by Ginny Aiken
“Is he in the house or out in the back?” Melissa whispered.
She pointed beyond the large potted plants to the living room, and Melissa groaned.
“Let me help you, dear,” her mother said loudly for her blind date’s ears.
“I guess I have some explaining to do,” she raised her voice as well.
The young man stood when Melissa and her mother approached.
“Melissa, this is Jeff.”
She mumbled a greeting then reached out and shook his hand, resisting the urge to stare at him. This was what Gram thought she should date? Despite his height and broad shoulders, the guy looked like an IBM computer salesman. Intellectuals were certainly not her type.
“So,” her mother began as Melissa sat down on the corner of the coffee table close to where her date had been sitting, “Jeff was delayed with a very serious computer problem at work.”
“Ah, yes, I was,” he agreed, pushing his thick-framed glasses up the bridge of his nose and lowering himself back into his seat. He seemed nervous or perhaps excited. “We had a bug in an accounting formula that could have been disastrous.”
“I gather you were able to fix it?” she asked, relaxing a little when her mother slipped from the room. While her efforts with Greg hadn’t worked out as planned, Melissa had the distinct feeling she’d be much more successful with Jeff. And this time she didn’t feel the least bit remorseful.
“Eventually.” He seemed to be studying her, and she wondered how bad she looked.
“Well, I’m going to play war games tomorrow. Would you like to join me?” She managed to keep a straight face as Jeff’s smile faltered.
“Oh, I never play on Sunday.”
What a choirboy. “We could go bungee jumping next weekend?” Melissa offered. Getting him to dislike her seemed like a done deal. Why, he was already eyeing his escape route.
Jeff adjusted his glasses again. “I’m not too interested in the outdoors. Perhaps we could catch a movie?”
“Oh, that would be great. We could go see that one about the serial killer. They say it’s gruesome.” She hoped he wouldn’t agree. Gory shows did not appeal to her at all.
“To be honest, M–M–Melissa, I have a weak stomach for violence.” He leaned forward, causing his glasses to slip once more. “Wouldn’t you like to see something milder? Perhaps a romance?”
“Don’t you want to live dangerously? Sitting at a computer all day must be tiresome.” Melissa worried her last comment might have been too mean. Jeff seemed like a nice guy, but she needed to put him off. For good.
“I find computer work rather interesting and rejuvenating,” he said in a mellow voice, then smiled.
Yikes. How dare he be charming? “I know! What about skydiving?”
Jeff jumped up, startling Melissa. She struggled to keep from falling off the coffee table. “Is everything all right?”
Inching away, Jeff’s voice sounded compassionate yet firm. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I think it would be best if I just left.”
“Now? But I haven’t even apologized for not being here.”
“Under the circumstances I think it may have been best.”
“But I—”
“I’ll make my apologies to your grandmother.”
Now she felt like a heel. He’d seen through her and taken it like a man. She followed him toward the door. “By the way, Jeff, do you rollerblade?”
With a boyish grin he replied, “Oh, no, that’s far too risky. If I were to ruin my hands, my career would be over.”
She was speechless, and then Jeff laughed. A deep roar that caught her by surprise, and she joined him.
“Nice meeting you,” she said and sincerely meant it. In another place or time Jeff might have been worth pursuing.
He took her hand. “Thanks for not being too hard on me for my tardiness. You’re a delight.”
Again she found she couldn’t speak as she watched him walk away and step into a beat-up old car.
Melissa dropped to the top step and began to laugh. Could anything else go wrong? She stopped short when she turned and saw her mother in the doorway behind her.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“I don’t know what went on just now, but I’m so glad to see you laughing.”
“Oh, this is not good. I was just awful to that poor man. And the other guy!” Melissa put her head in her hands.
“Want to tell me about it?” her mother asked as she seated herself beside Melissa.
What could she say? That she’d just run off someone who reminded her of Clark Kent? If she’d been honest with herself, she felt certain that had she taken those doofy glasses off Jeff, Superman would have emerged. And then she remembered Greg. She sighed. How could things have turned out so poorly? She wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
“Okay, if you won’t tell me about Jeff, can you at least tell me where you’ve been? And what on earth you’re wearing?”
Melissa started at the beginning, choking back a sob when she finished.
“Honey, I know you. You have a good heart, and you’d never hurt anyone intentionally.”
“Not unless I’m being forced on a blind date, at least,” Melissa teased.
They laughed in unison.
“And two in one night is plenty, I gather?”
Melissa felt a smile spread across her lips. “After what I put Greg through, you’d think he’d have left. Yet he stayed with me.”
“Can I assume your skates probably went better with your dress than those?” She pointed to Melissa’s storm boots.
“I’m making a fashion statement,” she said with a chuckle. “I never want to see a dress again. And I’ve done my duty to Gram. That’s my last blind date. I don’t care if I never marry.”
Her mother leaned close to Melissa and whispered, “And who’s the handsome man heading this way?”
Melissa swallowed and fought the excitement she felt at seeing Greg crossing the street toward her. She reminded herself she was finished with men, dating, and finding love. But her heartbeat drowned out her thoughts. Leaving her mother behind on the step, she rushed to meet Greg at the edge of the lawn.
“You left your sunglasses in the coffee shop, and I thought you might need them,” Greg said as she approached.
Their hands touched as Melissa took the frames from him and slipped them into her pocket. An instant feeling of warmth flooded her. She felt drawn to him, like being pulled into a whirlpool. “Thank you,” was all she could mutter.
“You’re welcome.”
“Hey, why didn’t you tell me who you were?” Melissa asked when she found her voice a few seconds later.
Greg blinked. “Well, I don’t—”
Melissa placed her hands on her hips. “It wasn’t very nice letting me think you were my blind date. Was it so difficult to tell me who you were?”
“As a matter of fact, it was.”
Melissa opened her mouth then slammed it shut. They stared at each other until he started to laugh. She followed suit, amazed at how good it felt. How right everything seemed simply standing there, together.
“Look, Melissa—I should have insisted you let me tell you I wasn’t your date. And I’m sorry for that. But I’m not sorry about the evening.” He paused. “Are you?”
“I–I—” She sighed. Why fight it? “I had a nice time. I wish I hadn’t been so terrible to you.” She felt self-conscious and glanced back to see if her mother had gone indoors. She remained on the stoop. Rats.
“I’d like to see you again.” He paused. “On one condition, that is.”
Melissa lowered her gaze to the ground. She knew he was going to be like all the others. He wanted to change something about her, and then all the wonderful things she was feeling would vanish. “And that contingency would be?” she asked in a steady voice belying her trepidation.
With a light touch he brushed his knuckles down her cheek.
She held her breath.
“I pick the radio station we liste
n to in the car.” Then he turned and sauntered away.
Melissa dropped to the couch, exhausted. The Marshall twins were still asleep, and she’d managed to do the dishes and tidy her house. Maybe she could relax for a bit before the next feeding. She closed her eyes, enjoying the silence.
Ding-dong.
Bonnie awoke howling, thanks to the loud chime. Melissa picked up the crying baby and went to answer the door. When she looked in the peephole and saw Greg, her heartbeat quickened.
“Hello,” she said, stepping back, allowing him to enter. He looked like a GQ man in his blue suit with a deep burgundy-colored silk tie. He raised an eyebrow when he glanced at the now-quiet bundle in her arms.
“Hello, back.”
“Come on in. I’ll make us some iced tea.”
“I can’t stay. I have a meeting. I just wanted to see how you were and ask you a favor.”
Before she could reply, Bobbie began to cry. “Could you hold this one while I get the other one?”
“I don’t know—”
“Here—just hold her like this,” Melissa said as she placed Bonnie in Greg’s arms. “Don’t look so scared. She won’t bite.”
“She’s so small. I’m afraid I might crush her or something.”
Melissa raced to grab Bobbie. Too late. Now both were exercising their lungs.
“How good are you at changing diapers?” Melissa asked as Greg followed her into the kitchen.
“Better at changing tires.”
“Okay, how about if you warm the formula and I’ll do diaper duty?”
“Ah, sure. I think.”
She grabbed the bottles from the fridge and explained how to use the warmer. “I’ll take Bobbie and change him then come back for Bonnie.”
“Okay.” Greg sounded as sure of himself as he did trying to balance on rollerblades. She left him and took Bobbie to the bathroom where she had set up a changing station. A short time later as Melissa headed back toward the kitchen, she became aware that not only had Bobbie stopped crying, but so had Bonnie. She stepped quietly into the room and watched. Greg, seated on a stool, cradled the babe tenderly in his arms as he sang. Bonnie gripped his index finger and cooed in response to Greg’s soft baritone.
Melissa’s heart warmed at the sight. “Well, for someone who doesn’t know a thing about babies, you seem to be doing fine.”
Greg didn’t take his eyes off Bonnie. “Is she yours? I mean, are they yours?”
“Would it matter?” she asked, wondering why she felt so defensive.
“I could get used to them,” he said, looking up with a grin.
Melissa expelled the air trapped in her lungs, not realizing she’d held her breath. “I’m the babysitter. They go back to their parents in a few hours.”
“Must be a lot of work. I could hardly get the bottles in the warmer and hold her at the same time.”
“I know who to call when I need help.”
“I just don’t know if you can afford me.”
“Excuse me?” Melissa asked, aware he was teasing her.
“I wouldn’t want any monetary return for my services.”
She gave him one of her stern looks. “You wouldn’t?”
Greg shifted on the stool. “I’d want a date.”
“Oh, no,” she said as she raised her hand, palm out. “I’m finished with dating. They’re always disasters.”
“Okay, then. I’d want a disaster.”
Melissa checked the temperature of the bottles. “These are ready, I think.”
“Don’t go changing the subject,” Greg said as he moved to her side. “I think you owe me two disasters.”
“Two? You’re only helping with one baby.”
“You agreed to another one on Saturday night—remember, on the front lawn? And now one for services rendered today.”
“Don’t you have a meeting you need to attend?”
“I did. I called my boss and told him a friend needed some help. We’re meeting later.”
“Your boss?” she asked. “Isn’t God your boss?
Greg laughed. “Still changing the subject, aren’t you?”
“How late can you be?” She handed one bottle to Greg and took the other. “Let’s sit in the family room where it’s comfortable.”
“Pastor Jamison has another appointment this morning,” Greg said, following her. “I’ll meet with him this afternoon.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what. Once Bonnie and Bobbie are fed, I’ll make some lunch. Since I’m not much better in the kitchen than I am on a date, that should count for another disaster.”
“See—that’s what I like about you. No pretense. A guy knows what he’s getting right from the start.”
“I have no idea what you’re getting. I may be able to find some peanut butter, but that’s about the extent of my repertoire.”
“You knew what I meant.” He winked, and Melissa felt weak all the way down to her toes.
“I’ll get you a cloth,” Melissa said as she stood, still feeding Bobbie.
Greg looked confused.
“Bonnie’s leaking some formula.”
“Oh.”
“You don’t want to smell like sour milk when you get back to work—and you use it when you burp her.”
“A dainty little thing like this?”
“Just you wait. She’s louder than Bobbie. She makes me proud to be a woman.” Melissa giggled and hoped Greg knew her words were in jest.
Chapter 3
Greg’s favor wasn’t really a big deal. The church youth were having a volleyball game that evening, and he wanted her to come. She’d said yes without even thinking. Usually she thought things through first. Of course, nothing was usual about Greg.
After the long day with the twins, Melissa decided to rest for half an hour before getting ready to go out. She stretched across the bed, ignoring the smell of baby spit-up on her shoulder, and closed her eyes.
A tapping noise awoke her. “Melissa, Honey. You have company.”
She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. “Oh, no!” She raced to the mirror then groaned.
Her mother slipped into the tidy bedroom and patted Melissa’s shoulder. “It’s okay. It’s the nice blind date.”
“I’m late. I need a shower and don’t have time. And I smell like baby formula.” She felt miserable. This time she wanted to look nice for him. After last night’s fiasco it seemed the least she could do. But not puffy-eyed and rumpled, with a messy ponytail. “I look horrible!”
“You’re beautiful.”
“This is not the time for flattery, Mom. What am I going to do?”
“I’ll keep him busy. You wash up and change.”
Melissa raced into the bathroom, throwing off her clothes as she went. She jumped into the shower and within a few minutes felt better—and clean. Whipping a towel from the linen shelf, she flung it around her back, knocking the bottle of baby powder over. White talc flew everywhere, covering her from the waist down. Once again she smelled like a newborn.
Leaving the mess in the bathroom—or, in this case, the powder room—Melissa rushed back to her bedroom and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
Greg’s eyes noticeably brightened when she stepped into the living room.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No problem. With the way you drive, we still have an hour before we have to leave.”
“Very funny,” she said as they headed for the door.
He placed his hand in the middle of her back and ushered her past him. His touch sent a tingle down her spine. As she went by, he leaned forward, inhaling. “Mmm, love your perfume. It reminds me of something.”
“It’s very expensive. From France. Eau des Enfants.”
He laughed and gave her ponytail a gentle tug.
Melissa pulled her sunglasses from her purse and put them on while walking with Greg to his car. She tipped the frames back down to look over the sporty red convertible.
“This is yours? On a pasto
r’s salary?”
Greg nodded. “It was a gift.” He didn’t seem overly impressed with the vehicle. In fact, he sounded almost sad.
“Some friend,” she replied.
“She’s more than a friend.” He opened the door for Melissa.
His words caused a sharp pain in Melissa’s heart. She? Did Greg have an ex-fiancée? Or an ex-wife?
“I’m not as good a driver as you,” he said, getting in the car and starting the engine. “So buckle up.”
She grabbed the seatbelt, still pondering his earlier comment. Then she remembered. He’d spoken of grief and had said it was a familiar road. Whether he’d lost a wife or girlfriend didn’t matter since it was someone he’d cared deeply about. Someone she could never compete with. Someone very feminine, no doubt. Someone unlike Melissa.
“Do you play volleyball as well as you rollerblade?” Greg’s question interrupted her thoughts.
“Best on the team in school.”
“No surprise there,” he said with a smile.
Yeah, no surprise. She was a tomboy. She needed to stop thinking like this, or the evening would be ruined. After all, hadn’t he dropped by this morning to see her? Wasn’t she having a date with him on a Saturday night? Get with the program, girl!
“How ‘bout you?”
“Me? Would you believe captain of the men’s team in seminary and MVP?”
She chuckled. “Are you familiar with the story Pinocchio?”
“What?” He took his eyes off the road and glanced at her. “I could have been, if we’d had a team.”
“Well, I hope you play better than you drive. I don’t think we can go any slower.”
“I’m just prolonging our time together. Got a problem with that?”
Trouble was, she didn’t. No problem at all. “Rats,” she muttered.
“Star.”
“Where? It isn’t dark enough to see the stars, or were you talking about a celebrity?” She knew she verged on rambling.
“It’s this annoying habit I have.”
Melissa brushed a few stray strands of hair back from her face. “I don’t get it.”
“I like playing with words. Sometimes when you spell something backward, it forms a new word. Like rats is star.”
“Oh. So pot is top.”
