by Jamey Moody
“I’m not surprised Frankie is drawn to you, she’s crazy about that subdivision you’re designing.”
“I know! That’s where I’m taking her Saturday. There should be plenty of distractions to keep her mind off the wedding.”
“I think as long as she is with you she won’t be thinking about that wedding.”
Olivia blushed and smiled.
***
Frankie pulled into the animal shelter and saw Grace with one of the volunteers leashing two dogs. Since Grace was the only counselor she’d ever been to, she wondered if other counselors had sessions while walking dogs. She liked it and hoped they could continue to have her sessions there.
“There you are! I have an eager Great Dane mix ready to take you on a walk,” Grace said, handing the leash to Frankie. “I figured you could handle her since you’re a fitness guru.”
Frankie took the leash and looked down into the dog’s eyes that were at waist level, “What is your name, beautiful?”
“This is Sadie. She should do well on a leash,” said the volunteer. “Have fun.”
“Let’s go. This is Sharon,” Grace said referring to the lab mix she started walking. “She and Sadie are buddies.”
“What beautiful dogs, I hope they find homes soon.”
“But in the meantime, it’s good to have friends. How have you been? Have you been sitting still as I suggested last time?”
“I’ve tried. Before I go to sleep, I turn off the TV, put my tablet and phone on to charge and sit. Thoughts fly through my head, but I try to relax and settle for a few minutes before I get in bed.”
“What are the thoughts flying through your head?”
“Sometimes they’re about work, or family, or friends.”
“Laura?”
“Not really. I would expect her to come up from time to time but, she doesn’t.”
“The wedding is soon, isn’t it?”
“Yep, this Saturday.”
“Do you have some anxiety about that?”
“Not really. I’m actually excited.”
“Excited? What do you mean?”
“I have a date Saturday night,” Frankie said smiling as Olivia’s face wandered into her head.
“Good for you. Is this the first since Laura?”
“It is.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Isn’t that why I see you, to talk about this stuff?” Frankie said sarcastically.
“Not funny. You don’t have to talk about anything if you don’t want to.”
“I was just teasing you. Yes, I want to talk about it. Do you remember in our last session, I told you about a new client that I didn’t want to disappoint?”
“I do. What happened with that?”
“Her name is Olivia and we’ve become friends. She’s in one of my classes and she’s also doing the triathlon. I asked her to ride bikes with me, so we’ve been riding a couple of times a week.”
“That reminds me, I need to sign up to volunteer for it.”
“She’s very easy to talk to; I’ve told her things that I haven’t shared with Desi or Stella and that’s unusual. Anyway, I told her about Laura and the wedding. She asked me to go out with her Saturday to take my mind off it.”
“That’s nice of her.”
“It is.”
“Do you think she asked you out because of the wedding or would she have asked you out anyway?”
“I have asked myself the same question. I hope she would have anyway.”
“You told me in our last session that she made you feel again. Do you think this could go somewhere?”
“I hope so. I can feel a connection when I’m with her and think she feels it too. But I want to be careful.”
“Because?”
“Because, I can tell she’s special and I don’t want to screw this up.”
“Why would you screw this up?”
“History, Grace. Look at what’s happening Saturday.”
“But that’s not your fault, Frankie. We’ve talked about it. You had no control over that.”
“Didn’t I though? I mean Laura said it wasn’t anything I did, but that’s hard to believe. It takes two.”
“Are you telling me you want her back?”
“No. I’m telling you I don’t want to mess this up with Olivia. If I made mistakes with Laura I certainly don’t want to repeat them with Olivia.”
“Frankie, if you go into this with the fear you’re going to mess it up, as you say, isn’t that exactly what’s going to happen? Do you respect Olivia?”
“Of course I do.”
“Do you value her opinion?”
“Yes.”
“I know you are considerate and kind. So, focus on the good, not on what can go wrong.”
Frankie nodded her head thinking about what Grace said.
“For someone that helps people nourish and improve their self-image, you’re pretty hard on yourself at times.”
Frankie smiled, “I get what you’re saying, Grace. I really like her.”
“Then she’s a lucky woman. Come on let’s take Sadie and Sharon back and give some other lucky hounds a walk.”
***
Frankie hoped she wasn’t overstepping. Olivia had called to say she couldn’t make it for their bike ride today because she was stuck at the work site and would be there for several hours. She saw Olivia’s SUV parked at the model home that held the office and pulled in behind her.
Olivia thought she heard the front door open, when she came around the corner she found Frankie standing in the entry holding two drinks. Her face immediately lit up, “Frankie, what are you doing here?”
Frankie walked forward hesitantly but smiling, “I know you said you had to work late but, I thought maybe you could use a pick-me-up. I brought you a smoothie with pineapple and coconut.” She extended her hand with the drink.
“Thank you, how thoughtful,” she said, taking the smoothie. As she took a drink through the straw her eyes widened. “This is so good. How did you know pineapple and coconut were my favorites?”
Frankie looked down her cheeks reddening, “I may have been paying attention or asked Stella if she knew which your favorite was.”
Olivia leaned down capturing Frankie’s eyes with her own, “You’re really sweet, Frankie. You don’t know how much I needed this.”
“I don’t want to interrupt your work. Enjoy, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Frankie smiled but didn’t move.
“You are a welcome distraction,” she said, taking another sip of her smoothie.
“Well, I’d better go.” This time Frankie started toward the door.
“Let me walk you out. I’ve been stuck in here since lunch.”
When they got to Frankie’s Jeep she opened the door and got in. Olivia grabbed the window sill and closed the door. Frankie rested her arm on the opened window.
Olivia put her hand on Frankie’s forearm, “Thanks again for the smoothie.”
“You’re welcome,” Frankie said as her eyes gleamed a darker shade of green.
Olivia met those eyes with her own turning a deep mahogany, “I’m glad you came by.” Her fingers squeezed Frankie’s forearm gently.
Frankie smiled and put the Jeep in gear, “I am too.” She began to back out, her eyes never leaving Olivia’s. When she got to the end of the driveway Olivia gave her a little wave. It took all Frankie had not to jump out of the Jeep, take Olivia in her arms and kiss her.
Olivia watched Frankie drive away. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She was so close to leaning down and kissing Frankie in the Jeep. Saturday couldn’t come quickly enough.
***
Olivia rode her bike up to Your Way just as Sofia was getting out of her car. “Hi stranger.”
“Hi to you. Sorry, about this week, I’ve been busy at work.”
“It wouldn’t have anything to do with your big date tomorrow, would it?”
“I have been arranging a few thin
gs for tomorrow.”
“Why are you on your bike today? It’s Friday, we drink after class, remember?”
“Yes, I needed to get a ride in and was too busy this week. I even had to cancel on Frankie for our usual ride.”
“I guess you can drink and pedal.”
“Not tonight, I’m heading home.”
“Don’t want to fight off Stacy this week?”
“Very funny. Why don’t you come home with me and I’ll tell you about the big date tomorrow.”
“Ooow, that sounds like fun. Besides, I missed you this week OK.”
Olivia smiled at Sofia’s term of endearment with her initials.
“I missed her, too,” said Frankie walking up to the pair.
Olivia turned and was greeted with the most dazzling smile and vibrant green eyes she’d ever seen, “Let me hold the door, you can put your bike in the office.”
“Thanks.” Olivia went through, followed by Sofia, who gave Frankie a playful smile.
As Olivia came out of the office, Frankie asked them both, “Isn’t this your class bar night?”
“It is,” Sofia spoke up. “But not for us tonight.”
“You’re not going? I had a great time last Friday and thought I might go again.”
Sofia looked at Olivia and then Frankie, “I don’t think it would be as much fun for you tonight. You know there’s competition over who gets to sit next to Olivia.”
Olivia rolled her eyes at Sofia and shook her head.
“Besides, you’ll get her all to yourself tomorrow.”
Frankie chuckled, “I sure will and I’m looking forward to it.”
Olivia met Frankie’s green eyes with her own soft brown ones, “I am too.” After a moment she dropped Frankie’s gaze, “Aren’t we here to lift weights?”
Frankie shook her head, “Something happens when you’re around and I forget what I’m doing. Come on!” She grabbed both their hands and led them to the weights, laughter in their wake.
After class Sofia told the regular Friday night group that she and Olivia wouldn’t make it. Olivia helped Frankie clean up the weight area.
“Are you riding your bike home? I’d be glad to give you a ride.”
“Thanks, but since I missed this week I wanted to get a ride in.”
“You’re getting serious about this triathlon.”
“It’s not that far away for a rookie like me.”
“You’re going to do great.”
“So…where should I pick you up tomorrow? I know you have to work.”
“I was going to ask you, should I dress casual?”
Olivia smiled thinking this time it’s casual but she wouldn’t mind seeing Frankie all dressed up. “Yes, this time it’s casual. We’ll be doing a little walking.”
Frankie noticed Olivia said ‘this time’ and smiled, “Okay, you can pick me up here.”
Sofia walked up, “That’s one disappointed group that we’re not joining them tonight.”
“I’m sure they are,” said Olivia. “Give me a head start and I’ll meet you at the house.” Then to Frankie she said, “See you tomorrow.”
Frankie smiled as she watched Olivia get her bike.
“Big date tomorrow, huh.”
Frankie turned to Sofia, “It is.”
“It’s not hard to tell, with the way you two look at one another; this is more than friends. I mean, you don’t look at me that way,” Sofia said chuckling.
“I really like her.”
“She likes you too. And I love her,” Sofia said looking at Frankie warily.
Frankie frowned, “What are you trying to say?”
“She’s a good person, she’s had a hard time, and now she’s back. I’d like to keep it that way.”
Frankie smiled, “Me too.”
Sofia searched Frankie’s eyes, then nodded, “Okay then, have a good time tomorrow.”
Chapter 9
Olivia walked into Your Way, a little nervous. She wasn’t sure what to wear and ended up in black jeans that she felt good in, and a vee neck tee shirt that was slightly fitted. She realized as she changed clothes several times, that she and Frankie had only seen one another in work-out clothes. It was no secret that she wanted to impress.
When she walked into the office, Stella and Frankie’s heads both turned; one look at Frankie’s face and Olivia knew she’d chosen the right outfit. She smiled with a hint of a smirk and then noticed that Frankie was wearing jeans that showed her muscles and curves with a light green button down that made her eyes appear like dark emeralds. Her sleeves were rolled up showing off her tanned and muscled forearms.
“My god, you two are gorgeous,” exclaimed Stella.
Frankie found her voice, “I agree. Olivia you are beautiful.”
“Thank you, both. I thought you looked good in work-out clothes but, wow, you should wear jeans more often,” Olivia said, the smirk vanishing and her eyes darkening.
Stella chuckled, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything but spandex or a swimsuit, Olivia. And I don’t get to see Frankie in jeans very often.”
Olivia’s eyes had been locked on Frankie’s since she walked into the office. Shaking her head she said, “Are you ready to go?”
Frankie nodded, “Lead the way.” She walked toward Olivia.
“See you, Stella.”
“Have fun, you two.” Stella had her fingers crossed, a little luck couldn’t hurt.
Olivia drove them to the model home and they went inside. “I thought it might be fun for you to design your own house. We can start with floor plans and kind of go from there. Or does that sound terrible?”
“This may be the best date ever,” Frankie said, her face beaming.
Olivia chuckled, “Come this way and we can get started.”
She showed her several floor plans and different sizes. Some were two stories, others were single floors; some were on the small side, others were sprawling.
“I have a question. Am I choosing what I’d like to build, like a dream home in my perfect little world or one that would fit me now?”
“That’s entirely up to you but, if it were me, I’d go perfect world. Why not? It’s all for fun.”
“Sometimes I have a hard time imagining a perfect world and not being practical.”
“There’s nothing wrong with practical, but tonight is for fun. Let me help you design your dream.”
Frankie looked up from the plans, catching Olivia’s gaze. “Are you my dream, Olivia King?” she said quietly.
A slow smile reached Olivia’s eyes, “We’ll see.” She dropped Frankie’s eyes and reached for the designs, “Now, answer a few questions and we’ll narrow this down.”
Frankie did as Olivia said and they came up with two plans she liked.
“We happen to have both of these in construction so I can show you what they actually look like. Want to see?”
“Heck yeah, let’s go.”
Olivia was happy Frankie seemed to be enjoying herself. She wasn’t sure when she’d come up with the idea and could’ve taken Frankie out for dinner. But she wanted to do something different and make it special.
They walked through the garage and Olivia opened the door to the driveway. In the light Frankie could see a golf cart.
“Hop in, we’ll take a spin around the area and to your houses,” Olivia said climbing behind the wheel.
“How fun. Olivia, this gets better and better.”
“I’m glad you’re having a good time,” she said steering onto the street.
“A very good time. This is so much fun.”
Olivia pulled into the first house plan that Frankie chose. “This one is framed in and you can get an idea of what the rooms look like but, the walls aren’t sheet rocked yet.”
“Olivia, do you have homes already going up for all those plans we looked at?”
“No, not all of them.”
“Then, how did you know I’d pick ones that were built?”
Olivi
a paused and smiled, “I just had a feeling. Maybe one of them is one I’d pick too. Come on, let me show you.”
They walked through the home with Olivia explaining what each room was and helping Frankie to picture the layout with completed walls, flooring, and even furniture.
“You’re really good at this. I can see the picture you’re painting with your words,” Frankie said in awe.
Olivia blushed and chuckled, “I’m glad. I’m kind of passionate about this, as you can see.”
“Is this the one you liked?”
“Actually, it’s the next one. Are you ready to move on? We can stay if you want.”
“No, we can go. I really like this house though; I can’t imagine the next one being better.”
“I didn’t say it was better, just that it’s the one I like. I like this one, too. I like parts of all of them,” Olivia said sweeping her hand gesturing toward the street as they got in the golf cart.
Frankie looked around, “Olivia King’s kingdom.”
“My kingdom,” Olivia said laughing. “Not hardly.”
“Why not? It is your vision, isn’t it?”
“Well, the house designs themselves and trying to place them where they don’t all look alike is my vision, you could say.”
“I do and it’s beautiful,” Frankie said, gazing at Olivia’s profile as she drove them to the next house.
Olivia glanced over locking eyes with Frankie as they pulled into the driveway.
“This one is farther along so you’ll be able to see the whole concept better.”
They walked through the front door into an open concept living and kitchen area. There were large windows bringing in the last light of the day.
“Oh wow, Olivia. I see why you like this.”
“It’s so bright and open. Having the sheet rock up makes a difference too.”
“I like how you can see through to the back window and door into the back yard. Does it have a patio?”
“Yeah, we can go through and see it before I show you the rest.”
They walked through the backdoor onto the patio where a small table was set up with chairs. There were two ice chests, place settings, and glasses.
Frankie turned to Olivia and with surprise in her voice said, “What’s all this?”