Love Gently Falling

by Melody Carlson

  He smiled. “I thought you made a rather graceful recovery.”

  “Only because you saved my bacon.” She made a relieved sigh. “Thanks.”

  “I only saved you after I spooked you. Stupid move on my part.” He reached over to push a strand of hair away from her face. “Sorry.”

  “I was getting tired,” she admitted. “I’d been going at it pretty good for an hour. I was probably an accident just waiting to happen.”

  “Can I join you in a break?” he asked with hopeful eyes.

  “Sure.” She nodded eagerly.

  “I’m guessing you haven’t had dinner yet.” He rested his hand on her back as they exited the rink.

  “As a matter of fact, I haven’t,” she confessed. “Other than a few appetizers, I haven’t had lunch, either.”

  “It’s late enough, we might be able to get a table at Noah’s Ark.”

  Before long, they had turned in their skates and were on their way up the escalator. “How did you get the old guy to let you in?” she asked Johnny.

  “On Ice is one of my accounts. I’d been invited.”

  As they strolled down the mall, he asked about her day and she told him all about her mom’s wonderful reaction as well as the sneak peek party. “And we’ve got a full day of appointments booked for tomorrow. And lots more for the rest of the month.”

  They were soon seated at a table in Noah’s Ark. Once again, there were candles and tablecloths, and it didn’t quite seem like the same café. But Rita was so happy to be here with Johnny that she wanted to pinch herself.

  “What a happy coincidence,” she declared, “meeting you like that at the ice rink. Especially since it wasn’t officially opened.”

  “I have to confess that it wasn’t completely serendipitous. I knew you were down there,” he said. “I spoke to Marley a little while ago.”

  “Oh…?”

  “So bumping into you wasn’t a true coincidence.” He chuckled. “Well, not that I meant to bump into you. Not like that anyway.”

  “Well, I was hoping I’d get to talk to you before I went back to California,” she admitted after their orders were taken.

  “When do you leave?”

  “My flight’s Monday morning—early. And tomorrow I’ll be doing hair all day. And then Sunday’s the big grand reopening celebration. So I’m glad I ran into you tonight.”

  He smiled. “Me, too.”

  As much as Rita longed to keep their conversation light and bright and upbeat, she was distracted by something. Finally, she just blurted it out. “Zinnia paid me an unexpected visit.”

  His brows lifted. “She did?”

  “Yes…and she was rather forthcoming…” Rita arranged her words carefully. “I mean, about her relationship…with you.”

  “Forthcoming? About me? What do you mean?”

  “Well, she’s obviously very into you, Johnny.” She made a half smile. “Can’t blame her for that. But I was a little disturbed when she informed me that you’d repeated something I’d said to you the other night. Something I thought I’d said in confidence.”

  He frowned. “I only told Zinnia that I thought you ladies had some old unresolved issues. I didn’t go into any detail whatsoever, Rita. Mostly I was just trying to get Zinnia to own up to her part of the problem. The truth is she seemed slightly obsessed with the idea that you were trying to ruin her business.” He made a rueful smile.

  “I thought it might’ve been something like that,” Rita confessed in relief. “But I just wanted to hear it from you.”

  “That’s how it happened. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Zinnia might twist it around. Her perceptions aren’t necessarily reality.”

  Rita just nodded.

  “I try to remain on congenial terms with all my cleaning accounts,” he continued. “I want to treat them like friends. But sometimes it gets complicated.”

  “You mean like when the women get overly interested in you?”

  He shrugged. “There’s a fine line. And I told Zinnia that she had crossed it.”

  “Oh…”

  Suddenly the conversation ceased, and they both just sat there looking across the table at each other, saying nothing, just gazing into each others’ eyes. It was a long, slightly breathless sort of moment, and Rita got the impression Johnny was about to say something important. But that was just when Rita noticed a pair of familiar women entering the café.

  “Don’t look now.” She tipped her head toward the entrance. “But Zinnia and Marley are here. Looks like they’re headed our way. Déjà vu.” She chuckled.

  “Let’s not invite them for dessert this time.”

  “Deal,” she whispered.

  “Hello, kiddos.” Zinnia’s tone seemed borderline snotty. “How was the ice rink?”

  “Nice,” Johnny said lightly.

  “I’ll bet.” Zinnia glared down at Rita.

  “Did you even remember how to skate?” Marley asked with a grin, apparently unaware of the awkward dynamics developing here.

  “Pretty much,” Rita said. “I was just quitting when I bumped into Johnny.”

  “Literally,” Johnny added, making Rita giggle.

  “Do you still need a ride, Rita?” Marley asked.

  “I can take her home,” Johnny said quietly.

  “I’ll bet you can,” Zinnia retorted.

  Hoping to lessen the tension, Rita explained about being without a car. “I didn’t even figure it out until closing time.”

  “It’s not out of my way to drop you off,” Marley assured her.

  “Thanks.” Rita gave Marley a stiff smile, wishing she could tip her helpful friend off, and let her know that she was happy to ride with Johnny. “But we might not be finished eating by the—”

  “No problem,” Marley said obliviously. “We haven’t even ordered yet.”

  “Come on.” Zinnia glowered at both of them as she grabbed Marley by the arm. “Let’s get our table.”

  “Wow,” Johnny said quietly. “If looks could kill.”

  “The coroner would be on his way.”

  “I have a feeling I’m about to lose my Zinnia’s account.” Johnny chuckled as if this was of little concern, but Rita was not so sure. Zinnia was not the kind of person you wanted for an enemy. Of course, once Rita was out of the picture, Zinnia might cool off. Eventually.

  “I’m so sorry,” Marley said for the umpteenth time. “I feel like such an imbecile. I honestly had no idea what was going down tonight, Rita. I thought you and Johnny were just friends. I really did.”

  “I know. I was trying to make myself think the same thing,” Rita admitted. “And, honestly, it would’ve been easier on everyone—especially Zinnia—if I still believed that.”

  “But you don’t, right?”

  “I can’t deny there’s a strong attraction…”

  “And you think it’s mutual?”

  “I don’t know…maybe…not that it matters.”

  “Because you’re leaving on Monday?”

  Rita nodded sadly. “I’ve got to get back to my life. I’ve stayed so long that my job could be at stake.”

  “But what about Johnny?” Marley sighed in a romantic sort of way. “He’s obviously into you. I should’ve figured that out when he came by my shop to ask about your whereabouts tonight. But I assumed it was something in regard to cleaning, you know, for the grand reopening party. Plus I was distracted with a customer at the time.”

  “At least you told him where to find me.”

  “I guess. But then I stupidly walk up to your table—with Zinnia.” Marley groaned. “How lame was that?”

  “You didn’t know what was going on.”

  “Well, I knew how Zinnia felt about Johnny. And I should’ve known, based on the snarky things she’s been saying about you lately, that she’s extremely jealous. Seriously, I thought she had changed. But I’m starting to wonder. You should’ve heard her after we sat down at our table. I had no idea she still had that kind of mouth on he
r.”

  Marley pulled into the driveway at Rita’s parents’ house. “Well, at least Johnny gets it now,” Rita said. “He’s seen some of Zinnia’s true colors.”

  “And she’s got plenty.”

  “I feel relieved to know he’s not interested in her.” Rita reached for her handbag. “Talk about a bad match.”

  “I really am sorry that I didn’t—”

  “It’s okay, Marley.” She patted Marley’s shoulder. “It’s probably for the best. I mean, it’s not like Johnny and I could’ve figured this whole thing out during the short drive over here. Not that there’s anything to figure out. Besides that, I’m pretty worn out from today.”

  “If I don’t see you tomorrow, I’ll see you on Sunday,” Marley called as Rita got out. “At your reopening party.”

  Rita waved. “Thanks for the ride.” As she went into the house, she replayed the moment on the ice—when Johnny had come up from behind, when he had caught her. She was well aware that she was not petite. Nothing like Zinnia… And she knew it took a big, strong guy to keep her from falling like that. A guy like Johnny.

  Chapter 15

  Saturday passed in a happy blur of activity. It was wonderful to see the salon bustling with activity, with all four hairdressers busily attending to clients. “You’re going to have to hire more help,” Rita told Charlene as the two of them took a quick break in the back room. “Melinda, for starters. And then maybe her friend, too.”

  “Zinnia will throw a fit.”

  “Maybe…unless her business slows down enough that she doesn’t need so many hairdressers.”

  “And you think she won’t throw a fit about that?”

  Rita considered this. “You’re probably right.” Suddenly she remembered something her last appointment had inquired about. “But there might be a way we could attempt to smooth things out with her.”

  “Really?” Charlene looked skeptical.

  “We are strictly a hair salon,” Rita pointed out. “That’s the way Mom wants it. But some of our clients are interested in manicures and other services. What if we worked out a deal with Zinnia? We could promise to send them her way…maybe even keep some of her business cards here…or schedule our clients’ hair appointments to mesh with appointments at Zinnia’s.”

  “In exchange for what?”

  Rita shrugged. “Goodwill?”

  Charlene laughed as she set her coffee mug in the sink. “I suppose it would be worth a try.”

  “I think Mom would like it,” Rita said as she tossed her empty water bottle in the trash. “She actually likes Zinnia.”

  Charlene wrinkled her nose. “There’s no one your sweet mother does not like.”

  “I guess we could all take lessons from her.”

  For the remainder of the day, while Rita was washing, cutting, and styling hair, she toyed with the idea of trying to get along with the salon upstairs. And she realized that once she was out of the picture and her mom came back to work, it might actually be doable.

  By quitting time, Rita was exhausted. She was thankful that tomorrow’s grand reopening wouldn’t involve any hair appointments. As she went outside to the car, she remembered the couple of times that Johnny had parked his big red pickup back here. She peered up and down the lane, but there was no sign of it or him. And she was too tired to be concerned.

  On Sunday morning, Rita slept in. The reopening party wasn’t scheduled until one, and she decided to use this luxurious leisure time to catch up with some of her own beauty treatments. She knew that her mom didn’t care to attend today’s party, and she didn’t blame her for that. If Rita could’ve opted out of the festivities, she would’ve gladly done so. Especially knowing that she’d have a long flight tomorrow—and then it would be back to the old grindstone on Tuesday. What a way to use her vacation leave.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Richard called out when she came into the kitchen. “I got some of my heart-shaped flapjacks left here, if you’re interested.”

  Still in her bathrobe and an old pair of her mom’s fuzzy slippers, she came over to admire her dad’s culinary skills. “I almost forgot about these.” She picked up a lopsided golden heart and took a nibble. “Yum. Count me in.”

  “Your mom and Ricky already ate.” Her dad filled a plate for her. “But I wanted to make sure there were some left for you.” He set it in front of her. “Coffee?”

  “Please.” She gave him an appreciative smile.

  “I want you to know how much it means to your mom and me, what you did for the salon, Rita.” He set a chipped mug on the table. Decorated with a big pink heart that said I LOVE YOU, she remembered how she’d painted it at a ceramics shop back when she was about ten—then given it to her mom on Valentine’s Day.

  “I can’t wait for you to see it.”

  “Ricky showed me some photos on his phone last night. It looks great.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m so proud of you, sweetie.”

  “You need to come by and see it,” she told him. “Maybe you could swing by the reopening party today.”

  “I suggested that to your mom, promising that we wouldn’t stay long, and she sounded up for it.”

  “Great!”

  Richard sat down across from her with his coffee. “I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow, Rita. It seems like you just got here. You’ve been so busy with the salon. And I’ve been so busy with work and helping your mom. Well, it just went by too fast.”

  “I know. But maybe it’ll motivate you to bring Mom out to California.” She held up her coffee mug like a toast. “And with as much business as Hair and Now is going to get, here’s to you being able to afford it, too.”

  He clicked his mug against hers. “Here’s to it.”

  She filled him in on some of the recent developments at the salon, saying how it would be necessary to hire more hairdressers soon. “I think we could have all eight stations running by summer.”

  “And hopefully your mom will be ready to go back by then…or soon.”

  “She seems to be recovering…if she sticks with her rehab.”

  “Well, you’ve given her motivation, Rita.” Her dad sighed. “Thank you.”

  The reopening party, thanks to Ricky handing out more flyers to people who were attending the opening of On Ice, was even busier than Rita had expected. And when her parents popped in, just an hour before it was supposed to end, it was fairly crowded. “I think it’s a success,” she whispered in Donna’s ear.

  “Thanks to you,” her mom mumbled back.

  Rita hugged her. “Thanks to you, too,” she said. “Remember this was originally your dream.”

  Donna smiled with teary eyes. “Our dream.”

  Finally, the food and champagne were gone and the last guests had just exited, so Rita took this opportunity to lock the door. She was just starting to clean up when she heard someone in the back room. Thinking it was someone who’d been locked in, she hurried to see. “Johnny!” she exclaimed.

  “Sorry to startle you.” He removed the trash bag from her hand. “But this isn’t your job, Rita.”

  “I know. But it’s Sunday and I know we’re not scheduled for cleaning—”

  “You are tonight.” He smiled. “You look very pretty.”

  She glanced down at the magenta dress she’d worn for the party. “I was trying to be festive.”

  “Perfect for Valentine’s Day. But I’m not sure about skating.”

  “Skating?”

  “Don’t you want to? I mean, especially after I cut your time short the other night.”

  “Sure,” she said eagerly. She looked back down at her dress, thankful she’d chosen this one, with its fuller longer skirt, instead of the short fitted red number she’d almost worn. “And I think this will be just fine for skating.”

  “Will you be warm enough?”

  “As long as I keep moving.”

  Before long, they were out on the ice—along with about a hundred other people. But it was
fun and, thanks to her practice the other night, she felt like she was in top form. “You’re a good skater,” she told Johnny as they skated side by side with arms linked together.

  “So are you,” he said. “And thanks to your lovely long legs our strides seem to match.”

  She nodded, feeling the warmth rising in her cheeks. “Oh, look at that!” She pointed to a heart-shaped ice sculpture that was illuminated with lights that made it look pink. “It’s so beautiful.” And suddenly she remembered the dream she’d had—three weeks ago—and it felt almost as if she were reliving it now. “So amazing.”

  Johnny nodded. “And romantic.”

  “Yes…it is.” She got another warm rush, followed by a slightly dizzy and lightheaded feeling. “It’s exquisite,” she murmured, tightening her hold on his arm and hoping she wasn’t about to faint.

  They made several more laps around the rink and then Johnny pointed upward to the skylights three stories above. “Look, it’s starting to snow.”

  She stared up in wonder. “I’d been wanting it to snow!” she exclaimed. “Ever since I got here. It’s been so cold…but no snow.”

  “Well, it’s coming down now.” He guided her to the edge of the rink so they could watch it falling.

  “So beautiful.” She shook her head. “It makes me sad.”

  “Sad?” Johnny frowned.

  “Because I have to leave tomorrow.”

  “Oh…” He nodded sadly.

  She gazed across the magical rink, marveling at how lovely the ice looked, illuminated by the pastel tinted lights. “It’s all so perfect…so beautiful—” She let out a little gasp. “It’s just like I dreamed!”

  “You dreamed about this?”

  She took in a steadying breath as she studied the ice. “Well, not exactly. But I did have an ice-skating dream…while I was still in California.”

  “Look!” Johnny pointed upward again.

  “The balloons are falling!” She watched as pink and red balloons tumbled down from the top floor of the mall. Skaters laughed and dodged the balloons as they bounced on the ice. Children squealed with delight trying to capture them. And soon the ice rink turned into a lively pool of pink and red balloons.