by Baird, Ginny
He paused momentarily, narrowing his gaze at Robert. “You, on the other hand,” he said with a dismissive look, “can stay outside. Or go home altogether. Whatever it is you’re peddling, we don’t want any.” He began to press his hand toward Robert’s chest, but Isabel pushed it away.
“Daddy! I’m surprised at you. This is Robert. Robert Reed. Don’t you remember?”
Kip took a step forward and assessed Robert with an appraising frown. “Robert? Little Robert? Nooo.”
Trudy brushed past him, squealing with glee. “Well, look what the cat dragged in! Robert Reed, of all people!” Her blonde bob bounced as she wrapped him in a tight hug, then pulled back with an appreciative smile. “And all grown up too.” She nudged her husband with her elbow. “Just look at him, Kip. It’s almost hard to believe he’s the same boy.”
“Hmm, yes. Hard to believe at that.” As far as Kip recalled, Robert had been buck-toothed and scrawny. And—this part hadn’t slipped his mind—forever angling to get his hands on Isabel. He’d developed the sneaking suspicion that little Isabel was becoming interested in Robert too. He’d come home from work early one afternoon and had discovered them playing some sort of parlor game that involved both of them lying down on the sofa. When Robert’s dad had been transferred to another position up north, Kip had been more than relieved. He’d been ecstatic. A preteen girl was hard enough to handle without a boy with raging hormones living next door. And Kip knew a thing or two about hormones. He’d been a young man once himself.
Robert nodded politely at them both. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, it’s really great to see you.” He extended his hand toward Kip, but Kip just stared at it like it was some frightening harbinger from his past. What on earth is the boy doing here? After all this time? And how come my dear daughter looks like she’s already got stars in her eyes? Didn’t she just break up with a boyfriend? Okay. So maybe that was two or three years ago… But still, a woman’s tender heart needs time to heal.
“Kip…” Trudy urged in a sing-songy voice, her grin tight across those pearly whites.
“Oh, right.” He shook Robert’s hand. Extra firmly, to remind him Kip was the man in charge. If Robert was up to no good at thirteen, who knew what kind of trouble he could brew as an adult man?
“Where are our manners?” Trudy said brightly. “Robert, Isabel, please come inside.” Then, to Kip’s horror, she turned to Robert and said she hoped he’d join them for dinner. While women prided themselves on intuition, Kip’s manly instincts had never failed him. They’d gotten him by in business and had helped him become one of the area’s most lucrative contractors. It helped that he’d developed a keen sense about who to trust and who not to. Robert Reed had always been on Kip’s not to list. And until Robert did something stellar to change his mind, Kip was standing by his first impression.
Trudy excused herself to go check something in the kitchen as Kip settled his gaze on Robert’s. “Can I fix you something to drink?” he asked in a perfunctory tone that said he’d have preferred it better if Robert hadn’t stayed at all.
Isabel grinned sweetly at her dad, oblivious to the whole thing. “I’ll have some wine, thanks. White, if you have it.”
Robert had chalked up his memories of Mr. Miller as a big, old grizzly bear to youthful imagination. Now he wondered if that recollection wasn’t squarely on target.
“I’ll have what she’s having,” he told Mr. Miller, in an effort to be conciliatory. Robert didn’t want any trouble here. But he did want to spend time with Isabel. And if that meant also spending time with her family… Well then, Robert would just have to man up and do it. Mrs. Miller was pleasant enough to deal with anyway. Robert was certain all of Isabel’s good qualities must have been inherited from her.
The older man huffed and strode away, hands jammed in his pockets.
Once he was out of earshot, Robert turned toward Isabel with a grimace. “I’m not so sure my coming here was a good idea.”
“Why on earth not?”
“I don’t think your dad is so happy to see me.”
“Oh, come on! He’s just a big, old teddy bear!”
“Grizzly’s more like it.”
“Okay,” she said in a whisper. “I’ll admit he sometimes comes off a little gruff. But his bark is worse than his bite.”
Robert pursed his lips and said nothing.
“Just give him some time to get to know you again.”
“That’s what I mean. He never liked me in the first place!”
“Who told you that?”
“You did.”
She covered her mouth with a giggle. “I did, didn’t I? Well, that wasn’t very nice. I probably shouldn’t have. And whether or not that was true… That was all those years ago. You’re a grown man now. I’m sure my dad sees you differently.”
Robert swallowed hard, hoping that was so. It felt so great seeing Isabel again and being in her company. After they’d made an icy mess of the Student Center—and had helped to clean it up again—they’d sat, laughing and talking over old times for hours. In some ways, it had been like stepping right back in time to a faraway place that was nearly forgotten yet familiar. Isabel was lighthearted and fun to talk to, and, not so incidentally, extremely easy on the eyes. If she hadn’t had this previous engagement with her folks, he would have asked her out himself. That would have been nice too, to be able to continue their earlier conversation—alone.
“Darling,” Kip said, reappearing and handing his daughter a glass before offering another to Robert. “I hope you like Chardonnay. It’s one of the local varieties, one of our best.”
Robert took an appreciative sip and nodded in approval. “It’s perfect, thanks.”
Trudy emerged from the kitchen with a sunny smile. “You’re in luck, Robert. The new dishes I’m trying are plenty enough for four.” She gave a little swivel to her hips beneath her prim A-line skirt and matching blouse and summer sweater. “Cooking Caribe, anyone?”
As Robert and Isabel trailed her parents into the dining room, Isabel warned Robert. “Prepare yourself,” she said under her breath. “Trudy’s on a new cuisine-from-around-the-world kick. Last time, it was fried goat’s head.”
“I’m sure I can handle it,” Robert said with a chuckle.
Isabel shot him a quizzical look.
“I’m in med school, remember?” he returned in low tones. “Nothing I could see would shock me.”
Thirty minutes later, Trudy held the brimming platter in his direction. “More plátanos, Robert?”
He stared down at the enormous glazed bananas, that—for the life of him—looked like caramelized parts of the male anatomy. “Um, no… Thanks. They’re delicious, though.”
Isabel shot Robert a coquettish smile. “I’ll take some more,” she said, reaching for the platter. “I don’t think I could get enough.”
Kip leaned forward and took the platter from Trudy, setting it on the table beside him. “Perhaps you’ve already had enough.”
“But I love these! Don’t you, Mom?”
Trudy sliced into hers with gusto, and Robert winced. “They’re to die for.”
Kip took the napkin from his lap and splayed it open, covering the offending bananas.
Trudy cocked her chin at him from the other end of the table.
“So, tell me,” Kip said, addressing Robert. “How is it you ran into Isabel again?”
“We bumped into each other on campus today,” Robert said, preparing to take another bite of pork piñon.
“Yes,” Isabel quipped. “Didn’t I tell you? He has the most liberating job at the Art Center.”
Trudy’s brow rose with interest. “Liberating, how?”
Robert’s fork fell to his plate with a clank.
“Is that where you saw each other?” Kip asked, perplexed. He turned to Robert. “But I thought you were in medical school?”
“I…am,” Robert stammered, suddenly overheated.
Isabel gave him an impish look. “In some ways, i
t was like no time had gone by…” she mused. “In others, it was like seeing him for the very first time.”
Kip peered under the napkin at the plantains, then narrowed his gaze at his daughter.
Isabel widened her eyes at Robert and sat up straighter as if to contain herself from bursting out laughing. Robert could tell she was having fun with this, razzing him in front of her folks like she used to do as a kid.
“What is it you do at the Art Center, Robert?” Trudy asked.
“I’m afraid that’s all a big misunderstanding,” he said, avoiding Isabel’s gaze. “Actually, I work at the lab.”
“I see,” Trudy said, obviously confused.
Kip made an effort to redirect the conversation. “How’s your family?”
“My parents are fine, sir. Thanks for asking.”
“And your sister, Teresa?”
“Working in New York in publishing.”
“How nice.”
“Yes, my folks are very proud of her. We all are.”
“Is she married?” Trudy queried politely.
Robert nodded. “To her high school sweetheart.”
“That’s sweet,” Trudy said. “Was it an old love rekindled, or have they been together the whole time?”
Robert’s eyes fell on Isabel, who watched him intently.
“They’ve been together ever since the tenth grade.”
“You see, Kip. Things like that can last.” Then, by way of explanation, she said to Robert, “My husband’s always saying they can’t. That people who fall in love young don’t stay together.”
“Just look at Romeo and Juliet,” Kip said. “You can’t say that didn’t spell disaster.”
“That was a play, Daddy,” Isabel said.
“Ah! But fiction mimics life. Isn’t that what you always say, dear?” he asked Trudy.
Her mouth fell open. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Don’t mind him,” Isabel said to Robert, regarding her father. “Daddy doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body.”
“That’s patently untrue,” Kip protested. “Just ask your mother what I got her for our last anniversary. Go on, ask.”
Trudy sighed. “Very lovely season tickets… To the Chargers basketball games.”
“I rest my case,” Kip said proudly. “Can’t get any more romantic than that!”
Trudy shook her head at her husband, but Robert could tell it was in fondness. Despite his foibles, Mrs. Miller still apparently adored her husband. “Do Teresa and her husband have children?” she asked.
“They’ve got two now, with one on the way.”
“And you?” Kip prodded. “You’re a few years older, but never…?”
“Dad,” Isabel admonished, “that’s really none of our business.”
“Why not?
“Because, it’s… You know.” She shrugged. “Personal.”
“Well, I don’t know what’s so personal about it. An old friend of the family shows up here. I want to know about his life. There’s no reason he wouldn’t tell me.” He gave Robert a pointed stare. “Unless he’s got something to hide. Ouch!” He reached down under the table to rub his shin, the one that Trudy had apparently just kicked.
“Let me get some of these plates out of the way,” Trudy said, standing. She glanced around at their faces. “Then I can serve coffee, if you’d like.”
“Sit back down, Trudy,” Kip commanded. “We’re not finished yet.”
“I think Mom’s right,” Isabel began.
Robert slowly raised a hand, then met all of their eyes. “It’s okay. I don’t mind talking about it.” He paused, then spoke to Kip. “The truth is, sir, there was somebody. Somebody special, but as things sometimes happen, they didn’t work out. Perhaps, as you say, we started too young.”
“I’m sorry,” Isabel murmured apologetically from across the table. “Daddy, you really shouldn’t have.”
Trudy shook her head sympathetically. “Isabel knows just what that’s like. She and her boyfriend broke up too.”
“Mo-om. That was four years ago.”
Robert studied her a beat. “I’m sorry for you too.”
“Seriously,” she said, flustered, “I’m over it.”
“He was a very nice boy too,” Trudy went on.
“Nope.” Kip shook his head. “Couldn’t trust him. You know how he did that shifty thing with his eyes?”
“Daddy!” Isabel said. “He wore contacts.”
“That was a handy excuse.”
“The truth is,” Trudy said, “he did turn out to be a bad apple.”
Isabel’s expression grew long. “He cheated on me.”
Silence settled over the table as Robert held Isabel’s gaze. If there was one thing Robert knew for sure, it was that, if he had someone like Isabel, he’d never look at another woman. “Then he must have been a fool.”
“He certainly was.” Kip stood beside his wife. “Here, let me help with those dishes. That is,” he said, turning toward the others, “if everybody’s done?”
“I’m done,” Isabel said softly.
“Me too,” Robert said, still lost in her gaze. But in an odd sort of way, he felt like things between them were just beginning.
A short time later, Robert and Isabel stood on the stoop outside her apartment building, saying good night.
“I had a really good time at dinner,” he told her. “Thanks for including me.”
“You stood up to my Dad’s grilling pretty well. Thanks for indulging him and being so polite.”
“I understand he cares about you.”
“Yeah.”
“I know what that’s like.”
Isabel stared up into gorgeous brown eyes, remembering what it was like caring for Robert. As a kid, she’d more than cared for him. She’d had a raging crush. And, by the way her pulsed raced each time he looked in her eyes, she wasn’t sure she was over it.
“Isabel,” he said, as moonlight hovered up above and a light breeze blew. “Do you think we could…? What I mean is, would you like to do this again? Dinner sometime? Just the two of us?”
She felt her cheeks warm. “Just the two of us sounds fine.”
“It will probably be less eventful that way.”
“Maybe,” she said with a saucy lilt to her voice. “Then again, it could get tricky.”
“Tricky?” He grinned, and her heart went all aflutter.
“Who knows what could happen with the two of us left alone?”
“We used to get into quite a bit of trouble,” he agreed, stepping closer. Memories tugged her back over the years and into his arms. They were lanky then, but muscled now. Toned enough to pull her close, pressing his all-grown-up body to hers. If only he would hold her, she would let him. Just to relive that old feeling once again. “And something tells me your dad hasn’t forgotten.”
“Maybe he sees you differently now.”
“What do you see?” he asked, looking down at her.
“I like what I see.” Her eyes lingered on his. “And I’ve seen quite a lot.”
When he spoke, his voice was raspy. “Oh man, I can’t believe you were in that studio. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me,” she said softly. “The human body’s very beautiful in all its dimensions.” Robert’s in particular, though she wasn’t prepared to say so.
“It wasn’t what you think.”
“I don’t care.”
“You didn’t mind it? Seeing me that way?”
“Robert. I’m an artist, a professional. One body is the same as the next,” she lied.
“Hmm. I’m not sure if I could say the same, were you the patient and me the doctor.”
“I believe we’ve been there and done that.”
“Yeah,” he said with a wistful look. “I would have done it more, but your dad always walked in on us.”
“Robert!” she said with a laugh. “That’s probably why he didn’t like you.”
/>
“It’s most certainly why he didn’t like me. I’d likely have reacted the same about my own daughter.”
“Something tells me you’ll be a little more laid back about parenting.”
“Might somewhat depend.”
“On what?”
“Whether I have boys or girls.”
“Go on!” She shot him a smile, enjoying their banter. How she wished it could continue and that this evening wouldn’t have to end.
“Isabel?”
“Huh?”
“Would you mind if showed you something?”
“Aren’t we a little old for that?” she teased.
“We’re not too old for this.” He reached forward and lightly thumbed her nose, the way he used to do when they were kids, and her heart hammered harder. “Spend a few more minutes with me, Isabel. There’s something I’d really like you to see.”
Robert had been having so much fun with Isabel, he hadn’t been ready for their time together to end. Seeing her again was like stepping into a time warp, where a crazy jumble of emotions came tumbling back. He knew they’d just been kids, but a guy didn’t easily forget his first love—even if he loved her at age thirteen. Robert had been one year older and a year ahead in school. It had made him feel important at the time, like he was older and wiser. Although in truth, Isabel often had the upper hand. She was quick on the uptake and enjoyed catching him off guard with a fast turn of phrase or daring challenge. Like the time she dared him to share a piece of gum by passing it back and forth between them using only their tongues.
“We’re going back?” she asked in surprise. They’d just cleared the entrance to her parents’ neighborhood, which was situated high on a hill above the city.
“In a way,” he said with a mysterious smile. “But probably not to where you think.”
A few minutes later, Robert turned up a steep gravel road, then pulled off to the side.
“You’re taking me parking?” she asked. Though in truth she didn’t look opposed.
He shot her a sly wink before exiting the car. “You’re so suspicious.” Robert opened her door, extending his hand. “Come on.”
She scrutinized his face for a moment before accepting. “Where exactly are you taking me?”
