Once In A While (The Cherished Memories Book 1)

by Linda Ellen

  The three young men laughed together, play punching as they always had throughout the years of their friendship. Then, they got down to business.

  Despite his comment, Alec pitched in to finish the job.

  *

  The week crawled by for both Vic and Louise. By Friday evening, Louise had managed to get permission to go to Fleet’s again for ‘play practice’, and as she was getting ready up in the bathroom, she heard a knock on the door.

  “Louise, Mama wants you downstairs,” her little brother’s voice informed through the door. He bent down to see if he could see through the keyhole, but she had hung a towel on the doorknob.

  Louise sighed in aggravation. “What for? I did the dishes already.”

  Billy shrugged dismissively as he turned to head back down. “I dunno. Maybe it’s cause Daddy’s home.”

  “Daddy’s home?” Louise repeated, suddenly torn. She adored her father, and always wanted to spend time with him when he was around, but they hadn’t expected him to be able to come home again so quickly. Since he had resumed his job in Bowling Green that week, she had missed him even more, having grown accustomed to his presence during the crisis.

  But…Vic… he would be waiting. She’d waited and longed for Friday night to roll around all week!

  And to top it off, Louise had put on makeup, something she didn’t normally do, and she didn’t know how her father would react. However, she didn’t have time to take it off and reapply it… Oh, what should she do?

  Racking her brain for an acceptable ploy, and feeling crushingly guilty about all of the skirting of the truth she had been doing lately, Louise hurriedly finished up. Combing and fixing her hair, she rushed down the stairs to greet her father.

  Behind his wire rim glasses, Willis’ eyes lit up when he saw his daughter, and he opened his arms as she came sailing into them.

  “Hi Sweet pea,” he crooned against her hair.

  “Hey Daddy,” she murmured against his chest, squeezing him tightly. Oh, it felt so good to be in his arms, as always. Louise loved her mother very much, but Lilly was a no-nonsense kind of woman, always working on some chore, and wasn’t especially demonstrative with her children. As a result, Louise sometimes felt starved for affection. Her father, easy going and kind-hearted, was definitely the more affectionate of her parents.

  Again against his chest, she mumbled, “I didn’t expect you back this weekend.” Steeling herself for his reaction, she pulled back a little to look up at him. Willis’ pleased smile dimmed a little when he saw her face – and the unaccustomed makeup.

  “I was missing all of you so much, so I twisted Mr. Collins’ arm until he hollered ‘Uncle’ and said he’d give me a ride,” he joked, adding softly, “what’s this on that pretty face of yours, Mary Louise?”

  Affecting surprise, she put a hand quickly up to her cheek. “Oh this? Fleet and I are gonna practice in our costumes, so I put on my stage makeup,” she fibbed, superstitiously crossing her fingers behind her back as she smiled up at him, hoping he hadn’t seen the guilt lurking within her eyes.

  “Seems all she does anymore is go practice for that play. I’ll sure be glad when it’s over and done with,” Lilly grumbled from the corner, where she was busy ironing a pile of shirts.

  Louise cast her mother a wounded look. “You two are gonna come see the play…aren’t you?” she asked quietly, for the first time wondering about it. It hadn’t occurred to her that her family might not even go. Lilly had the grace to look up from her work and send her daughter a tiny smile, although she was still a bit miffed at her that she hadn’t wanted to stay and help with more chores. “Of course we will,” she reassured.

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world – seeing my daughter in the lead role in a musical,” Willis added. “I know you’re going to shine brighter than all of them.”

  Louise grinned and snickered softly. It never failed; her father always knew just the right words to say. “Aww thanks, Daddy. I wish I could stay, but I promised…” she worded carefully.

  Willis nodded understandingly.

  “You go on. Have a good time, honey.”

  “Thanks, Daddy,” she answered, giving his cheek a quick kiss as she turned to go, nearly running into Edna as the girl appeared at the hall door.

  “Where you off to in such a hurry?” she mumbled, then seeing her sister’s face, she added, “Little sister’s wearin’ makeup? Who’s the boy?” she sneered shrewdly.

  Louise’s heart somersaulted and she swallowed quickly, attempting an answering sneer. “Noneya. But if you must know, it’s stage makeup.”

  “It better be – you better not have got into any of mine,” her sister sneered back, in truth, a bit jealous of her younger, prettier sister.

  Managing to appear affronted, Louise grasped her things and headed out the door, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll be back by 10.” Oh I hope she doesn’t go near her makeup drawer! She silently prayed.

  “See that you are!” Lilly groused.

  Edna watched her go, suspicion glittering in her icy blue eyes. “Little miss goodie two-shoes,” she muttered as she turned toward the bedroom, intent on checking her stash of makeup for any signs of pilfering.

  However, Lilly called to her with an instruction and that took her mind off of it – luckily for Louise.

  *

  Huddled in her coat, Louise rounded the corner and spotted Vic heading her way. Her heart skipped a beat – he was heading to her house to pick her up!

  When they reached one another, Vic, grinning widely, leaned to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” she replied. “What…what are you doing?”

  “You were runnin’ a little late, so I thought I’d come and get ya,” he replied, his motives totally innocent. Truly, Louise knew he didn’t understand the importance of her secrecy. She suffered a moment of fear that she wouldn’t be able to keep all of her ‘balls in the air’ in the juggling act she had created.

  Moistening her lips, she managed to smile sweetly, still scrambling to come up with excuses why he couldn’t pick her up at the apartment. “Thank you,” she murmured as she took his arm and they set out for the soda shop.

  “So, you had a busy week?” Vic wondered as they strolled along. He looked down at the girl who had captured his heart. With her cheeks a comely shade of pink from the winter breeze, and her eyes sparkling, he couldn’t stop his heart from flip-flopping.

  Huddled against his arm, she nodded. “Yes, very. School started up again, practicing for the play, chores at home. Something going on every minute.” With a shiver, she looked up at him, querying, “How about you?”

  “Yeah, I been busy, too. Been helpin’ my friends – you remember, Earl and his family…” she nodded and he continued. “They needed a new floor in their house, too. And a few days ago, another friend came back – his name’s Alec Alder.”

  “Oh?” she asked, adjusting her gloves against the cold breeze. “Did his family have to evacuate, too?”

  “Yeah…and…” he paused, the subject always causing his heart to sadden. “They lost everything. Their house was in one of the lower parts…”

  “Oh…I’m so sorry!” she murmured, her eyes showing her sincere concern. “I can’t imagine losing everything and having to start over…we were very lucky.”

  “Yeah…” he mumbled, lapsing into silence as they walked along.

  Minutes later, they were warmly ensconced in what they were already thinking of as ‘their’ booth in the back of Luckert’s. Having earned a bit of money during the week helping Earl’s neighbor with some work, Vic offered grandly, “What would ya like? Anything you want, just name it.”

  Grinning, she replied, “I think I’d like something warm…maybe hot chocolate.”

  “That’s all? You don’t want nothin’ to eat?” he probed.

  “No, I ate at home,” Louise answered. Vic’s crestfallen look made her realize how that had sounded to him – as if she hadn’t looked
forward to their date. Thinking quickly, she added, “M…my Dad came home from Bowling Green tonight…”

  That, thankfully for her, took his mind off and he smiled, knowing she loved her father very much. “He did, huh? He doin’ alright?”

  “Oh yes, he’s fine,” she assured, and nodded when he excused himself to go up to the counter and place their order. A few minutes later, he returned with her hot chocolate, and a burger, fries, and a chocolate shake for himself. Seeing her eyes open wider, he chuckled, “I ain’t had nothin’ since breakfast…hope you don’t mind. You, uh…you can have some of it if you like.”

  Louise giggled at the look on Vic’s face, as if the teacher in school had called him down. Nodding, she watched him slide into his side of the circular booth and begin to arrange his food. She slid closer, moving her hot chocolate, and reached out for a French fry, answering his grin with a twinkling smile.

  Picking up his burger and sinking his teeth into it with a big bite, Vic savored its grand taste. “So, how’s the play practice comin’?” he mumbled, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin.

  “Oh fine. Mrs. Herndon says we’ll be more than ready on opening night,” she replied, reaching for another fry.

  “You ain’t told me when that is,” he reminded as he opened for another bite.

  “Well…she hasn’t set the date yet. She’s waiting for the city to get more back to normal, I guess.”

  He nodded as he reached for his shake. “Well, things are gettin’ better every day, so…”

  Louise nodded, settling back with her cup. She still hadn’t figured out how to manage Vic attending the performance – with her family there, as well. Oh man…the plot thickens, as they say… she mused. Fleet’ll help me think of something, she resolved, refocusing on her date and concentrating on having a good time.

  He picked up a fry and motioned for her to move closer, slipping the tip in her mouth when she did. “Mmm,” she responded as she clamped down.

  “Yeah,” he whispered, their eyes meeting as she paused her chewing for a moment. She swallowed and smiled into his eyes as everything else seemed to fade away…the music on the jukebox, the noise of the other patrons, the clink of dishes, the yells of the counter man back into the kitchen, and the scrape of chairs on the hardwood floor.

  Then, Vic’s stomach growled so loudly that they could both hear it, and they burst out in snickers.

  “Guess I better finish eatin’,” he laughed, tucking into his burger again.

  They found it so easy to talk to one another, drifting seamlessly from one subject to the next, laughing and joking together. Just being with one another made them feel on top of the world. Their two hours flew by.

  Suddenly, as before, Louise noticed the clock and hastily began to gather her things. Vic slid out from his side as she moved to stand up, murmuring, “I’m sorry, but I have to go…”

  “I’ll walk ya,” he automatically offered.

  Nodding, she hoped it wasn’t a bad idea, but was unable to think of a legitimate excuse why he shouldn’t. He helped her with her coat and then shrugged into his leather jacket, before escorting her to the door and out into the cold. After the warmth of the diner, she shivered and he immediately slipped an arm around her, pulling her against his body. A bit shocked, her eyes widened and she looked up at him, but he merely looked down and grinned.

  “Can’t have you gettin’ a chill,” he murmured as they set off down the street.

  All too soon, the walk to her family’s apartment was complete, and she once again stopped him at the steps.

  “Why can’t I walk ya to the door?” he asked softly, a bit of hurt showing in his eyes.

  “Um…Daddy’s always real tired when he comes home, and I don’t want to wake him up…” she hedged, guilt making her feel sick to her stomach. That reason seemed plausible, so Vic nodded and reached to wrap his arms loosely around her back.

  “So…you busy next Friday?” Vic murmured, gazing down at her as he had the time before, the streetlight making his eyes and hair seem like they were sprinkled with stardust.

  “No…” she hesitated, trying to decide how much to tell him.

  “Yeah ya are. With me,” he grinned with a teasing wink.

  Louise chuckled. “Um…actually, it’s my birthday, and I was going over to my friend’s house after dinner…you could pick me up there,” she suggested, giving him Fleet’s address.

  “I can do that. Seven o’clock? And…if your friend wants to come along, it’s okay. Me and the guys thought we’d just kind of ride around – you know, in that crazy old hearse…I don’t have a car of my own,” he added, a bit embarrassed to have to admit that to her.

  Biting her lip for a moment, she wondered what Fleet would say. But knowing her friend was always up for a good time, she answered, “I think she’d like that.”

  He met her eyes, his mouth moving into a half grin. “So…how old ya gonna be?”

  Louise’s eyes flashed and she drew herself up, grasping the neck of her coat and preening like a movie star, answering mysteriously, “A lady never tells her age.”

  “Oookay,” Vic acceded with a grin, his eyes concentrating on her mouth. “But a lady can let a fella kiss her goodnight…right?”

  She nodded with a smile and held still as he slowly neared, allowing his lips to touch hers softly. Once again, the phenomenon of sparks assailed her senses and she unconsciously sighed as he leaned in to press firmer, pulling back enough to nuzzle her lips and take her bottom lip between his, suckling ever so gently. Her hands had wandered to his jacket and for a moment she was lost in the heady sensations of his lips and the wonderful scent of aftershave emanating from his jaw and neck.

  The sound of footsteps coming up the sidewalk behind Vic made her slowly begin to open her eyes, only to have them pop open when she saw who was approaching, with a wide knowing grin on his face. Louise wrenched away from Vic with a gasp.

  Vic straightened a bit, brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?” he began, but a young man was just then arriving at their sides.

  Louise, her eyes wide with shock, mental wheels whirling, swallowed nervously and managed to rasp, “Um, Vic…this is Sonny…my brother. Sonny…this is Vic Matthews.”

  Vic immediately grinned and turned to stick out his hand. “Well, I’m glad to meet you, Sonny. I’ve heard all about your flood adventures down at the Brown.”

  Sonny shook his hand, his eyes cutting to Louise’s guilty expression and back to her escort’s cheerful and guileless gaze. “Good to meet ya. You’re the guy that had the boat that rescued my folks, right?”

  “Yep. What a wild night that was,” Vic answered, oblivious of the unspoken tension between the siblings.

  “I bet,” Sonny answered smoothly. For a moment, the three young people stood silently. Vic began to feel the tension then, and looked between the other two. He opened his mouth to say something, but Louise interrupted with, “Well…I really need to get inside. Um…thank you, Vic. I had a real nice time.”

  “No problem. Uh…next Friday, then…right?” Vic answered, a bit perplexed. Maybe she’s uncomfortable with her brother knowing her business, he reasoned.

  “Yes. Friday. See you then!” she answered brightly, turning to jog up the stairs. Sonny nodded at Vic and followed his sister.

  She paused at the door and turned to wave at her date. He waved back, watching with a puzzled expression. Slipping inside as Sonny shut the door and leaned against it, she watched as he crossed his arms on his chest. He stood there, his blue eyes alive with mirth, and grinning like the proverbial cat with canary feathers in his mouth. “So, how long’s this been goin’ on? And…I’m assumin’ nobody else knows…”

  Louise swallowed nervously and cast her eyes around the foyer, making sure all doors were closed and no one was coming down the stairs. Then she whispered, “Oh Sonny, you gotta promise me you won’t tell a soul!”

  Sonny cackled softly, unable to resist teasing his sister. Truly, he wouldn’t think
of ratting her out, but…what were brothers for if they couldn’t tease their sisters? “What’s in it for me if I keep quiet?”

  “Listen…you don’t understand…he came to the house to take Edna out one night right before the flood, but she couldn’t go. I answered the door…and when she asked me what he was like…I lied…” she explained with a grimace.

  He laughed again, shaking his head at her predicament. Sonny had been on the receiving end of the wrath of Edna more than once himself and he knew she could be vicious. “Edna finds that out, she’ll skin you alive.”

  “I know!” she hissed, looking around again. “And besides that…well…you know how Daddy is…he wouldn’t let Edna date ‘till she was eighteen and…” she paused, her eyes pleading for his understanding. “But…I think Vic likes me, Sonny…and I jus’ think he’s a livin’ dream.”

  Looking up into her brother’s eyes, hers softened and she stepped closer, reaching out to gently grasp the front of his jacket. Being the two middle siblings, they had been through a lot together growing up and Louise had covered for him many times with their parents. She hoped that would sway him to her side. “Please, will you help me, and keep my secret? I’ll pay you back any way you say,” she implored, gazing up at him in supplication. She looked so adorable, he couldn’t have been mean to her if he’d wanted to.

  After letting her stew a few moments, pursing his lips as if he were considering it, Sonny finally relented with a chuckle. Leaning forward, he wrapped a conspiratorial arm around her shoulders and whispered, “Yeah, I’ll help ya out, sis.” She immediately relaxed and grinned.

  Turning toward their door, he paused and looked at her again. “Hey, um…how old is this guy, anyway?”