To show how magnanimous I could be, I smiled and said, “Hello Britni. Jay.” Nodding my head to them, “Thanks for bringing Seth tonight.”
Britni was dressed like a runway model, even with the freezing temperatures. Wearing a pink cocktail dress that looked amazing with her tan. Her tan? It’s February. Hello?
I was wearing jeans, sweatshirt and tennis shoes. A runway model for Farmer’s Almanac. And the only tan I had was leftover from last summer.
“It’s good for Dutch and Tulip and Seth likes playing with the kids.” Linking arms with Jay and smiling, she continued. “Besides it’s Valentine’s Day.” Britni hugged Seth before leaving and whispered in his ear. “Remember what we talked about. Okay. I love you.”
The kids had a blast. They were captivated by Ruth and her stories. She didn’t bother with books, but told stories from her childhood. I begged her to read Dutch and Tulips story, but her real-life stories about the couple were just as good.
Listening to her made me wish there were more. There could be an entire series of Dutch and Tulip stories. All would be centered around the park and the various activities going on there. Maybe in one story, Dutch and Tulip could make a break for it and take a walk around town. They’d go fishing, swimming, take walks and play with the children.
They’d become huge sensations amongst the toddler crowd. Get their own cartoon and merchandise. Maybe I could replace my Hello Kitty with a Dutch and Tulip lunch box. If this teaching this goes south, I can always try my hand at writing children’s books.
We played games, me getting beat every time I played hangman. Made pizza, which was probably poor planning on my part. The kitchen was a mess, along with most of the kids, but they thought it was fun making their own personal pizzas.
I think I might have made an impression with my pizza skills, because I garnered several Valentines. The only ones I’ll be receiving this year. I had a quiet room for the younger kids, most of whom were asleep by 11:00, and a movie rounded out the night for the older ones. We would stay open until 1:00, but with the weather conditions, some parents would likely pick up their kids well before then. I hope. The kitchen wasn’t going to clean itself.
Seth was fighting sleep when Jay and Britni arrived. He was a great kid. Polite and well behaved, he’d been a trooper and free with information. I’d learned all kinds of things. Like how Jay didn’t spend the night at their house, but that his mom was hoping Jay would move in. Jay kept clothes and a toothbrush at their house, which told me that Jay did spend the night, but Seth didn’t realize it.
It was clear to me that Jay and I were over. I had to remind myself that we’d never started and that I’d moved on anyway.
“Any chance you and Jay will be the couple who gets the tradition going again?” I thought by asking Britni I’d be showing how mature I was and that I was in no way, shape or form interested in her boyfriend.
Britni clearly didn’t know how to answer, but Seth did. “That would be so cool Mom. Can I be in your wedding?” Seth looked hopeful.
Glaring at me, Britni tried to reign Seth in. “No. Seth listen, we’ll talk about this later.”
“But Mom. You said Jay was gonna be my new daddy.” Seth’s tiredness was showing in his whiny voice.
Jay looked floored by this little revelation, but said nothing.
Britni moved beyond glaring at me and I was now dodging the daggers she was shooting in my direction. She picked up a sleepy and paternally confused Seth and all but stomped out the door. Which couldn’t have been easy in those heels.
“I am so sorry, Jay. I just assumed.” I shook my head, while handing Jay Seth’s backpack. “I hope I didn’t cause more trouble for you.” I was embarrassed. I should never have mentioned it in front of Seth. Poor kid. It wasn’t his fault I was in love with Jay.
“It’s fine. I just don’t want to see Seth get hurt.” Taking the backpack from me, our hands touched, my physical reaction was increased heart speed. Jay’s was to walk out the door.
~~~~~
That was the last I heard from Jay. He quit coming to committee meetings which made me wonder why. Jonas knew nothing, so I had nothing to go on. I saw Jay almost every day though, driving by my house.
The first time I noticed it, I assumed it was coincidence. Lots of people drive by my house on their way out of town, but it became apparent he was purposely doing it when he’d drive by every evening and in the morning as I was leaving for school.
When I say out of town, I mean the side of town that wouldn’t lead to Huntingburg, so I figured he wasn’t on his way to see Britni. It was both comforting and confusing at the same time. Was he worried about me? I wanted to think that, but when I’d catch him driving by and wave, he rarely returned my attention.
I found myself caught up in a vicious cycle of worry. Worry about the money we still needed, worry about who had threatened me and worry about the ominous “Rest in Pieces.” Ever since my set had disappeared, I began fearing the worst for the real set of Dutch and Tulip.
Locking things became a new hobby of mine. That and checking.
I’d check and recheck every lock in my house and car. I was afraid to put out my new Dutch and Tulip for fear something would happen to them, even though I now had a spare. It seemed like bad luck. The two sets were sitting side by side in my living room where my couch had sat. I hadn’t replaced it yet. I couldn’t find the time to go couch shopping. In reality, I was waiting to see if Dutch and Tulip would need the money.
Junior had nothing to tell me about my window, the cards or my car, so I quit bugging him, assuming he’d call if the bad guy presented himself. Thankfully, February is a short month and I’d feel safer when it was over. Spring was just around the corner and I had to find a way to raise the remaining money. Things will be better when everything is greening up and coming to life. People would be outside more, after spending the harsh winter cooped up and the park would be bustling with families. That was sure to be worth a few thousand.
I did find a couple though. They were far from perfect; in fact, the more I got to know them, the more I realized they were all wrong for Dutch and Tulip.
Bill and Tootsie’s grandson, Brock, had recently become engaged and it was Tootsie who suggested them. I think she, too, knew their relationship was rocky and was looking to Dutch and Tulip for help.
Brock and his fiancée, Molly, were leery at first, but after assuring them of how neat it would be to get married under Dutch and Tulip, restarting the tradition, they seemed truly excited. Molly did, anyhow; Brock had his reservations.
“People don’t get married on the Fourth of July. It’s weird,” he said.
“No, it’s perfect. Think of it this way, you’ll never forget your anniversary and you’ll always have fireworks,” I persuaded. The sexual hint must have done the trick, because Brock agreed.
Molly was excited that her big day would be the center of so much attention. The whole town would be there, plus reporters from the newspapers and radio stations. She quickly began compiling her wish list. Or list of demands.
I soon discovered that Molly was, how shall I put it? Demanding. She wanted to get married at sunset, she wanted white roses and she wanted to know if we could change Dutch and Tulip’s colors.
“I don’t really like red. How about black?” She suggested.
Black? Are you kidding me? They’d look like little Amish children or Dutch children in mourning. Did she honestly believe we’d do that? For some reason, Molly had it in her head that this was suddenly all about her and what she wanted.
But this wasn’t about her. It’s always been about Dutch and Tulip.
Finally, after some serious persuasion on my part, Tootsie’s too, Molly opted for a bouquet of yellow tulips. I suggested they dress the part and offered to make their costumes, but they still refused.
“There’s no way I’m wearing a Dutch costume,” Brock informed me.
~~~~~
I’d just finished cutting out Du
tch’s costume and was pinning it together—what if Brock changed his mind—when I received Mrs. Furst’s call on Monday evening, I admit I was surprised.
Mrs. Furst is the choir director at church. Since I don’t sing, she doesn’t have much use for me. The Fursts were one of Holland’s wealthiest families, having made their mark in logging.
“Lily, dear…” She said.
When someone starts a conversation like this, it’s usually not a good thing. “Yes,” I replied skeptically. The pins I was holding between my lips was making it hard to talk.
“You know my grandson, Anthony?”
Vaguely, but I didn’t say that. Anthony’s parents had done the unthinkable and moved away from Holland after college. I knew of Anthony’s existence only because every summer he’d been forced to attend Vacation Bible School with us. He was that awkward kid at VBS, the one no one really knew, but since he was staying with his grandma for the week, he had no choice but to go.
“Of course, they live in Louisville, right?” I said, taking the pins out of my mouth.
“Oh good, you do remember him.”
Her enthusiasm scared me. I hadn’t actually said I remembered him, only that I knew of his existence. “Anthony’s going to be in town visiting me later this week. He’ll be passing through on his way to Boston. He’s a lawyer, you know.” Mrs. Furst’s voice was singing with pride.
Okay. What did this have to do with me? Unless he wanted to make a sizeable donation.
“I’ll be entertaining Anthony, but I go to bed early. I was thinking you and Anthony could go out one evening. Maybe dinner in Jasper?”
“Oh Mrs. Furst, I don’t think so. I’ve got a million things to do with Dutch and Tulip,” I explained. Not a total lie.
“I understand. How is the fundraising going, by the way? Do you think you’ll make it?” She had me there, dang it! Suddenly, I wanted to stick a pin in my eye.
“We’re very close.” Was all I said. Anyone who wanted to know, only had to drive by the park and see the windmill gauge.
“I’ve been to all the fundraisers, bought cookies, but I’ve yet to donate any actual money,” she said pointedly.
Having listened to Dad’s advice, I’d kept records of every donation. I knew exactly who’d given and how much. The first batch of engraved bricks had already been ordered.
“That’s alright, Mrs. Furst. Not everyone gives a monetary donation, but your support is valuable to the cause.”
“Please, call me Maxine. You need $7,000, I believe?” She sounded too sweet, yet a touch smug at the same time.
Ugh. “That’s correct.”
Wait for it….
“I tell you what. You go out with my Anthony and I’ll write you a check for the remaining money. How’s that sound?”
Honestly, it sounds a little bit like I’m being bought and paid for. But if she gave me the remaining money, I wouldn’t have to take it out of my savings. Which would have wiped me out. I wouldn’t even have had the $1,000 emergency fund that Dave Ramsey insists I keep.
It’s not like I was gonna have sex with him. “One dinner?” I asked, just to clarify. Purposely not calling it a date.
“Yes, dear, maybe a show after as well.”
Would you like me to have your great-grandchildren while we’re at it?
I’ve never been on a blind date and now I was being set up by a senior citizen, plus I was getting paid. Well, I wasn’t getting paid, but it still felt dirty. No use trying to come up with good reason why I shouldn’t do this. We all know I’m going to. I’ll do anything for Dutch and Tulip.
“All right. When will he be here?” Somewhat reluctantly I gave Mrs. Furst my cell number. I wondered what Anthony looked like. To the best of my memory, I think he was three or four years older than me.
So what was the big deal? I’m not dating anyone. We’d go to dinner. I’d pay my half, maybe a movie, then straight home.
If I’m lucky, Anthony is dashing and charming and we’ll fall in love at first sight.
Chapter 20
“Who is that man with Lily?” Tulip didn’t recognize him, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t like him. Not one bit.
“I don’t know, flower. Maybe he just wanted to see us.” Lots of people they didn’t know came by for a visit. Lily was probably just showing this man how special they were.
“Well I don’t like it!” What was Lily thinking? Tulip watched as Lily laughed at something the man said. “How can she be with him if she loves Jay?” This wasn’t right! This man was all wrong for Lily. “Dutch do something.”
“What would you like me to do?” Where was Jay? He’d know what to do. Jay would be mad if he knew Lily was with another man. And why was the man dressed like that?
“I don’t know, but do something before he ruins everything.” Tulip had just the right man picked out for Lily. And this man was no Jay Heimerschmitt. “Dutch! Look at the way he’s looking at her. He wants to kiss her. Stop him! She can’t Holland Kiss him!”
“Calm down, sweetheart.” Dutch hated seeing his Tulip upset. An upset Tulip wasn’t good. Besides, women didn’t kiss when they were upset.
~~~~~
“You can’t be serious?” Kelly was less than thrilled when I informed her about my upcoming date with Anthony. She was organizing my recyclables into their proper bins, looking ashamed of me. “I know I said you should start dating, but this is just bizarre. It’s kind of creepy. Like you’re a lady of the night or something.”
Lady of the night did sound better than hooker, but she was right. This was weird. I’d put off telling Kelly about the date, honestly I wasn’t going to tell her at all, but she was with me when Anthony called just two days after his grandma propositioned me.
“We’re halfway through March. I need that money.” It’s never a good idea to rationalize one’s actions, but I was trying to convince myself and Kelly that this was a good idea.
Kelly looked even more ashamed now, but maybe that was because my cardboard and plastics were mixed together. “But I thought you had enough, along with the insurance, to get the restoration going?”
“I do, but I want—I need—the full amount to get them properly restored.” Dutch and Tulip deserved nothing less.
“This is a bad idea. Didn’t you learn anything from having your window broken and car vandalized? This guy’s gotta be some kind of loser if his grandma has to buy him a date.” Kelly was taking the self-defense course she’d signed me up for, but like yoga I don’t have time to learn how to escape a choke hold.
“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s one date. Besides now I can make the announcement that the money has been raised. Dutch and Tulip will be safe. It’s more than worth it.” I hoped.
Kelly rolled her eyes and continued lecturing, with a tone that sounded like Mom’s. “I’m telling you there’s something wrong with him. I bet he’s got some flesh-eating disease and he’s incontinent.” Kelly spends way too much time with sick people.
Her fatalistic attitude was scaring me, though. I assumed that, since I knew his grandma, Anthony would be a nice guy, but what if Kelly was right and he wasn’t? What if he turned out to be a stalker or something?
Doesn’t matter now. I’m doing it. Putting my flesh on the line for Dutch and Tulip. I could rest easy and sleep better at night knowing they were safe. Dutch and Tulip would be restored, but at what further cost to me?
~~~~~
Turns out Anthony Furst doesn’t have a strange disease or wet himself. He wasn’t even ugly. In fact, he was beautiful. Not “Oh my God!” movie star good looking, but pretty. And I don’t mean that in a bad way.
Impeccably dressed, he looked like a man who used product and got manicures on a regular basis, yet not too feminine. Neatly coiffed black hair, although I prefer blondes, and brown eyes, Anthony had a nice smile. With no crooked teeth. I was surprised to learn he’d been a walk-on at the University of Kentucky. He didn’t look the basketball type. Bike riding type, maybe.
He dwarfed me by a foot and in the back of my mind I realized no amount of self-defense training would save me if it came to that.
Having just passed the bar exam, Anthony was on his way to Boston for an internship, then returning to Kentucky, where he’d begin his career in Louisville. His grandma had every right to be proud. After I got past my initial musings on what could possibly be wrong with him, I really enjoyed myself.
Before leaving town, I asked him to stop by the park. I wanted him to see Dutch and Tulip. Anthony wasn’t impressed. Sure he was in awe of their size, who wasn’t? But he’d seen them before and likely knows their story. I’m sure his grandma keeps him up to date on what’s going on in Holland.
He was very attentive, though, as I told him about the efforts toward saving them. I love to talk about Dutch and Tulip. Even if the person listening doesn’t.
We had dinner at the Schnitzelbank, where Anthony discussed the wine selection, but opted for authentic German beer. Then to the theatre. It was one of those political agenda movies. I hate those, but Anthony enjoyed it.
I don’t go to the movies to be taught a moral lesson or to be preached to. I want to be entertained, plain and simple. That describes me best, whereas Anthony appeared refined and worldly. He was offended when I offered to pay my half and I know I embarrassed him by opening my own door.
Not sure how real hookers operate, but I didn’t get my money until the evening was over. I think that must be backward, though.
“My grandmother asked me to give you this,” Anthony said, handing me an envelope.
I hoped it included my money. Dutch and Tulip’s money rather. I’d developed a habit of calling them mine. I thought of them as mine.
“Great.” Not wanting to be rude and open it in front of him, I did anyway. “They’re saved,” I sighed, hearing wedding bells.
“Who’s saved?” Leaning down, Anthony’s got wide when he saw the check. “Please tell me my grandmother didn’t pay you to go out with me?” Anthony looked mortified.
“No. No. Nothing like that.” I had that “don’t be silly” look on my face. Such a kidder.
A Holland Kiss Page 16