Sweet Town Love

by Maggie Ryan

  “What happened this time?” Blake asked resignedly. He pulled a chair up to the table where his friend was wrapping vintage glassware in bubble-wrap before stacking it carefully in a box.

  “She forgot about that baby shower for her friend at school so she had planned to pack up all the green stemware this afternoon. Then when it hit her, she called me in a panic.”

  “That seems to be a bit of a way of life for Piper, too. Thanks for helping her out. I got here as fast as I could, but I did have rounds to do after the office closed at five.”

  “It’s no problem. I like helping out. It’s the least I can do, considering all Piper does for me. I just wish there was more room to work in here. Your aunt was much too liberal with her when they went through the house and decided what to keep and what to get rid of. If I had been there I would have put my foot down… if I had a foot to put down, that is.”

  Mr. Silberman was the only double amputee Blake knew who could make such silly jokes about his own difficult situation. “When I saw how much she was keeping, I knew we were in for trouble, but my aunt kept saying it was her decision and I guess she was right. Piper loves using her father’s old furniture and she’s had fun selling off the collectibles on LocalTrade.”

  “Well, I know the money has helped out with the bills, but if she had sold this stuff that day, it would have turned out the same moneywise and a lot less hassle.”

  “I don’t like the pressure she puts on herself, but she’s not my wife yet.”

  “And why is that, young fellow? If I was your age, I’d have a ring on her finger by now.”

  “It’s not for lack of trying. I’ve proposed to her. She’s just not ready. I think maybe when she gets the last of the estate settled, she’ll see reason.”

  “I hope so. This is the second time she’s gotten a big purchaser to take a hefty load of her father’s old junk and then left it till the last minute to pack it up. She seems bound and determined to push every deadline, just to see what the buyer will do.”

  “I know, and it drives me insane, but that’s just Piper.”

  “You could do something about it, you know. I’ve threatened her a hundred times, but she doesn’t take me seriously. You, on the other hand, she’ll listen to. She knows you’re not bluffing.”

  “I don’t feel like I have the right.”

  “That didn’t stop you the night she got locked in the school.”

  “She told you about that?”

  “She didn’t have to. I could tell by the way she was sitting on that hard bench seat of that little pickup you gave her.”

  “Sold her. She’s paying me for it.” Blake reached for a tall, green ice cream sundae glass and began to wrap it.

  “Not nearly what it’s worth and we both know it.”

  “But Piper doesn’t and I don’t want her to.”

  Mr. Silberman grunted. “What about that accident? That one where you stepped on her old flip phone then accidentally bought her a smart-phone to replace it? Somehow you don’t seem like an accident-prone kind of guy. She only knows half of what you do for her. If you told her the whole story, she might come around faster.”

  “I don’t want her to marry me out of gratitude or need. I’ve got to know she loves me as much as I love her.”

  “She loves you. She just doesn’t know how to show it. She’s scared.”

  “Not of me!”

  “No, not in the least.” Mr. Silberman looked up from the box he was taping. “Why would you even think that?”

  “Partly because of the incident you just mentioned. I did come down pretty hard on her that night at the school, but only because I couldn’t stand the thought of her getting hurt.”

  “It was a safety issue. You were only looking out for her. She explained as much to me when I asked her why she was twitching on the seat like a cat on an ant hill.”

  “You asked her?” Blake couldn’t believe anyone would have the gall to broach such a subject.

  “I’m ninety-one years old, young fellow. I can get away with just about anything.” Mr. Silberman cackled at the memory. “She wouldn’t give me details but she did tell me that she’d never look at that ruler the same way again. What she doesn’t know is that I rescued it from the trashcan. Thank goodness she brought it home to throw it away. She’s got a new flimsy little flexible plastic thing, but I’ve got the original two-foot hefty one. I’m saving it for a wedding present.”

  “Better keep it hidden in your room,” Blake replied. “I know she’s over there all the time and if she finds it, she’s likely to burn it.”

  “Turn about is fair play. I’ll bet it burned her pretty good.” Mr. Silberman laughed again as he shoved his box over toward Blake. “Can you put that in the stack by the door? I can do it, but you’ll be faster.”

  Blake shoved some poofs of packing paper out of the way and placed the box onto the teetering pile. “Hang on a second. Wouldn’t it be better to organize these by size? And this process could be streamlined. Here.” As Blake shifted things around, he couldn’t help remembering the night in question. When he had finally found an open window on the second floor of the school and levered his way through it, he had found a worn-out, hollow-eyed Piper crying because she would be late with her deliveries the next day.

  Blake had told her that if she wanted his help with this mess, she had to convince him that she would never let herself get locked in the old school building again. She had promised sincerely and only hesitated a second when he told her his terms. All he wanted was that she accept a punishment from him as a token of her good faith. The spanking had been short and to the point, but he knew that even over her jeans, that ruler had to have stung. If she had been sitting gingerly several days later, he must have done a thorough job.

  That spanking had marked a turning point in their relationship. After that night, she had seemed more comfortable with his assuming that they would spend their free time together. They would talk every day and schedule at least one weekend afternoon for just the two of them alone. Other outings could be in groups, or include the important people in their lives, but from that time on, Blake had felt that they were truly a couple and wanted to protect their time together. With his schedule at the hospital, he knew it was impossible for him to monopolize her life, so he hadn’t worried about that. She still had plenty of the freedom she cherished, but he tried to give her structure and keep her focused on her goals.

  Another side effect had been her response to him. Both after the actual spanking and then in the days that followed, Piper had seemed much more open to him, much more willing to show her feelings, and what feelings they had been. Blake cleared his throat, getting himself under control with difficulty. He had been so hopeful, so encouraged by her reaction to his showing his true nature.

  But now, six months later they seemed to have lost any forward momentum when it came to their romance. Piper seemed to thrive on his help and even his guidance. She respected his acumen and listened to his advice, but there was something missing. “You don’t think Piper will mind, do you?” Blake asked after another hour of work.

  “Mind the fact that we’ve just finished the task she thought we’d take all night to do? Why should she mind?”

  Blake felt a huge relief unburdening himself of a worry that had been stuck like a burr under his saddle blanket. “Maybe I’m too high-handed with her. I don’t mean to be. I know she’s a smart lady and has great ideas of her own. All she needs is a little nudge in the right direction sometimes, but I wonder if she sees things that way.”

  “No way to know unless you ask her, young fellow.” Mr. Silberman pushed himself away from the table. “And you’ll have time to ask her, now that we’ve got all this glass packed. The labels are in the drawer over there.”

  Blake pulled open the drawer and was not surprised to find it jammed full of the kinds of useless things Piper seemed to collect. Knobs off of drawers, buttons from old vacuums, keys to sheds that had been torn down years
ago all cluttered in with bills that needed to be paid… last month. He’d have to check on that for her. Underneath the printed labels he needed was a brochure for a conversion mini-van. He held it up. “Do you know anything about this?”

  “That’s the company over in Nashville that converts vans so that they can carry wheelchairs. Ramps and everything. You don’t have to even get out of your chair. Just roll right in and drive off.”

  Blake looked at the pictures. “It looks like just a regular van.”

  “But push one little button and the side opens up and a ramp comes out. Darnedest thing.”

  “Is she thinking of buying one?” Blake had helped her straighten out the accountant’s nightmare that she called her checkbook so he knew that her budget wouldn’t stretch to such an extent.

  “Not likely. Those things cost the earth,” Mr. Silberman told him. “But she can dream. She says she’d like to be a home health aid in the summers and a van like that would really help her get jobs. I can’t understand why she wants to waste her time with old coots like me, but she seems to enjoy it and I’m not about to complain.”

  “I had no idea. I wonder why she hasn’t mentioned it to me.” The prices listed in the pamphlet weren’t nearly as high as he had anticipated.

  “Like you said, she does like her freedom. And a girl can’t tell a fellow all her secrets.”

  “I don’t see why not.” Blake put the brochure back in its place only after taking a picture of the back cover where the contact information was located. Ramp and Ride, Inc. would be getting a call from him in the near future.

  Chapter 3

  “Now do you see why I like spending time at Shadestone?” Piper wheezed, wiping away tears of mirth.

  Mr. Silberman, deadpan, commented, “Is it the lovely, tasteful décor? I think the paper flowers are particularly eye-catching this year.”

  Piper held onto his shoulder as she tried to catch her breath. “It’s you, Mr. Silberman and your crazy antics. I can’t believe you said that to Mrs. Muldrow. I didn’t know a face could blush that red.”

  Blake slapped his knee and choked out, “I always thought it was because Mr. Silberman here was blackmailing you! Now, I’ve got your number. You’re charming her with your stories and your fudge!”

  “Don’t forget my devilish good looks!” Mr. Silberman replied with a smug smile. “But the fudge doesn’t hurt.”

  “Why do you eat in the cafeteria if you can cook this well?” Blake’s tone was serious, but Piper could tell he was teasing. He had that mischievous glint in his eye that she loved all the more because it was so out of character with his usual doctor’s grave demeanor.

  “Because I only want to cook what I want to eat. Man does not live by fudge alone.” Mr. Silberman held up a piece of candy as if toasting the table with it. “Except on the weekend.”

  “Hear, hear!” Blake responded and they touched their candy squares in mid-air.

  “While I’m glad you two haven’t found a better place to spend your Saturday night than the Senior Center Fish Fry and dance, I do wonder what kind of town we live in if this is your best choice.” Mr. Silberman looked around the room. “You two aren’t the only young couple in the place either.”

  “It’s a great little town,” Blake answered. “I’ve tried bigger cities, so I know what I’m talking about. I chose to come back here just so that I could enjoy Bubba and His Buddies playing their greatest hits.”

  “That won’t take long,” quipped Mr. Silberman, helping himself to a cookie from the platter at the center of the table.

  “They’re clearing the tables near the stage,” Blake noted. “May I have the first dance?” He stood and put his hand out to Piper.

  “I don’t want to leave Mr. Silberman all alone,” Piper answered reluctantly. She hated to leave Blake standing there with his hand stretched out like a plough, so she took it and tried to tug him back into his seat.

  He obviously had other plans. “Mr. Silberman all but directed me to make sure you dance a lot tonight. I’m only following orders.”

  She was on her feet and halfway to the floor before she realized she was moving. “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?” Blake asked, taking her in his arms and starting them off in a gentle two-step.

  “Get me where you want me before I know you’ve started.”

  “You’re thinking of last night.” Blake looked down at her. “I’d say I was sorry, but I don’t like to lie. Still, I don’t want to think I pushed you too far.”

  Her cheek flushed at the memory. “You stopped when I said no. That’s all a girl can ask.” They had been sitting on the couch one minute and lying together locked in a close embrace the next.

  “My old math teacher used to call it parlor rugby. I hope you don’t regret our match last night. I thought you were enjoying it. I know I was.”

  His hands had wandered farther than she thought was healthy for their peace of mind, so she had stopped him with a quick quote from one of their favorite western movies. “Slow down, cowboy. I’m an old-fashioned girl.” He had grinned down at her, unrepentant but compliant.

  His hands had stayed in safer places after that, but he didn’t need to go too far in order to get her motor running. He could do that with a touch of his hand to her hair, a squeeze of his fingers on hers or even a certain expression on his handsome face. He was doing it to her now with the heat of his palm on the small of her back. He had warmed that spot before, as he had warmed places lower down… with the help of a ruler. Was she really falling for a man so sure of himself and what he wanted?

  In all her relationships before, she had been the planner, committing herself and her dates to all sorts of activities and missing half of them. In the end, she had more often than not found herself alone waiting at the end of another non-ringing phone wondering what happened. At least Mr. Silberman was always there and always good for a laugh. He made her feel good, as if she were wanted and loved. He was safe and trustworthy. Not until Blake had Piper met a man who made her feel as secure and peaceful.

  They didn’t run from one activity to the next as she had tried to do with other boyfriends. In fact, Blake had convinced her of the beauties of an afternoon spent walking in the woods or sitting on the front porch. She no longer had so much work to do, since her old family house had been sold, but Blake’s place always needed maintenance, so if she felt the urge for yard-work or gardening, he was happy to indulge her.

  The song changed and Piper found herself being rocked around the dance floor in a slow arch. She caught Mr. Silberman’s eye and gave him a quick smile, but he soon turned to make some apparently comic comment to a friend of his at the next table. He was fine. He didn’t need her to hold his hand every second. She could turn her attention to Blake without worry. Looking up at him, she suddenly realized that he had been watching her the whole time.

  Blake tugged lightly at her hair. “Everything okay? Look, if I was out of line last night, I am sorry.”

  “It’s not that at all. I was just thinking about Mr. Silberman.”

  “He’s fine. He enjoys seeing you having a good time. You are, aren’t you? We could go somewhere else if you want.”

  “I’d rather stay here. The club over in Dunham gets so crowded. This is peaceful.”

  “Whatever you say.” He relaxed and held her more closely to him.

  She leaned back, as a thought struck her. “But what about you? Would you rather go someplace more lively? We can get Mr. Silberman in my car.”

  Just then the band struck up a polka and Piper found herself being whisked around the floor in a haze of joy. This was living. She laughed in pure delight as her feet skimmed the ground. It was like flying, but there was no fear of falling, not with Blake’s strong arms around her, propelling her in ever widening swoops of bliss. The music and Blake and her own heartbeat blended into a sweet gust of exhilaration that went on and on, feeling so right, spilling happiness over in all directions. This was the Piper she
wanted to be. This was the life she wanted to live. When the song was over, she stood back and breathlessly squeezed Blake’s hand. “Now I know what a kite feels like.”

  “I thought you were afraid of heights,” Blake said as he directed her out to the back patio. By unspoken agreement, they both gravitated toward the cool of the darkness outside. They leaned on the waist-high metal fence bordering the paving stones and gazed out into the surrounding woods.

  “That’s why I said I was a kite instead of a bird. I wasn’t scared because I knew you had a hold of my string. I couldn’t fly off into trouble.”

  He pulled her around to face him. “That’s what I want to be for you. A tether, so you don’t get lost. Why won’t you let me?”

  “I do let you. All the time.”

  “But not forever.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, wondering if Mr. Silberman were watching this little scene. “We should discuss this in private.”

  “That’s what I thought,” Blake answered as if a light somewhere in the back of his mind had just been turned on. “I think I’ve finally figured it out. You don’t want to change things because you think I’ll come between you and… all this.”

  The flush refused to leave Piper’s face despite the cooling breeze. “Don’t be ridiculous. I know you wouldn’t try to stop me seeing Mr. Silberman.”

  “Not just Mr. Silberman. You know I love the old codger. It’s your way of life you think you’ll lose and you don’t want to. Is that it?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But she did. He was right and she had hardly dared to admit it to herself.

  “You think of yourself as the one who always helps, always does things for other people. Is it so hard to accept that someone can do things for you as well? You’ll still be the Piper I love, even if you do reach out for a helping hand every now and then.”

  And there it was. He had discovered the problem she had not been able to put into words. She couldn’t help blurting out, “But if you’re the one always making things easier for me, who’s going to smooth the way for you?”