“Okay,” Joan agreed. I hope she’s right. No need to hurry into something with someone like that.
“What time should I pick you up at the airport?”
“Our flight is scheduled to arrive at noon.”
“Okay, I’ll be there. We can have lunch in Portland before we head back to Sandy Cove. Michelle will probably want us to come to her house for dinner.”
“Sounds wonderful, honey. We’ll look forward to seeing you Saturday.”
After they hung up, Joan went looking for Phil outside to tell him the news about their daughter. She found him on the porch swing gazing out over the garden, with Thumper sleeping peacefully at his feet. He looked up when she came near.
Patting the swing beside him, he said, “Have a seat. It’s a nice afternoon to be outside.”
As she took her place, she said, “I just talked to Sheila. We’re all set for Saturday.”
“That’s good.”
“She had some news for me,” Joan hedged.
“Really?”
“Yes. She is ‘seeing’ someone.” Joan watched his face for a reaction and noticed his eyebrows lift.
He nodded and replied, “Who is the lucky fellow?”
Joan took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Are you ready for this?” she asked.
“For what?”
“It’s that anthropology professor who gave Michelle such a rough time.”
Phil turned to face her. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“How did this happen?”
“Apparently she and Michelle ran into him at a coffee shop in town. They struck up a conversation and Rick, that’s his name, asked Michelle if her invitation to visit their church was still good. You remember, she wrote him a letter and shared about her father and how she’d become a Christian as a result of what he went through.”
Phil nodded.
“Well, she also invited him to church. But he never came, of course. So when they were talking at the coffee shop, he brought it up. Michelle told him the invitation was still standing, and he came to their church on Sunday. Then he took Sheila out for lunch afterward.”
“Interesting,” he replied. “How did Sheila sound?”
“She sounded very happy. She says the house is starting to feel like home, and she seems to be enjoying spending time with this professor.”
“But you’re concerned,” he observed.
“I just don’t want him derailing her commitment to God the way John did for so many years.”
“Yeah. I feel the same way. But let’s not forget that John changed and was actually instrumental in bringing our daughter back to her faith,” he said, patting her hand. “We’ll just have to get to know this man and give him a chance. And pray that God takes him out of her life if he’s not good for her.”
“You’re right. We’ll get to meet him this weekend. Sheila said he’ll be at church on Sunday,” she added.
“Good. Maybe I’ll have a little man-to-man chat with him while we are up there, too,” Phil added with a wink.
“Oh, Phil. I know you’re teasing me,” she said, “but I honestly hope that you do.”
“We’ll see how the week unfolds. I wish we were going up there for a different reason,” he added with a sigh. “But maybe God’s going to open the door for me to talk to this new suitor of our daughter, too.”
She nodded, and they both sat back against the cushions of the swing, Joan resting her head on his shoulder as she savored a few moments of just sitting with her beloved husband before the onslaught of medical interventions would begin.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Sheila glanced at her watch. It was already three o’clock, and Rick was picking her up at six. “I’ve got to get home, Mimi,” she said, as she stood up and carried her cup to the sink.
“Oh, that’s right. You’ve got a date tonight,” Michelle replied with a grin. “Where are you guys going?”
“I’m not sure. Rick said he wants to surprise me.”
“Sounds interesting. Well, I’ll be eager to hear all about it tomorrow. Call me in the morning.”
Sheila nodded. “I will, honey. And thanks for the coffee.”
“Anytime.” Michelle poked her head out of the kitchen and called the kids. “Maddie, Caleb—Grandma’s going home.”
Madison appeared from the family room, and Caleb bounded down the stairs. They gave Sheila hugs and said goodbye. Then Michelle walked her to the front door.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Mimi,” Sheila said, giving her daughter a hug.
“Okay. Have fun tonight. And don’t stay out too late,” she added, teasingly.
Sheila just laughed and waved as she walked out the door.
When she got home, she opened her closet and stared at its contents. Rifling through the hangers, she tried to decide what to wear. “I wish I knew where we were going,” she said aloud.
She pulled out a pair of black pants and a black and white striped boat-necked cotton sweater. “I could dress this up with a necklace and some earrings.” Carrying the outfit over to the bed, she laid it out and pulled a silver chain and some matching dangling earrings out of the jewelry drawer, placing them on the sweater to complete the look.
She studied the outfit, cocking her head to the side. Then a smile spread across her face as she got an idea. Heading back into the closet, she reached up on the top shelf and pulled out a shoebox. The pair of shoes inside it had only been worn once. Michelle had talked her into buying them, but who had use for red shoes? Certainly not someone her age.
Lifting the lid, she took them out and set them on the bed beside the slacks. Normally, she would just wear black flats. But when she’d bought these, Michelle said they would be great with black. And they were very comfortable in spite of their bright shine. What was the word, Michelle had used? Oh, yeah. Sassy. She’d said they would look sassy with black.
Sheila took a deep breath. What would John say if he could see me now? Shaking off the thought, she made her decision. “Tonight, I’m going sassy,” she said to the mirror over her dresser.
Leaving the outfit displayed on the bed, she went out to the living room to straighten things up before Rick arrived. She folded the throw on the couch, carried her coffee cup from that morning into the kitchen, and put away some magazines she’d been looking through.
“Maybe I’d better dust,” she said, noticing a film on the coffee table. She quickly cleaned the various furniture pieces and finished by wiping down the kitchen counter and putting a few stray dishes in the dishwasher.
“There,” she said. “Now I can get ready.”
At exactly six o’clock, the doorbell rang. Sheila quickly checked the full-length mirror one last time. “Coming!” she called out, as she slipped on the red shoes and hurried to the door.
Rick looked handsome in his sports coat and tie. She caught a slight whiff of aftershave as she welcomed him into her home. “I hope I’m dressed okay for wherever we’re going,” she said.
“You look perfect,” he replied, taking her in with his eyes. “We’re actually headed to the university.”
“We are?”
“Yep. The students’ summer theater group is performing Father of the Bride tonight. Although they’re students, the performances are always entertaining and well done. I like to support them when I can.”
“Sounds fun,” she replied. “Are we going somewhere for dinner first?”
“We are. There’s a cozy little Greek restaurant near school. We have a reservation in twenty minutes, so we should probably get going,” he added.
“Great. I’ll grab my purse.” As they walked out the door, Sheila noticed the clouds forming and asked him to wait while she got her umbrella from the car.
“Good idea,” he said. “You never know.”
She nodded. “I’m still getting used to it. I’m just a sunny Southern California gal, I guess.”
“A beautiful one at that,” he replied, opening her d
oor.
Fifteen minutes later, they were pulling up in front of the restaurant. The fragrance of Greek food wafted out to greet them as Rick opened the front door.
“Dr. Chambers! So nice to see you,” the host said with a warm smile. “And who is the lovely lady?”
“Alex, this is Sheila. Sheila, Alex,” Rick gestured as he introduced them.
“Lucky man,” Alex said with a wink. Turning to Sheila, he said in a mock whisper, “He’s never brought a date here before.”
She blushed and looked around the room, avoiding eye contact with either man.
“Did you save my favorite table?” Rick asked.
“Of course,” the host replied. Again he turned to Sheila. “This way, please.” Weaving between the tables, he led them to a back corner with a small, semi-private booth.
As they slid into their seats, he held out the menus. “Our specialties tonight are the Moussaka and our Swordfish Santorini.” He went on to describe both dishes and take their drink order. When the server returned with their wine, Rick ordered for them both.
Turning his attention back to Sheila, he said, “So tell me more about Seal Beach.”
“It’s a quaint little beach town in Orange County. Similar to Sandy Cove, but more crowded and with warmer weather, of course.”
“This will be your first summer here, won’t it?”
She nodded.
“We’ll just have to make the most of the good weather, then,” he said. “Summers are beautiful here. I can’t promise no rain, but there’s less than during the rest of the year. Of course, we do have some fog, too, especially early in the day.”
Sheila nodded. “Will you be off all summer?” she asked.
“Other than my writing and plans for the fall classes, I’m pretty free. By mid-August, I’ll be spending most of each week in my office on campus. But there will be lots of time to show you around until then,” he said. “If you want me to, that is.”
She smiled. “Sounds like fun.”
They continued to enjoy discussing possible summer plans throughout their meal. Then it was time to head to the theater on campus.
When they entered the auditorium, Sheila was surprised by its size, expecting something much smaller. Seating around a thousand people, it had a sloped floor and tastefully elegant interior. “This is really nice,” she remarked.
Rick looked pleased. “I’m glad you like it.”
A student usher checked their tickets and led them to seats in the center section about midway from the stage. “Enjoy the show,” he said as they took their seats.
Soon the performance began. Both the sets and the acting impressed Sheila. Rick leaned over and spoke softly into her ear a few times, telling her that the art department created all the backdrops and the play was not only student acted but also directed by members of the drama department.
As she watched the familiar tale of a father trying to adjust to his firstborn daughter’s engagement and wedding, she flashed back to Michelle’s wedding. Sentiment swept over her, and she reached out and took Rick’s hand, forgetting for a moment that she was not with John.
He glanced at her, and she felt her face flush. What must he think of me? She wanted to pull back, but it seemed just as awkward to take her hand away as it was to leave it in his. Thankfully, a particularly funny scene unfolded on stage, and as they both laughed, she was able to pull her hand away to retrieve a tissue from her purse.
Dabbing her eyes from the tears of laughter, she rested her hands on her lap. Rick leaned over and murmured something in her ear, but she didn’t catch it. Then he put his arm over the back of her seat, resting his hand on her shoulder. Once again she felt her heart race like a teen on a first date.
On the way home afterward, they discussed the play. “This was a great idea,” Sheila said as they arrived at her house. “Thanks for thinking of it. I’ll have to remember to keep up with their performances.”
“I’ll get us tickets for their fall play,” he replied. “They usually have something related to the holidays that comes out in November.”
“Sounds wonderful. And thanks for dinner, Rick. The swordfish was excellent.”
He escorted her to the door and when he leaned over, she expected a kiss on the cheek like the last time. But tonight, his lips met hers. It was brief and sweet.
She slipped inside and closed the door, then leaned back against it, trying to calm her pounding heart. Did that just happen? she asked herself.
Slipping off the red shoes, she put her purse up and sank into the rocker, replaying the evening in her mind.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Sheila called Michelle the next morning.
“Hi, Mom! How was your date?”
Nothing like getting right to the point, Sheila thought. “It was very nice, honey. We went to a Greek restaurant by the university and then attended the drama department’s performance of Father of the Bride.
“Sounds fun.”
“Guess what?” Sheila asked.
“What?”
“I wore the red shoes.”
“Really? Good for you, Mom. I told you they’d come in handy someday,” Michelle replied. Sheila could picture her daughter’s grin. “So how are you feeling about Dr. Chambers now that you’ve had a few dates?”
“I like him. He’s a good conversationalist, and he’s very thoughtful.” She paused and then added, “How do you feel about me seeing him?”
“If you’re happy, I’m happy. It’s just hard for me to imagine him being so kind and considerate when I think back to how he was when I was in his class.”
“I know. But that was a long time ago. People change,” Sheila said. “Look at your father and what a different man he became.”
“Um hmm,” Michelle replied. “So are you two getting, you know, serious?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean like beyond friends?” Michelle seemed to be searching for the right words.
“Well, he did kiss me last night when we were saying goodbye.”
“Okay. That tells me what I wanted to know.”
Sheila laughed. “Is it hard to imagine your mother being kissed on a date?”
“Kind of. Just be careful, like you always told me.”
“I will, honey. For now, I’m just trying to enjoy the newness of my life up here in Oregon. And Rick is a fun companion to show me around. I do like him, but I’m not in any hurry to settle into a long term relationship.”
“That’s good,” she replied. “So when do you leave to pick up Grandma and Grandpa?”
“Pretty soon. In fact, I’d better get off the phone and get ready.”
“Okay. You’re bringing them here for dinner tonight, right? Steve’s planning to barbeque some chicken.”
“We’ll be there. What time do you want us?”
“Anytime after five is good,” she said. “Hey, do you want to invite Dr. Chambers so Grandma and Grandpa can get to know him?”
Sheila couldn’t tell if she was kidding or serious. “No. Thanks for asking, though. They can meet him at church tomorrow, and maybe we’ll have dinner with him later in the week. They’ll probably be pretty tired tonight, so I’m thinking an early family dinner and then back here for bed is best.”
“Okay. See you tonight.”
As Sheila drove to the airport to pick up her parents, she allowed her mind to wander back to the night before. Rick’s aftershave and the feel of his lips caressing hers, the warm conversation over dinner, and the laughter that brought tears to her eyes during the play—it had been a wonderful evening.
Part of what made her time with Rick so special was the way he took care of her. Opening every door, making all the arrangements for the dinner reservations and tickets for the performance, picking up all the checks. It was such a contrast from all the care giving she’d had to do with John after he’d become disabled.
It hadn’t always been that way. John was so determinedly independent for most of their
marriage. An excellent provider and a man of great intellectual prowess, she’d been in awe of him and at times intimidated by his strength. But the last years of his life, it had been like living with a different person.
On the one hand, he was much sweeter. And his newfound faith in God was a radical turnaround from his adamant atheism of the past. She could talk to him in ways she’d never been able to before. And he appreciated her so much more, too.
But the flip side was the reality of how draining it was to meet all of his physical needs on a daily basis. So many trips to rehab, helping him learn to do even the most basic tasks of feeding himself, changing his clothes, brushing his teeth. The list went on and on.
She could see him sitting in his wheelchair; a mere shadow of the man he’d been before he tried to take his own life. Although she still missed him, it was God’s mercy that He took him home to heaven last year.
In contrast, Rick, who was a few years younger than her, was very much alive and well. His attractive features and vigorous health made Sheila feel more alive and youthful, too. She hoped her parents would understand and accept her blossoming relationship with him.
After finding a parking place at the airport, she worked her way through the terminal to baggage claim and found her father trying to wrestle a suitcase off the conveyor belt. “Here, let me help you with that,” a man standing nearby offered as he reached over and lifted the canvas bag, placing it upright on its wheels.
“Thanks, young man,” her father replied with a smile.
A moment later, her mother spotted her. “Sheila!”
“Hi Mom! Dad!” she said as she moved quickly through the crowd and embraced them both. “Can I get that for you?” she asked, reaching for the handle of the suitcase.
“I’ve got it now, sweetheart,” her father answered as he began pulling it toward the exit. After wrestling their luggage into the trunk of Sheila’s car, they started for the restaurant where they’d be eating lunch.
Around the Bend (Sandy Cove Series Book 4) Page 18