Love on the Back Burner

by Barbara Oliverio

  I sighed and began with my entrance into Pete’s.

  “Yes, yes,” she said, “please fast-forward to when you decided that you were going to give up your city life to move back and be Mrs. Barney Fife?”

  “Keira, who’s being dramatic now?”

  “Fine,” she said with exaggerated patience. “But can you please leave out any unnecessary details?”

  “Okay.” I resettled in the porch swing and went through last night’s tale of reconnecting with Brady.

  “It was just ordinary high school chitchat, until I got up to leave and Brady walked me out the door.”

  “What pages were you both on?” Keira had been to Pete’s with me before.

  “I was eighty-eight, and Brady was twenty-five.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What do you mean ‘hmm’? Who is getting bogged down in unnecessary details now?”

  “You’re right, you’re right. Go on.”

  “ANYway. He walked me to the car and did that shuffling feet thing that guys do when you know they want to say something—”

  “Yep. Doesn’t matter whether they’re thirteen or thirty, they all do it. They put their hands in their pockets and kind of shuffle their feet back and forth—”

  “Like a bull in a ring!” I finished. I went on with the story.

  “So, Alex, I have a confession to make,” Brady said.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to talk to my brother instead of me?”

  He tilted his head to one side and grinned.

  “No, not that kind of confession. What I mean is that I knew it was you I was following this afternoon. I was just waiting for an opportunity for you to stop.”

  “What would you have done if I hadn’t stopped at the school?”

  “I just might have pulled you over for speeding or busted taillight or something.”

  “What!” I grabbed the front of his shirt. “Isn’t that against some sort of policeman’s code or something?”

  He put his hands on my shoulders.

  “Relax, half-pint. I’m kidding. But I figured you were headed out to your parents’ shop. I was going to stop you there.”

  I felt flush, became speechless, and turned my head to the ground.

  “Well, mark this day on your calendar, folks. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at a loss for words before.”

  I suddenly remembered the last time someone had said something like that, just recently, to me and felt a pang in my heart. I pulled away.

  “Hey, hey. I didn’t say anything to make you mad, did I?”

  “No, no.” I took a deep breath. Brady leaned back on my car and pulled me toward him. He tilted my chin up and brushed my hair from my forehead. For a brief moment, our eyes were locked expectantly, then he put one hand on the back of my neck and the other on my waist, reached down, and kissed me.

  Brady? Annoying Brady who had chased me home one day in first grade with a rubber frog in an attempt to scare me? Brady who made a cool $100 in a convoluted Ponzi scheme in seventh grade that he almost got away with until whiny Alison Gearhardt told on him? At first, my mind wouldn’t stop whirring. Then I let myself feel the emotions, and I reached up and locked my arms around his neck.

  We broke free in a few moments.

  “You don’t kiss so bad for a half-pint,” he said.

  “Brady, I think you’ve had too much to drink.”

  “Alex, I had exactly three beers all night and you know it.”

  “But how? Why?”

  He held my face in his hands.

  “You know, I always had a thing for you in high school. You just were always too busy being president of student government or running a French club fund-raiser or something to slow down enough to notice. I wanted to ask you to prom, but you hatched that plan to make the whole prom a no-date night.”

  “But it just didn’t seem right that some people would have to miss the dance! That way, those of us who wouldn’t have gotten asked would get to go to our own dance.”

  Brady ruffled my hair.

  “Alex, you could have had your choice of dates and you know it. You did that because you knew there were some others who wouldn’t get asked. You’ve always been that nice. No, I had planned all along to ask you.”

  “Well, what happened? You didn’t even ask me to dance once you got there.”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head.

  “You’re remembering that all wrong. I couldn’t GET a dance with you, because you were busy dancing with all the other guys. Don’t you remember you kept telling me you’d save me the last dance?”

  Omigosh. He was right. I couldn’t believe that I had brushed him off all evening because I figured he was such a good buddy that he would understand.

  “Why did you wait so long to say anything?”

  “I don’t know, Alex. At first, I was just too mad to say anything. Then, by the time I was ready to blast you about it, you were all excited because you had just learned about your scholarship, and I figured what was the point. You were going away to school and you were going to probably move away after you graduated from there.”

  “So?”

  “So, nothing, Ali. It’s exactly what happened.”

  He was right. Once I left, I pretty much forgot about everyone at home except my family.

  “But why tonight?”

  “I don’t know. Something about you is different tonight.” He grinned. “I thought maybe I had a second chance at a shot with you—like maybe you would think about coming home for good or something?”

  He held me in his arms and kissed me once more. In the heat of recent emotions, I felt confused, but, hey, why not ...?

  Wait. I had to think about this more clearly. I pushed him away gently.

  “Hey, Brady, um, I need to get back, or Ma and Pop will think I’ve been kidnapped.”

  He groaned. “Come on, Alex. You’re an adult.” “Yeah, but to my parents, I’m still their baby girl living under their roof, even if only for a few days.” I put my arms around his waist and rested my cheek on his chest. “Look, call me tomorrow and maybe we’ll make plans for the evening?”

  He held me tight for a moment, then unwrapped my arms from his waist.

  “Fine, but you better get in your car now and go before I do something that your Pop definitely would not approve of.”

  He kissed me again, opened my door, and deposited me in the driver’s seat. I closed the door and after starting the engine, I lowered the window.

  “Brady, thanks again for a fun evening.” He leaned in and gave me another kiss.

  “You bet, half-pint. Be careful driving home, because I’ve heard the cops in this town are brutal.”

  Keira interrupted my story at that point with disbelief.

  “This sounds like a Reese Witherspoon movie, Alexandria. I refuse to believe that this guy waited all this time to declare his love for you in such a clichéd way.”

  “Keira, were you just born an Ice Princess with absolutely no romance in your soul? Besides, he didn’t ‘declare his love’ for me. All he did was indicate that he was open to starting a relationship with me if I moved back.”

  “Really,” she drawled. “And where would you find a marketing job in your giant hometown that is comparable to the one you have in tiny little Denver? And how about your city lifestyle?”

  “Who says I’d have to move back here? Maybe I could move to Pittsburgh.”

  “What about Officer McDreamy? Would he just pack up and move to the city? Or maybe—”

  “I don’t know Keira, do I have to have it all figured out right this minute?”

  “No, but if I were you, I’d wear something other than that ratty old Notre Dame hoodie while I was deciding, just in case lover boy comes calling with roses and chocolates.”

  How did she know what I was wearing? I jumped up off the swing and looked around. Sure enough, just one house away was a midsize car that screamed “rental,” and behind the wheel was my best friend in th
e world.

  I flew off the porch and followed her car into the driveway, barely giving her time to shut off the engine before I yanked the door open and she leaped out. We embraced and both squealed with delight, after weeks of only having contact through phone and computer.

  “Omigosh, Keira! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

  “And miss THAT look on your face? Not in a million!”

  We hugged again, and I pushed her back to view her traveling ensemble. Leave it to Keira to be traveling for who knew how long and still look spiffy in crisp olive trousers and matching swing coat with a sassy hat and Jackie O sunglasses, finished off with peep-toe pumps.

  “How do you always look like you are ready for a fashion shoot?” I asked, shaking my head.

  “Because, dearest, I always am,” she teased. “And not to state the obvious, but what garden are you preparing to plow at the moment?”

  I brushed aside her comment.

  “I’m having breakfast and haven’t had my shower yet, so I’ll ignore that statement. But let me unload your luggage, ma’am.”

  After depositing Keira’s luggage in my room, we sat at the kitchen table and drank tea.

  “When did you decide to come out here?”

  “Well, my project was done on Monday and I was headed to Denver and I was going to tell you I could join you out here by Saturday, but once all hell broke loose for you, I thought coming out early to surprise you would be more fun.”

  “This is an awesome surprise. Anthony and Celia will love it. Well, the whole family will, of course, but how about your mom?”

  “I actually flew in to Denver Tuesday morning. I’m surprised you and I didn’t cross paths at the airport when you left. Mom says hello, by the way.”

  “Great. So how long can you stay?”

  “I fly back Sunday afternoon.”

  I nodded my head. “At least you’ll be here for the best of the party. And you are here early enough to visit with the family before it gets too hectic.”

  “Ha! When is it not hectic here?”

  As if on cue, my sister-in-law pulled into the driveway.

  She hopped out of the car, closed her door, and opened the back door to retrieve Elisabetta with her customary efficiency. She waved to us through the window, then joined us in the kitchen.

  “My goodness, Keira, it is you! We haven’t seen you around here in so long. I’m so glad you could come out early.”

  “Celia, you know me. If it’s a party, I’m there,” Keira joked. “And who is this little miss?” she cooed at the baby.

  “Careful, she may ruin that outfit with her sticky fingers.”

  Keira waved away her statement and brought Elisabetta to her lap.

  Celia sank into a chair.

  “Where’s Nonna? I came over to help with lasagna for the party.”

  “Damian picked her up to take her to Mass.”

  Celia nodded, and I explained to Keira that Nonna liked to go to daily Mass at least once a week at my brother’s parish.

  “Ah,” said Keira, “I see. I think she thinks she needs to build up his audience to get him in good with the bishop.”

  “Right, right. Like if he sees Damian drawing a crowd, he’ll promote him quicker or something,” I said.

  Celia shook her head. “Stop it, you two. If Nonna were here, she’d swat both of you.”

  “Alex,” said Keira, “if you guys are cooking, does that mean I can’t steal you away to go shopping or something for a while?”

  “No, no,” Celia shook her head. “You two get on out of here. Nonna trusts me enough to help her—and who would have thought that would happen, right?”

  I stood for a moment, debating.

  “Oh, for pity’s sake, go get cleaned up.” Keira looked up from the floor where she was stacking blocks with Elisabetta. “We know you love to cook, but you’re being offered a chance to get out of the kitchen for a while—to SHOP.”

  “Well, you know you had me at the magic word, shopping.” I took off up the stairs two at a time.

  “Are you sure you want to drive all the way back to Pittsburgh to shop?” I asked Keira as we were on the road.

  “Really, Alex? Because our alternatives IN town are so vast? Let’s see, would you prefer the Dollar Store or the other Dollar Store?”

  She had a point. My hometown was not filled with choices that were in our usual shopping repertoire. “Well, Keir, I know I didn’t grow up in the fourth major market in the country like you did and like you so often remind me, but—”

  “But what, Alex? No, you didn’t grow up there, but you moved there and you live there now. That’s the lifestyle you have adopted as an adult.”

  I sensed a lecture coming, but I didn’t want to hear it.

  “Say,” I pointed to the right, “did you see the local Boy Scouts adopted that park and cleaned it up and painted all the benches. Isn’t it nice?”

  “Gorgeous. I’ll get photos before I go home. Stop trying to change the subject.”

  “Huh?”

  “Alex, if your eyes get any wider, you’ll look like Bambi. You know full well what I mean. I spent four years at Notre Dame with you and the remainder of the last few years listening to you talk about how you always knew you were a city girl and that you didn’t fit in to your small town.”

  “Yes, but maybe I’ve grown up a little and matured—hey! I saw that eye-roll.”

  “Dearest, I would never question that you have grown up and matured,” said Keira. “My incredulity is that you believe that the natural outcome of that is to pack up all your designer duds and move back home.”

  I instinctively looked down at my outfit. I had changed into a pair of leggings, miniskirt, and loose-fitting “boyfriend” sweater. Around my neck, I’d draped a chiffon scarf that I had snagged from Nonna’s bureau—lots of my best finds were from her wardrobe. My feet were snug in my favorite go-to knee-high boots. A full complement of bangle bracelets encircled my wrists.

  “Ah,” said Keira. “No comeback, I see.”

  “It’s not that, Keira. It’s just that life can’t be only about fashion, can it? Besides, you see how close we are to Pittsburgh. I can come up to shop.” I pointed to the exit sign that led to one of my favorite shopping malls. I was already salivating, thinking about picking up a new outfit for Saturday’s festivities.

  “Maybe you can sell that bill of goods to someone who didn’t traipse all over the Garment District in Manhattan with you one spring break looking for sample sales.” We both sighed remembering that great visit and our incredible finds. “But I know that you wouldn’t be happy in a town where you couldn’t just walk to the shops after work. This little jaunt is not far, but it’s still not a hop and skip, you know.”

  I gnawed on my lip. “I’m not saying anything would necessarily happen with Brady, but maybe he would be open to moving up here if we got together. Did you ever think of that?”

  “Uh-huh,” she said in a mock soothing voice. “Well, why don’t you just test out that theory?”

  “What! He just barely told me he had a crush on me in high school. I can’t call him and say, ‘So, Brady, let’s try this thing out and by the way there are some nice condos in Pittsburgh.’ Geesh, Keira, there’s assertive and then there’s psychotic stalker!”

  Keira slipped the car into a parking space in the mall, turned it off, put the keys in her bag, and reached up to fluff up her hair before answering me.

  “No,” she said calmly. “But you could test it out all the same.”

  “Hey, short stuff, I’m glad to hear from you.” Brady’s cheerful voice came through my phone. I felt a thrill run through my body. I don’t know, maybe Keira was just jaded.

  “Hey, Brady,” I said, turning away from Keira so I could speak privately. Ha! No such luck. She moved to my other side and stuck out her tongue. Brat.

  “So, what are you up to? I figured you would be busy with family things today, but can you get together tonight?” he asked.


  “Actually, Brady, my friend Keira—my college roommate—came into town early, and we’re out and about.”

  “So did you tell her all about me?” he teased.

  “Well, in a way, yes.”

  “All good stuff, I’m sure,” he joked. “Look, if she’s here, why not just bring her along with you to Pete’s? You know everyone would like her.”

  My heart sank just a little.

  “So, when you said you wanted to get together tonight, you wanted to go back to Pete’s?” Keira tried to keep an “I told you so” out of her smile. I tried to wave her away.

  “Well … sure. It’s kind of the place to be in town, right half-pint?”

  Suddenly, Brady’s diminutive nicknames for me were taking on the same annoying quality they had in third grade.

  “Did you have a different idea, Alexandria?”

  “Well, actually, yes. Keira and I are up in Pittsburgh and thought maybe after you finished your shift, you could come up and join us for dinner.” I hastened to add, “Bring Brian or anyone else—we’ll make it a group thing.”

  “Pittsburgh? Geesh, why would we want to drive all the way up there?”

  All the way up there? The distance to the city was about the equivalent of what my coworkers and I would sometimes drive just to go to lunch on an ordinary workday—and we never batted an eye.

  “Well, yes, Brady. It’s not that far, is it? When is the last time you came up here?”

  “Well, the guys and I came up to a Steelers game a couple of years ago.”

  A couple of YEARS ago?

  “But, hell, Alex, with all the traffic, it’s a zoo up there. I’d rather just stay at home and watch the Steelers play on my big-screen TV.”

  Keira could tell by the look on my face that the conversation was not going well. Darn it, though, I was NOT going to let her win the argument.

  “Well, that’s because of driving back and forth, right?” I said hopefully. “It would be different if, like, um, you lived in the city, right?”

  “Lived in the city?” he laughed. “Short stuff, you know how I feel about the city—too many kooks. What’s this about, anyway? Didn’t your mom tell my mom that you were moving back home to get away from your city?”