Lulu's Café

by T. I. Lowe

  Crowley stood scratching his head. “Leah, wait a minute!” Shaking off the bafflement, he ran over to the garage and grabbed the first bike in reach. He had to make fast work of the pedals to catch up to her.

  Once he reached her side, Crowley could see her damp cheeks illuminated by the streetlights.

  “What are you doing, Crowley?” she asked, focusing on the road.

  “I’m escorting you home. Lulu would whoop me good if I didn’t.”

  “Always the gentleman,” Leah muttered as she wiped the tears away.

  “Always,” Crowley agreed.

  She slowed her pace and did a double take. “What’s with the girlie bike?”

  “You took off like a shot. I had to hurry to catch you, so I grabbed the first bike I came to.” Never mind that it was a woman’s hot-pink bicycle with a white basket covered with flower decals. “Leah, I don’t know what I said wrong, but you have to believe me when I say I didn’t mean it.”

  “I know,” she whispered and left it at that.

  Once they reached the café and parked their bikes, Crowley watched Leah fumble with her key. Before she could push through the door, he gently reached for her left hand and pressed a tender kiss onto her scarred palm. “Happy birthday, Leah.” He released her hand with a slight bow, slipped back onto his bike, and left Leah standing there, speechless.

  19

  CROWLEY WAITED until the lunch crowd was gone for the day before he struck out to the café. He didn’t like how he took a perfectly good day with Leah and ended it so poorly. After he left her last night, he stayed awake for a long time looking for clues as to what he said wrong but found nothing. Needing to check on her, he quietly entered the back door and followed the feminine chatter drifting from the kitchen. Instead of going in, he hovered in the darkness of the hallway and watched the two women working together like they’d done it for decades instead of mere months. The older one meant the world to him and the younger one was starting to do the same.

  “You keep smiling like an old Cheshire cat today.” Lulu laughed. “You don’t smile enough in my opinion, and I’m enjoying seeing it.”

  Leah stood at the sink washing a pot as she looked at Lulu and widened her grin. “I wrangled a twenty-pound catfish.”

  “I think you’re wrangling a 190-something-pound man too.”

  The pot clanged against another one, making a racket. “What’d you say?”

  “A true Southern gal in the making,” Lulu said instead, but Crowley had heard her and had to roll his lips inward to contain the chuckle.

  Clearing his throat to draw their attention, he began limping into the kitchen. Leah caught sight of him and laughed.

  “Last night really ended up being a pain in my backside, Lee.” He groaned. “How about you?” He hobbled over to the sink and leaned on the counter beside Leah.

  “No complaints.” She kept washing dishes as a smile played over her lips.

  Lulu walked over with a few glasses and handed them over to Leah to wash. “Obviously. All that girl can do is grin today.”

  “I wrangled a twenty-pound catfish,” Leah repeated.

  “Yep. We have ourselves a natural fisherman here, Lulu,” Crowley said. “You’ll have to go with us next time.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Lulu made her way to the counter to wipe it off, leaving Leah and Crowley alone.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off of Leah. That smile and the slight blush to her cheeks was his favorite look on her and he agreed with Lulu. Leah didn’t smile enough. He was probably foolish in his thinking, but he wanted to be the reason for her happiness.

  Leah glanced up at Crowley and caught him staring. Her eyes lingered on his lips as the blush of her cheeks deepened in color. He lightly traced along the heated side of her face with the tips of his fingers.

  The moment stretched until Lulu let out a playful cough. “Enough of y’all mooning over each other. Us girls have work to do.”

  Crowley watched Lulu move over to the magazine rack and begin straightening them. He brought his attention back to Leah and picked up her wet hand and brushed a kiss on her damp palm. “I’ll see you later.” The only response she gave him was a nod, so he reluctantly left her by the sink and exaggerated his fake limp as he left the café, replacing the intimate moment with the lightness he wanted to bring into her life.

  As he reached the street, out of Leah’s view, Crowley straightened his stance and walked normally. Smiling to himself at catching her in a blush, he headed to his office to catch up on some work.

  An hour later, as Crowley sat with his legs propped up on his desk and a file open in his lap, he heard a faint knock at the door. He put the file down and made his way to the front door. When he opened it, he found a white pharmacy bag tied to a yellow Get Well Soon helium balloon. He opened the bag and found a bottle of extra-strength Tylenol and ice packs. Laughing, he looked up just in time to see Leah slipping into Ana’s boutique. He sat in a rocking chair on his porch and waited for her to come back out.

  Leah walked into the boutique to look at the latest batch of sundresses that had just arrived. She spotted Ana, tucked among the racks, hanging up the new inventory.

  Ana looked up at the sound of the bell over the door tinkling. Seeing Leah, she smiled and waved her over. “That run must have done you good,” Ana said, taking in her friend’s running clothes and large smile.

  “I haven’t been yet,” Leah said. “I wanted to check out these sundresses before you swiped all of the good ones.” Leah pulled an orange-and-gold one out of the shipment box and slid it on a hanger. “These colors would look gorgeous on you.”

  “You’re too happy. I guess that means you enjoyed fishing yesterday.” Ana wrinkled her nose.

  Leah grinned and repeated her catfish speech for Ana, who wasn’t impressed in the slightest.

  “Here, try this one on.” Ana tossed Leah a one-shouldered flowing sundress in several shades of teal and aqua blue.

  Leah handed it back. “I will later. I want to get my run in and a shower first.” She turned to leave, but Ana hopped in front of her.

  “Oh no you don’t. Not until you share every detail of yesterday.” She walked over to the counter and placed the dress behind it for Leah. She turned back to Leah and waited.

  Leah shrugged. “We went out to Big Oaks Plantation and went fishing. After that I went swimming in that massive pool while Crowley cooked me supper. That’s it really.”

  “I’m amazed y’all hung out at his place. He hardly ever entertains company out there,” Ana said as she walked back to the sundresses. She pulled out a black haltered one with an intricate pattern of aqua-blue-and-silver rhinestones along the top. “I’m holding this one back for you too.” She placed it with the other one before noticing Leah’s silence. “What?”

  “Crowley owns Big Oaks Plantation?”

  “Yes. Oh, he didn’t tell you? Oops.” Ana laughed.

  Leah crossed her arms. “It’s not funny. Why would he do that?”

  “Honey, don’t take it personal. He’s very private. He wants people to just like him for who he is. You know . . . love me for my body, not my money,” Ana said.

  Leah’s stomach knotted as if she’d just been punched. Without another word to Ana, she bolted out the door and took off running.

  Crowley watched her take off from his front porch. “Hey, Lee!” When she didn’t respond, he jumped off the porch and sprinted after her. He sensed something was wrong, again.

  Leah pointedly looked at his smooth stride as he caught up to her. She turned her head toward him in brief acknowledgment. “You lied about the sore butt too? Humph.”

  Crowley saw the coldness in her eyes. “Lied about that too? What are you talking about?” Crowley asked as they continued running. For a few moments, the only sound between them was the flap-flap-flap from his flip-flops as they beat the sidewalk.

  “Ana just informed me that you are the spoiled rich kid who owns Big Oaks Plantation. I feel like
such a fool for not figuring it out yesterday.” She took off toward the edge of the river. “Just leave me alone.”

  “You’re one to insinuate me being spoiled as you walk around this modest town in enormous diamond stud earrings and sporting a Rolex watch.”

  Leah stopped dead in her tracks. She took the earrings out and slung them into the dark water. “Yes, Crowley. You have me figured out. Growing up in foster homes and orphanages really spoiled me rotten,” she said, full of venom. She unfastened her watch and tossed it in after the earrings.

  “Let me apologize.” Crowley took a step in Leah’s direction and reached for her arm.

  She yanked out of his grasp and stomped off in the direction of her Jeep Wagoneer. “Forget this!”

  “Where are you going?” Crowley asked.

  “I need a donut.”

  Once she reached the Jeep, Leah retrieved the key from under the floor mat and climbed in. She checked the glove compartment and found the emergency cash she had stuffed under paperwork. She shoved a few twenties into her pant pocket. As she cranked the engine, Crowley pulled the passenger-side door open and climbed in.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  Crowley shrugged. “I want a donut, too.”

  Leah just sat there while the engine idled and stared at him. She was fuming, and he looked like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “Leah, you ain’t driven anywhere since you arrived last fall. Do you really think you can find donuts and your way back here?” Crowley asked as he adjusted the air conditioner.

  “I found my way to Rivertown all by myself the first time. I think I can do it again, if I want.”

  “True, but I know where the best donuts in the county are secretly located,” he said as he raised an eyebrow for emphasis. He was trying to smooth things over with his charm, but it appeared that Leah wasn’t letting him off that easy.

  “Why did you feel like you had to hide stuff from me? I thought we were friends.”

  “‘Why do you feel like you have to hide stuff from me?’ Really, Leah? How are you any different?” he asked. “We are friends. We just need to start trusting each other some. Don’t you agree?”

  “Fine. I trust you to show me where the donuts are.” She gave in and headed out of the lot.

  “Take a right. You know this is a really sweet ride. A 1978 Jeep Wagoneer, right?” Crowley asked.

  “Yep.”

  Crowley ignored the clipped tone of her response. “Take a left at the light,” he said. “This would make a really cool surf-mobile.”

  “A what?” Leah asked as she took the left turn.

  “It’s already got surfboard racks on the roof. All you need are a few boards.” His eyes lit up like a kid’s as he imagined it.

  “First off, I have no surfboards. Secondly, I don’t even know how to surf,” Leah said and glanced in Crowley’s direction.

  “First off,” Crowley said, “I have plenty of surfboards. And secondly, I can teach you.”

  Leah concentrated on driving. “Whatever.”

  Crowley sighed and fiddled with the radio, settling on a country station. He sat back in his seat and hummed along to the twangy song.

  “No,” Leah said.

  “No?” Crowley asked as his head bobbed to the rhythm of the music.

  “No.”

  “You can’t live in the South and not like country music.”

  “I do live in the South, and just let me tell you . . . no!” Leah took over the radio controls and was glad to hear the Steve Miller Band serenading away about being a space cowboy.

  Crowley lit up at the familiar tune and started singing.

  Leah cranked the volume and joined in. She was belting out lyrics when Crowley turned the volume off. Startled at hearing only her voice all of a sudden, she shot him a scolding look.

  He was staring behind them. “We just drove past the donuts.”

  “Good instructions, Space Cowboy,” Leah said as she made a U-turn and parked where Crowley instructed.

  “I wouldn’t be doing illegal car maneuvers without a license, Lee.”

  “Don’t give me a hard time, and I’ll let you take me to the DMV next week.”

  “It’s a date.” Crowley smiled.

  Leah shook her head. “No wonder you’re single, Crow. You don’t get what constitutes a real date.” She took in the shop’s appearance as they sat at the curb. It looked like a little red barn with a wooden sign. Nate’s Cakes. “I thought we were going to a donut shop.”

  “Nate can bake up a mean cake, but he also serves these amazing gourmet donuts.” Crowley climbed out and waited for her to join him on the sidewalk.

  Maybe having Crowley along wasn’t such a bad idea after all, Leah thought as they entered the quaint shop, decorated tastefully to resemble a barn. Leah closed her eyes and inhaled. The sweet aroma lingering in the air was heavenly.

  “You’re gonna love this place,” Crowley whispered into Leah’s ear as he led her to the display case.

  A young woman wearing a red bandanna in her hair stood behind the counter. She gave Crowley a big smile in recognition. “Hey there, Crowley.”

  “Hey, Emma. Is Nate in?” Crowley asked as he casually draped his arm across Leah’s shoulders.

  “Sure. I’ll go get him.”

  As they waited, Leah wrangled from beneath his arm and checked out the glass display case full of treats. Her mouth watered as she absentmindedly stroked the hand-carved wood trim.

  “Not them,” Crowley said.

  “Why not?”

  “Be patient,” he said as a blond-haired guy walked in from the back. “Nate, my man, how’s it going?”

  Nate walked around and joined them on the other side of the counter. He shook Crowley’s hand and gave him a slap on the back. “It’s been a while, man. You haven’t been able to sneak away from Lulu lately?” he asked, laughing.

  “Something like that. I’d like to introduce you to my friend here, Leah.”

  Nate reached out to shake her hand. “I’m Nate, young lady.” He smiled warmly and she responded in kind. He looked over to Crowley. “Hey, she’s taller than me. You finally found you one with the right height.”

  “Yep. Leah’s the perfect fishing partner,” Crowley said, winking at Leah as if it were their inside joke or something.

  “What can I get the two of you?” Nate asked.

  “Whatcha got?” Crowley asked in an exaggerated tone as his eyes wandered over to the kitchen door.

  “I just finished up two fresh batches. One batch is powdered donuts with a strawberry and fig preserve filling, and the other is a chocolate, hazelnut, and banana–stuffed batch. Some coffee-mocha ones will be done soon.”

  “Give me two of each,” Crowley said. “What do you want, Leah?”

  Leah’s mouth watered even more at the donut choices. “The chocolate-hazelnut donut sounds good.”

  “And two bottles of water, please,” Crowley said.

  “Sure thing, buddy. Just give me about five minutes.” Nate headed off into the kitchen as they took a seat by the front windows.

  “How did you find this place?” Leah asked as they waited.

  “The courthouse is right up the road. I go by here on my way to work. Nate delivered some special-order donuts to a litigation meeting a couple of years ago, and we became quick friends. He serves the best apple fritter you could ever find.”

  Leah thought of a place that could give him a run for his money and almost blurted it out. Crowley, sensing she was about to say something, asked, “What?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  Leah almost purred when Nate carried out the treats and placed her donut in front of her. The massive donut filled the entire plate. It was sliced in half and brimming over with fresh sliced bananas and a chocolate-hazelnut filling oozing deliciously all over. She looked at the platter holding Crowley’s large order. Two delicately powdered donuts she was sure were filled with the preserves and two c
offee-mocha glazed donuts that resembled small cakes accompanied the chocolate, hazelnut, and banana–stuffed donuts.

  “There’s no way you can eat all that.” She eyed the large platter apprehensively.

  “I’ve seen him do it before.” Nate laughed. He set the bottles of water on the table. “Y’all enjoy. I’ve got a delivery to make.” He looked at Leah. “It was nice to meet you. Try to keep this one in line,” Nate said, motioning toward Crowley.

  Leah laughed. “I don’t know if that’s even possible. It was nice to meet you too.”

  Nate headed back into the kitchen, leaving them to eat.

  “Why weren’t these in the display case?”

  “They were probably a special order,” Crowley said as he dug into his first donut.

  “So we just snatched a part of some person’s order?”

  “He always makes a few extras. You worry too much, Lee. Just enjoy your treat,” he said around a mouth full of coffee donut. “Hmm . . . this is amazing.” He offered Leah a pinch.

  She took it and popped it into her mouth as she watched him dig into the next one. The chocolate-coffee goodness just melted in her mouth. “Please never bring me here again,” she said before digging into her own donut.

  “You don’t like it?” he asked as he finished the second donut.

  “That’s the problem. I like it too much.” She took another bite. “I’m a donutaholic.”

  “We have this problem in common,” Crowley said as he moved to the preserve-filled powdered donuts.

  “Yes, but you can eat a half-dozen donuts and walk away looking like that.” She motioned to his body.

  “I’m long. I’ve got a lot of space to fill.”

  “Well, if I eat that amount, I blow up to the size of a house.” Leah sighed and pushed the remaining half of her donut over to Crowley, who gladly finished it off.

  “Do you always eat this many?” She watched in amazement as he devoured his last donut.

  “No. I usually just eat one or two with a cup of coffee.” He shrugged. “Please don’t tell Lulu. She would be spitting mad at me.”