“Take your time driving, no reason to rush getting there. And just be you, Jobe. You’re a good guy. She’ll see that,” Daniel said.
“And you smell nice, too,” Maverik said. “Give us a sugar before you go,” he teased, batting his eye lashes.
Everybody laughed, even Jobe, before he headed out of the house. “I shouldn’t be too late. You’ll let Goldy and Ms. Sadie know?” he asked from the doorway.
“We’ll let them know when they get home from the PTA meeting at Daisy’s school,” Kaid answered.
“Thanks,” Jobe called before he walked out onto the porch and pulled the front door closed behind himself.
He started down the steps to the yard where the work truck he drove was parked, but hesitated when he saw Bam leaning against his antique, cherry-red pickup truck.
“Thought maybe you’d like to show up in style,” Bam said, grinning at him.
“Huh?” Jobe said, walking over toward Bam.
Bam tossed him the keys. “Make sure she sees you pull up in it. Girls love this truck.”
“Seriously? You’re going to let me drive your truck?” Jobe asked.
“Why not? Everybody else does. You're one of us. And you’re trying to impress your girl. Just don’t wreck her,” Bam said, strolling toward the porch.
“This is going to be awesome,” Jobe said excitedly, rushing to get in the truck.
“It’s always brought me luck. And Bane, too. It’ll do the same for you.”
“Thank you so much, Bam.”
“You’re welcome. Have fun.” Bam grinned to himself when he heard the rumble of the engine as Jobe started the truck. He paused in the doorway and watched as Jobe drove down the drive to the main highway. He smiled again as he went inside and closed the door behind himself, knowing how Jobe felt driving away in the antique truck. It was a special truck, and it was perfect for a special night, and a special girl.
“You let him take your truck?” Maverik asked, as Bam walked back into the kitchen.
“Yup,” Bam answered.
“He must have been on cloud nine driving out of here,” Kaid said.
“He was feeling pretty special,” Bam agreed.
“So, you think she’s special enough to deserve the red truck?” Daniel asked.
“I do. I got a special feeling about Jobe and Maggie Mae. Don’t know her other than seeing her here and there, but the idea of her seems to make him happy. And I got a special feeling about it,” Bam said.
“Maybe we could invite her to the bonfire,” Maverik said.
“That’s a great idea. We’ll have him invite her,” Kaid agreed.
“Just have to have Daniel light it before she gets here. Don’t think she’s ready for a fire breathing Dragon, yet,” Maverik said.
Chapter 5
Jobe pulled up and parked outside the diner Maggie Mae and her parents were supposed to be having dinner in. He smiled when he got out and looked around. He’d been able to park front and center and he and Bam’s truck were easily seen through the plate glass windows in the front of the diner. He walked toward the building and pulled the door open, knowing he was supposed to be there and run into them accidentally, so he stared at the menu on the wall as though trying to decide what he wanted.
“Jobe?” he heard a man’s voice say.
Jobe looked around and found Mr. Chauvin. “Mr. Chauvin. How are you?”
“I’m good. You here alone?” Mr. Chauvin asked.
“Yes, sir. Just came to get a quick bite to eat,” Jobe answered.
“Why don’t you join us?”
“I don’t want to intrude, sir,” Jobe answered.
“No intrusion at all. You know my daughter don’t you?” Mr. Chauvin asked. “And this is my wife.”
“Hello, Maggie,” Jobe said, smiling at the pretty girl sitting at the table with her parents. “Ma’am,” Jobe said, turning his attention to Maggie’s mother.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the woman said, smiling kindly at him.
“Here, have a seat. No reason to eat alone,” Mr. Chauvin said.
“Well, if you’re sure,” Jobe answered.
“Absolutely. Sit right here,” Mr. Chauvin said, indicating the empty chair beside Maggie.
“That’s some truck you’re driving,” Mr. Chauvin commented.
“Yes, sir. That’s my Uncle Bam’s truck. He let me drive it tonight because my work truck is already all loaded down for work tomorrow.”
“Very kind of him. That’s an impressive truck.”
“It is. I hope to have one like it someday.”
“Then I’m sure you will,” Mr. Chauvin answered. “Surprised to see you alone tonight. No special girl to come to dinner with you?”
“No, sir. I’m not dating anyone seriously,” Jobe answered. “And my family are all back at home for red beans and rice Monday night dinner and I just didn’t want red beans tonight.”
“Not one of my favorite meals either,” Mrs. Chauvin said.
“We’re celebrating Maggie Mae’s birthday tonight,” Mr. Chauvin explained.
“Happy Birthday, Maggie,” Jobe said, looking at her.
“Thank you, Jobe,” she answered, smiling brightly at him.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“Eighteen,” she answered proudly. “You?” she asked.
“Nineteen, about to turn twenty in a few months,” Jobe said.
The waitress came over with another place setting for Jobe and asked what he wanted for dinner.
“Just a burger,” he said.
“No, bring him a T-Bone. You like potatoes?” Mr. Chauvin asked.
“Yes, sir, but…”
“And a baked potato with all the fixings,” Mr. Chauvin said to the waitress. Then he looked at Jobe. “Rare, medium rare, well done? How do you like it?”
“You may as well give in and have a steak, you won’t win this one,” Maggie told him.
“Medium, please,” Jobe answered, grinning at Mr. Chauvin.
Maggie watched Jobe as he spoke to the waitress, telling her what he wanted to drink and the salad dressing he preferred. She sighed just listening to his voice and watching him speak with the waitress and her parents. She’d been infatuated with him for weeks. She’d known of him for much longer, since they’d gone to the same school, but he’d been a year ahead and had been a loner his last few years after his parents died. She’d only recently become aware of him again since seeing him on one of her father’s inspections, and had been obsessed ever since.
She watched as he reached for a dinner roll and spread butter on it before offering it to her.
“Thank you,” she said, accepting the roll and nibbling at it as he spoke to her father and buttered another roll for himself.
He’d certainly grown up well. Light brown hair, beautiful brown eyes, tanned skin, wide shoulders and he’d gotten so tall! He’d always been so polite, too, and apparently still was.
“So, tell me about Kaid. How’d you get involved with his construction company. I thought he only hired family,” Mr. Chauvin said.
“He does, sir,” Jobe answered. “My parents died when I was sixteen. One of Kaid’s family members found out I was living on the street. They insisted I live with them, and took me home. Kaid and his family all accepted me, took me right in. Goldy and Ms. Sadie adopted me — literally. I’ve called them family ever since.”
“They’re good people,” Mr. Chauvin said. “Even that Maverik.”
Jobe chuckled. “Yeah, he’s a handful, but there’s nobody more loyal.”
“Maggie Mae tells me that you went to the same school she did,” Mrs. Chauvin said.
“I did. I was a year ahead of her, though,” Jobe said.
“You knew me then?” Maggie asked, surprised. “I had no idea you even knew I existed.”
Jobe smiled at her shyly. “’Course I did. You were the prettiest girl in school and always had a boyfriend, so I just never tried to talk to you.”
“Oh my gosh! I can�
��t believe you noticed me and never said a word!”
Jobe shrugged. “I was living on the street, and then I was trying to prove myself by earning my way with Kaid and my new dad. I didn’t have anything to offer you, or anybody else at that time. So, I just kept to myself.”
Maggie looked into Jobe’s eyes. “But you do now, and you did then, too, even if you couldn't see it. You should have talked to me.”
As they stared at one another, Mr. Chauvin winked at his wife and she winked back. He’d been right, there was something between them.
Their meals were delivered to their table, and the rest of the evening passed pleasantly while the four of them visited and got to know one another.
“Well, that’s it for me,” Mr. Chauvin said, pushing his chair back from the table and patting his rounded belly. “I over did it.”
“What about dessert? At least a slice of cake. It’s my birthday!” Maggie exclaimed.
“You know, you’re right. I think I’ll get a piece of cheesecake to take home for later. You want a slice, Maggie Mae?” her daddy asked.
“No, I want to eat it here with candles and all,” she complained.
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly eat another bite right now,” Mr. Chauvin said. “What about you, dear?” he asked his wife.
“I’m very full as well. Let’s just get a slice or two to take home for later,” she answered, picking up on his lead that he wanted to leave now and leave Jobe and Maggie to themselves.
“Mom!” Maggie exclaimed, unbelieving of the fact that they didn’t want to have birthday dessert with her.
“I can take her for dessert over at Joanne’s,” Jobe offered, looking at her father. “I mean, if you’d like to,” Jobe amended, meeting Maggie’s gaze, then looking back at Mr. Chauvin.
“I’d like that,” Maggie said, smiling shyly.
“Well, that’s settled, then,” Mr. Chauvin said. “Come along, dear, let’s pay the bill and head on home.”
“Oh, no, sir. Please allow me to pay for dinner,” Jobe said, getting to his feet.
“Absolutely not. You’re my guest tonight,” Mr. Chauvin answered.
“But, sir, I’m prepared to pay for dinner. I expected to,” Jobe tried to explain.
“Then get over it, it’s not happening tonight. Now, you go take my daughter for her dessert, and we’re going to handle the bill and get on home.”
Jobe looked at the bill in Mr. Chauvin’s hand, then toward the table covered with the remains of their meals. “Okay. But, the next dinner is on me.”
“If you insist, son, that’ll work just fine,” Mr. Chauvin said.
“I insist. I look forward to it,” Jobe said.
He looked down at Maggie and held out his hand. “You ready for dessert?” he asked.
“I am,” she answered, smiling so widely she couldn’t have stopped if she’d wanted to.
Jobe held her hand with his right hand and helped her stand, while he pulled her chair out with his left.
“Mr. Chauvin, Ma’am,” he said, “thank you very much for dinner and for allowing me to escort Maggie Mae to dessert at Joanne’s. I’ll have her home before 11:00P.M.”
“We’ll see you then,” Mr. Chauvin said, shaking Jobe’s hand.
Mr. and Mrs. Chauvin watched as Jobe led Maggie from the diner, pausing to open the door for her, then making it a point to walk beside her on the outside of the sidewalk as they headed down a few blocks on foot to Joanne’s Goodies and Books. Mr. Chauvin looked over at his wife. “That is the kind of young man she should be dating.”
“He’s so respectful, and seems so kind and well mannered,” Mrs. Chauvin said.
“He is. The boy has been through a lot in his young life. Goldy was telling me about him shortly after he moved in with them. I’ve watched him work his way up from part time help around the build sites, to actually running the single family home builds. He was always a good kid, and now he’s an even better young man.”
“I’d say you made the right decision, bringing him in here this evening,” Mrs. Chauvin said.
“How about getting that cheesecake like we said, and head on home for a few hours alone?” Mr. Chauvin asked.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Mrs. Chauvin answered.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Jobe pulled the door open and at the sound of the bell, Joanne looked up from behind the counter. “Well, hello there, Jobe,” she called out.
“Hello, Ms. Joanne.”
“What brings you in here this evening?” she asked.
“We came for birthday dinner dessert,” he said, placing his hand on the small of Maggie’s back to guide her toward the display case. “This is Maggie, and it’s her birthday today.”
“Well, hello, Maggie. Happy birthday, honey. We have all kinds of goodies, and I have candles, too. So, what would you like?” Joanne asked.
“Oh, my goodness, it all looks so good,” Maggie said.
“It’s all very good,” Jobe said, nodding his head for emphasis.
“I love pastries, so something with pastry?” Maggie asked on a question.
“Okay. How about a little bit of a few things?” Joanne asked.
“I can do that?” Maggie asked.
“Sure you can. You point, and I’ll put it on a plate,” Joanne said.
“I’ll have a cherry turnover, and a napoleon, and a lemon bar…” she said. “And I think I better stop there,” she decided.
“And I’ll have whatever she was looking at and didn’t choose,” Jobe said.
“You got it. Hot chocolate, coffee, or milk?” she asked.
“Coffee, please,” Jobe answered.
“Me, too, please,” Maggie answered.
“Ya’ll go have a seat and I’ll bring it over to you,” Joanne answered.
No sooner did they get settled than Joanne was bringing their sweets and coffee. “There you go, let me know if you need anything else,” Joanne said.
Maggie looked at the plate in front of Jobe. “A cream puff, and an eclair. How did she know I was looking at those, too?”
Jobe grinned. “She always pays attention. I figured if you’re like me, you’d want to try some of everything. That’s why I told her to give me whatever you looked at and didn’t choose. I thought we could share,” he said.
“Great idea,” Maggie said.
Jobe picked up the lighter that Joanne had left on their table for the birthday candles she’d stuck in the top of each sweet treat and lit them. “Okay, you ready?” he asked.
“For?” she asked.
“Happy Birthday, to you…” he sang, until he’d finished the whole song and Maggie sat blushing profusely beside him.
“Blow them out and make a wish,” he said.
Maggie looked at the candles glowing, one sticking out of each of the items they’d chosen. She closed her eyes, then opened them and blew out all the candles.
“What did you wish for?” he asked, taking the candles out of their desserts.
“I can’t tell you, it won’t come true.”
“You sure about that?” he teased.
“I am. I can’t tell my wishes!” Maggie said.
“Alright, if you’re sure,” he said, breaking the eclair in half and handing her half to her.
“Ohhh, I’m going to gain five pounds in here tonight,” she said, taking a bite and moaning in delight at the taste of pastry cream and chocolate.
“You could gain a hundred and you’d still be beautiful,” he said, enjoying his own dessert.
Maggie stopped chewing and just looked at him.
Jobe realized what he’d said and looked up at her. “Sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have blurted that out,” he said, sitting up straight. “But, it’s true,” he added.
“Thank you, Jobe. Nobody’s ever called me beautiful before.”
“Then they’re fools. You should be told every day.”
Maggie blushed and lowered her gaze as she peeked at him through her lashes. “You’re going to spo
il me if you don’t stop talking like that.”
“Just speaking the truth,” he said.
Maggie finished her half of the eclair, then picked up her cherry turnover. “Want a taste?” she asked, holding it out for Jobe to take the first bite.
“Thanks,” he answered, leaning over to bite the turnover.
“Mmm, those are one of my favorites,” he said, chewing appreciatively.
“I love cherry anything,” she admitted, biting into the turnover, then holding it for Jobe to take another bite.
“Cherry is my Aunt Everly’s favorite. My Uncle Bam loves blueberry.”
“You should take them some,” Maggie suggested.
“You’re right. I think I will.”
It was more than an hour later, and lots of laughter and relaxing conversation, that they finally got ready to go. As they stood, Amos came over to them with two boxes. “Here you go, Jobe. Joanne packaged up some cherry and blueberry turnovers for Bam, and a few more of the ones ya’ll had tonight so Maggie could have some for breakfast.”
“Thank you, Amos,” Jobe said. “Maggie, this is Amos, he’s a friend of Kaid and our family, and he’s Ms. Joanne’s husband, too.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Amos.”
“Likewise, sweetheart,” Amos replied.
About that time Joanne came back in the dining area from the kitchen. “Did Amos give ya’ll your to go boxes?” she asked, walking over.
“Yes! Ms. Joanne, that’s so thoughtful of you!” Maggie exclaimed.
“Well, with birthday cake, there’s usually leftovers, but not so much with pastries. So, happy birthday, honey,” Joanne said.
“Thank you, Ms. Joanne,” Jobe said, hugging the woman and leaving a tip on the table along with an extra twenty to cover the extra desserts. “We’ll see ya’ll later,” he said, waving toward Joanne and Amos.
Jobe escorted Maggie out of the shop and they walked down main street back to Bam’s truck.
“They seem really nice,” Maggie said.
“They are. Very, very sweet people,” Jobe answered.
“You’re very lucky. You’re surrounded by people who love you,” Maggie said.
“Yeah, I suppose I am,” he said. He walked her around to the passenger side of the truck, then waited while she got in so he could strap her in snugly, then closed the door and hurried to the driver’s side of the truck to get in.
Halloween Treats Page 4
