by Holly Rayner
“Why did you hesitate?” Suspicion edges her question.
“Because I wanted to give an honest answer,” I smile.
Stopping at the curb, I check for traffic and cross. A man weeding his yard waves at me, and I wave back.
“What have you been doing?” Laura asks.
“Not much at all.”
“That’s great!”
“I figured you’d say as much.”
“And have you made any friends?” she asks. “What are people like there? Are they friendly?”
“Very friendly. There’s this cute coffee shop, and the girl who works there is really nice. She wants to… hey, don’t laugh. We’re going to see the country’s largest measuring cup.”
Laura’s quiet for a long moment. “That’s so hilarious that I can’t even laugh.”
“Don’t make fun of it.”
“I’m not. I think that’s great! I’m happy for you. It’s also really, really amusing.”
“Not New York at all.”
“Not New York at all,” she repeats. “Tell me more? Have you met anyone else nice?”
“Yeah, my neighbors. I had dinner with them the night I got here.”
“Holy smokes, the Midwest really is friendly. They just invited a stranger into their home?”
“Well, the dad came out and helped me move in the boxes. It kind of progressed from there.”
“Maybe I should move to Ohio. You know that old guy who smells like cilantro that lives downstairs? Last night he saw me drop two bags of groceries while I was going into my mailbox. The soup cans rolled right to his feet. You know what he did?”
“Walked away.”
“Hah! That would have been considerate compared to what went down. No, he called me clumsy and knocked the soup into the corner with his cane.”
“Ah, New York, New York.”
“I’ll never leave it,” she says.
I’ve reached my block. Halfway down it, in Kal’s yard, he pushes Maya on a swing that’s strung from the big oak. My insides expand.
“Hey,” I tell Laura. “I’m getting home now. Can I call you back later?”
“Yes. Of course. It was great talking to you.”
“You, too. Love you.”
“Love you, girl.” Laura makes a kissing noise and hangs up.
Kal has spotted me coming. He smiles and waves. That magnetic force I felt between us in his kitchen several nights ago returns. Pocketing my phone, I cut across Shay’s yard and join him and Maya under the tree.
“Julia!” Maya shrieks.
Mid-swing, she launches herself for the ground, and her sneakers and knees hit the grass. Jumping up, she sprints forward and meets me in the oak’s dappled shade.
One pair of skinny arms go around my waist, and two eyes the color of the summer sky turn up to me.
“Where did you go?” Maya inquires.
I bend over to hug her back. “Downtown. I was doing some boring, grownup paperwork at the coffee shop there.”
“My dad has a picture he painted there.”
“Oh, I know.”
“Do you think he’s a good artist?” Maya asks.
Over her head, Kal winks at me. “You can lie in order to not hurt my feelings,” he says. “It’s fine.”
“He’s an amazing artist,” I tell Maya. “And I think I would know. Art is kinda my thing.”
“Are you an artist?”
“She is a professional artist,” Kal says, coming behind Maya and placing his hands on her shoulders.
“Graphic artist,” I point out. “Not a painter, like your dad.”
“My dad makes wardrobes,” Maya says. “And chairs. Hey, where have you been Julia? I looked in your window yesterday and you weren’t there.”
“Maya,” Kal chastises. “You can’t look in other people’s windows?”
“Why not?” The little girl frowns. “You were looking in her window.”
“I…” Kal’s lips press tight. He won’t look at me. “I wasn’t looking in her window. I was looking at the house. The general house. It’s completely different.”
Finally, he turns his face to mine, though he can’t keep eye contact for more than half a second. “I wasn’t looking in the window.”
“It’s okay,” I laugh. The only thing I care about is that Kal had me on his mind.
“Hey, you know what?” Maya steps away from me and spins in a circle. “Guess where I’m going tonight?”
“Where?”
“A sleepover! It’s at my friend Clara’s house. Isn’t that neat? I have to pick out a stuffie. I wanted to take them all, but Dad said no.”
“How many do you have?” I ask.
“Twenty-seven.”
“Yikes. Your dad has a good point there.”
“I’m leaving in… Dad, when are you taking me to Clara’s?”
Kal glances at his wristwatch. “In approximately five hours.”
“I gotta get ready!” Maya shrieks. “I have to pick out my stuffie.”
She runs for the house, knocking her shoulder against the swing as she passes it, leaving Kal and me laughing in her wake.
“How have you been?” I ask him.
The swing is still going. Grabbing it with one hand to still it, I look at him between the two ropes.
“Well. Busy. And you?”
“Fine.”
I cringe. It’s not a word I meant to use. It slipped out before I had a chance to stop it.
“They say that when someone says they’re fine,” Kal says, “it means they are anything but.”
“I’m getting there.”
He nods at the swing. It’s one of those that’s nothing more than a big slab of wood with thick ropes tethering it to a branch. I like the thought of Kal coming out here and tying it up for Maya.
I sit on the swing, my back to him. Two strong palms rest against my lower back, sending a tingle through me. A breath later and Kal pushes.
I soar through the air, the movement making my hair fall in my face. Swiping strands from my mouth and eyes, I look over my shoulder at him.
“I’ve been thinking about you guys.”
“Yes?” Kal continues to push me.
“Yeah.”
“Tell me more.”
“I wanted to come over here and say hi, but it seems I keep missing you in the morning, and I wasn’t sure when was a good time at night…”
I trail off. It sounds like I’m making excuses.
“I would be happy to see you at any time,” Kal says.
Since he can’t see my face, I don’t try to check my giant smile.
“Good,” I say. “Does Julia go to sleepovers a lot?”
“This is her first.”
“Wow. Really. Are you nervous?”
He continues to push me on the swing, but doesn’t say anything for a minute.
“No,” he says finally. “She is very confident for her age.”
“Yeah, she seems it.”
“It’s my first night off from parenting duty in months.”
“Really?” It’s impossible to keep the surprise from my voice.
That means it’s only him and Maya. No ex-wife. No mom in the picture.
My heart sinks. Poor Maya.
My mother is gone as well, but I got thirty great years with her first. Did Maya get any at all?
I want to ask if Maya’s mother was ever around, but it’s not my place. Instead, I say, “That must be exciting. You never get a babysitter and head out for the night, though?”
“I socialize some during the day, when I take breaks from work. There are a few friends I run with sometimes.”
“No partying?” I joke.
“No.”
I look back to make sure I haven’t offended him. Luckily, he’s smiling.
“Would you like to accompany me tonight?” He stops pushing me. “It will be a special night.”
I stop swinging and turn sideways to study him. My pulse races.
“We c
ould go to dinner,” Kal says. I would think he’s completely cool and collected—except there’s a noticeable bob of his throat as he swallows.
“Like a date?”
He flushes. “Yes.”
I bite into a smile. “I would love that.”
“Wonderful.” His grin matches mine.
“Dad!”
Maya is at the front door. “I need your help picking! Please. I don’t know to take Freddy Teddy or the white horse I got at the fair.”
“Can I pick you up at seven?” Kal asks me.
My heart still hasn’t calmed down. I don’t know that it ever will.
“Seven is great,” I say.
“See you then.”
He goes into the house with Maya, and I’m left to collect my bag and make my way back to Shay’s.
Inside, I turn into a teen in an eighties rom-com. Closing the front door, I press my back against it, seal my eyes shut tight, and squeal.
A date with Kal, resident hottie of my heart!
The bit I’ve learned about him this far makes it even more exciting. For all appearances, it looks like Kal doesn’t date much, if at all. Him asking me out must be a big deal.
Goodness knows it’s a giant one to me.
Chapter 6
Julia
There’s not a shred of clothing I packed for the stifling Ohio summer that I don’t try on during the hours leading up to the date.
Jeans and T-shirt? Yes. Why not? We could be going to a baseball game.
Skinny pants, six-inch heels, and sleeveless, sequined top? Only if we’ll be clubbing, but for all I know that’s the case.
In the end, I settle on a red dress and wedge sandals. It’s the perfect mix of casual and classy.
I’ve just finished pinning the sides of my hair back after curling in some waves for a beachy look when the doorbell sounds. I jump at the noise, my breath catching in my throat.
My palms are sweating by the time I reach the front door. Ignoring that, I open up and find Kal standing in the porch light, looking amazing in dark jeans, a blue button-up, and shiny dress shoes. His dark hair is combed to the side, and the scent of his minty aftershave makes my knees go weak.
“Hello.” His eyes sweep down my figure. The fluttering of his lashes and the way he swallows then clears his throat confirms that I chose the right outfit.
His words are the cherry on top: “You look amazing.”
“Thank you,” I say. “So do you.”
“Are you ready? If not, I can wait.”
“No, I’m good!” Grabbing my black clutch, I lock up the house. Kal waits silently, and when we get to his car, which he’s moved into the drive, he goes around the front of it and opens the passenger’s side door for me.
I’m surprised enough that it takes me a moment to get my words flowing. “Thank you.”
I can’t remember the last time a man opened a car door for me. The back of a taxi is different. If someone is driving but they go out of their way to come over and open your door, that says a lot.
And, man, I like it.
“Where are we headed?” I ask.
Kal starts the car. “Have you been to the French bistro downtown?”
“No, but I've been meaning to go.”
“Perfect,” he says in a purr that echoes the engine’s rumble.
He maneuvers out of the driveway, and we head downtown. My heart’s a giant butterfly, and I fold my hands on my knees and remind myself to breathe. I would think that at thirty I wouldn’t get this nervous for a date, but Kal does something to me.
There’s no point in getting my hopes up, because things don’t always work out as planned, but I really, really hope tonight isn’t the last one I spend in this enigmatic man’s presence.
Kal parks on the street in front of the restaurant, and I’ve only touched my door before he’s on the other side of it. Stepping out of the car, I feel like a princess.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
“You’re welcome.”
Instead of walking ahead, he offers me his arm. Lacing my elbow with his, we walk for the bistro. When Kal opens the door there, I’m no longer surprised. In fact, it’s treatment I could very easily get used to.
He’s made reservations, so we’re shown right away to a table for two by the front windows. A flickering candle illuminates the white tablecloth, and nearby diners chatter softly. The whole place has a romantic yet casual feel to it.
“This is nice,” I comment.
Kal nods. “It’s my favorite place in town. Unfortunately, I don’t get here near as much as I would like.”
“It’s not exactly kid friendly, I guess.” Picking up my menu, I glance at the entrees.
“No,” he chuckles. “No matter how grown-up Maya insists she is.”
A waiter arrives, and Kal checks to see what kind of wine I like before ordering a bottle of red, along with an appetizer that I couldn’t even begin to pronounce.
“Wow,” I comment, as the waiter walks away. “That was good enough that I would think you’re fluent in French.”
Kal shrugs and sips water.
“Wait.” I blink in surprise. “Are you fluent in French?”
“I’m a tad rusty.”
“Wow.” I’m a little speechless, so I take my time spreading my napkin across my lap.
Judging by Kal’s accent, English is not his first language, though he’s incredibly good at it. How many languages does he know?
I’m dying to ask, but by the time I’m ready to, he’s speaking.
“How are you settling into the house?”
“Well. It’s more space than I’m used to. That’s weird. Funny enough, I would never have expected that to be a problem. In Brooklyn, I’ve always wanted more room. Turns out, now that I have it I don’t know what to do with it.”
Kal laughs. “I believe that to be what they call a good problem.”
“Yeah. For sure.”
“What have you been doing with your time, if I might ask?”
I take a deep breath, thinking back to the last few days. It’s funny how time can fly by when it’s not structured.
“Staying up late a lot,” I say. “Reading. Spending time by myself, you know? Time to just be. I’ve never had that.”
“I can imagine nearly all your time and energy went to your mother.”
“Exactly.”
“I bet she would be happy to see you taking it easy.”
“I’m sure she is.” I’m not going to talk about Mom as if she no longer exists. She’s out there, watching me. I feel it in my bones.
“The best part about being here,” I continue, “is that I can organize my memories and thoughts better. It was hard in New York. There, it was like I was being assaulted by them all the time. Here, where everything I look at is new, I have an easier job focusing on what I want to. I can steep myself in the happy memories.”
“It’s impressive that you are that self-aware.”
“Yeah?”
He nods, eyes smoldering across the table. “Extremely.”
“I have to be. If I didn’t do everything possible to control what’s going on in my head, I would… lose it,” I say, choking over the last couple of words.
If I keep talking about this, I might start crying. Getting emotional in public is not part of an ideal first date.
“Tell me something,” I say. “You’re not from Ohio, right?”
Kal’s lips part. He doesn’t answer right away. “Correct…”
He doesn’t get the chance to say more. The waiter arrives with the wine and shows me the bottle. I smile and nod pleasantly, as if the label means something to me—which it definitely doesn’t.
After taking our test sips, Kal raises a brow at me.
“It’s delicious,” I say.
He nods, the waiter pours us each a full glass, and we lift them for cheers.
“A toast to a great summer,” I say.
“Perfect.” His glass clinks mine.
“Not at all.”
“No news is good news.”
“Exactly,” he says.
“You didn’t get a chance to answer my earlier question.” I put my wine glass down and tuck some hair behind my ear. “Where did you grow up?”
Kal also sets down his glass, except his gaze follows it and remains there. “A small island near Greece.”
“Wow. That sounds beautiful.”
“It was.”
I’ve never been to that part of the world, and seeing it is on my bucket list. There’s sadness in Kal’s words, though.
He must know I’ve picked up on it, because he adds, “I haven’t been there in a long time.”
“Have you ever taken Maya?”
“There would be no point in doing so. There is no family there for her to visit.”
Kal smiles, but it’s tight. Obviously, this isn’t something he wants to talk about.
Clearing my throat, I pick up the menu again.
“I think I’ll need your help ordering,” I say, “and not only because I don’t speak French. Everything looks delicious. I don’t know how I could pick.”
“It is difficult here,” he says.
We go over the menu together, discussing what would go best with our wine. I’m only half present, though. My mind is stuck on the conversation about Kal’s homeland.
Why did he leave it?
He didn’t even tell me exactly where he was from, only calling it an “island” near Greece.
Did something bad happen to him there? Something awful enough to make him swear it off forever?
I can’t imagine leaving New York behind for good. Even if I decided to move somewhere else, I would go back to visit all my friends there. The city is a part of me.
We decide on our meals, and I steer the conversation to safer topics. What camps Maya will attend this summer. Where the best hiking trails are. My favorite haunts back in the city.
Maybe one day Kal will want to tell me about what happened back home. Until then, I have no right to pry. It’s only our first date.
“Dessert?” Kal asks as the waiter clears our empty plates.
I touch my full belly, not sure I can stomach it.
“Please say yes,” Kal says.
“If you want dessert, go for it,” I laugh.