Lorna Seilstad - [Lake Manawa Summers 03]

by The Ride of Her Life

  Eugenia rushed into the kitchen. “He’s here!”

  “Who?”

  “Mark Westing.” Eugenia patted her frizzy hair into place. “What do I do?”

  “Take his order. And remember we only have two entrée choices on the menu today. Pulled pork sandwiches and those new hot dogs on rolls.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Eugenia smoothed her surprisingly clean apron. “Do I look okay?”

  Lilly wiped the smudge of mustard from the girl’s cheek. “You look lovely.”

  Gathering her skirt in her hand, Eugenia hurried out. Unable to resist watching the scene unfold, Lilly finished removing the pies and followed Eugenia into the dining room a few seconds later.

  “We have papple, cherry, and cheach pie.” Eugenia’s cheeks filled with color. “I mean apple, cherry, and peach pie. Would you like a slice? Not of each of them, of course, but one of them? Nobody would eat all three, but if you want to, that’s fine too.”

  Lilly snickered and refilled a customer’s coffee cup at a table near Mark’s. Poor Eugenia. All aflutter simply being in the presence of Marguerite’s handsome little brother.

  Mark chuckled. “I’d love a piece of cherry pie, Miss Baker. And if Lilly can spare you, would you care to join me?”

  “Me?” Eugenia squeaked. “Here? Now?”

  “Yes.” He laughed again. “Be sure to select a piece of pie for yourself as well. My treat.”

  Lilly stepped back into the kitchen and pressed her hand to her mouth. Had she heard that correctly? Eugenia was going to be over the moon for a month. If Mark was indeed interested in her, it would explain why he’d been hanging around so much. Lilly shrugged. She’d seen stranger matches, but she wouldn’t have predicted this in a hundred years.

  Eugenia flew into the room. “He wants me to eat pie with him!”

  “Shhh.” Lilly held up her finger. “You don’t want to give him the impression that you are overeager.”

  Clasping her hands to her chest, Eugenia cast a dreamy look at the ceiling. “Oh, but I like him so much. Wouldn’t he make the most wonderful husband?”

  “Husband? Eugenia, it’s pie, not a proposal.” Lilly took hold of Eugenia’s shoulders. “Why don’t you focus on the moment? What did he want to eat?”

  “Just pie—with me.”

  “Any particular kind?” Lilly stepped to the Hoosier cabinet where the two hot pies now rested and pulled out a knife.

  “I’ll have peach.”

  “No, Eugenia, not you. What does Mark want?”

  “Red-cherry pie for his red-cherry lips,” she said dreamily.

  Lilly rolled her eyes and cut a slice from the fresh pie. She slid it onto an ironware plate. “Take this out to him. Then I’ll cut you a piece of peach from one of the pies in the pie safe out front. Be careful now. This is still warm.”

  After taking the pie, Eugenia nearly ran from the room. Lilly eased out the door behind her.

  “Here’s your cherry pie.” Eugenia thrust the plate toward Mark, and the pie slid off, flying onto his crisp, white shirt. He yelped and pulled his shirt away from his chest. The steamy cherry filling oozed down the front, leaving a crimson trail.

  “Oh my goodness.” Eugenia’s hand shot to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. Are you all right?”

  Mark removed a chunk of crust from his lap and dropped it on the empty plate. His eyebrows cocked, he smiled at her. “Do you suppose you could find me a towel?”

  “Yes, of course. Hold on. I’ll get something and clean you right up.”

  Before Lilly could intercede, Eugenia snagged a towel from the lunch counter and rushed back to Mark. She extended her hand toward his shirt.

  “I can take care of it.” Mark reached for the towel.

  “No, it’s the least I can do.” Eugenia began to mop the cherry filling with the towel, but it left yellow mustard streaks in its wake. “Oh my.” She stopped and stared at the mess.

  Lilly hurried over with a fresh, damp cloth. “Here you go, Mark. This ought to take off the worst of the damage. Eugenia, why don’t you go in the kitchen and cut Mark another slice of pie?”

  “Yes, of course.” With tears in her eyes, the girl scurried away.

  “It didn’t burn you, did it?” Lilly watched him gingerly dab at the stain.

  “No, it wasn’t that warm. It surprised me more than anything.”

  “Let me get you some coffee, and if you bring that shirt back later, I’ll wash it for you. A little lemon juice will work magic on those cherry stains.”

  Lilly brought Mark a fresh cup of coffee, and Eugenia arrived with the pie. Using both hands, she set the slice on the table. “I really am sorry.”

  Mark grinned at her. “Don’t worry about it. So, where’s your pie?”

  “But after—I didn’t think you’d—I didn’t get a slice.” Eugenia balled her apron.

  Lilly slipped away and returned with a slice of peach pie. “Here you go, Eugenia. Now sit down and enjoy it.” She winked. “And try to keep the pie on the plate.”

  Still chuckling under her breath, Lilly walked back into the kitchen.

  “What’s so humorous?” Mr. Thorton glanced up from his desk as she entered.

  Lilly startled. “When did you arrive?”

  “A couple of minutes ago. I saw you made it to the roller coaster’s inaugural run.”

  Lilly’s stomach soured. “I hope you didn’t mind. There was no one in the restaurant, and Eugenia was still here.”

  Mr. Thorton leaned back in his squeaky chair and tucked his arms behind his head. “No, that was fine. I saw that Nick Perrin let Levi pull the switch to start the whole affair. I bet your boy loved that.”

  “He certainly did. It’s all he can talk about.” Lilly paused and blinked. Why was Mr. Thorton watching her? Could he be the one relaying information to Claude Hart? Someone had told her former father-in-law about Nick, and Mr. Thorton had already made it clear that he’d spoken with the Harts.

  “By the way, where’s little Levi at now?”

  “He’s outside playing.” Her nerves tingled, and she glanced toward the back door. She could see Levi playing with a toad. Surely Mr. Thorton had seen him when he arrived as well. “I’d better get back to the dining room and see to our customers.”

  Mr. Thorton nodded. “Yes, of course, but don’t forget to check on your son from time to time. You never know when a boy is going to get a hankering for an adventure.”

  A cold hand of fear drew a line up Lilly’s spine. She only wished she knew why.

  29

  With her hand tucked in the crook of Nick’s elbow, Lilly mounted the steps to enter Lake Manawa’s vaudeville theater with Levi in tow. Boisterous conversation echoed from within, and she smiled. A little laughter was exactly what she needed tonight. She’d considered sharing her fears with Nick concerning Mr. Thorton, but now was not the time.

  After Nick secured tickets, they entered the theater. Nick led them toward the front, and they slipped into an empty place on the pew-like seating. Within minutes the auditorium filled, and Lilly was glad she hadn’t taken the time to change into yet another dress. She’d already tried on two, but she still feared the one she was wearing might be a bit too fussy with its black, lace-edged flounces on the silk skirt.

  She smoothed the lapel of the matching tailored jacket and glanced at Nick, who was speaking to Levi beside him. Levi’s eyes lit up when Nick told him an animal act would perform.

  Her gaze swept the rest of the crowd. Other women wore equally fancy dresses, although most were more fashionable. While beautiful, her frocks lacked the latest details that would make them in vogue. She doubted Nick would notice, but it was yet another thing that had changed since Ben’s death.

  She shouldn’t complain. Many women had only a few dresses from which to choose. Thanks to Ben, she’d been blessed with three trunks full, and this dress had been one of Ben’s favorites.

  “You look beautiful.” Nick touched her arm. “That color brings out the gold
en flecks in your eyes. What do you call it? It’s not quite green and not quite true gold.”

  “The color? I call it ocher, but who knows what someone else might say.” She smiled.

  Nick looked rather handsome himself in his double-breasted suit and knotted tie. But it was the stylish homburg hat with its dent in the center that she liked the most. It was so different from the bowlers most of the men wore, but it must have cost him a week’s salary.

  She blinked when she realized she’d been staring. “How’s Levi doing?”

  “Chomping at the bit to see the animals.” Nick placed his hand on the boy’s bouncing knee. The heavy curtains opened, and lively organ music filled the air. He leaned close and pressed his lips to Lilly’s ear. “Ready for a show filled with endless surprises?”

  His hot breath on her skin sent chills coursing through her. She was ready as long as the surprises were onstage and not coming from the man next to her. How did he convey so much in a few words?

  He winked at her.

  She pulled out her fan and waved it in front of her flushed cheeks. What a night this was turning out to be!

  The show opened with a barrel-chested man singing a lively patriotic song. He was followed by two Irishmen, the Brady brothers, billed as novelty bag punchers. The men demonstrated pugilistic techniques on a fast punching ball and ended their act with a mock boxing match. Nick applauded their display with great enthusiasm.

  When a woman known as “only Lizette” took the stage with her collection of trained poodles and cockatoos, Levi sat on the edge of his seat. The poodles leapt over one another as if they were children, balancing balls on their noses, jumping through hoops, and even climbing a ladder. The crowd had to hush to hear Lizette’s cockatoo, Cookie, speak. Levi giggled when the white bird bobbed its feathered head and said, “Hi, dolly.” Lizette persuaded Cookie to kiss her cheek and say, “Love you.”

  Nick leaned over and brushed a kiss on Lilly’s cheek. “I like the way Cookie thinks.”

  Lilly’s cheeks grew warmer under the implied message.

  While another performer sang a teary ballad, the curtains closed for the stage hands to set the scenery for the next skit. When the curtains parted, a park scene was revealed. A woman entered wearing a dark veil. She sat down on the bench and closed her parasol.

  Seconds later, a mustached actor approached her and spent several minutes trying to persuade the woman to remove her veil, wanting to see her beauty. No matter what he did, she neither spoke nor took off the veil. He even performed acrobatics to impress her and sang a love song in a rich tenor voice. He made one final attempt by telling her a sad tale about how his brother had always gotten the girl. Still, she refused to lift the veil. Finally, he departed, despondent over her lack of response.

  Another actor then entered the stage. He sat down by the woman, draped his arm around her shoulders, and asked how her day had gone.

  She giggled. “Well, you just missed your brother.”

  The man laughed, lifted her veil, and kissed the woman soundly.

  Nick sat bolt upright. Every muscle in his body seemed to tense. He stared at the actress until she left the stage.

  Lilly touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”

  “That was Ruby.”

  The strains of the young Greek violinist’s aching solo only heightened the tension in Nick’s chest. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

  Ruby was here.

  Now.

  At Lake Manawa.

  He drew in a long breath and released it through his nose. He glanced at Lilly. Her face was pale, her hands clutched in her lap. He should whisper something reassuring in her ear, but his mind refused to formulate words.

  It figured. Ruby had always had a way of making his life chaotic, and without knowing it, she’d done it again.

  Applause erupted as the last song concluded and the curtain closed. Lilly glanced at Nick. He’d hardly breathed since Ruby’s first act. Was Nick having second thoughts about her now?

  “Ice cream!” Levi jumped up from his seat. “You promised we could get some after the show.”

  Nick tore his eyes from the stage and stood. “You’re right, Chipmunk. I certainly did.” Offering his hand to Lilly, he drew her upward. “Let’s get out of here. The sooner the better.”

  As she and Nick walked side by side down the Midway toward the ice cream parlor, Lilly ignored the hawkers trying to get Nick to play their penny arcade games and win her a prize. Not once did he give them a second glance. Of course, with all his travels, he was used to this sort of fare, but his silence told her something troubled him.

  Not something. Someone. Five feet, seven inches of exotic womanhood named Ruby Rawlins.

  The buttery scent of freshly popped popcorn filled the air. She smiled as the lights came on, and the whole Midway illuminated in a magical way.

  Nick suddenly stopped. “Hey, Chipmunk, have you played the Japanese rolling-ball game?”

  “He doesn’t need to do that, Nick. If you want some time alone—”

  “No.” His voice, firm as iron, made her step back. “I’m sorry. I meant I don’t want to be alone. I want to be with the two of you.” He placed his hand on Levi’s head. “So, ready to play?”

  “Posilutely.”

  Lilly exchanged a glance with Nick, and they both snickered. “Levi, honey, it’s positively or absolutely. You can’t have both.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s not a word.” Lilly took his hand, and the three of them headed toward the Japanese rolling-ball arcade. The red scalloped awning flapped in the breeze. She stepped inside the area, and the heady scent of incense reached her nostrils.

  “Who makes up the words?” Levi asked.

  “People.”

  “I’m a people.”

  “You’re a person.”

  Nick hoisted Levi onto a step stool the proprietors had created for the children to use. “And right now, you’re a person who’s going to learn to play the Japanese ball game.”

  “How’s it work?” Levi scrunched his brow.

  “Here’s a man that’s a good fella!” the Oriental woman running the game shouted to the crowds. Her deep voice didn’t seem to go with her feminine red kimono. “He’ll take a chance.” She turned to Nick. “You get a present either way, mister. Yes, sir, that’s a fact. A nickel per ball.”

  Nick handed the owner a quarter, and she passed him five small balls. Nick gave two to Levi. “You see the pins at the end of this board? You roll the ball and knock down all ten pins to win a bigger prize.” He swept his hand toward the rows of oriental trinkets and dishes. “If you don’t get them all down, you don’t win much.”

  “But that’s not fair.” With a frown, Levi tilted his head to the side to get a better view of the pins.

  “There are a lot of things in life that aren’t fair.” Nick sighed, then gave Lilly a weak smile. “You want me to show you how to do it first?”

  “No, I can do it.” Levi clutched his two balls to his chest.

  “Okay, go ahead and try, but stay behind this line.” Nick pointed to the line painted on a yellow board.

  Levi rolled the ball and it curved to the right, only taking three pins with it. He clapped. “I did it.”

  The proprietor set the pins up. “Why don’t you try again? See if you get more.”

  With the tip of his tongue protruding between his lips, Levi rolled the ball. This time several of the pins tumbled, leaving only three standing.

  “Good job.” The woman handed Levi a reed whistle.

  Levi immediately raised the toy to his lips, blew into it, and released a long, shrill sound.

  Lilly grabbed it. “I think I’ll hold on to this until we’re home.”

  “We don’t have a home, ’member, Mama?”

  His words jabbed her, but she covered her feelings with a smile. “Then I’ll keep it until we get to Emily’s.”

  Nick held out a ball in his palm. “Your turn, Lilly.”
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  “You go ahead. I don’t think I need to show you how good I am.” She tried to offer him a teasing grin to lighten the moment.

  “I disagree. It’s your turn.” He glanced at Levi. “And we should always take turns with our friends, right, Levi?”

  “That’s what Mama always says, and she said Mr. Nick was her friend.”

  “Is that so?” Nick chuckled.

  Lilly gave him a mock glare and took the ball.

  “Want some help?” Nick offered with a crooked grin.

  “I think I can manage.” Lilly rolled the ball and knocked down half the pins. The Oriental woman handed her a flimsy paper fan. Lilly rolled her eyes but thanked the lady.

  “And how does my girl get a silk fan?” Nick pointed to the pretty ones displayed in a case.

  “Only one way. Knock down all the pins. Twice.” She pointed to the pins. “Very difficult.”

  Nick bent to examine the game. “There has to be a trick to the board’s tilt or bend that makes it so hard.” He pointed to the center. “See there, Lilly, it’s a smidgeon higher.”

  “But that makes it nearly impossible.”

  “Nearly impossible is my specialty.” He moved the ball in his hand up and down, apparently making calculations in his mind.

  Lilly smiled. “This isn’t a roller coaster.”

  “But it’s all about curve and velocity.” He winked at her and gave the ball a shove. It followed an arc, then hit between the first and second pins. One by one, the pins fell.

  “You did it!” Levi jumped up and down on his box and clapped.

  “Must do it one more time for fan.” The proprietor joined her hands in front of her, revealing the tattered edges of her pagoda sleeves. “Very difficult.”

  Nick rolled the last ball, and the pins clattered on the board.

  Levi whooped.

  The proprietor, looking none too pleased, pointed to the fans displayed and said to Lilly, “You pick?”

  Nick glanced at Lilly. “May I?”

  She nodded. Nick selected an ivory one with a greenish-gold bird surrounded by flowers. He handed it to Lilly and pointed to the bird. “An ocher fan to go with your lovely ocher dress.”