by Jaime Maddox
“That seems ridiculous, doesn’t it? Why wait so long, when these kids are deciding on their futures?”
Ella shrugged. She agreed. By delaying the announcement about scholarship winners until May, a lot of kids were on edge, waiting to hear if they’d received full rides or just partial packages. It seemed cruel, but this was how it was done. Everyone had time to change their minds before the decisions were made, and hopefully, not afterward. That way, the young men and women who were announced at the Cognitio luncheon in May were the ones on campus in September.
Ella explained the reasoning. “There’s no reason you can’t select your candidate sooner, though, and tell them your decision. It just won’t be announced until the luncheon.”
“When do you need the check? I’ve liquidated some assets, so I can give it to you at any time.”
“How about next week? Dr. Bingham, the president, would like to meet with you. We can have lunch or dinner.”
“Will I get all this attention after I give you the check?”
Ella laughed and squeezed Sophie’s hand. “I can’t promise anything for Dr. Bingham, but I’ll still be here.”
Sophie looked at her intently, and Ella saw her eyes begin to swim as a tear formed. “You will, won’t you?”
Not wanting either of them to cry, Ella winked.
“Your grandmother would be so proud of you. I wish she were still here. There have been nice people in the house, but they’re all too young for me. No one plays cards anymore—unless it’s poker. Argh! And you can’t share recipes or borrow a cup of sugar like in the old days. No one cooks!”
Ella swallowed and considered Sophie’s words. “People are hard to replace. What we like, or love about someone is an individual trait. No one else will ever be them or make us feel the way we did when we were with them.”
They’d finished their lox, and regrettably, Ella had no room left for the pastries she’d picked up at the bakery. But since she’d be giving Sophie a lift home later, she’d have an opportunity then.
Ella cleaned up while Sophie changed into her jogging suit, and then she helped her into the car for their trip to Roba’s Farm.
The party was scheduled from noon to four, and Ella thought they were early when she pulled into the lane fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. She was dismayed to see dozens of cars in front of her and a field filled with others already parked. After displaying Sophie’s handicap-parking placard, she was allowed to park on the top of the hill, and Ella easily found a place beside the main entrance.
Ella purchased tickets for them, and they caught the tractor to the center of the pumpkin patch, where dozens of campfire sites were scattered among attractions like a bouncing pillow, children’s slides, and a gigantic fort made out of hay bales.
Everything was clearly marked, and it took only a few minutes to find the Ryans’ campfire site. As they approached, she spotted Reese. Reese caught her eye, and Ella couldn’t contain the smile that erupted on her face. She hadn’t had much time to think about what had happened the night before, but it had been a wonderful couple of hours, with fantastic sex and warm conversation. It was just what she’d been fantasizing about, but now that it had happened—what next? Was Reese as happy about their plans for the night as she was?
Maybe she should have called and asked, to save them both some embarrassment if Reese had changed her mind.
Then Reese smiled, a lopsided grin that spread slowly across her face, and Ella had the sudden feeling that she wouldn’t get much sleep tonight.
* * *
Reese had a crazy-busy morning, between picking up Cass’s cake and packing her car to take all the food to the party. Once at the pumpkin patch, she’d found a large garden wagon and loaded it high, and she still had to make two trips up the hill to their campfire site to haul everything she’d brought. At one point, she’d wished she’d accepted someone’s offer of help, but in the end, when it was all set up just as she’d imagined, she was glad she’d done it alone. The site was perfect, with a tent to cover the food and a circle of wooden benches surrounding a fire pit. Her parents had brought balloons, and they flanked the tent, giving it an even more festive look.
She’d gotten there early, and Doug, the realtor, and his three kids had already stopped by, grabbed snacks, dropped off a gift bag, and run off to play. A dozen other people had been by as well, some to grab food, but most to just leave presents and jackets behind. Even though she’d encouraged Cass to stay and meet her guests, she’d refused. She was across the pond on a jumping pillow shaped and colored like a gigantic pumpkin. Now Reese was hanging out, alone, awaiting her guests. With Cass’s friends and coworkers, a few family members, and Reese’s friends, not to mention everyone’s children, she expected about fifty people.
All of the activity had kept her so busy she hardly had a chance to think about what had happened with Ella. Ella—the sweet, funny, smokin’ hot woman of her most recent fantasies—had seduced her. And seduced her very well, and thoroughly. Fantastically, in fact. And they had plans to see each other again after Cass’s party.
Although she hadn’t thought too much about it, she’d checked her phone a few times, hoping for a call from Ella, a little message about the night before. At the same time, she was relieved that no call came through, because part of her was petrified that Ella would cancel. And while it wouldn’t have been the worst disappointment of her love life—no, it would have. After the evening they’d had, Reese would have been crushed if Ella had reconsidered.
Resting her back against the edge of her chair, she looked up and was delighted to see Ella approaching. Ella’s smile was as bright as the magnificent fall day, and Reese took that to be a good sign. She smiled in return and stood to help Ella guide Sophie down the small hill toward their site.
“I don’t suppose you have cocktails, do you?” Sophie asked.
“The pumpkin patch does not allow alcohol. But I can give you some of my special punch, if you’d like.” Reese winked and Sophie laughed.
“That sounds like my cup of tea.”
“And for you, Ella?” Reese asked, her lips pursed.
“Oh, let’s make it tea for two, shall we?”
“No. I’d say three.”
“Let me help you,” Ella said, and she walked with Reese into the tent. “Shall I stand guard?” she asked when they were inside.
“Yes. I’d hate to get thrown out before we sing ‘Happy Birthday.’”
Taking the cup, Ella touched it to Reese’s. “I’ll drink to that.”
Ella took a sip and immediately started coughing. “Whoa. What did you do? Put pink food coloring in vodka to make this punch?”
“Who told you my secret recipe?”
Ella coughed again for show, then looked around. “Do you have anything to mix with this?”
“How about some lemonade?”
“Perfect,” she said a minute later when Reese had diluted her drink enough to satisfy Ella’s taste buds.
Reese nodded and then watered down Sophie’s as well. “Now that I’m getting a better look at you, I think I recognize you from last night.”
Ella smiled around her glass. “That was me all right.”
“Any regrets?” Reese couldn’t believe she’d asked the question. But she had to know. Although she was very attracted to Ella, they barely knew each other. They hadn’t even been on an official date, yet they’d torn each other’s clothes off and shared multiple orgasms after they’d both basically collapsed from the stress of a tough day. It was entirely possible Ella was hoping Reese had forgotten about their night together.
“Only that you left.”
Reese had to swallow a tear that appeared out of nowhere. “Wow. You’re perfect. Do you know that?”
“Is that the famous Ryan Knockout Punch?” someone asked, interrupting them.
Ella looked up to see a tall, well-built man with dark, model good looks. Instead of a day at the pumpkin patch, he was dressed to shoot a cover for a
fashion magazine, with a striped shirt and a coordinating kelly-green sweater draped across his shoulders. He wore tight-fitting jeans and green sneaker-shoes, and if it wasn’t for the way he was checking her out, she would have sworn he was gay. No heterosexual man she’d ever known would have worn that outfit.
Ella recognized him, but before she could say anything, he spoke.
“Scoop Timlin,” he said as he extended his hand.
“Ella Townes.” She grasped his hand firmly, to let him know she wasn’t weakened by his amazing show of manliness, and to his credit, when she pulled back, he made a show of rubbing his hand.
“That’s a killer grip you have there, Ella Townes.”
“I met her at my kickboxing class,” Reese said and gave Scoop a kiss on the cheek. “Ella, don’t mind Dr. Timlin. I’m sure his wife and children will be along shortly to put him in his place.”
Scoop smiled. “She’s so hard on me.”
Ella smirked. “Something tells me you deserve it.”
He laughed as Reese handed him a drink.
“We’ve actually met before, Scoop. Do you remember the little blond girl with skinned knees who lived next to Stephanie Gates during the summers?”
Scoop studied her, and slowly the light of recognition filled his eyes, and he put down his drink to hug her. “Wow! Of course I do. It’s so nice to see you!”
“And you as well. I looked for you at the golf tournament, so I could say hi.”
“Wait. You’re beautiful, and you play golf…talk about a fantasy woman.”
Ella rolled her eyes in response and changed the subject. “So, you’re a doctor, too?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.
“Gynecology,” he said, the smile returning to his face. “Let me get you my business card. In case you need my services.”
Reese punched him in the arm. “Stop hitting on my date.”
Scoop’s face fell. “No! Say it ain’t so.”
“I’m afraid it is.”
“Is it possibly a case of where you just haven’t met the right man yet, or do you think it’s irreversible?”
“I’m pretty set in my ways.”
He snapped his fingers. “Well, as I’m sure you already realize, Reese is quite a catch. I’ve known her since high school, and if you need any references or that sort of thing, I can supply them.”
Reese held up her cup to toast him. “Thanks, Scoop. You’re not so bad yourself.”
“High school, huh? That’s a long time.”
“Not only high school, but college and medical school, too. He followed me around for years.”
“And now we work at the same hospital.”
The word “college” got Ella’s attention. “Speaking of college, I recently started at PMU,” she said, and told him about her new position. “Maybe I will take that card. We can have lunch while I describe all the wonderful things your alma mater is doing.”
“If you’re looking for a donation, you should save your breath. Wife number one has most of my money, and wife number two is doing a good job at spending the remains. At the rate I’m going, I’ll be lucky to put my kids through college.”
Ella had to laugh. “We can still have lunch, even without your checkbook. You can give in other ways.”
“Maybe you can help out with the blood drive,” Reese suggested.
“When is that? Soon, right?”
“Yes, the first week in October. I’ll text you.”
“I haven’t heard about the blood drive,” Ella said. “What’s that about?”
“Every year I give a lecture to the pre-med students about blood, and we talk about all kinds of things. Typing, blood-borne diseases, the structure of hemoglobin. Whatever. Then they all help. We try to make it fun, with a vampire theme for Halloween. It’s good experience for them, and it’s good for the school and for humankind as well. Everybody wins.”
“It sounds wonderful. Why don’t I know about it?”
Reese shrugged. “It’s not that big a deal, just the pre-med club. It’s not a big alumni event or anything like that. We just give blood, not money,” she added with a wink.
Ella sipped her drink to hide her laugh, while Scoop moved in and put his arm around Reese’s shoulders. “Don’t let her modesty fool you. It is a big deal, for the students who help organize it and for the community.”
Ella could sense Reese’s discomfort at the attention, so she changed the subject. “There’s someone here you might know.”
Reese jumped in. “Mrs. Gates is here. Come say hi.”
Scoop’s cheerful expression turned instantly. “She hates me.”
“She does not.”
“She thinks I was trying to bed her daughter.”
“You were trying to bed her daughter.”
Scoop grinned sheepishly.
“Sounds complicated,” Ella said as she shook her head.
Scoop and Reese exchanged a glance before Scoop shook his head and turned. “I’d better get this over with,” he said, before handing Reese a large gift bag. “It’s not for you,” he deadpanned.
“Here, give her some punch,” Reese said and handed him the extra glass.
Ella watched him, giving Reese time to elaborate about Scoop. Instead, she greeted the next party guest. “Hi, Lucky. Be careful, Ella. I don’t have a spare shirt for you today.”
Ella turned to the startled face of the man who’d so rudely spoiled her shirt at the golf tournament. He’d never even sought her out to apologize, and she hadn’t been able to get the stains out of her shirt. If he wasn’t an alum, she would have sent him the bill for replacing it.
“Hi, Ms. Townes,” he said. “I have something for you.” Reaching for his wallet, he pulled out the folded piece of paper that served as the Pocono Farms Pro Shop gift certificate. “I want you to have this, so you can buy a new shirt. And this is for Cass,” he said as he handed a card to Reese.
Glancing at the paper, Ella felt embarrassed by the thoughts she’d been entertaining, and she shook her head. “I can’t accept this. It wasn’t a two-hundred-dollar shirt.”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is I did something stupid, and you handled it so well. If I was you, I would have let a few f-bombs drop.”
“Well…” Ella said, and both he and Reese laughed.
“It’s a nice gesture, really, but I couldn’t.”
“I’m going to insist, so you should take it. Besides, it’s not my money. I won it.”
Reluctantly, Ella took the paper. “Thank you very much, Mr. Lucci.”
“I think you’re going to win this election, Lucky. You’ve become a real politician.”
Ella saw his cheeks color, but then he smiled. “Do you think so?”
Seeing Ella’s confusion, Reese explained. “Lucky is running for county commissioner in the November election.”
Ella held up her glass. “He certainly has my vote.”
They laughed, and Reese pointed him toward Sophie Gates. Lucky bit his lip. “I wasn’t going to say anything…but how’s the investigation going?”
Apparently, he hadn’t heard the rumors, and Reese chose not to enlighten him. “No news, I think. How’s the family?” she asked, quickly changing the subject.
“They’re wandering around somewhere. Carrying campaign posters! I’ll catch you later,” he said and wandered off toward the fire, where Sophie was chatting with Scoop Timlin.
“Oh, here comes Doug,” Reese said.
Ella looked up to see a sandy-haired man pulling a little girl on each arm. “If you don’t wise up, we’re going home, right now. I don’t care if we get any cake or not. Now stop whining.”
The venom in his words nearly knocked Ella over, and she saw Reese’s eyes fly open wide. “Hey, guys, what’s going on? Are you having a good time?”
One of the girls shook her head. “Daddy says we can’t do the pumpkin cannon because it costs too much money.”
Ella watched his face grow red, and she hoped h
e didn’t take his anger out on the children.
Reese came to the rescue. “Well, it’s a good thing I have these free coupons for the pumpkin cannon.”
Both girls’ faces brightened, and their father’s crimson glow faded. “Wow! Thanks, Dr. Reese,” one said as she reached for a ticket.
“You’re welcome. Would you like to do it one time or two?” she asked.
“Two!” they screamed, and Reese handed over the four tickets. “How about your dad? Should I give him a ticket, or was he a bad boy?”
“Well, he is a little cranky today,” the taller girl said. Reese and Ella both chuckled, and to her relief, Doug did as well.
“Go get something to eat,” Doug ordered them, and they looked up sheepishly before heading deeper into the tent.
“I’ll help them,” Reese said. “Doug, I’d like you to talk to Ella. She’s looking for a house.”
At the mention of potential business, Doug’s demeanor changed completely. A suave salesman replaced the impatient father.
“Doug Dewar,” he said as he held out his hand, and Ella reluctantly shook his, unsure of him. But he was Reese’s friend, and Sophie was considering using him, so she figured she’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Have you been working with anyone?” he asked.
“No,” she said, and then to her delightful surprise, he rattled off a stream of facts and questions that indicated he was quite knowledgeable about his profession. In the five minutes it took Reese to feed the girls, he’d given her a ton of information about the local real-estate market, where the good deals could be found, and which neighborhoods to avoid. As his daughters reattached themselves to him, one on each leg, he seemed much less stressed than he had been earlier. With a smile on his face, he handed her a business card. “I’ll be happy to help you find your dream house, Ella. Just call me.”
“What time’s the cake?” he asked Reese.
“Around three.”
“See you then,” he said.
“Let’s check on Mrs. Gates,” Ella said after Doug and his family left. Chris Ryan and some others had taken seats by the fire, and a few kids were weaving through the trees in a game of tag. After greeting the newcomers and introducing Ella, they flanked Sophie on the bench in front of the fire. “What can I get you?” Reese asked.
