Love in a Small Town

by Betty Jo Schuler

  He enjoyed sitting in the porch swing, working in the yard, and eating at the Chrome Grill. There, like in the bar on that TV show, Cheer, "Everybody knew your name." Funny. He'd even learned to like the way people waved when you walked down the street.

  Sam hadn't consciously planned his life, but in the back of his mind, he'd pictured himself with a home, wife, and a couple of kids. Elizabeth didn't want any, and she liked a bustling social life, but he'd never considered a future with her. He didn't picture her as eager to marry, and the subject had never come up, leading him to believe she was fine with status quo.

  Lily wanted three children and she intrigued him, but she was lime green and he was tan. She was clutter; he was neatness. She was a yellow bomber; he was a dark green van. She was small town and he was city. Yet, something between them felt right.

  "And that's why I should leave," he muttered, returning to his sorting. Brandy followed and lay down, her head between her paws. "But it's tempting to stay and see what comes of it.

  "I wouldn't say that to anyone but you, old girl," he said, nudging the dog with the toe of his loafer. She flicked her tail. "Anyone else who wants to know, I'm staying to fix up this house, and sell."

  He was going to stay. He couldn't walk away now. Lily had begun to invade his thoughts, and maybe, by staying, he'd get her out of his system. Last night's kiss was fired by desire, hers and his, but she'd broken away and gone upstairs when he didn't answer her.

  He'd taken a long cold shower and dreamed about her anyway. His dream was delectable, and frustrating. Time would undoubtedly show they were incompatible, but if he took off without knowing, he might always worry that he'd made a mistake. "If I remodel the house, I can get top dollar, and my bank account could use padding," he'd tell anyone who questioned his decision.

  He'd paid for his own education. His father insisted on it. Sam vowed if he had the money, he'd pay his kids' college tuition, at least for undergraduate school. But professors didn't make a lot, and he was paying on his condo and van. If anything happened that he didn't get the position, he wouldn't be able to think about supporting a family. He deserved the job and was qualified, but there were moments when he grew nervous, thinking Rybolt might choose someone else. It wouldn't be right, but it could happen.

  "If I don't get that appointment, I won't stay at Cranston." Sam smacked a fist against his open hand, startling his canine companion into standing up.

  He'd surprised himself with the decision, but now that he'd put it into words, knew it was true. He'd grown bored with his routine and needed the challenge a new position would bring. He didn't know what he'd do if he left Cranston, but he refused to be treated unfairly. Not that he had any reason to worry. Rybolt had as much as said the position was Sam's.

  Standing, he rubbed his hands together. Remodeling this house was a challenge he could manage over the summer and feel good about himself. He might not be able to restore it completely in that amount of time, but he could make a big difference. Sam smiled. His mother would have liked for him to restore its earlier beauty.

  He'd have to hire some work done, things he didn't know how to do and didn't have time to learn. But he'd worked for a builder one summer and could do a great deal himself. It would be a nice change of pace.

  "There's just one kink in my plan." Brandy raised her head and Sam scratched behind her ears. "I can't afford to fall in love with a house in Browning, Indiana." Or a person. The golden retriever seemed to sigh. "Or a dog." Was six weeks long enough to teach Brandy to shake hands?

  A glint of yellow in the trash box sparkled in the sunlight. Sam investigated and discovered a lemon etched on the green glass vase he'd thrown away earlier. Lime green with citrus fruit. A treasure for Lily.

  * * *

  Lily nearly tripped over a rolled-up rug on the back porch. Sam had stacked all kinds of household items out there. He was making a racket inside, and she pulled open the screen door, a lump in her throat. He'd decided to spend those six weeks elsewhere.

  Fighting back tears, she followed the sound to the storage room where she found him nailing a shelf. She spoke loudly to make herself heard above the hammering. "Fixing something?"

  Sam looked up and the light that lit his sky-blue eyes warmed her heart. He didn't love her; she wasn't fooling herself into thinking he did. But he was glad to see her. She forced a smile.

  "What time is it?" he asked, wiping perspiration from his brow with his arm. "You're home early, aren't you?"

  Home early, dear? Lily entertained a vision of herself as a married woman, coming home to Sam each day. If they had children, he'd be the one coming home. She didn't want to be a working mother. Not full time anyway. Although she could set up a crib or playpen at Radiance, and she didn't think the town council wouldn't care if she did the same at her office.

  She couldn't leave public office until the community building became a reality.

  Lily gazed into Sam's eyes again and felt he shared her thoughts. But of course, he couldn't know, and she should stop thinking that way. He wanted to stay in the Southwest and start a new job. He'd begun clearing the house with a vengeance.

  She had work to finish here. The truth was hard to face.

  "I don't visit Jenny every day. I came straight home…here…from work."

  "Time goes fast when you're busy, and I'm making great progress." He gave a nail another blow with the hammer. "This shelf was loose."

  The room was cleared of everything except the treadle sewing machine. "Are…are you getting rid of all that stuff on the porch?"

  This, too. He gave the sewing machine a shove toward the hall.

  "You can't." She stepped between him and the machine. "It's an antique—a treasure."

  "If you'd like to have it, you can store it here until later. I don't sew and I don't collect."

  "I…uh…I'm going to change clothes."

  He'd hooked up her computer in the bedroom she was using. She still had to find Tina Grusinger and Jack Ryan, and the Internet search would give her an excuse to stay away from Sam.

  Never mind him being glad to see her. He was leaving. He hadn't mentioned the reunion invitation and probably didn't plan to stay that long.

  Remembering the urgency in Carla's voice when she mentioned Jack, Lily started with him. It was a common name…too common…making it hard to narrow the search.

  "Lily?" She looked up, startled to see Sam leaning against the doorframe of her bedroom. "Would you like to see a movie tonight? I have two tickets." He grinned boyishly. "The Welcome Wagon lady gave them to me."

  "How nice of her." She smiled. She hadn't been to the Vaudette in years and the invitation brought back memories of high school dates--holding hands in the dark, hoping a guy would slip his arm around your shoulders. Or hoping he wouldn't, as the case might be. "And since you asked…I'd love to."

  "I haven't seen a film in ages, and I've worked enough for one day." He shrugged. "I called the theater. There's an early show, and if we hurry, we can make it and eat dinner at The Twilight afterward. Okay? I'll buy you popcorn to tide you over."

  "And Milk Duds?"

  "Those little candies that make your fingers chocolaty and have caramel inside that sticks to your teeth? Definitely."

  "Then, it's a date."

  "Yes," he said huskily. "It's a date."

  * * *

  The Vaudette Theater was small, but the popcorn was buttery and delicious, and they sold all the candy varieties Sam remembered eating when he was a kid. City movie houses charged three times the price for admission and refreshments and were twice as crowded.

  He and Lily held hands and made fun of the movie, some ridiculous thing about two guys who were stupid and stupider. The movies the Vaudette brought in were box office hits from the past, not new releases, but it didn't matter.

  Afterward, they ate barbecued ribs at The Twilight, washed down with beer in icy mugs, and talked. And talked. She entertained him with stories about growing up with five sibli
ngs, and he told her about Arizona and places he'd lived. He didn't tell her he'd decided to stay in Browning. If he was sure of his decision, why not tell her? All he knew was that he wasn't ready.

  They hesitated outside the front door, and Lily looked up at him. "It's strange to end a date coming home to the same house."

  He chuckled. "Nevertheless, I think this is where a dating couple kisses goodnight."

  Lily darted out her tongue to wet her lips, and Sam reached for her. Beautiful in the pool of moonlight that bathed her face, he took her into his arms, tentatively. But breathing in the mysterious blend of aromas she wore, he felt as if they were taking over his heart and head. He tightened his hold. "Whatever scent you're wearing, it's working magic on me," he murmured.

  "It's voodoo." She snuggled against him.

  "I'm powerless." He buried his face against her neck.

  She giggled and shrugged a shoulder. "That tickles."

  He kissed her then, thoroughly, and she leaned into him. The kiss grew hungrier, and he pressed her body tightly to his. He could get used to this and he didn't dare. Raising his head, he breathed in the night air.

  "We shouldn't." Lily's words floated away on the breeze, and she laid her head on his shoulder, sighing softly.

  She was right. They shouldn't kiss--shouldn't get involved. "Why?" he whispered, because he needed to know what she was thinking.

  "You know," she said. Lily raised her lips to his, and he kissed her with all the fervor he felt, and her answering kiss held the same passion.

  He'd have to keep reminding himself she was Browning and he was Tempe. Would the next few weeks make it easier to leave, or harder? Gentling his lips against hers, he loosened his grip to simply hold her close. Lily's sigh matched his, and he smiled into her hair. "I do know, but we won't let things get out of hand."

  Keeping that promise wouldn't be easy.

  * * *

  Next morning, when Carla's office opened, Sam called to tell her he'd decided not to sell now. His decision to stay and remodel the house still felt right. So did giving his feelings for Lily a chance, and hers for him, and see where things went from there.

  "I thought you were in a hurry," Carla grumbled.

  "My time restrictions have changed. I'm going to fix things up a bit first."

  "Will your improvements justify the time and expenditures? I have a couple eager to find a fixer-upper now."

  Lily came downstairs and poured herself a cup of coffee. Leaning against the counter as she cautiously sipped the hot brew, she smiled at him. Her hair hung loosely about her shoulders and her feet were bare. She looked like she'd just rolled out of bed, but she was wearing her short bib overalls and one of those tube-like tops in a color that reminded him of marigolds. "Good morning." She mouthed the words.

  He winked and felt his pulse quicken when she winked back.

  "Now isn't a good time. I'll be in touch." Sam spoke into the phone, and hearing his words, Lily gave him a stricken look.

  Carla's voice sounded in his ear. "Are you staying for the reunion then?"

  "Yes, I'll be there." Smiling, Sam hung up the phone. Why not?

  Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, lighting Lily's hair. Brandy lapped water softly in a corner of the room. Sam felt as if he belonged here, in this moment and place in time. He took her into his arms.

  She flattened a hand against his chest. "If you're going to—"

  "It's not who or what you're thinking. "I called Carla Baker yesterday to list the house, and I was postponing so I could spend the next few weeks here, fixing it up instead."

  Lily's eyes shone like sunshine on water and Sam's heart bounded. They'd have this time together and see what came of it. He drew her close and this time, she didn't push away.

  Chapter Nine

  Lily had hired a college girl to work at Radiance on Saturdays during the summer months so she could work in her yard. Today, she was thrilled to have the day free to spend with Sam.

  He fixed breakfast, and afterward, she told him to shoo; she'd clean up the kitchen. Leaning against the refrigerator after she'd chased him away for the third time, he raked his hand across his hair and Lily chuckled.

  "What's funny?"

  "Other than you like to keep busy?" She rubbed her hand across his clipped hair. "You always look surprised when you do that."

  "I just started wearing it short recently. It's beginning to turn gray."

  "Not much, and we're not spring chickens." She hadn't thought men worried about aging.

  "Don't remind me." He poured two cups of coffee and steered her toward the back door. "Let's go outside for a while."

  "Sam Champion is actually willing to take a break?" Chuckling, she started to follow when she spotted a bouquet of daisies sitting on the windowsill. "How long has this been here?"

  "Since yesterday. I thought the vase looked like a possible treasure."

  "It's lovely." Lily hugged him. "You are sentimental, and sweet. I'm sorry I didn't notice the bouquet sooner."

  He nuzzled her hair and kissed her behind the ear. She shivered but didn't squeal. She could get used to his kisses, wherever he wanted to plant them.

  "Come with me and I'll show you where the daisies grow." He led her through the backyard, into a small stand of trees and bushes at the back of the lot.

  "I had no idea this lovely spot was here," she said. A wooden bench sat beneath a graceful, spreading tree. The bench was partially deteriorated from years of exposure to weather, but that only made it more charming. Lily sat down, careful to avoid a cracked board. A snowy patch of daisies grew nearby and she told him what Jenny said about his mother making daisy chains. He looked away, but not before she saw the sheen in his eyes.

  "I also discovered an old family album. I thought we might look at it later," he said. He laid an arm across the back of the swing, touching her shoulders lightly while he toyed with a lock of her hair. She wished they could sit there forever.

  "The lilacs are finished for the season, but I can almost smell their sweet fragrance." She pointed to the tall bushes that hid the haven from view of both houses. They would have been much smaller when Sam's mother made daisy chains in the back yard, if they were even the same bushes.

  Lily squeezed his hand, and raising their clasped hands to his lips, he kissed her fingertips one by one. Liquid sunshine spread through her body with each kiss. She was so happy he was staying, she felt like dancing.

  "I should fix this seat," Sam murmured.

  "I like it the way it is."

  "You won't if you pinch your fanny in that cracked board."

  "Practical Sam." She laughed lightly. "Those chrysanthemums will bloom in late summer." She nodded toward a row of bushy plants. "They planted something for every season. You must get your organizational skills from your grandparents."

  "I never thought about taking after Mom's side of the family. My father's parents were strict and puritanical. I met them a few times and Dad is a lot like his father was."

  "It's strange you never saw any of your grandparents much."

  "Dad joined the Navy before I was born. He said it was foolish to work hard to save money for travel when you could get paid to see the world. 'You have to make your own way,' he'd say. 'Dreams don't take you far.'"

  "I'm glad I gave you a dream catcher because you clearly need one, after growing up with a dad who thought that way.

  "Dreaming helps you discover your heart's desire. It's like trying on clothes to see what's right for you. Your dad's dream was travel but was it your mother's?"

  "I think Mom would have been happier in one place, but she loved Dad and did her best to make every new place home. As soon as we arrived, she'd start setting out keepsakes and hanging pictures.

  "You would have liked my mother. She lit up a room the way you do."

  Lily couldn't speak for the lump in her throat. Sam couldn't have paid her a higher compliment. She squeezed his hand.

  "I had more than my fi
ll of travel, and that's why I stayed in Tempe."

  "What's your dream, Sam?"

  "I want the appointment to department chair."

  "Would that make you feel like you were doing what you were meant to do?"

  He sighed. "You like to philosophize, don't you?"

  She shrugged. "I believe in dreams."

  "Like a community center?"

  She smiled. "That dream has become a goal. I tried it on for a while, and it fit. Next step is making it a reality."

  Sam shook his head.

  "A care center in Browning was a dream. I looked into ways to bring one here and set a goal. I got grants, secured backers, etcetera, and it's a reality now." She leaned her head back and looked up at the sky. "Another dream of mine is to have children."

  "But you haven't heard bells and whistles yet."

  "I don't expect to. I trust myself to know."

  Sam fell silent, and seconds later, broke the beauty of the morning with his announcement he was going to mow the lawn. Watching him walk away, Lily decided to make certain he didn't walk away for good. She'd met the man she wanted to marry and that dream fit so well, it was about to become a goal.

  * * *

  Lily had a meeting at Jenny's house with the contractor that afternoon. She could tell by the look on his face the news wasn't good.

  "We've run into a problem, Ms. Madison. The wiring doesn't meet fire codes. I know it didn't cause the problem but when replacing it, we are required to bring it to code. We have to get a state inspector to look at it after it's done. This is going to slow us down some."

  He went on to estimate it would take a minimum of three weeks to get a qualified electrician to do the work, followed by a wait for inspection. Lily would love an excuse to stay at Sam's longer, but troubled by the extra expense for Jenny, she drove to Country Care to discuss it with her.

  Jenny patted her hand. "The work has to be done. We wouldn't want unsafe wiring. I'm just glad young Sam is letting you stay there." Her faded blue eyes twinkled. "Have you persuaded him not to sell?"