyes off the television as he reached for a large plastic tumbler and took a sip. “She’s giving me a pounding headache.”
James flashed his doe eyes at her from under the table.
“Are you drinking?” she whispered.
“What does it look like?” Sean replied, tipping the tumbler to his lips.
“You know what I mean.”
Sean readjusted on the couch rather than answer. As he turned his head slightly, she noticed his profile wasn’t right.
“What happened to your nose?”
“You dropped the kid off, Annie, so see ya.”
Annie hesitated before walking to the door and quietly motioning to James to join her. As he scooted out from under the table and inched toward her, Sean turned and spotted them out of the corner of his eye.
“Why don’t you take the day for yourself, Sean,” Annie began as he leered over the back of the couch. “Get in the car, James.”
“You’d better stay right where you are,” Sean ordered, stumbling to his feet, but Annie guided James out, sending him on his way down the stairs. As she turned back to face Sean, she spotted that his rig
ht eyebrow was bandaged, and his lip tattered and swollen.
“Sean, what happened?”
“None of your business.”
“It is my business if I’m going to leave my child with you.”
“Our child. You seem to need frequent reminders of that.” As he stumbled closer, Annie caught a whiff of the whiskey sweating from his pores.
“You’re drunk.” She cringed, unable to mask her disgust. “I’m not doing this today.”
“Hungover,” he tried to correct. “You can’t keep me away from my son, Annie.”
“Drunk...hungover... I don’t care, Sean. You can’t take care of James when you’re like this.”
“Quit babying him for crying out loud. I’m his father, and I have to do my job.”
Annie scoffed as she turned toward the hallway. “Which is what exactly?”
“Toughening him up.”
“That’s not what fathers do, Sean.”
“How would you know? Your own dad bailed on you when you were, what? Ten? Or did you forget that?”
“Sleep it off,” she called. Her throat stung with emotion as she hurried down the stairs.
“Then your boyfriend knocked you up and bailed,” Sean jested, thundering down the stairs behind her. “I’m the best thing that ever happened to you, baby, and you know it.”
Annie was relieved to find James already in the car as she reached the driver’s side. But before she could crack open the door, Sean threw his weight at it and slammed it closed again.
“He’s trying to turn you against me, you know.”
“Who?” Annie gasped, surprised at how brittle she sounded.
“I don’t want you seeing that swabbie anymore. I’ve seen how he stares at you. Don’t deny it.”
“I’m not leaving James with you when you’re like this,” she repeated. Panic scrambled through her as she heard the fear in her voice and tried to smooth it over. “Take today for yourself, and I’ll talk to you later, Sean.”
“Do you think I’m going to let you waltz away from here with your nose in the air?”
“Sean...”
“This is my family. I won’t let him move in on you.”
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