Lulu's Café

by T. I. Lowe

  Crowley rubbed his thumbs in circles on her hips. “Jessup hasn’t always struggled with alcoholism. He used to be a straight-up guy who was a true asset to this town. That man could figure out how to fix anything.” He waited for Leah to look at him before he continued. “At least, until a car crash claimed the lives of his sweet wife and young son. His world crashed down and died along with his family that day. He never got over it and turned to the bottle to cope. I’m not supporting that choice, but I can sympathize.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Leah whispered.

  “Jessup’s story ain’t mine to tell.” Crowley tucked a curl that had escaped Leah’s ponytail behind her ear.

  “I hope you don’t use ain’t in the courtroom.” She grinned as she tried to tickle his side, but he was too fast. He grabbed up her hands and tickled her.

  “That’s proper language in these here parts. Ain’t no judge gonna hold it against this here country boy.”

  Leah placed a light kiss on Crowley’s cheek and climbed out of his lap. As she neared the back door, she turned before he closed the Jeep door. “Crowley Mason, you are one fine lawyer.”

  “You mean my good looks or my mad lawyer skills?” he asked with a chuckle.

  “Both. Always both.” Leah waved and headed back to the café.

  She found Lulu stirring a pot of strawberry preserves on the stove. It was her first batch of the season. She had shown Leah the recipe yesterday and told her by the end of strawberry season, Leah would have it memorized. The little lady made enough to last the entire year.

  Leah leaned against the counter beside Lulu and fiddled with her apron ruffle. “I’m such a hypocrite.” She was right disgusted with herself for being so judgmental about Jessup.

  “Ain’t we all,” Lulu commented as she turned the stove burner off. “It’s ready.” She stepped out of the way so Leah could move the molten liquid over to the large kitchen worktable.

  “I’m no better than Jessup Barns. Here he is coping with a bottle of liquor as I point my finger at him in judgment, while I cram large amounts of junk food in my mouth to cope.” Leah shook her head.

  “It’s easy to point out someone else’s sin sometimes. But . . . hey . . .” Lulu patted Leah’s hand to get her attention. “I think both of you are on the wagon at the present.” She smiled.

  Leah smiled slightly back at her. “I’ll bake him a cake when Crowley gets him home.”

  “Crowley is asking the judge to place Jessup in a rehabilitation facility before allowing him to go home. So it may be a while.” Lulu handed Leah a small ladle and took one herself so they could begin filling jars with the preserves.

  “I just feel so bad for him. . . .” Leah filled another jar with the vibrant red jam.

  “Jessup doesn’t need pity. He needs support, yes, but not pity. Maybe you can go up on a visitation day and share with him how you struggle with your grief. Maybe the two of you can help one another move on from what you’ve endured,” Lulu said.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  On her way home from her daily jog on a humid May afternoon, Leah stopped short at her Jeep Wagoneer. Strapped onto the roof were two surfboards and placed on the back window was a surf logo sticker. Her eyes caught the card tucked under the windshield wiper. She pulled it out and read it.

  Does a day at the beach count as a real date?

  I sure hope so. I’ll pick you up at nine in the morning.

  Crowley

  PS—I’ve already okayed it with the boss. Just sleep in and be ready to do some surfing.

  Leah, excited for a new adventure, hopped into her Jeep and headed about five miles down the road to a surf shop, where she purchased a pair of board shorts and a rash-guard top. She returned to the café to do some extra prep work to ease her conscience about taking the following day off. She precooked the chicken soup minus the whole wheat noodles, which would be added tomorrow. She also made up a few batches of her now-famous oatmeal bars and six dozen brownie bites so that Lulu wouldn’t have to do any extra baking for lunch.

  At five the next morning, Leah sat at her small dining table, unable to sleep in, smelling the aromas of freshly baked muffins and coffee escaping up from the café. The routine of the café was second nature to her now, and it was all she could do not to go help out. She resisted the urge and instead caught up on some laundry and housework.

  Around eight, Lulu opened the door without a knock—it was her way, and Leah found it comforting. The petite lady carried a wicker picnic basket and had a grin on her face. Lulu absolutely loved witnessing the relationship of her two favorite people blossom right before her.

  “I’m sorry for skipping out on you this morning.” Leah looked remorseful, making Lulu laugh.

  “Child, you deserve some time off every now and then too,” Lulu said, placing the basket on the table. “Besides, you did so much prep yesterday that I had time to make you and Crowley lunch.”

  “That was sweet of you. Thank you.” Leah bent slightly to give Lulu a hug.

  “Have yourself a big time today.” Lulu squeezed her close one last time before leaving.

  By ten, Leah and Crowley were on the beach setting up. Crowley spread a large blanket out, and Leah placed her bag and picnic basket on top. He pulled off his T-shirt and tossed it on top of the blanket as he watched Leah pull her oversize T-shirt off to reveal her board shorts and rash-guard shirt.

  “Are you kidding me, Lee?” He stood with his hands on his hips. “I got all excited yesterday when you came rushing home with a surf bag. I thought finally you were going to show off some of that lovely body to me.” He winked.

  “Dream on, Crow,” Leah scolded him as she secretly admired his swim trunks, slung low on his lean hips.

  They spent the better part of the day playing in the water. Leah got up on the surfboard successfully a few times before wiping out. Crowley seemed at home on his board and easily rode wave after wave. Famished, they returned to their picnic and devoured sandwiches, fresh vegetables, and homemade cookies. After the late lunch, the pair stretched out on the blanket to sunbathe.

  Crowley reached over to tug at the bottom hem of Leah’s board shorts. “You know you could have sent me off with a less covered-up picture,” he said over the roar of the ocean.

  “What are you talking about?” Leah lazily batted his hand away from her thigh.

  “I’ve got to leave for a law conference in Atlanta tomorrow. Then I have to go straight to Columbia afterward to help Matt and his firm out with a high-profile case,” Crowley said as his eyes drifted shut.

  Leah’s eyes opened wide. “How long are you going to be gone?” She worried she sounded desperate.

  “I shouldn’t be gone for more than two, maybe three weeks at the most. It depends on how the trial progresses.”

  They lay quietly for a long period as Crowley dozed. Leah felt uneasy about his abrupt departure tomorrow.

  “Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

  Crowley opened his eyes and rolled to his side to face her. “Sweetheart, you don’t tell me anything about yourself, but you are actually hurt when I don’t. How’s that make any sense?” He caressed her cheek, but she pulled away.

  “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.” She was disgusted with herself that he was so right about her.

  “I only just agreed to it this week.” He held her gaze as he ran his hand through her damp hair.

  “Why did you decide to go?” She rolled onto her back and placed her left hand over her eyes.

  Crowley pulled it away and placed a kiss on her scarred palm. “I want more, Leah. I worry we are going to make a mess of it, if you can’t trust me. We play all the time—fishing, bike riding, raising Cain on the Gator— and that’s all great. I’ve never enjoyed someone’s company as much as yours . . . but it’s not enough. I want to know you better.” He ran his long index finger along the uneven scar before releasing her hand and rolling to his stomach. “I thought it would be good to go on this t
rip to give you some space to decide if that’s what you want too.”

  Leah replaced her hand over her eyes and gave the only part of her she could muster to confess. “Before I moved here, I had been living the past ten years in Olympia, Washington.” She let the bit of truth resonate before continuing. “The only decent thing I did in all that time was to volunteer at a children’s group home.”

  “That was generous of you.” Crowley wiped some sand from her shoulder.

  She dropped her hand and stared at him. “No. Not really. The only reason I did it was because I was lonely and living in some kind of hell on earth. I volunteered not for those poor kids, but for me. I was grasping for some thread of comfort your childhood home is supposed to provide you.”

  They stared at each other for a few moments, listening to the ocean waves crashing on the shore and the seagulls singing their song.

  Leah shook her head. “You’re not going to like the person I was before I arrived here.”

  “I really like the woman before me, Leah. Your past won’t change that,” he said confidently.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.” She took a deep breath. “It’s easy for you to say that now, but . . .” Leah watched Crowley as she twirled a long curl anxiously through her fingers, wishing there was a way to end this conversation.

  He reached over and cradled her nervous hand without another word. Thankfully, he let the conversation conclude.

  He gazed at her sideways until his eyes drooped and then shut completely. His bottom lip pouted out slightly, and Leah knew he had dozed off. He seemed to always be so at peace with life. Here they were discussing their relationship—a relationship Crowley pursued at a snail’s pace—and he was so confident with it that he could just doze off.

  Not Leah. She lay there watching him and worrying. Crowley was a resourceful man. Her hope was that he would take it upon himself to investigate while on his trip—away from her so that she wouldn’t have to see the sting of disappointment that would surely flood his enchanting eyes when he found out who she really was. She knew it would be there in volumes.

  The rest of the day passed quietly between them as they sunbathed in uncomfortable silence. As the sun set, they packed up and headed back home with Leah in near tears over his imminent departure. She had grown quite attached to him over the past few months.

  Crowley walked her in and stopped at the foot of the stairs as he always did. He pulled out a small piece of paper and a remote with a key hooked to it and placed them in Leah’s hand. “I wrote my phone number down in case you need me for anything while I’m gone, and that’s the remote to the gate. You’re welcome to jog the property or go swimming if you’d like. I also wrote the alarm code down for the house.” He pointed to the key. “And that’s the house key.”

  Leah clutched the small gifts in her hand. “Thank you,” she whispered. She felt herself slapping up a wall between them, and she wanted to rip it back down and blurt out a confession to him. Instead, she took a few steps away from him.

  Crowley pulled her back to him for a long hug, making her ache all over. He was so strong compared to her weakness.

  He whispered in her ear, “This isn’t good-bye.” He drew back and waited for her to meet his gaze before producing a flirty grin. “You and Lulu and Ana are gonna be so busy planning the Summer Welcome Festival that you won’t even miss the likes of this ole boy.”

  Leah knew he was trying to leave on a pleasant note, so she held the tears back and gave him the only gift she could. She tickled his side and teased him right back. “I see what you are doing, Crow. You’re getting out of all the work.” Lulu had already informed her that she would be helping organize the barbecue cook-off and the strawberry recipe contest.

  “You caught me,” he said with a weak smile. “I’m really going to miss you, you know.” He pulled her in for another bittersweet hug.

  “Me too.” She forced herself to let go and head up the stairs to her apartment, leaving him standing at the bottom. She didn’t wait as she normally did to hear him lock the back door. Instead, she went straight to the bathroom and turned on the shower as the tears spilled.

  22

  THE FIRST WEEK of Crowley’s absence seemed to drag on at a miserable pace for Leah. Each day she had to talk herself out of calling him. He said to call if she needed him. She took that to mean some kind of an emergency, not just needing to hear his voice. Maybe he was right. Maybe the time apart would help her to see how important he had become to her—maybe enough to risk opening up to him. . . .

  Leah fought agitation whenever Lulu or Ana would report about hearing from Crowley. She had hoped he would miss her too much not to call. She worried he wasn’t missing her or that he’d squeezed in some investigation on her and knew the truth. Ana reported that the law conference was boring, but he got to catch up with some colleagues he hadn’t seen in quite some time. Lulu mentioned that the case in Columbia had turned out to be more complicated than expected, and Crowley would be tied up until the weekend of the summer festival, to Leah’s disappointment.

  In the weeks since Crowley left, Leah had taken up jogging on the plantation property. Most days she would go for a swim afterward and then sunbathe until it was time to jog back home. A few times, she skipped the pool and opted for sitting on the welcoming porch, either in the swing or rocking chair. She never ventured inside, not feeling right about being in the house without Crowley.

  The three-day summer festival kept Leah’s mind off of Crowley’s absence, almost. Lulu kept her busy with the barbecue cook-off and the recipe contest. She was tasked with organizing the booth locations and setup, phoning all of the contestants to confirm their participation and what their entries would be, picking the judges for the contests, and ordering the winner ribbons and trophies. It was a lot of work.

  Ana sponsored a Southern belle night at her boutique the evening before the festivities kicked off. She roped Leah in to take care of the food preparations, which included light hors d’oeuvres of tomato tartlets, vegetable and fruit platters, mini strawberry shortcakes with fresh whipped cream, and strawberry punch. Leah even helped her friend host the evening.

  They laughed through a silly purse game where the girls had to pull items out that started with the drawn letter. The well-dressed young debutantes had no problem pulling out tampons for the letter T, causing giggles to break out through the group. One young lady actually pulled out a bra for the letter B. This made Leah keel over in laughter.

  After the games and food, Ana had a cosmetic representative demonstrate makeup application. Each young lady was presented a goody bag full of cosmetics. They were also delighted to receive a brightly colored beaded bracelet to wear during the festival, declaring them members of the Southern Belle League, as proclaimed by Ana.

  After cleaning up from the party, Leah said her good-byes and headed to the door.

  “Not so fast, young lady. I have two sundresses you’ve forgotten all about. You are going to need one for Saturday’s dance,” Ana said in her prissy tone.

  The highlight of the three-day festival was the Dancing in the Streets event that fell on the last night of the celebration. It was all Ana and the teenage girls could talk about. Ana had sold out of all of her sundresses to the excited women in town, both young and old.

  “I assumed you ended up having to sell them.” Leah shrugged. She followed Ana to the dressing room, where her petite friend helped her try them on. She slipped the black halter dress on first and loved how it cascaded softly down to her ankles. Next, Leah tried on the shorter one-shoulder dress, with its vivid shades of blue and teal reminding her of a tropical ocean.

  “This one will be better for dancing,” Ana commented. She fetched a pair of gold wedge sandals and a gold cuffed bracelet for Leah to try on with the dress. Once Leah strapped the shoes on and stood straight, Ana stepped back to get a good look at her. “Twirl around.”

  Leah did as instructed, and the flowing skirt danced out like a soft umbrella
.

  Ana placed her hands on her hips. “Humph!”

  “What?” Leah asked, looking down at her outfit to see what was wrong.

  “I can’t go to the dance.”

  “Why not?” Leah now stood with her hands on her hips.

  “Because I won’t be the hottest girl there this year.” Ana playfully popped Leah on her butt. “Bend your tall self down.” Ana pulled Leah’s hair up and studied the result in the mirror. “What do you think?”

  “You think I should wear my hair up?” Leah asked as Ana released her curls.

  “Yep. Maybe Crowley would like it,” she said, trying to provoke Leah.

  Leah ignored her. “Is Jake going to be able to make it?” She slipped the sandals off her feet and began to re-dress.

  “Yeah. He’s driving up on Saturday morning. He said Crowley should be arriving sometime behind him.” Ana eyed Leah. “Crowley told Jake he sure was missing you.” Ana smiled when she finally got a reaction of relief from her friend.

  Leah gathered her purchases and headed to the register to settle her bill. “How do you really feel about me and Crowley being friends?” The two women had danced around the conversation long enough. Leah knew they needed to clear the air.

  “Friends?” Ana laughed. “Leah, the way that man looks at you was what I had desperately wanted from him for so long. I was selfish. I know that now. I love him and always will.” She bagged Leah’s purchases and grabbed a pair of gold chandelier earrings with teal stones to add to the bag.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” Leah said softly as she handed Ana the money.

  “Then don’t hurt him,” Ana warned. “He will always be a brother to me.”

  “I know.” Leah turned to leave.

  “Don’t forget your goody bag, Miss Allen. Be sure to wear your bracelet during the festival.” Ana smiled.

  Leah loved how everyone in this town always seemed to end a conversation on a good note. It was very charming.