by Maria Geraci
“Please hold.”
After a couple of minutes, a woman came on the line. “Ms. Donalan? This is Orla Butterfield. How are you today?”
Orla Butterfield was the agent in charge of the lease. After a few more pleasantries and making nice, the woman finally told Lauren what she needed to know. “From time to time we like to get an inspection to assess the property’s value. The owner isn’t looking to sell at the moment, but it’s always smart to know how much your property is worth.”
Lauren knew good and well who owned the property. Like most of the beach front land in Whispering Bay, it belonged to her Great-Uncle Earl, although, now that Earl was no longer capable of handling his business matters, it was his daughter Nora and her husband Vince who were in charge. She supposed she could go to them directly and ask about their intentions regarding the lease, but they weren’t close. And it was most likely just as Orla said about the whole thing being a routine assessment.
“Good to hear. I really love the place and the location is fabulous. I’d hate to have to find someplace else when my lease expires.” She paused. “As a matter of fact, I was wondering if maybe I could go ahead and extend the lease?”
“According to my computer your lease doesn’t expire for another nine months.”
“Yes, I know, but I’m talking about after that? I thought maybe, if I signed on for extra, maybe I could qualify for a price break?” It seemed unlikely, but it never hurt to ask. Rent was her largest overhead. If she could reduce that, then maybe, somehow, she could manage to squeak by and stay in business.
“I’m afraid that’s simply too far out to talk about right now. Perhaps we can renegotiate something this summer?”
“Um, yes, of course.”
“Wonderful. The inspector will be out next Tuesday at one p.m. Will that be acceptable?” And then before Lauren could say anything, the woman said, “Have a good weekend, and please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions!” She hung up, leaving Lauren staring at her phone. That seemed…awful brisk. But like Frida said, it was probably nothing. Therefore, she wasn’t going to make it into something it wasn’t.
She walked back out onto the floor room. Dhara was still assisting the girl and her mother, but there was a new customer in the shop. A tall, slender young woman wearing jeans and a button down shirt with the words Whispering Bay Animal Shelter embroidered on the front pocket was looking at a nineteen-fifties era wedding dress. The dress was a tea-length chiffon number, complete with petticoat.
Tom and Henry were in the shop, too. Seeing them side by side it was unbelievable how much alike they looked. Lauren ruffled the top of Henry’s head, but she had to reach up to do it. In a couple of years she’d probably have to be on tiptoe. “Hey, babe, how was school?”
“Good,” he said in that way boys do when they didn’t want to give out too much information. Cameron, Mimi’s son and Henry’s best friend, was wearing cologne to school, which Mimi said freaked her out a little. It would only be a matter of time before Henry discovered girls, too. If they hadn’t discovered him first, which they probably already had. “Coach canceled practice tonight. Can we get pizza for dinner?” he asked.
Lauren smiled. “Great minds think alike, bud.” She turned to Tom. “Thanks as usual for bringing him by.”
“No problem.” Tom glanced around the store, taking in the full inventory. At least today there were customers present. Or potential customers, that is. She knew what he was thinking because he’d expressed his opinion before. He was worried she wasn’t bringing in enough revenue to sustain the shop. “Business is okay?”
“Business is great!” she said, sounding overenthusiastic, causing Tom to frown. “Well, it’s getting better. I expect to turn a profit this month.” He nodded, but Lauren wasn’t sure he bought it. She wasn’t sure she would have bought it, either.
“I’m going in your office to start my homework,” Henry said. “See you later, Dad.” He and Tom high-fived each other.
Lauren expected Tom to take off, but instead he lowered his voice and said, “Henry told me about Dan’s hand. How’s Maureen doing with that?”
“She’s fine,” Lauren said. Of course, Momma wasn’t really fine, but what could anyone do about that? She once again thought about Nate’s advice. This time about the family counseling. She wished there was a way she could bring that up that wouldn’t put Momma into a tailspin. “You’re a sweetheart to ask.”
Lauren noticed that the woman who’d been eyeing the wedding dress was still in the shop, which was a good sign. “If you don’t mind,” Lauren said, nodding her head in the woman’s direction, “I think I have a customer waiting.”
“Sure thing.” Tom said his goodbyes and Lauren came up to the young woman and smiled. “It’s a gorgeous dress, isn’t it?”
The woman turned to look at her and Lauren could have sworn she seemed familiar. But Lauren didn’t remember meeting her. The woman glanced back at the dress, her light brown eyes narrowed. “I’m afraid I don’t know much about vintage clothing. Or wedding dresses for that matter.”
“This is actually a consignment,” Lauren said. “I usually don’t do those but I couldn’t have afforded this dress as part of my inventory. Not without knowing for sure that I could have sold it.” She extended her hand. “I’m Lauren Donalan.”
“Melanie Miller,” said the woman, shaking her hand. “But everyone calls me Lanie.”
“You’re Nate’s sister, aren’t you? I thought I recognized you from…high school, maybe?”
“I was a freshman when you and Nate were seniors. I voted for you for Homecoming Queen, by the way.”
Lauren laughed. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“Is there something I can help you with today?” Lauren asked, but she was beginning to get that fizzy feeling in her stomach again. And this time she couldn’t blame it on any margaritas.
“I’ll get right down to it. I’m here to check you out.” The direct way in which Lanie said that instantly reminded her of Nate. Was the whole Miller clan like this? If so, Lauren had to wonder what family dinners were like.
“Not check you out like that,” Lanie said. “Let’s just say I’m here to vet you. You have a date with my brother tomorrow night and I’m here to give you the ground rules. First off, separate cars. That way if the date goes south then there’s no weirdness on the ride home. Secondly, I’ve already arranged to pay for the meal. Drinks included. But please, try to restrain yourself. I’m not a wealthy person. Thirdly, no matter what happens, I want you to act like you’re having a good time. That’s important, okay?”
It took Lauren a few seconds to recover. “Uh, look, Lanie, I know my mother put you up to this, but I can’t imagine your brother thinks this is a good idea.” It had been what? Just five days ago that she’d called him Mr. Spock. And he’d just sat there at his desk, blinking at her through those glasses of his.
“He said he’d go, if you go.”
“He said that?”
“Yep, and for the record, look, I know Nate’s probably not your type. That was your ex in here, wasn’t it? Big muscles, blonde, blue-eyed, a regular dreamboat. Nate, well…I happen to think he’s all right, but I’m his sister, so what do I know? But he’s been publicly humiliated and even though he acts like it’s no big deal, I know this is going to fester inside him for a long time. The only way to get over a fall is to get back on the horse again. Comprende?”
“And I’m the…horse?”
Lanie cocked her head and looked at her as if she could see right through her but wasn’t sure whether or not she approved of what she saw. “Let’s face it, you’re the type of girl any guy would love to go out with. So all you have to do is smile and nod your head and make my brother look good in public so people will get that YouTube video out of their heads. And in exchange, you’ll get your mother off your back.”
Lauren must have looked startled, because Lanie laughed. “I’ve met the woman, remember? Don�
�t get me wrong, I admire that kind of tenacity, but sister, here’s a word of warning, that woman is determined to see you married again even if it kills her.”
“Warning noted. But…you’re sure Nate’s onboard with this date?”
“Positive.” Lanie reached inside her bag and handed Lauren a slip of paper. “Here are the details. Seven o’clock. Sharp. Don’t let me hear that you stood my brother up, or there’ll be hell to pay.” Lanie glared at her one final time then walked out the shop.
Geez! Nate’s sister was something all right. Lauren had to admire the way she looked after her brother. Like some avenging guardian angel. But Lanie was right. Going on this date with Nate would kill two birds with one stone. According to Lanie, Nate would reclaim some of his lost dignity, and Lauren could tell her mother that she’d given Whispering Bay’s “newest most eligible bachelor” a try.
Lauren unfolded the paper and read its contents. Oh. She was wrong about Nate’s sister. Lanie was no guardian angel. She was more like Satan’s helper.
Lauren rolled her car up in front of the valet parking podium at The Harbor House. The same two valets who’d worked last Saturday were on duty. Tall Valet ran and opened her door, took one look at her, and winced. Oh, goody. He remembered her.
“Yep, it’s me,” Lauren said. She gave him her keys and a big smile and watched in amusement as his face turned the color of an eggplant. “You take good care of my car, you hear?” she said in a sweet voice that would make Momma proud.
“Yes, ma’am!”
She smoothed down her dress, a sleeveless red poplin number with a dropped waist and pleated skirt. She’d paired it tonight with a matching jacket and pearls. Instead of blow-drying her hair, she’d let it air dry, leaving it a little wild and curly. She carefully navigated the short distance into the restaurant. Her four inch heels were a bit extreme maybe, but like last Saturday, this date gave her an opportunity to wear something she normally couldn’t in her everyday life. She’d bought the black peep toe pumps (still in their original box!) for ten dollars at a Goodwill store in Pensacola on a weekend trip last month. So while they pinched her heels just a tad, they made her legs look better than what they really were, as well as giving the illusion of height.
Lauren took a deep breath and opened the door to the restaurant.
Free food. Chance to wear the shoes.
She gave her name to the hostess who seated her at… Oh, Lanie wasn’t Satan’s helper. She was Satan. It was the same exact table overlooking the water where Nate and Jessica sat last week.
Like a perfect gentleman, Nate stood when he saw her. He wore tan dress slacks and a long sleeved blue shirt open at the collar. A much more casual look than last week, but then this was a much more casual date. Although he’d obviously been waiting for her, he looked a little surprised to see her, too. Lauren had to admit, she’d had her doubts Nate would show up tonight. After their encounter at his office, she was positive neither of them had been looking forward to this date. She vaguely wondered if Lanie had threatened him, too. She wouldn’t doubt it.
Lauren, being her Momma’s daughter, smiled at him, because she could certainly be polite, and she could fake nice all day long if she had to. It was warm in the restaurant, so she took off her jacket. Their hands accidentally touched as he helped her in her seat and a little tingle ran up her spine. Probably from nerves. What on earth were they going to talk about for the next hour? Why had she agreed to this date, again? Oh, yes. This was going to get Momma off her back.
Free food. Chance to wear the shoes.
The hostess glanced between them. She looked startled, then quickly composed herself and gave them each a menu. It was obvious she recognized them from last weekend. “You’ve both dined with us recently?”
“Very recently,” Nate said.
His dry tone made Lauren smile. Good to know there was a sense of humor somewhere beneath that stiff exterior of his.
The hostess quickly went over the drink specials then scurried off.
“It’s moments like these that make me glad I’m an only child,” Lauren said. “I take it this table isn’t a coincidence?”
“Lanie has it in her head that the only way I’m going to get past last weekend is to hop right back into the ring. Or some silly analogy like that.”
“She told me you needed get back on the horse.”
He nodded. “That’s Lanie.”
Lauren took a moment to glance around the crowded dining room. With the exception of a few servers who were openly gawking at them, most of the restaurant’s patrons were minding their own business. Or at least, pretending to. “Maybe she’s right. You have to admit, this place doesn’t hold the best of memories for either one of us.”
“Except your night isn’t available to be seen twenty-four/seven on YouTube.” He looked at her and smiled (Nate Miller smiled!) and a…dimple popped out on his cheek.
Lauren quickly glanced down at the menu. “True,” she said. “Isn’t there any way you can make them take it down?”
He shrugged. “I suppose there must be. I really haven’t had time to look into it.”
If someone had plastered an unflattering video of her on YouTube, Lauren would have made the time to investigate. But maybe Nate really didn’t care what people thought of him. In some ways, it was refreshing.
Neither of them said anything for the next couple of minutes as they perused the menu. Their server, a twenty-something-ish guy came and took their drink orders. A glass of Pinot Noir for Lauren, beer for Nate. She’d stick to one drink. Order the simplest thing on the menu. Eat half of it, have the server box the other half, then she’d thank him for a lovely evening and they’d go their separate ways. Forty-five more minutes, tops.
Their drinks, thank God, came quickly. “Have you decided what you’d like?” Their server kept a straight face but there was a twinkle in his eye that told Lauren he knew exactly what had gone done at this table just a week ago. He wasn’t rude about it…but at the same time Lauren wanted to smack that gleam out of his eye.
“Would you like an appetizer?” Nate asked her.
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary. Unless, you’d like one?”
The server said, “I can recommend tonight’s special, Coquille St. Jacques. Very tasty.”
“Sounds good,” Nate said.
“Sure, why not?” Lauren mentally tacked another thirty minutes to the meal. Thankfully, it wasn’t too horribly awkward. At least, not yet. The server left and she decided to go ahead and put it out there. “About the other day in your office, I didn’t mean to insult you. So, sorry about that. I realize you were just doing your job.”
Even though she still thought he was doing his job all wrong.
“Insult me?”
“You know, when I, um…called you Mr. Spock.”
“I didn’t realize that was an insult. But thank you for clarifying that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” Then she flushed. “That’s a joke. Of course, you realized it was an insult.”
“Lanie says my sense of humor is so dry it would shrivel up the Sahara.” He grinned and another dimple popped out on the other side of his cheek.
Nate Miller had dimples! Lauren took a big sip of her wine. The appetizer arrived and it smelled heavenly. They both dug in.
“Perhaps, you’re right,” he said. “About the Mr. Spock thing. I’ve been told my bedside manner needs improvement.”
“Who told you that?”
“Doc Morrison.”
“Ouch. What exactly did he say? If you don’t mind telling me?” Lauren asked, trying to talk as politely as possible around all that heavenly cheese drenched scallop. “This is awesome, by the way. Great selection.”
He waited till he’d finished his own scallop, then took a sip of his beer. “He told me I needed to talk to the patients more. I believe his exact words were that I needed to learn to be gentler in my approach.”
She remembered what Mimi had said at Bunco
, about how it was well known around town that the patients weren’t happy with Nate.
“He kind of has a point,” Lauren said, cringing. Their date, well, it wasn’t really a date, (more like an enforced dinner), had actually been going well there for a few minutes. He’d probably sulk now that she’d backed up Doc Morrison’s view.
He frowned. “I’ve tried, but what he’s asking is for me to change my personality to match his. I like the guy. I admire him, actually, and he’s been good to me, but I don’t know that I can do what he wants.”
Lauren found herself staring at Nate. No, not staring, but maybe looking at him for the first time ever, really. He was asking for her opinion. This wasn’t polite small talk to whittle away the time until they could go their separate ways. Maybe he really was clueless about how he came off. She wracked her brain, trying to think of something to say that would help him.
“Maybe you can start by just listening more? Paying attention to body language? That sort of thing.”
“That takes time and patients complain when they’re made to wait too long.”
They both reached for the last scallop on the plate. Lauren laughed and was going to concede to him, but he used his fork to push it to her side. “Go for it.”
“Thanks, Tramp,” she said with a giggle.
Nate blinked.
“You know,” Lauren clarified, “that famous meatball scene from Lady and the Tramp? When they both go to slurp the last meatball and he nudges it her way with his nose. It’s so cute! I love that scene.”
“Ah, right.” He looked at her funny and she felt her cheeks pink up.
Okay, so he wasn’t a Disney fan.
Lauren covered up the momentary awkwardness by slowly chewing on her scallop. She dabbed her mouth with her napkin and gingerly laid it back across her lap. “Getting back to our former conversation. Maybe you could compromise? At the end of the exam, tell the patients they have, oh, I don’t know, five minutes to discuss anything they want with you. Sometimes all anyone wants is someone to listen to them.”
