She walked into the living room, and Shawn followed. “The balcony is nice,” Shawn said as she took a seat on the opposite end of the sofa from Jill.
“I leave the doors open in the spring and fall. It’s noisy, but the breeze is nice. During Mardi Gras, I close the blinds and hang a heavy blanket over the windows to muffle the noise. This isn’t Bourbon Street, but it sees its share of traffic.” Jill took a sip of her wine. “I’m guessing that you’re not originally from here. You don’t exactly talk like you’re from Nawlins.”
“A small town outside of Cincinnati. I came here for school, and I liked it, so I stayed.” Shawn stared at the floor for a moment. “That’s not the truth, but it’s what I tell everyone. My mom tried to murder my dad when she caught him in a hotel with a hooker. Fortunately, homicide wasn’t her specialty, or throwing for that matter. She tried to toss a Molotov cocktail through the hotel room window and somehow hit the ancient courthouse next door. The building was being restored at the time, and it was the only landmark left in the town. It went up like a tinderbox soaked in kerosene. Firebug Fran went back to drinking after she was released from prison, so we don’t have much of a relationship. Of course, she and Reckless Peter are divorced now. That’s what everybody in town calls them. I thought it was probably best not to go back there after I graduated.”
Jill pursed her lips. “Are you serious?”
“You can laugh. I laugh about it…now. Back then, it was just mortifying. Needless to say, I’ve never gone to any of my high school reunions. Are you close to your family?”
“Just Rene. I love my mother, but she’s from a galaxy far, far away. Sometimes, it seems that we don’t even speak the same language. I’m a lot like my dad was, and my siblings are just like my mother. Dad passed away a few years ago, which makes the holidays particularly sucky. He was my buffer at family functions and would keep Mom off my back. She likes to nag a lot, especially if she knows she hit a nerve. Tomorrow night, I’ll make an appearance, then sneak out.”
Both of them were quiet for a moment, then Shawn said, “This is the awkward silence I’m famous for. I’m trying to think of something intelligent and thought-provoking to say, but there are just tumbleweeds blowing through my head.”
“I can help. Where do you live?”
“I have an apartment in the business district not far from here.”
Jill smiled. “Pets?”
“A cactus, his name is Sticker. He’s really low maintenance.”
“How do you know it’s male?”
“He’s twelve inches tall with a six-inch penis. My best friend, Vera, bought it for me for my birthday because she thought it was hysterical.” Shawn smiled. “It kinda is.” She held up her arms like a referee does when someone scores a touchdown. “His arms are like this, and his…appendage is sticking out there for all to see.”
“I take it Vera’s straight since she was so drawn to…Sticker.”
“Yes, she was my dorm mate in college, and we ended up getting a ratty apartment together. Vera’s a speech pathologist, she works with children who have impediments. She says her greatest desire is to marry the right man, but she only dates the ones she knows she can’t keep.”
“Sounds like a fear of commitment,” Jill said as she swirled the wine in her glass.
“I don’t think I’d describe it as a fear, more like an absolute hatred for being tied to anything. Vera won’t subscribe to any cable or phone service that requires a contract because ‘it’s too confining.’”
Jill smiled. “How do you feel about confinement?”
“I have no fear or dislike of commitment, as long as it’s with the right woman. How about you?”
“I feel exactly the same way.”
Shawn scrubbed her hands together. “Okay, so that’s out of the way. Are you ready to take a ride and admire lights?” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I didn’t mention Christmas because I know you don’t like it.”
“Thank you so much,” Jill said with a laugh.
*******
They walked to Jackson Square and sought out one of the smaller carriages. A female driver stood beside it bouncing from foot to foot to stay warm and greeted them with a smile. “Are you looking for a tour of the Quarter?”
“No, we’re locals, we’d like to see the lights,” Jill said.
The woman gazed at them for a moment with a grin. “Anniversary, right?”
Jill shook her head. “First date.”
“Cool. I’m Kay, and this is Harley, and we’d be happy to show you some lights.”
Shawn climbed into the carriage first, then held out her hand to Jill. “Oh, wow, that was chivalrous,” Kay said as she watched. “Most guys let the woman go first so they can look at her butt.”
“I’m on my best behavior.” Shawn held on to Jill’s hand as she sat, then covered her with a blanket.
“That should make up for the fact that you didn’t bring hot cocoa.” Kay shot Shawn an impish grin and climbed into her seat.
Jill held up the blanket as Shawn settled in beside her and laughed when Shawn hissed as her body met with the cold vinyl of the seat. “The cold goes right through your spine, doesn’t it?”
“I thought this was such a good idea until my butt hit the seat,” Shawn said with a tight smile. “You took it like a woman. I’m so impressed.”
“I muffled my scream with the blanket.”
“Oh, yeah, y’all are locals. People from up north find our winters balmy.” Kay waited until they were wrapped tight like a burrito and said, “Harley, let’s give the ladies a nice romantic ride.”
As the carriage began to move, Jill realized that Rene was right. The closeness caused her entire body to tingle as she wrapped her arms around one of Shawn’s. “This is cozy, I’m glad you invited me, even if my butt is an ice cube.”
“I promise a great dinner in a warm restaurant after the ride if you’re interested.”
“I’d love to have dinner with you,” Jill said as she began to warm up inside and out.
A street performer sang in front of the crowd huddled inside Café Du Monde. The smell of beignets filled the air as they slowly passed. Lights, garland, and decorations hung from the balconies and stores. Jill had passed that place a million times, but on this night, it was magical.
“I kinda feel like we’re on parade. I have the strangest compulsion to wave,” Shawn said giddily.
“It’s gotta be queenly.” Jill pulled her hand out of the blanket and mimicked the Queen of England. “It’s a subtle wave of the wrist, fingers together.”
Shawn bit her lip and laughed as she watched Jill, but people on the street waved back the same way. “I love this crazy town, especially the food.”
“Aside from the noise, that’s the only bad thing about living in this area. We used to—what’s your favorite restaurant?”
Shawn gazed at Jill for a moment. “What were you going to say?”
“It’s never good to bring up your ex on a first date.”
“Were you together for a long time?”
Jill looked away and nodded. “Let me throw out a disclaimer here. I’m not still hung up on her. We broke up two years ago, and I’ve had plenty of time to resolve my feelings.”
“How long were you together?”
Jill turned her gaze to Shawn. “You’re going to make me break the first date rule.”
“There are no rules with me, at least not on the first date.”
“Ah, what kind of rules will be imposed on the second?”
Shawn smiled. “If you don’t like the first, please don’t accept the offer of the second.”
“That falls into the first date category because I assume if you enjoy my company you’ll ask me out again tonight.”
“So technical!” Shawn said with a laugh. “I’m gonna have to watch myself with you.”
Kay steered Harley onto one of the side streets, and the sounds of the crowds and music died away. Only the steady clip-clop of
horseshoes echoed off the walls of the buildings. “Eleven years,” Jill said quietly. “And I was going to say that we used to eat out all the time because she didn’t like my cooking, and good restaurants were so close. Now you have to tell me how long you’ve been single.”
“Just over a year. We finally had to come to terms with the fact that we really didn’t have anything in common, and we were headed in separate directions.”
Jill nodded. “My ex just got tired of me, at least that’s what I gathered from the letter she left on the coffee table after she packed up her clothes and personal effects. She left one evening when I was helping Rene and her partner unload their new couch. I’m not sure if she planned her departure or if it was a knee-jerk thing. She refused my calls, wouldn’t see me when I went by her office. Eleven years just gone.”
“I’m so sorry,” Shawn said as she put her arm around Jill. “May I say something insulting about her?”
“Sure, but now that you know the story, we really don’t have to mention her again. I’d rather know more about you.”
“What would you like to know?”
“You find a genie who will grant you only one wish. You have ten seconds to answer, starting now.”
“Love, perfect love. How much time do I have left? Because I’d like to add a lifetime supply of chocolate.” Shawn inhaled sharply. “And potato chips.”
“You’re a romantic junk food junkie,” Jill said with a laugh.
Shawn held her head high. “And I’m proud of it. Now here’s one for you. Who would you rather have as your dog—Scooby-Doo or Snoopy?”
Jill stared at Shawn for a moment, then burst out laughing. “You’re nuts.” She sobered when Shawn stared at her, awaiting an answer. “Oh, dear God, you’re serious. What information can you possibly hope to glean from my answer?”
Shawn struggled not to give into her own laughter. “You have to answer first.”
“Okay.” Jill chuckled as she thought. “I’m gonna go with Scooby because he can kind of talk. Now why did you ask me that?”
“Because I couldn’t come up with anything as cool as the genie question.”
“Were you pulling my leg about being shy?”
“No,” Shawn said seriously. “It’s strange, but when I first met Vera, I felt comfortable around her in the first five minutes, which was great since I was stuck in a tiny dorm room with her and her multitude of shoes. You make me feel that way, too. I wish I’d had the courage to talk to you like this sooner.”
“Maybe it’s all about the timing. I’m starting to feel like I’m back on my feet now.”
Kay looked over her shoulder when she came to an intersection. “Did y’all notice any of the lights?”
“Oh, yeah, they were great,” Jill answered before she and Shawn sank down into the blanket and laughed.
Chapter 6
“I think this may be the last appetizer for me,” Jill said as she regarded the dish that their server had just set on the table.
Unable to make up their minds on one restaurant, they decided to have an appetizer at a few. They’d split a blackened chicken salad and a quesadilla, and now, they were trying to tackle a trio of shrimp kabobs.
“Did you leave room for beignets?”
Jill sank back in her chair and sighed. “I think that’s a second date thing. I’m gonna be miserable when we finish this.”
Shawn decided that she believed in Theo’s otherworldly abilities. She felt no timidity with Jill. Normally, it took a few dates for her to really relax and allow her personality to fully emerge. Jill sat close beside Shawn, and she fed her a piece of pineapple and shrimp.
“Good?” Shawn asked as Jill chewed slowly, then swallowed.
“Oh, man, you made a great choice, this is delicious. I’m going to be getting a lot of takeout from this place at lunchtime. And that brings me to my next question, who do you work for?”
“Josten Food Corp., all organic. My current project is combating black mold growth on sugarcane. Growers are highly competitive, so according to my contract, I’m not allowed to discuss my findings.” Shawn lowered her voice. “But I can tell you this, the water in the greenhouse sprinklers is very cold, and I always forget when they’re supposed to come on.”
“Had a few cold showers, have you?”
“I’ve learned to carry spare clothes and leave my phone in the truck when I’m in there.”
Jill skewered a shrimp with her fork and held it close to Shawn’s lips. “Are there a lot of women in your office?”
“Are you the jealous type?” Shawn asked with a smile.
Jill stuffed the shrimp into Shawn’s mouth. “I can be. How big are these women? Could I take one down if I had to?”
“You like me,” Shawn said with a silly smile.
Jill nodded. “Mm-hmm, and I’m going to beat you to the punch, Shawn Masterson. Would you like to have dinner with me again?”
“Yes, I would. What’re you doing tomorrow night?”
Jill grimaced. “That’s Christmas Eve, and I have to go to my mother’s house. I’d invite you, but I really want to see you again, and if I expose you to that, you will most certainly run away screaming. That’s one of the reasons I really don’t like Christmas, that and I miss my dad.”
“This time of year makes me miss my grandparents, too. They were the ones that kind of kept the holiday alive in my family. Now that they’re gone, it’s just Christmas cards from my folks and a phone call from my brother, but that’s about it. So I totally understand how you can resent this time of year.”
“What are you doing on Christmas?” Jill asked as she held another shrimp close to Jill’s mouth.
Shawn met her gaze. “Whatever you want me to.”
Jill fed her the shrimp. “Excellent answer.” She cocked her head. “I’ve never seen you wear the earrings I repaired.”
Shawn inhaled sharply, wondering if she should admit that she’d gotten desperate when she ran out of jewelry to break. The earrings were actually Vera’s, and she’d “accidentally” stomped on them until one of the sapphires fell out. She grabbed her throat and blinked, unable to make a sound. The back of Jill’s chair hit the floor with a loud clang, then the whipping began.
“She’s choking,” Jill yelled as she beat Shawn on the back. “Somebody do the hemlock, I have no idea how! Okay, people! Don’t just stare at me. This is our first date, and it’s really going well, so I’d prefer she doesn’t die!”
Shawn felt her ass leave the chair when someone yanked her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her like a vise. The air left in her lungs shot out of her mouth along with the offending shrimp. It took Shawn a minute to catch her breath, then she turned to her rescuer.
“Santa?”
“Dr. Santa, at your service,” he said with a bow, red suit, beard, and all. “I was on the other side of the restaurant and heard your friend.” He smiled. “All better now?”
“Yes, thank you,” Shawn rasped as she glanced around at the faces staring back at her. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Merry Christmas,” Santa said and walked away.
Jill’s hands were shaking as she held out a glass of water. “Drink.”
Shawn took the glass and sank down into her chair, wishing she could go even lower and hide under the table. “I’m so sorry that I embarrassed you.”
“Oh, honey, you didn’t.” Jill smoothed Shawn’s hair from her face. “I know it’s stupid to say don’t feel embarrassed when you so clearly are, but you shouldn’t be.”
The term of endearment eased Shawn’s discomfort. “Hemlock is a poisonous plant, not the maneuver Santa just performed on me,” she said with a smile.
Jill put a hand over her mouth. “I yelled that, didn’t I?”
Shawn began to laugh as she nodded.
“Okay, now I’m embarrassed. I feel like I should do an encore after my performance. I think I’ll sing Jingle Bells, but I have to warn you that I can’t sing.” Jill inhaled deeply a
nd snorted when Shawn put her hand over her mouth.
“I’ll just ask for the check.”
Jill turned her face away from Shawn’s hand. “I need to sing.”
Shawn motioned for the server. “Check, please—quick!”
*******
“You’re insane,” Shawn said with a laugh as she and Jill walked down the street hand in hand.
“You bring it out in me.” Jill came to an abrupt stop in front of a window at a Christmas shop as a train made a pass on its tracks. “If I ever decide that I like this holiday again, I’m going to get one of these.”
Shawn plastered her face to the glass. “Aw, it’s got candy in one of its cars.”
Jill started walking again. “What was your favorite Christmas toy?”
“I had two. The first was a stuffed cat I got when I was four. I still have it. My second was a chisel set. It came with three blocks, a little hammer, paint, and of course, a chisel. The blocks were made of some sort of hard plaster, I guess. I chipped away at them, and the first figure I found was a baseball player, the next was basketball, and the last was football. I painted them, and they sat on my dresser until I got into my teens and decided they had to go. What was yours?”
“The Operation game. I thought I’d be a doctor when I grew up. My dad noticed that I had a steady hand, and I liked to draw. He said there was an artist inside of me, and it would never be happy if I suppressed it.” Jill smiled wanly. “He wanted an apprentice, someone to carry on the family business that he and his brother had begun. Rene’s father was his partner, but he had prostate cancer, and after all the treatments, he retired. I began to work with Dad then, and when he died, Rene stepped in as my partner.”
“Did her dad survive?”
“He did, they caught the cancer early. He comes into the shop every now and then when he feels nostalgic. Did you always want to be a botanist?”
“It wasn’t even on my radar until my second year of college. I’m sure you gathered I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. My brother and I both did because my parents weren’t very happy together, and they fought a lot. I’d call Grandpa when they tied into it, and he’d come get me and Ryan. To keep us busy, he taught us how to garden. Ryan hated it, but I loved it. So when I met a woman studying botany, I had an epiphany. Honestly, I like to play in the dirt and get paid for it, but that’s only a fraction of my job.”
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