What a Girl Wants

by Jennifer Snow

  “Fine. I’m in love with him,” she said, her first time admitting it to anyone but Ethan. Who would believe she’d be telling Lindsay Harper?

  Her cell phone rang in her purse, the generic ringtone, not the specific ones she’d assigned to family and friends. She thought about not answering as Amanda walked through the doors with a wave, but on the third ring, she unzipped her purse and answered the private number.

  “Hello.”

  “Bailey Sheppard?” a man’s voice asked.

  “Yes.”

  “This is insurance adjuster Phillips.”

  Her mouth went dry. Please have good news. “Hi, Mr. Phillips, I hadn’t expected your call so soon or on a Sunday.” Was a fast response from the company a good thing or a bad thing?

  “Yeah, well, I didn’t want to keep you waiting any longer,” he said, then paused.

  Bailey listened to silence. Well, come on then—don’t make me wait any longer.

  Lindsay shot her a questioning look and she shrugged in response. “Insurance adjuster,” she mouthed. Lindsay crossed her fingers. She really wasn’t as bad as everyone thought.

  “Mr. Phillips?”

  “Yes, sorry.... Didn’t mean to be dramatic. A coworker just caught my attention for a second. We had a lot of claims lately, so we are working the weekend to catch up....” He cleared his throat loudly. “So I have good news.”

  Oh, thank God.

  “Your claim went through.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Phillips. That’s great news.”

  “We will need to get some paperwork signed.... Can you meet at the garage tomorrow morning?”

  “Yes. Um...can I ask, after all the questionable circumstances, why was the claim approved?”

  “Actually, believe it or not, it had a lot to do with the letters I received from the residents over there in Brookhollow.”

  “Letters?”

  Lindsay’s smile was wide.

  “You didn’t know? I must have received fifteen letters from different people, sent in an email from a Lindsay Harper? All validated your character. I mean, it wasn’t the deciding factor by any means, but it didn’t hurt. You’ve got some great friends, Ms. Sheppard. See you tomorrow.”

  Bailey remained speechless as she disconnected the call. Lindsay had organized that support? Standing, she wrapped the other woman in a tight hug. “Thank you.”

  Lindsay struggled. “Don’t ruin my hair.”

  * * *

  ETHAN TURNED BAILEY’S motorcycle onto the gravel driveway, leaving the small freeway that ran through the center of town. She’d insisted on taking her motorcycle and he’d insisted on driving to keep the surprise of their location a little longer. Bailey had no problem sitting behind him, arms wrapped tightly around his waist. He could drive anytime. The Theatre under the Stars sign blinked as they drove past the rusting marquee announcing that evening’s movie lineup.

  Ah, the drive-in. Perfect, she loved this place. Two movies for three dollars and fifty cents. Couldn’t beat that price. Brookhollow was full of hidden gems like this old drive-in, but few people took advantage of the low-cost, nostalgic entertainment often enough.

  “Bailey, Ethan, hi!” Ginger Norris’s granddaughter, Leigh, smiled as she pushed back the window at the ticket booth. Leigh had just opened a day care next door to the Brookhollow Inn, but she was a committed movie lover and still worked the entrance booth at the drive-in on weekends.

  “Hi, Leigh,” Bailey said, reaching into her pocket.

  Ethan pushed her cash aside and handed Leigh his money instead. “It may have been a while since I was on a date, but I’m pretty sure beautiful women don’t pay for anything.”

  Bailey blushed at the compliment and Leigh said, “You guys know the rules— lights off, no honking the horn except during the intermission cartoons, concession stand is open before the movie and during intermission only. And tune your portable radio to 88.6 FM.”

  “Got it, thanks, Leigh,” Bailey said, as they continued through the gate onto the large, grassy field where cars were already lined up in front of the large screen.

  Removing his helmet, Ethan turned to face her. “Do you want to park closer to the screen or farther back?”

  “Back on the hill might be best.”

  Driving slowly, he parked the bike on the hill as she’d suggested. Multicolored outbuildings bordered the field behind them, and the concession stand was to their right. Families, teenagers and older couples formed a long line to buy popcorn, hot dogs and sodas. The smell of the warm buttered popcorn made Bailey’s stomach growl.

  “Why don’t you lay out the blanket and tune the radio while I grab some snacks?” Ethan said.

  “Would it do any good to argue?”

  “Nope.”

  “Fine. Just a hot dog with—”

  “Mustard and a diet soda. Yeah, I got it.”

  “Wow, am I that predictable?” Bailey asked with a laugh. He knew her too well.

  “You’re not. Just your food choices,” he said, walking backward down the hill toward the concession stand.

  Bailey opened his backpack and tossed the blanket onto the ground. After tuning the small portable radio to the appropriate station, she kicked off her flat canvas shoes and sat, taking in the scene before her. A few other couples stretched out on blankets nearby and a group of teenage boys tossed a football back and forth in the light of the pole lamp while they waited for the movie to start. Surrounded by the sounds of laughter and fun, she relaxed, removing her jacket and laying it over the seat of the bike behind her.

  Ethan returned moments later, arms full of popcorn, hot dogs and drinks. Reaching up, Bailey took the drinks from him and set them on the level patch of grass next to the edge of the blanket, before accepting her hot dog. Ethan removed his running shoes and sat next to her.

  “I hope this surprise location for our date is okay,” he said, before tossing a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

  “Are you kidding me? It’s perfect. I love this place.” She smiled as a memory returned. “On Friday nights when we were kids, Mom and I would get a picnic ready and some blankets and load up the car. Then the boys and I would put on our pj’s, and as soon as Dad got home from work, we’d head out. Have dinner under the open sky and watch the movies. Back then, they always featured a kid-friendly movie first, then the adult one. We’d fall asleep before the end of the first one.” Those special family moments were etched in her mind.

  “That sounds like fun,” Ethan said, moving closer and leaning back on his hands.

  His genuine, easy smile encouraged her to continue. “I remember one night, I woke up at the end of the adult movie, and when I opened my eyes, I could see my parents dancing to the credit music next to the car.” Her voice took on a dreamlike quality. “I remember thinking that it was the most romantic thing I’d ever seen.” She was quiet for a long moment, thinking about her parents and their love and passion for one another.

  Ethan remained silent, and when she glanced at him, he was studying her, a serious look in his handsome, dark eyes.

  “That’s why you came out here that night,” he said, surprising her. “The night you ran away when you found out your mom was sick. We couldn’t find you anywhere. You had the whole town scared stupid.”

  Bailey nodded slowly. She hadn’t really connected the two until now. “Yeah, I guess so. You know, you never did explain to me how you convinced your dad to let you ride along with him that night.”

  “I didn’t. I just snuck out and hid in the back of the squad car when I heard him tell Mom you were missing. I was supposed to have been in bed. Don’t you remember the Spider-Man pajamas I was wearing?”

  Bailey laughed. “No.” All she remembered about that night was feeling confused and alone and scared, and then Ethan’s reassuring
hand on hers in the back of the squad car all the way to her house. Did he remember that?

  He slid his hand across the blanket and brought her palm to his lips. Then, reaching for her waist, he lifted her from the blanket and set her between his knees, drawing her back against his chest as the screen lit up and a cartoon clock counted down the remaining thirty seconds until the first movie started.

  Setting her cup aside, she lay back and rested her head on Ethan’s chest, tilting her face toward his. She kissed the stubble along the side of his chin until he lowered his head, burying it in the curve of her neck. “Bailey,” he whispered, before leaving a trail of kisses along her neck and exposed collar bone.

  She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. One she’d waited a long time for. One she thought she’d never experience. “Yes, Ethan?”

  “I think I may be falling in love with you.”

  The words caused a ripple of delight to course through her and a small sigh escaped her lips as she hugged his arms tighter around her body. “Well, let me know when you’re sure.”

  * * *

  THE SUN WAS bright and high in the sky as Bailey pulled into the lot of the garage early the next morning. The heat rising from the concrete promised a scorcher, but the mild breeze countered its effect, creating a perfect August day. The forecast had called for rain, but the dark clouds looked to be drifting away from town. It didn’t matter—rain could pour out of the heavens and it still wouldn’t destroy her sunny mood. The night before had been magical. Everything she’d been waiting for, hoping for, was within her grasp. There was no doubting the love and affection in Ethan’s eyes the night before. No more games or mixed signals or holding back—just love.

  As she removed her helmet, she saw Mr. Henderson, owner of Decals and Designs, the local sign and promotion shop, leaving by the newly installed front door. “Good morning, Mr. Henderson,” she greeted.

  “Oh, hey, Bailey. What are you doing here?” he asked, looking a little frazzled as he approached, heading toward his bicycle parked in the lot.

  “I own the place, remember? What are you doing here?” That was the better question. Mr. Henderson had never owned a car in his life. As far as Bailey knew, he didn’t even have a driver’s license. His photo ID for the town council, where he was treasurer, was his supper club membership card.

  “Oh, well... You know...” he stammered. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead that she suspected had nothing to do with the blistering heat so much as nervousness.

  “Mr. Henderson, are you okay?”

  “Fine. I’ve gotta go,” he said, jumping onto his bicycle and pedaling away.

  What a strange little man, Bailey thought, letting herself in through the side entrance. She was amazed by the amount of work Luke’s crews had accomplished in such a short period of time. The old, burned bay doors had been replaced and now a new wall sat ready to be plastered and painted where the old wall had been torn down.

  No wonder Luke’s business did so well, Bailey thought. In the back of the shop area, two men were perched on extended ladders, installing the new mandatory sprinkler system on the metal ceiling. Despite her earlier protests, having the extra safety measure in place was a great idea, and now that the insurance claim was approved, she no longer felt the stress over the additional upgrade costs. She just hoped they never had to set the sprinklers off.

  “Bailey? What are you doing here?” Nick’s voice behind her made her jump.

  “I’m meeting the insurance adjuster here. What are you doing here?” Technically the shop was still closed, so there were no vehicles to be worked on.

  “I came in to work on Dwayne’s stock car.” A wide smile spread across his face.

  “He brought it in? When?” Bailey’s eyes widened, and setting her helmet down on the counter, she rushed toward the last bay where Dwayne’s car was parked...looking incredible. The base color was perfectly matched and the details were crisp and clean. She swung around to face Nick, who’d followed her. “You did this?”

  He shrugged. “Yeah.”

  Bailey moved closer to the car, running a hand over the metal, inspecting the work. Up close, it looked even better. His line work was perfect and the shadowing detail he’d added gave the lettering dimension and depth.

  “Does it look okay?” Nick asked, his smile fading in her prolonged silence.

  Bailey swallowed hard. In truth, it was better than okay. Nick had a real talent with an airbrush. “It’s great, Nick.”

  He let out a sigh of relief. “I know how much you hate to do cosmetic work, so I thought I’d do it for you...to make up for my messing up...well, everything else.”

  “So you were the one who did those other paint jobs last week?”

  “Yeah. Those were easy,” he said with a nod. “So about Mr. Henderson... I was hoping to surprise you, but I guess you already saw the new sign?” He looked disappointed.

  “I came in through the side door. What new sign?”

  “You haven’t seen it yet?” His face lit up.

  “No.”

  “Come with me.” He headed toward the front and she followed. She hadn’t yet ordered a new sign. Everyone knew the shop as Doug’s Motors, and she hadn’t been in a rush to change that, partly out of respect for her uncle’s legacy and also because of lack of funds. Walking across the gravel lot, she held her breath as she turned, not sure how she felt about Nick going around her to order something as important as this.

  Shading her eyes from the sun, she glanced toward the front of the shop. And did a double take. On the sign, Bailey’s Place was scribbled across the side of a bright red fifties Corvette on a black background, edged in a metallic silver paint.

  Nick came to stand beside her on the gravel parking lot. “Mr. Henderson said that if you don’t like it—”

  Bailey turned and quickly wrapped her cousin in a hug, eyes brimming with tears. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “So you like it?” He sounded relieved.

  She liked that it was her name on it more than anything, but she loved the design. “How could I not? You put my favorite car on there,” she said, turning to look at the sign again. She let out a deep breath. All the worry and frustration of the past week melted away. At that moment, life was perfect.

  The insurance adjuster’s Toyota Tercel pulled into the lot. “Hey, I have to go into this meeting, but could you do something for me?” she asked Nick.

  “Sure.”

  “I need you to make another sign for the bay side entrance,” she said, an idea forming in her mind.

  “Okay. What do you want it to say?”

  “Nick’s Detail Shop.”

  Her cousin’s mouth fell open and his eyes bulged. “For real?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you sure? I mean, I still have so much to learn about the shop.”

  “And trust me, you will. You’ll have to if we’re going to be partners.”

  * * *

  “THAT WAS QUITE the display yesterday,” Melody said, coming to stand next to Ethan on the coaching field. David and Joshua were already practicing with the rest of the soccer team. The season was coming to an end, and this would be their final regular season game before playoffs started.

  He turned to face her, surprised. Melody worked two jobs and barely had time to attend community events. “You were there?” He didn’t remember seeing her.

  “No, but the rest of the town was, including your impressionable nephews,” she chastised playfully, slapping him on the arm. “All I’ve heard since yesterday is ‘Uncle Ethan kissed Bailey for like ten minutes.’” She rolled her eyes.

  Ethan couldn’t keep the grin from his face. “It wasn’t ten minutes.” Though that didn’t sound like a bad idea. “Maybe seven...or eight.”

  “Well, I’m happy for yo
u, but I gotta say I’m a little annoyed to be left in the club all by myself.”

  “What club?”

  “The ‘brokenhearted, never falling in love again’ club. It was just me...then you joined six months ago...and now it’s only me again.”

  “Sorry, sis. Didn’t mean to leave you there alone. You know, it’s been over two years since Pat died....” He broached the subject carefully. Rarely did they talk about Melody’s late husband or the tragic accident that had happened the day he’d signed a record deal with a recording studio in New York. Despite Melody’s own vocal talents and musical ambitions, raising the boys and her two jobs—at Play Hard Sports and behind the bar at the pool hall—kept her far too busy to pursue her childhood dreams.

  “Maybe you’re right. I’ll look into scheduling a date on my next day off...which should be in 2024 when the boys move out.” She checked her watch. “You have to get this game started. I told the boys I’d stay for the first half, but then I need to get to the bar. You’ll drop them off at home to the babysitter around six?”

  “No problem,” he said, picking up a soccer ball and advancing toward his team. “Okay guys, bring it in.”

  * * *

  “HEY BAILEY,” MELODY greeted as she stood and collected her sweater and purse from the wooden bleachers.

  Bailey glanced at the scoreboard above the field. The game was tied at two with five minutes left in the first half. “Heading off to work?” she guessed. She’d always liked Ethan’s sister and she sympathized with her situation. Melody worked around the clock and was raising twin boys alone. Bailey didn’t know how she did it, but she admired her strength.

  “Yes. I’m guessing you’re not here because you’re a fan of junior league soccer?”

  “You caught me. I came to stare at your brother.”

  “Gross,” Melody said.

  Bailey laughed. “Actually, after the game we were going to grab dinner.” She’d been looking forward to it all day.

  “Oh, sorry, Bailey, I just asked him to drive the boys home to the babysitter after practice. I didn’t know you two had plans.”