He was the perfect husband. Until he wasn’t.

When Shelly’s marriage ends in divorce, she’s left completely devastated and feeling like she’s never going to find love again.

Until she meets Eric.

Shelly can't believe her luck. The first person she meets after (reluctantly) joining online dating, and he’s handsome, caring, everything she ever wanted and more. From romantic dates to expensive gifts, it’s as if she’s in a dream.

But just when Shelly thinks she’s finally found her happily ever after, she begins to realize that all is not as it seems. As the cracks start to develop, perhaps Eric isn’t the perfect man she thought he was. Will her dream become a nightmare?

Also by Buffy Andrews

The Christmas Violin

The Moment Keeper

Our Fragile Hearts

A Year of Second Chances

The Perfect Husband

Buffy Andrews

ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

Copyright

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2018

Copyright © Buffy Andrews 2018

Buffy Andrews asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

E-book Edition © June 2018 ISBN: 9780008254421

BUFFY ANDREWS

lives in south central Pennsylvania with her husband, Tom, and Wheaten Cairn terrier, Kakita.

By day, she works for USA Today Network as its Regional Engagement Manager for the Northeast.

By night, she writes middle-grade, young adult and women’s fiction.

Some of her fiction ideas pop into her head at the most inopportune times, such as during a sermon or in the shower or when she’s supposed to be listening in a meeting. She’s written all over church bulletins, jumped out of the shower more than once to write down an idea and turned meeting handouts into storyboards.

If you see her out and about, don’t be surprised if you see her pull out the notebook she keeps in her purse. She’s forever taking notes she’ll use later. After all, life is full of wonderful details to capture.

To those caught in a psychopath’s web of lies and deceit, I pray that you’re able to escape and find peace, heal and be happy. You matter.

Contents

Cover

Blurb

Title Page

Copyright

Author Bio

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Excerpt

Endpages

About the publisher

Chapter 1

I looked in the mirror and no longer recognized myself. I hated my life and had thought about taking it.

No one would miss me.

I was a zero.

Nothing.

Zilch.

Chapter 2

A Year Ago

I couldn’t believe Jackie had talked me into this. After a bitter divorce, brought about by my husband’s affair five years ago, I swore I’d never date again. But here I was going through profiles on an online dating website. I must be insane! Did I really want a man in my life? I’d been on a couple of blind dates since my divorce and both ended in disaster. The first guy spat spaghetti sauce in my face when he laughed during dinner and the second paid the bill with three different gift cards. If I ever dated a guy again, he’d have to be exceptional.

I sat on the couch with my cat Izzy curled up next to me. I started laughing and Izzy’s head popped up. ‘Sorry, girl. Didn’t mean to scare you but this guy apparently thinks wearing a blue work vest with “May I Help You?” printed on the front is sexy.’ She purred and I scratched her neck. ‘Yeah, I know. No man is better than some man.’ I looked at a few more profiles, including one bare-chested guy wearing a baseball cap with the tagline: Cowboy seeks his cowgirl. Uh, no. Not for me. Nor was the guy whose plan it was to find a ‘good woman and build an empire around her’ or the guy who noted ‘I have a washer and dryer at my house so a first date at the Laundromat is out.’

‘Good God, Izzy, are all men jerks?’

Just when I was about to give up I stumbled upon a profile that seemed normal: EricT. He liked the outdoors and considered himself to be adventurous, spontaneous and fun-loving. He looked handsome. Unlike most of the profiles I’d seen, EricT had a full head of hair and straight teeth. Drats! He lived two hours away. Long-distance relationships rarely work out. And I certainly had no intention of moving.

I’d spent the past five years focusing on my real estate career. I’d regained some of the confidence I’d lost when my ten-year marriage to Scott ended in a firestorm after I caught him cheating.

I was thirty-two when I married Scott. My sorority sisters teased me about being the last one married. Most of them were married before they hit the quarter-century mark, but I wasn’t in a hurry. I didn’t plan on getting married more than once so I wanted to make sure I made the right decision. Turned out it was the wrong one!

I was now forty-seven and while I didn’t need a man to make me happy, I missed the intimacy and companionship.

When Scott and I started to have problems in our marriage, I wondered if things would have been different if I could’ve given him children. But over time I realized he was the problem, not me. I was the one who battled cervical cancer a year after we got married. He should have been there for me instead of rolling between the sheets with what I now believe had been a long list of women. He was a cheat, and I was better off without him.

I sat my laptop on the coffee table and went into the kitchen to make a salad for dinner. I’d been trying to eat healthier. The change of life had knocked on my door, and it had brought unwelcome guests: Weight and High Blood Pressure!

I was loading the dishwasher when my best friend Jackie called.

‘Hey, Jack. I was just going to call you.’

‘Sure, sure.’

‘No, honest. I just finished eating.’

‘Have anything good?’

‘The usual. A—’

‘No, wait! Let me guess. A salad topped with chicken, cucumbers and vinaigrette dressing.’

I laughed. ‘Am I that predictable?’

‘Yes. You need to learn to be more adventurous when it comes to eating – and dating.’

‘Whoa! Wait a minute. Who says I’m not adventurous when it comes to dating? As a matter of fact, I signed up for that online dating site you’ve been bugging me about.’

‘When?’

‘The other day.’

‘The other day!’ Jackie’s voice was so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. ‘And you’re just telling me now?’

‘I was going to tell you. Honest. I just wanted to see if I saw anything interesting first.’

‘And did you?’

‘Not really. Well, maybe one. At least he had straight teeth and hair.’

Jackie laughed. ‘Is it really that bad?’

I walked to the sofa and sat down. ‘Shopping for a guy online feels weird.’

‘But you do almost all of your shopping online,’ Jackie said.

‘This is different. It’s not like I’m buying a new blazer or blouse.’

‘But it’s efficient. Much easier than striking up a conversation with a stranger at the gym or in the produce section of a supermarket. Dating websites bring like-minded people together.’

‘I guess I just don’t have a lot of faith in a dating website algorithm. In some ways, I think technology makes getting to know someone harder. Let’s face it, most people probably lie on their profiles, and it’s difficult to gauge sincerity when you don’t see facial expressions or body language.’

‘But if it goes well online, you eventually meet and see all that,’ Jackie said.

I noticed a loose thread dangling from my shirt sleeve and ripped it off. ‘Yes, and what happens? People want to know if the person they go out on a date with is “the one” within ten minutes of meeting them. I mean, seriously. How much can you get to know someone in a couple of hours when you’re both nervous and on your best behavior?’

‘I agree that some guys might want that instant gratification,’ Jackie said, ‘and if they don’t get instant results will think the date is a bust and move on. But I’m sure they’re not all like that.’

I sighed. ‘I guess all of this is making me feel like an option instead of a priority. Besides, I’m not very good at selling myself. It takes skill to write a compelling dating profile.’

Jackie cleared her throat. ‘You’re selling yourself short, Shelly. You’re a great writer. Always have been. I’m sure your profile is perfect.’

‘Thanks. I’m just not sure that a perfect partner is a click away.’

‘Well, what about the profile you just mentioned. Is he a possibility?’

‘EricT?’

‘It has a nice ring to it. Eric T. Have you messaged him?’

‘Uh, no.’

‘You totally should.’

‘No way am I texting a guy first. I don’t want to seem desperate or too anxious.’

‘Ugh! You’re impossible,’ Jackie said. ‘I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Remember, tacos at Tony’s.’

‘I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I swear my skin is turning green from eating so many salads. A greasy Tony’s taco is just what I need to get my color back!’

A few minutes after I hung up with Jackie, my phone beeped. It was a text from EricT.

Hi! What’s your cat’s name?

I realized he’d seen the photo of me holding Izzy online.

I laid down the book I’d picked up to read and typed my response.

Izzy.

Cute name.

Thanks. Do you have any pets?

No. I had a dog growing up, though.

What kind?

Golden retriever.

Golden retrievers are sweet. Good with kids.

Do you have kids?

No.

Me neither.

An hour later, I’d texted more in sixty minutes than I had in my entire life! I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this comfortable talking to a man. I learned EricT stood for Eric Talbot. He worked in sales, and loved horses and craft beer.

When I crawled into bed that night, with Izzy snuggled beside me, it was the first time in a long time that I thought about a guy.

I woke the next morning and remembered that I was spending the day with a couple who were relocating to the area. I had planned to show them five properties. By the end of the day, I’d be ready to devour a Tony’s taco!

I reached for my phone on my nightstand and realized I’d already received a text from Eric.

Thanks for talking last night. I really enjoyed our conversation.

It felt as if I was being tickled from the inside. It’d been years since I felt butterflies in my stomach. I texted back, Me, too!

As soon as he received my text, he texted again. Maybe we can talk on the phone later. Can I call you?

I’d like that, I texted. I should be home by nine-thirty.

Great! I’ll call you then. Have a great day, Shelly!

You, too!

I jumped in the shower and dressed for work. I had to call Jackie on my way to pick up my clients to tell her about Eric.

‘Wait! What? So EricT texted you last night and I’m just hearing about it now?’

I laughed. ‘And this morning. And he asked if he could call me later.’

‘Well, well, well, Shelly. I believe you have an admirer.’

‘Oh, it’s nothing. Just some texts, but he seems nice.’

‘Hmmm.’

‘What’s “hmmm” mean?’

‘Oh, I don’t know. Just hmmm.’

‘No, I know that hmmm. It means you’re thinking something. What is it? What are you thinking?’

‘Hmmm.’

‘Come on! Tell me,’ I pleaded.

‘Oh, okay. I just detect a sliver of excitement in your voice. And, well, it’s been a while since I’ve heard that.’

I pulled into the hotel where I was picking up my clients. ‘Gotta go. Picking up my clients now.’

‘Perfect timing, eh?’

I laughed. ‘I’ll see you later at Tony’s.’

‘Can’t wait.’

The day went fast and after showing the Randalls four properties I was beginning to think we’d never find the perfect place. But when I pulled up to the luxurious brick home in a new bundled golf community, they were the most excited I’d seen them all day.

By the time I finished showing them the four-bedroom, three-bath home, I knew they were smitten. This home was perfect, just what they’d been looking for.

It reminded me that so often in life we’re not exactly sure what we’re looking for. But we know it when we see it. There’s something about it that says, this is right for me. I knew the Randalls had found their Happy Ever After, I just hoped that one day I would find mine.

Chapter 3

A couple of hours later, I delivered the Randalls’ offer to the listing agent on my way to meet Jackie. Tony’s always drew a crowd on taco night, but Jackie’s blow-in-the-wind fiery red hair was hard to miss. I walked to the bar and slid into the seat she’d saved next to her.

She looked up from her phone. ‘About time you got here.’

I hung my purse on the hook under the bar. ‘Sorry, I had to finish some paperwork.’

Jackie smiled. ‘Make a sale?’

‘Hopefully. The out-of-town buyers I told you about loved the last property I showed them.’

Jackie sipped her rum and Coke. ‘Great!’

I ordered a gin and diet tonic. ‘I’m starved. I barely ate anything all day.’

‘Me, too. I’ve been saving my calories for tacos!’

‘I didn’t know you were counting calories,’ I said.

‘Some lady at work is doing it and talked me into doing it with her. I cheat a lot though.’

I laughed.

The bartender slid my drink in front of me and took our orders.

‘So, Bruce asked me where I wanted to go for our twentieth anniversary,’ Jackie said.

I turned to face Jackie and nearly fell off my bar stool.

‘Yeah, I know. It surprised me, too. We both know how frugal he is. When I said I wanted to go to Paris, he had a coughing fit so severe I thought he was going to pass out. As soon as he recovered, he made a dozen excuses why that wouldn’t be a good idea. Overseas travel is dangerous. Neither of us speak French. Blah blah blah. But the real reason was that a trip to Paris cost a lot more than he planned on spending. He suggested going to the beach.’

‘But you always go to the beach,’ I said. ‘That wouldn’t be that special.’

‘Exactly!’

‘Well, maybe he’ll come around,’ I said.

‘He’d better if he wants to go to Canada.’

‘Canada?’

‘Yeah. A few hours after we had the Paris discussion, he tells me he wants to go on a fishing trip to Canada with his buddies. I figured it was probably why he brought up a twentieth-anniversary trip in the first place. I told him if he’s going on a fishing trip, I’m going to Paris – with or without him.’

‘I’d go,’ I said. ‘Do you think Bruce would mind if we went? I mean, it wouldn’t be the romantic vacation you dreamed about, but…’

Jackie laughed. ‘Romantic? Bruce’s idea of being romantic is buying me a new flashlight to keep in my car which, by the way, he did the other day. Let’s face it, after twenty years the romance isn’t what it once was.’

I laughed. ‘Having a flashlight in your car isn’t a bad idea.’

Jackie nodded. ‘Agreed. But having four of them is a bit unnecessary. Anyway, enough about Bruce. If he doesn’t want to go to Paris, we’ll go. Now tell me about Eric T.’

‘He seems nice, but I’m not sure it will go anywhere.’

Jackie shook her finger at me. ‘Don’t do that.’

‘Do what?’

‘Shut the door before you explore what’s on the other side,’ she said. ‘A date or two isn’t going to hurt anything. Besides, distance might be a good thing. Close enough that you can see each other on weekends but not too close that you feel as if you must spend every night together. You never know, he might just end up being the one you’d shave your legs for!’

We laughed again.

Jackie was right about one thing. I wasn’t the type of woman who had to be with someone all the time. As the only child of a single alcoholic mom, I was used to entertaining myself and being alone. I liked my space.

‘Anything new with the kids?’ I asked.

‘Nick’s going to the prom. Actually, let me show you what he did.’ Jackie grabbed her cell phone and scrolled through the photos until she came to one of white lights on a small hill.

I put on my reading glasses. ‘Oh, too cute.’

The lights were arranged to spell ‘Prom?’.

Jackie laughed. ‘The kids try to up one another when it comes to these promposals. Nick surprised me. He thought of it himself. Dug out the Christmas lights and set it up at his buddy’s house.’

I scratched my head. ‘But it looks like it’s out in the middle of nowhere. How’d he power it?’

‘A generator.’

I shook my head. ‘Everything is so much more complicated than when we were young.’

‘Tell me about it,’ Jackie said. ‘And costlier. At least Nick has my romantic genes and not his father’s.’

We laughed.

‘It’s true that Bruce has never been Mr Romantic,’ I said, ‘but you have to admit the man is amazing in so many other ways. And he adores you. He’d never cheat on you. Ever! You’re lucky to have him.’

‘I know. And I don’t mean to complain. No one is perfect. God knows I have my own issues that drive Bruce crazy. And his lack of romance wouldn’t bother me so much if he wasn’t so tight. It’s not like we don’t have the money to go to Paris.’

‘But you know why that is,’ I said. ‘Bruce grew up having nothing, worked his ass off to build his business and provide for you and the kids.’

Two orders of tacos and three drinks later, Jackie and I were caught up, at least for the night. I headed home. Eric would be calling in less than an hour.

I tried to keep busy by tidying up my apartment. When I’m nervous, I clean. Having things to focus on calms me. I cleaned out Izzy’s litter box, straightened the stack of books on the coffee table and fluffed the throw pillows on the couch. Five minutes before he was supposed to call, I sat on the couch and waited for the ring. He called right on time. I didn’t want to appear overly anxious so I didn’t pick up until the third ring.

‘Hello.’

‘Shelly? Hi, it’s Eric.’

‘Oh, hi Eric.’ I tried to sound nonchalant.

‘You don’t sound anything like I thought you would.’

I laughed. ‘How did you think I’d sound?’

‘Oh, I don’t know.’

‘It’s okay. I know my voice is different. A lot of people ask if I’m a singer because of my raspy voice.’

‘Are you?’

‘No. I can’t carry a tune, although I wish I could. How about you? Can you sing?’

‘Not really. Well, maybe a little. I have a guitar that I pick around on.’

Our conversation went from my voice to our favorite bands to the songs on our app playlists. My shoulders dropped and I slouched on the couch, feeling more comfortable the longer we talked.

‘Can I tell you something?’ Eric asked. ‘It’s personal but I feel as if I can trust you.’

I sat straight up. ‘Sure, if you want to.’

‘It’s about my past.’

‘You weren’t a serial killer or anything like that?’ I joked.

Eric laughed. ‘No. My ex-wife cheated on me. Our marriage ended when I discovered the affair.’

‘Oh, Eric. I’m sorry.’ I went back to slouching on the couch.

‘I was devastated, you know? She was my everything, and I felt as if my heart was being ripped in two. Somehow I survived, picked up the pieces and moved on. I’m not going to lie. It was pure hell for a while. But I’m in a better place now.’

‘I’m glad you’re in a better place. We all deserve to be happy.’

‘Are you happy?’ he asked.

‘For the most part,’ I said. ‘Like you, I was hurt by someone I loved very much.’

There was a pregnant pause.

‘Sorry you were hurt, Shelly.’

A lump formed in my throat. Where did this guy come from? He was so open and honest. I felt as if he deserved the same in return.

‘My husband had an affair, too,’ I explained. ‘Like you, I was devastated. My world was ripped apart and I was never the same.’

‘Thank you for telling me,’ he whispered.

‘I can’t believe I did, but you’re so easy to talk to.’

‘Well, I know all about the tears and feelings of betrayal. To have someone you love destroy you like that is horrible. I understand completely. You’re not alone. Are you in a better place now?’

‘Much better.’

‘I never thought I’d use an online dating site,’ Eric said. ‘It took some time to muster enough courage to try it. I never thought I’d be able to put myself out there. It hasn’t been easy for me and I’m not comfortable doing it.’

‘Tell me about it! Have you been on many dates?’

‘A couple. And you?’

‘Not yet.’

‘Well, maybe we can change that.’

I lay down on the couch. ‘I still have times when I wonder why I married Scott. Looking back, we didn’t have a lot in common. At the time, I thought that was a plus. Now, I’m not so sure.’

‘Can we ever be sure of anything?’ Eric asked.

‘I guess not. At least not completely. You think you know someone and then discover that the person you thought you knew was not that person at all.’

‘I’d like to get to know you better,’ Eric said. ‘Will you have dinner with me?’

A part of me couldn’t wait to meet Eric in person and a part of me was scared. It’s only dinner. It’s not like the guy is asking you to go away for the weekend. Live a little, Shelly. Take some chances. He could be the one. It’s just one dinner. What could it hurt?

We made plans to meet at Bella’s, my favorite Italian restaurant, the next night.

I called Jackie as soon as I got off the phone with Eric.

‘Tell me everything,’ she said. ‘Beginning with hello.’

‘He’s amazing, Jack. Sensitive, kind and caring. He told me that his first wife cheated on him. And how devastated and broken he was.’

‘Wow,’ Jackie said.

‘Wow is right. I don’t think I’ve ever met a man so open and honest. His voice cracked and he sounded as if he were about to cry when he talked about his ex-wife cheating on him. I’m not used to sensitive men.’

‘He sounds amazing,’ Jackie said.

‘Yeah, kind of scary.’

‘Don’t be scared,’ Jackie said. ‘Just be aware. You deserve to be happy. It sounds like you guys have been through the same thing. Maybe Eric’s right. Maybe you were supposed to find each other. Maybe this will turn out to be your happily ever after.’

‘Maybe,’ I said. ‘But he almost seems too good to be true.’

‘That’s why meeting him in person will be a good thing. You’ll get to see him face to face. Look, it’s just dinner. Relax. Try to enjoy it. I’ll call at eight to make sure you don’t need rescuing.’

‘You won’t forget?’

‘No. I’ll set the alarm on my phone. Promise.’

Before I went to bed I went through my closet looking for something to wear on my date. I hadn’t bought new clothes in forever. Most of the clothes in my closet were AM/BD – After Marriage/Before Divorce. I’d planned on donating them to a second-hand shop, but just hadn’t done it yet.

I settled on a denim dress that was a bit big, but I added a belt to gather the excess material. I hung it on my closet door. I had an afternoon appointment to show a property to a couple who wanted to downsize, but I’d have enough time to shower and change clothes before meeting Eric for dinner. I couldn’t wait!

Chapter 4

As soon as I arrived at the office the next morning, I found out my client needed to move back the showing by two hours. I looked down at the black skirt and white blouse I was wearing, knowing I’d no longer have time to shower and change before meeting Eric. It wasn’t exactly the look I was going for, but it’d have to do. The listing agent called to tell me the buyers had accepted the Randalls’ offer. I called the Randalls right away to deliver the good news. Maybe this was a sign of more good things to come.

The day dragged on. I caught myself checking the clock every thirty minutes. I couldn’t remember the last time I was this excited and nervous.

After showing my clients the property, I headed to the restaurant and slid into the restroom to freshen up. I pulled out my hair clip and bent over, running my fingers through my long chestnut strands. When I stood, my hair fell across my back and I brought the sides forward so they fell softly over my shoulders.

I stared into the mirror and touched up my smoky eye shadow. I used to hate my amber eyes, wishing instead for green or blue. But I’d grown quite fond of them over the years. It occurred to me that I looked more and more like my mother with time. She, too, had golden eyes and red-brown hair with orange undertones. I never knew my father. Mom and him never married. He died in a motorcycle accident before I was born. I asked Mom about him a time or two, but she never wanted to talk about him.

I pulled the lip gloss wand out of my purse and slid it over my lips, then mashed them together. This is as good as you’re going to look, Shelly!

My heart pounded as I walked into the restaurant lobby. I felt as if the photos of famous Italian composers hanging on the wooden paneled walls were staring at me. ‘O Sole Mio’ played softly in the background. I looked around, wondering if the guy in the black suit with the leather satchel checking in with the maître d’ was Eric. He turned around and smiled. ‘Shelly?’

He was even more handsome in person – tall with sandy blonde hair and bluish-steel eyes, the color of storm clouds right before lightning strikes.

I nodded and he walked over. ‘Hi, Eric.’

He smiled. ‘Finally, we meet in person. Your online profile photo doesn’t do you justice,’ he said.

‘Thanks.’ My insides tingled. I felt excited and scared at the same time. I wanted to tell him the same, but I didn’t want him to think I was only saying it because he did.

The maître d’ escorted us to our table, tucked in the back corner of the dimly lit dining room and Eric pulled out the chair for me. Good manners, a definite plus!

Eric sat down, placing his satchel next to his chair, and ordered a bottle of wine. Takes control of the situation. A man who knows what he wants.

‘I can’t believe we’re finally sitting across from one another,’ he said. ‘I’ve thought about this moment since our first text.’

I smiled. ‘So how was the drive here?’

‘Not bad. Two hours went fast.’

My pulse slowed a bit. I was in a familiar place and I knew that if things went south, I’d be rescued in about an hour when Jackie called. Eric opened his menu and I did the same. I glanced down at a familiar list of entrees. I always plan to try something new when I eat at Bella’s, but it seems I always fall back on my favorite – chicken piccata.

I looked up from the menu to find Eric staring at me. ‘You look beautiful tonight.’

My cheeks grew warm as I felt the dopamine rush of a new romance. ‘Thank you.’

‘Do you know what you want?’ Eric asked.

‘Everything here is fabulous, but I’m going with the chicken piccata. How about you?’

‘I was thinking about trying the pork sofrito. It sounds good.’

‘It is good.’

The waiter returned with the bottle of Pinot Grigio Eric had ordered and took our order.

‘We’ll have the bruschetta pomodoro and beet salads to start,’ Eric said. ‘My lovely date will have chicken piccata and I will have the pork sofrito.’

We settled into easy conversation and little by little my pulse slowed.

After enjoying the bruschetta pomodoro, the waiter served our beet salads.

‘I think this is the best beet salad I’ve ever had,’ Eric said.

I picked up my wine glass. ‘It’s delicious but not as good as my grandma’s. She made the best.’

Eric smiled. ‘Tell me about your family.’

‘There’s actually not that much to tell.’ I sat my wine glass down. ‘I have no siblings and my mother was a single parent.’

Eric’s eyelids closed for a millisecond, as if he was trying to imagine me as a child. ‘So no brothers or sisters? Or dad?’

I nodded. ‘That’s right. Just me, Mom and Grandma. Now they’re gone and it’s just me.’ I blinked, trying to keep the tears I felt coming at bay. I usually didn’t tear up when I talked about my family. Maybe the wine was making me a bit melancholy.

Eric sat back in his seat. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

I retrieved a tissue from my purse and dabbed the corners of my eyes. ‘But I have a best friend and she’s like family. Jackie and I have known each other since kindergarten.’

‘I bet you were a precocious child,’ Eric teased.

I shrugged. ‘Maybe a little.’

‘I’d love to hear about your childhood. What was it like. What were you like?’

I hadn’t expected his question so I wasn’t prepared to answer quickly. I had to think about it. I chewed on my lower lip. ‘Definitely a tomboy. I loved playing basketball. My mom enrolled me in ballet classes, but I was as graceful as a groundhog. I was more comfortable with a ball in my hands.’

Eric chuckled. ‘What sports did you play besides basketball?’

‘Baseball and soccer. And I was very competitive. I hated to lose.’

‘Do you still play?’

‘Oh gosh no. The last time I hit or kicked or sunk a ball, I was wearing training bras and braces.’

Eric laughed. ‘Well, we should play sometime. If you don’t mind losing, that is.’

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes. ‘Why, Mr Talbot, are you challenging me?’

‘Why not? It might be fun to play you at horse and see who wins. That is, if you’re up to the challenge.’

I held out my hand. ‘Challenge accepted.’

My cell phone rang. It was Jackie. I excused myself and went to the restroom.

‘So, how’s it going?’ Jackie asked.

‘So far, so good. He’s good-looking, even better than his photo online. He just challenged me to a game of horse.’

‘Horse? As in basketball?’

‘Yes.’

‘Okay. It sounds like you don’t need to be rescued. Call me when you get home. I want to hear everything!’

I returned to the table just as the waiter arrived with our main entrees. ‘Can I get you anything else?’ he asked.

Eric looked at me and I shook my head.

‘I think we’re fine for now,’ Eric said. ‘Thanks.’

We settled back into easy conversation between bites. ‘So, now that you know I was a tomboy, what were you like as a kid?’

‘I wasn’t into team sports as much as you,’ Eric said. ‘Not that I never played, but I preferred fishing, hunting, riding horses and other outdoor activities. And I loved to read. I did a lot of that.’

‘A reader, huh? What did you read?’

Eric shrugged. ‘The usual stuff. I especially liked scary books. Still do.’

I scrunched my face. ‘I hate scary books. Jackie gave me one to read once and I couldn’t get past the first chapter. I hate being scared.’

‘What types of things scare you?’

‘I hate snakes and spiders but most of all I hate clowns.’

Eric laughed. ‘Clowns. Really?’

‘Yes, really. They’re creepy.’ I felt a strong need to convey the seriousness of my answer, however stupid it seemed. ‘Clowns have paint on their faces and you have no idea who they are. And their red cheeks are the scariest. You can never guess their intentions because of the masks they wear.’

‘Have you ever gone to the circus?’ Eric asked. ‘Those are nice clowns, right? They aren’t scary.’

‘All clowns are scary,’ I said. ‘What about you? Are you scared of anything?’

‘Hmm. Not really.’

‘There’s nothing that scares you?’ I pressed for an answer. Eric rubbed his neck. ‘Well, maybe one thing. Depths.’

‘Depths? Why depths?’

‘When I was young, I dove for sand dollars in the Caribbean. Once, I dived too deep and struggled to return to the surface. I thought I was going to die. After that, I never dove again. I tried to, but I’d break out in sweat just thinking about it. I hated the idea of not being in control. I always thought I’d like to learn how to scuba dive, but there’s no way I’d be able to. That traumatic experience ruined me for life.’

‘Sounds frightening.’

‘It was, especially for a ten-year-old.’

‘Did you go to the Caribbean a lot growing up?’

He nodded. ‘My parents had a house on St John island.’

‘Wow! St John has beautiful beaches. I was there once a long time ago. Do your parents still have the house?’

Eric shook his head. ‘My parents died a few years ago. They sold the house when I went to college.’

‘Do you have any siblings?’

‘No, only child like you. My parents didn’t have me until they were in their early forties. Mom didn’t think she could have children and then I came along.’

‘That must have been a surprise!’

‘Sure was.’

We continued our conversation over coffee and when I checked my phone, I was surprised to realize we’d been there for nearly four hours.

‘I should be going,’ I said. ‘I have some work to do when I get home.’

Eric paid the waiter and we walked out of the restaurant together. ‘Thank you for dinner,’ I said. ‘It was great seeing you in person, much better than texting.’

Eric stopped. ‘You don’t like texting?’

I shrugged. ‘It’s okay. I know it’s how most people communicate these days, but I prefer talking on the phone or in person.’

Eric smiled. ‘I’ll keep that in mind. And I hope to see you again, soon.’

I raked my front teeth over my lower lip. ‘I’d like that.’

Eric wrapped his arms around me. I hadn’t been expecting a hug and I wobbled a bit. The butterflies in my stomach took flight again and for a couple of seconds I didn’t want him to let go. I felt warm and safe in his embrace.

My entire drive home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Eric. The way his dimples popped when he smiled. The way he listened more than he talked. He seemed so gentle and kind. And he was so easy to talk to. Maybe Jackie was right. Maybe this would be the one I’d shave my legs for.

Chapter 5

When I got home, I changed into my pajamas and called Jackie. She picked up the phone before I even heard it ring.

‘About time you called! I’ve been dying to hear about your night.’

I gave her a play by play. ‘He’s so easy to talk to, Jack. Maybe it’s because we’ve been through similar experiences with our exes, but I feel like he really understands me. To be honest, it’s a bit scary to feel so comfortable around him so soon.’

‘I think that’s what they call chemistry.’

‘Yeah, I guess.’ I yawned.

‘You sound tired.’

‘I am. I need to sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.’

I crawled into bed and heard my phone ping. It was a text from Eric.

Enjoyed our dinner. Sleep well.

I texted back, You, too!

Even though I had the entire bed to myself, I always slept on the left side, as far over as I could without falling out. When I was married to Scott, he sprawled out leaving me little room. Some habits die hard, I guess. Strange how we continue to do something even when it no longer makes sense.

Morning came too soon. I’d hoped to sleep in but the tenant living above me decided that six in the morning was the perfect time to vacuum. I stumbled into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.

I sat down with my tablet and read the news. Just when I finished, my cell phone rang. It was Eric. He remembered I preferred talking over texting.

‘Good morning!’

He sounded way too chipper for this early in the day.

‘I just wanted to thank you again for a terrific night.’

‘I should be the one thanking you. I really had a great time.’

‘I was wondering about that game of horse.’

‘Horse?’

Eric reminded me of the basketball challenge. ‘So, are you ready to lose?’

I laughed. ‘The only person who’s going to lose is you.’

‘You sound pretty sure of yourself.’

‘I am.’

‘Sounds like we need to settle this once and for all. Can you play this afternoon?’

‘Uh, yeah, I guess.’ I was shocked he wanted to see me again so soon, but the attention made me feel special. ‘But do you really want to drive back here again today?’

‘Absolutely,’ Eric said. ‘I don’t suppose you have a basketball court where you live.’

‘Actually, we do.’ My apartment complex had tennis and basketball courts. ‘But I don’t have a basketball.’

‘I’ll stop and pick one up,’ Eric said. ‘Does early afternoon work for you?’

‘Perfect!’

I immediately called Jackie to tell her about my Sunday afternoon basketball date.

‘Good lord, he’s driving here again today! He must be smitten.’

I glanced around my living room. ‘Guess this means I need to clean this morning.’

‘He’s coming to your apartment?’

‘Yeah, I figured we’d play here. We have those newly refinished basketball courts down by the pool.’

‘Okay, but be careful.’

‘Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m going to let anything happen that I don’t want to happen.’

Izzy rubbed her snowball head against my leg as I hung up the phone, so I picked her up.

‘Looks like we’re getting company, Iz. You’ll get to meet Eric before Jackie.’

She purred and I put her down so I could eat breakfast. I hadn’t planned on spending my morning cleaning, but I hadn’t known I’d be having company either. I never dealt well with the unexpected, but I was trying to change that.

I wanted to be more spontaneous like Jackie. A memory popped into my head of when Jackie and I were planning a girls’ trip to Las Vegas. I had researched the trip for days and came up with an itinerary that was nearly hour by hour.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ Jackie had said. ‘We’re going on this trip to relax, Shel. Ditch the itinerary.’

‘All of it?’

‘Keep a list of things you’d like to see, but part of the fun is what you discover along the way. I know you’re an organizer and a planner. I know you feel uncomfortable not knowing everything in advance. But that’s what makes life an adventure.’

I smiled at the memory. I knew Jackie was right and I was trying to live my life a little more carefree. I hadn’t been entirely successful but agreeing to see Eric when I hadn’t planned to was part of learning to go with the flow. Jackie would be proud. I threw in a load of laundry and dusted and vacuumed my apartment. Then I moved on to scrubbing the bathroom and kitchen floors and watering my peacock plant.

The plant had silver and green markings on its upper leaf surfaces and reddish purple underneath. It always amazed me that a plant could have two sides and look so totally different depending on your perspective. I guess if I think about it, people can be like this, too. Maybe it’s simply a part of nature.

A couple of hours later, my apartment was cleaner than it’d been in a long time and I jumped in the shower. What should I wear for our basketball date? Pink nylon running shorts with mesh liner or a pair of denim shorts? I pulled out a white T-shirt that would go with either. In the end, I opted for the running shorts because I thought they at least gave the illusion I knew what I was doing. I smiled to myself. It had been a long time since I’d cared this much about my appearance.

I Googled ‘basketball horse’ to brush up on the rules. It had been years since I’d held a basketball, so I was certain I’d be the first to spell ‘horse.’ But then again, Eric could be just as out of practice as I was.

I glanced inside the refrigerator and found several eggs, a bag of carrots, six bottles of water and a few cans of beer. I didn’t have time to run to the grocery store so I figured if playing horse went well and dinnertime neared, I’d suggest ordering pizza and having it delivered.

I jumped when I heard the doorbell. My stomach started to flutter again. I felt like a teenager. Where were these feelings coming from? When I opened the door Eric, dressed in black running shorts and a white T-shirt, smiled and handed me a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers.

‘Hello, beautiful.’

‘Thanks. Please, come in.’

It didn’t escape my attention that he’d brought my favorite flower, just one of the many questions he’d asked at dinner the night before.

He followed me to the kitchen and I retrieved a crystal vase in the cupboard above the stove. He put his leather satchel on the chair and spun the basketball on his finger. ‘Ready to lose?’ he smirked.

‘We’ll see about that,’ I teased back.

Eric scanned my apartment. ‘Nice place. Do you like living here?’

I arranged the sunflowers and greens. ‘It’s okay. Sometimes I think about buying a bigger place. I’d like a little more room.’

‘Would you ever consider moving out of the area?’ he asked.

I sat the vase on the table. ‘Probably not. I mean, my job is here. Why?’

Eric shrugged. ‘No reason. I just wondered if you’d ever consider moving. Seems like you could do your job anywhere, right?’

‘Yes and no. I could sell real estate anywhere but I’d have to get to know the market first. For example, the housing market here is different than the housing market where you live, even though we’re only two hours away.’

‘Oh, I see. Guess I didn’t realize that.’

I grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and we headed for the basketball court around the corner from my apartment. It was a sun-kissed day, without a cloud in the sky, and the slight breeze made being outside comfortable.

‘Looks like we have the courts all to ourselves,’ I said.

Eric tossed me the basketball. ‘Let’s practice first.’

I dribbled the basketball. ‘It’s been so long I thought I might have forgotten how to dribble.’

‘You’re doing great. Now take a shot.’

I stopped dribbling and took a shot. I was about ten feet from the basket and it bounced off the backboard. Eric got the rebound and passed the ball to me. ‘Try again.’

I inhaled deeply and tried to remember all the things I’d long since forgotten about form. I squared up to the basket, making sure my feet pointed towards it and my hips were in alignment. I kept my shooting elbow in tight to my hip. I raised the ball above my head so my shooting arm formed an ‘L’ and bent my knees. I could hear my gym teacher say: Let the ball roll off your fingertips as you snap your wrist. Your left hand only guides.

I visualized the shot, imagining a nice high arc like a rainbow. I concentrated on my form and released the ball, watching as it sailed through the air and into the basket. ‘Yesss!’ I punched the air.

Eric retrieved the ball. ‘Looks like I might have some stiff competition. Ready to start?’

‘If you’re ready to lose,’ I teased.

He walked over and placed the ball in my hands. His dreamy eyes pierced mine. ‘If I win do I get anything special?’

I pulled out a piece of gum I’d stuffed in my shorts pocket earlier and held it up. ‘The winner gets this.’

Eric laughed. ‘Okay. Game on. Be prepared to give up the gum. You can go first.’

I shook my head. ‘No special treatment. Do you have a coin to toss?’

He pulled out a quarter and tossed it in the air. We both reached down to pick it up and our hands touched, sending electric impulses throughout my body.

‘Looks like you won.’ Eric smiled.

I went to the free throw line and took a shot. It bounced off the rim.

Eric grabbed the ball. ‘Nice try.’

He shot from the right, about five feet from the basket, and it went in. He retrieved the ball and passed it to me. ‘Your turn.’

I went to the spot where he stood and took a deep breath. Should I use the backboard or aim for the hoop? Back in the day, I was decent at making bank shots so I chose that. Bingo!

‘I do have some stiff competition,’ Eric teased. ‘Let’s see if I can make this one.’ He went to the free throw line and nailed the shot. It was my turn. I took a deep breath and imagined the ball sailing through the air and into the net. ‘Dang!’ I stumped my foot. ‘Guess I have an H.’

An hour later, I found myself out of water and out of luck. And out of a piece of gum! ‘I can’t believe you beat me three times. Are you sure you haven’t played in twenty years?’

‘Honest. Cross my heart. But I can leave the basketball with you in case you want to practice for our next competition,’ Eric teased.

‘Who said there’ll be a rematch?’ I smirked.

‘I thought you’d want the opportunity to avenge yourself. I mean, I know how competitive you are. I want to give you the chance to beat me.’

I shook my head and smiled. ‘Would you like to come back to my apartment and have a beer?’

‘A beer sounds great.’

I stuffed the basketball in my closet and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. ‘Sorry I don’t have a lot to eat. I wasn’t expecting company. But if you’re getting hungry we can order a pizza.’

‘Do they deliver?’

‘Yeah. And it’s pretty decent pie.’

I ordered pizza and Eric and I took our drinks into the living room and sat on the couch.

‘Comfy couch,’ he said.

‘Thanks. I’ve had it forever.’

Eric turned towards me. ‘Did you have it when you were married?’

‘Yes. I got most of the furniture in the divorce. The only thing Scott took was the flat-screen TV.’

‘It doesn’t bother you having a house full of things you shared together?’ he asked.

‘No, not really. It saved me a ton of money. Most of the furniture I picked out anyway. Well, except that TV.’

The doorbell rang. ‘Looks like the pizza’s here,’ I said, jumping up.

Eric placed his drink on the coffee table and stood. ‘That was quick.’

‘Yeah, it’s not far from here.’

Eric followed me to the door and insisted on paying the delivery boy. He handed him a fifty-dollar bill and told him to keep the change.

The boy’s eyes widened. The pizza was fourteen dollars. I was sure the delivery boy had never received a thirty-six-dollar tip on a fourteen-dollar pizza. Wow, he’s generous!

‘You were right,’ Eric said a few minutes later as we settled back on the couch with our slices. ‘This is excellent pizza. But not as excellent as the company.’

‘Thanks. Are you always this sweet?’

‘I try to be.’

I picked up my napkin and wiped my mouth. ‘I had fun today. Thanks for coming.’

‘Me, too. We’ll have to do it again. I mean, after you practice.’ Eric grinned. ‘No, seriously. I had a wonderful time, Shelly. No one has ever made me this happy before.’

‘Ever?’

‘Never,’ he said.

I felt my face heat up. ‘But I’m nobody special.’

Eric stared into my eyes. ‘Yes, you are special, and I’m so glad I found you.’

He leaned in to kiss me and I pulled away. I wanted to kiss him, but I worried that a kiss would lead to something else, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that. ‘I’m sorry, Eric. I like you. A lot. I just haven’t kissed a guy in a long time. Can we slow things down a bit?’

‘Sorry,’ he said, sitting back. ‘I can’t help it. I feel such an intense connection to you. But I don’t want to scare you away. I promise I’ll never do anything you don’t want me to do. I won’t kiss you, unless you want me to. And if our relationship progresses, you’ll be the one to decide how far it goes and when.’

My heart melted as I listened to Eric. He valued me. He wasn’t going to pressure me for anything I wasn’t prepared to give. I realized I was falling for him. I knew it was too soon to have feelings so deep, and yet I couldn’t help myself. No man had ever said the things he said to me. No man had ever made me feel so beautiful and so wanted.

‘Thanks,’ I told him. ‘That means a lot to me.’

‘I was thinking you should come visit me. I’d love to show you around the city.’

‘That sounds fun.’

‘Any chance I could talk you into coming next Saturday? You can spend the night and go home Sunday. I have a spare bedroom.’

‘I’d love to, but before I give you a definite yes, let me double-check my work schedule. Can I get back to you tomorrow?’

‘Sure.’

I walked Eric to his car and he hugged me. I felt as if I were wrapped in a warm, cozy cocoon and I was sad when he released his embrace. I watched him pull away and walked back to my apartment. As I was cleaning up I found a note addressed to me on the kitchen table.

Shelly,

You are special!

Love, Eric

Chapter 6

I texted Eric. Found the note. TY

He texted back: Is it too soon to tell you I miss you?

Lol

I’m serious, he texted.

Later, Eric.

And then I promptly called Jackie to tell her everything.

‘Omigosh! I think I’m falling in love with him,’ she said.

I looked at the flowers he’d brought. ‘Yeah, I keep pinching myself. Is this real? Is this really happening to me? It’s like those fairy-tale romances you read about, but you never think it’s going to happen to you.’

Jackie cleared her throat. ‘So, when am I going to meet him? What about a double date next weekend?’

‘He asked me to visit him. Said he had a guest bedroom.’

‘If you go, make sure you give me his address. I’ll call to check in with you.’

The week went by in a blink. Eric and I talked for hours every night and my days were filled with thoughtful texts from him.

On Wednesday, I walked into work to find a gorgeous arrangement of sunflowers on my desk. I opened the card. I hope these make you smile, Eric.

I took a photo of the flowers and sent it to Eric along with a message. Thanks for the flowers. They’re beautiful.

Patty, the office busybody who always looked like she was dressed for a funeral, walked over. ‘Gorgeous flowers. A new admirer?’ She winked.

If I told Patty who sent the flowers the entire office would know by the time I closed my file cabinet drawer. I wasn’t ready for that. Patty walked away when she realized I wasn’t going to divulge any details.

I caught myself thinking about Eric throughout the day. I’d hear a song on the radio that reminded me of him and my insides would turn to liquid. When I dressed for work, I’d wonder which outfit Eric would like better – the skirt or slacks and blazer. And despite my busy life, I practiced shooting baskets every day at the gym. I was determined to beat him the next time we played.

Thursday morning I woke up and felt warm. At first I thought I was having a hot flush, but I quickly realized I had a fever. I doubled over in pain from stomach cramps and ran to the bathroom, where I camped out most of the day. I thought I’d escaped the stomach flu that had swept through the office. Apparently I hadn’t.

I was supposed to meet Jackie at Tony’s, but I knew I’d have to cancel. I called to tell her. ‘There’s no way I’m going to make it.’

‘That bad, huh?’ Jackie said.

‘Yep. I’ve been camped out on the bathroom floor most of the day. I don’t remember the last time I felt this sick.’

‘It’s been going around my work, too. Is there anything you need?’

‘No. Stay away. I don’t want you to get this. Guess I’ll have to call Eric and tell him I won’t be coming this weekend.’

‘Oh, that’s right. You were supposed to go down to his place. That stinks.’

‘Sure does. And I was really looking forward to it, but all I want to do is sleep. Even if I felt better by tomorrow morning I wouldn’t go.’

‘Well, go back to bed and if you need anything call me.’

I hung up and called Eric.

He answered before I had a chance to speak. ‘How did you know I was thinking about you?’ Eric teased. ‘I can’t wait to see you this weekend.’

‘That’s what I was calling about.’

‘Shelly, what’s wrong. You don’t sound like your normal cheerful self.’

‘I’m not. I’m sick. Sorry, but I won’t be able to make it down tomorrow.’

‘You have nothing to be sorry about. Of course I’m disappointed I won’t get to see you, but I totally understand. Is there anything I can do for you?’

‘No, but thanks anyway. I think the best thing for me is rest.’

We hung up and I grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator and crawled into bed. Izzy snuggled beside me.

‘I don’t know, Izzy. I haven’t felt this lousy in forever.’

In fact, the last time I felt this sick I was married to Scott. That’s when I learned how seriously he took his vow to love me in sickness and in health. He was as caring as the stink bug I’d found crawling in my car earlier in the day. But when Scott was sick, he reverted to his childlike self. He was the world’s biggest baby and expected me to be at his beck and call.

I managed to get through the night only throwing up once. In the morning, I felt like I’d been to a war zone. My gut hurt. My head hurt. My back hurt. I thought about eating a banana but just thinking about it made me nauseous. Instead, I filled up my water bottle. I knew it was important to keep hydrated.

I went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. God, Shelly. You look awful. Gray bags draped under my eyes. My hair was a tangled mess. About all I could manage to do was brush my teeth. The rest would have to wait.

A few hours later, I was awakened by my ringing cell phone. It was Eric. I wasn’t in the mood to talk, but I didn’t want to be rude. I figured he was calling to check up on me. ‘Hello.’

‘Shelly?’

‘Yeah,’ I croaked.

‘Can you come to the door?’

‘What?’

‘Can you come to the door?’

‘My apartment door?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Why?’

‘I left something outside your door. I didn’t want to get too close and get sick. Call me back so I know you got it.’

What the…? I crawled out of bed, stumbled to the front door and looked through the peephole. No one was there. I cracked the door a few inches and peeked out. I didn’t see anyone. Then I looked down and saw a huge pink bag with ‘Get Well’ written on the front.

I picked up the bag and carried it to the kitchen table. I pulled out a large plastic container labeled chicken soup. Then a box of crackers, a bunch of bananas and a jar of apple sauce. There was also a brown, fluffy teddy bear and a note.

Shelly,

I can’t get you out of my mind. I wish I were the one who was sick and not you. I hope you enjoy the chicken soup I made. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. When you cuddle the bear, I hope you think of me.

Love, Eric

I couldn’t wait to call Eric. ‘Thank you so much. I can’t believe you made me soup and drove all this way to deliver it.’

‘No distance could keep me from you.’

‘Are you for real?’

Eric cleared his throat. ‘What do you mean?’

‘It’s just that no man has ever talked to me the way you talk to me.’

‘Is that a bad thing?’

‘No, it’s just different.’

‘Different good or different bad?’

‘Different good.’

‘That’s a relief,’ Eric said. ‘Look, Shell, I don’t want to scare you. And if being nice to you is scaring you, then I’ll try to turn it down a notch or two. But it’s hard because I really care about you and I want to make you happy.’

I took a deep breath. ‘You are making me happy. I’m just not used to it I guess.’

‘Look, I can’t change your past and how you were treated, but I can change your future if you’ll let me. You’re everything I’ve been looking for in a woman and more. You should go back to bed and get some rest. Can I have a raincheck for next weekend?’

‘You can count on it.’

I put the soup in the refrigerator and went back to bed. I texted Jackie.

Eric made me soup and dropped it off.

Jackie texted back. He drove all that way?

Yes.

Jackie sent a smiley face. No one has ever made me soup.

Me neither.

Sounds like a keeper.

I know. Pinch! Pinch! Pinch!

It’s real girl. Enjoy it!

I spent most of the day in bed. When I finally got up it was dinnertime, so I made a bowl of Eric’s chicken soup. It was delicious. Big chunks of meat, fat slippery noodles and broth seasoned just right. It tasted as good as the soup my grandma used to make.

I took a photo of the bowl and texted it to him. Delish! Thanks again!

He responded in what felt like nanoseconds. Feeling better?

A little.

Good. Keep pushing the water.

OK. Later.

You can count on it, he texted.

I showered and crawled back into bed. Izzy curled up next to me. She hadn’t left my side all day. Normally, she rotates to different spots around the apartment, but when I’m sick or upset, she stays by me. I reached down to pet her and she purred. I turned on the TV, thinking maybe I’d watch a movie. The last thing I remember is the hero carrying the girl out of a factory. She’d found her white knight. Had I?

Chapter 7

The coming days brought more flowers, more texts and more phone calls. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this happy. I was back to feeling human again and busy at work. I wasn’t going to complain, however. The housing market had been in a slump and I was enjoying the rebound. My bank account was, too.

I checked the time. It was already after six and I had to meet Jackie at Tony’s. Maybe I should just cancel. But that’d be the second Thursday night in a row, and I couldn’t do that to my best friend.

I picked up the files on my desk and stuffed them into my tote. I texted Jackie to tell her I was on my way. Twenty minutes later, I found her at our usual seats at the bar with her face in her phone.

Jackie sipped her drink. ‘Hey you!’

‘Sorry.’ I was out of breath from rushing. ‘I have buyers coming from out of town tomorrow, and I had to set some things up.’

‘Are you excited about this weekend?’

‘Totally! I can’t wait! But I won’t get there until Saturday afternoon. I have a hair appointment in the morning with Andre and I didn’t want to cancel it. You know how difficult it is getting an appointment with him, especially a Saturday appointment.’

Jackie scanned my head. ‘Your hair always looks gorgeous.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Are you doing anything different?’

‘No. Just getting it trimmed.’ I held out my hand and looked at my nails. ‘I could really use a manicure, too.’

Jackie swung out her legs so I could see her sandal-clad feet. ‘I just had a pedicure.’

I looked down at her toes peeking out of her sandals. ‘Oh! I love the magenta.’

She lowered her legs. ‘Me, too. I couldn’t decide between the cobalt blue, the chartreuse and this. I figured I’d start with this color and try the other two later.’

The bartender came over to take my order.

‘I’m in the mood for something different. How about an orange crush?’

‘Speaking of crush…’ Jackie winked. ‘How’s Eric?’

I laughed. ‘Great. It’s so weird how we can talk for hours and never run out of things to say.’

‘When am I going to meet him?’ Jackie asked.

‘We’ll see how this weekend goes.’

The bartender returned and slid my orange crush in front of me. I took a sip. ‘I like it.’ I turned to Jackie. ‘Want a taste?’

She took a sip. ‘Not bad. So, did you get the invite for our high school class reunion?’

I rolled my eyes. ‘It’s that time again?’

Jackie pumped her fist. ‘Thirty years, baby.’

‘Ugh! Don’t remind me.’

Jackie shook her finger at me. ‘You’d better go. After standing me up at the last reunion, you promised you’d go to this one.’

‘That’s because I was getting divorced and definitely not in the mood to mingle and act like my life was great.’

‘But you’re in a better place now, right?’ Jackie stared into my eyes.

‘Much better, thanks to Eric.’

‘Maybe he’d go with you.’

I scrunched my nose. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Eric wouldn’t know anyone. He’d probably feel uncomfortable, and I’d feel as though I had to entertain him. If I go, I want to be able to catch up with classmates I haven’t seen in forever and not worry about Eric having a good time.’

Jackie and I spent the rest of the evening chatting about high school classmates – those we’d like to see and those we wouldn’t.

‘Remember Eddie Nace?’ Jackie said. ‘Now he was hot. I used to daydream about running my hands through his long brown hair. He was almost too pretty to be a guy.’

I laughed. ‘There wasn’t a lot I liked about high school. Mom was drunk most of the time and I couldn’t wait to go to college to get away from her.’

‘You had Matt.’

‘True, I had Matt. And I felt terrible breaking up with him when I went to college, but we were better as friends than boyfriend and girlfriend.’

‘I hear he’s divorced,’ Jackie said.

‘Really? Who told you that?’

‘I ran into Liz the Loud Mouth at the grocery store the other day. We were talking about the reunion and different people. She mentioned it. Maybe he’ll be at the reunion.’

‘It would be nice to see him. Matt always seemed like a forever guy. I wonder what brought about the divorce.’

‘Maybe you’ll find out.’

I smiled. ‘Maybe.’

I didn’t realize how much fun Jackie and I were having reminiscing, until I saw the time. I told Eric I’d call him when I got home around nine and it was nine-thirty.

Driving home I realized how much Jackie and I had been through together. She was there growing up whenever my mom flew into one of her alcoholic rages and I needed a place to escape to. I was there when her children were born. We’d shared everything. There wasn’t anything I didn’t know about her and she didn’t know about me. I hoped that never changed.

I called Eric as soon as I walked into my apartment.

He sounded anxious, speaking at a rapid rate. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Uh, yeah. Why?’

‘I was worried.’

‘About what?’

‘You.’

‘Why were you worried about me?’

Eric cleared his throat. ‘You said you’d be home by nine. It’s going on ten.’

‘Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. Jackie and I were reliving our high school days and lost track of time. We have a reunion coming up.’

‘Reunions can be fun. You get to see people you haven’t seen in a while. I went to a couple.’

‘Did you enjoy them?’ I asked.

‘They weren’t as bad as I thought they’d be. I didn’t have a date so that made it a little awkward. I felt as if people were judging me for being single.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah. Guess it just bothered me a little. Do you need a date?’

‘I was planning to go alone.’

‘I’d go with you. I mean, if you want me to.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t do that to you. You wouldn’t know anyone, and I wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.’

‘I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable,’ he insisted. ‘I’d enjoy meeting your friends.’

‘You would?’

‘Sure. I want to know everything there is to know about you, Shelly.’

‘Oh, okay. So, do you want to go?’

‘Are you asking me?’

‘Yes,’ I said in my most cheerful voice.

‘Then I’d love to go. When is it so I can get it on my calendar?’

I hung up the phone and realized I’d just invited Eric to my high school reunion. I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, it would be nice not to show up alone. On the other hand, it was just an extra thing to worry about.

Saturday morning, Andre was waiting for me when I walked into the salon. I sat down on his chair. He ran his long fingers through my hair. ‘You just want a trim?’

‘Yes. Nothing drastic.’

‘One of these days I’m going to talk you into doing something a little outside of the box.’ He fluffed my hair.

Andre was as out of the box as they came. I never knew what color his long hair would be when I came in. Today it was purple. He was tall and lean and feminine. Prettier than a lot of women. Prettier than me.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. It was the same hairstyle I’ve sported for decades. I found comfort in the familiar. I wasn’t one of those people who craved constant change. When I faced change, especially when it was forced on me like my divorce, I did so with trepidation. I guess it went back to what Jackie had said about me being a planner. I did better with change when I could plan for it. When it took me by surprise, I felt as though someone had pushed me out of the plane before I had the chance to make sure my parachute worked.

Andre washed my hair and began trimming. ‘So, anything new in your world?’

‘I went out on a date.’

Andre stopped cutting and I could see his eyes widen in his reflection in the mirror.

‘A date? For real?’

I smiled. ‘Yeah.’

He resumed trimming. ‘Wow. Didn’t expect that answer, but yay for you! So give me the details.’

‘Well, we met online.’

‘Online? I thought you didn’t do the online thing.’

‘I didn’t. Well, up until now. Jackie talked me into it. Most of the profiles made me want to vomit. They were so fake and phony. One guy posted a photo of his tongue hanging out. He looked like a dog in heat.’

Andre laughed. He’d been doing my hair for the past twenty years. We’d seen each other through life’s ups and downs. Besides Jackie, he probably knew more about me than anyone. He was there when Scott left me and I was there when he and his husband brought home their infant son.

‘I’m leaving to go visit Eric for the weekend when we’re finished here,’ I told him.

‘Are you nervous?’

‘A little.’

Andre laid the scissors down on the counter and picked up the hairdryer. ‘Don’t be nervous. Just be yourself and have fun.’ He fluffed my hair. ‘Now, how does that feel?’

‘Much better. Thanks!’

I listened to an audiobook while driving to Eric’s house. A Year of Second Chances was about a woman who’d found a list she’d written when she was seventeen. On it she’d scribbled all her hopes and dreams, a bucket list of sorts. She’d realized there was still time to accomplish those dreams and she set about doing just that. It occurred to me that I was about the same age as the character. God willing, I still had a lot of life left. I didn’t want to spend it alone. But did I have the courage to purposefully seek change? I wasn’t sure.

I crossed a bridge and drove into the city. Eric’s house was easy to find. It was a gorgeous Greek Revival row house located in an older section of the city that was crowded with historic homes. Eric had mentioned he’d bought the property about two years ago after his parents died and he came into a sizable inheritance. He hadn’t said how much he inherited and I didn’t ask, but I had the feeling it was substantial by some of the things he mentioned. The vacation house in the Caribbean being one of them.

Slowly I drove past; the green shutters popped against the crisp white house. I admired the intricate iron work along the parlor floor and entrance and the lush window boxes overflowing with perennials and greens.

Following his instructions, I turned right onto Locust Lane. It was narrow, and I breathed a sigh of relief there were no cars coming towards me. I turned right at the stop sign and drove about thirty feet before pulling into a space behind his house. I parked beside his black SUV. I texted him to let him know I’d arrived.

He was at my door in Superman seconds. As soon as I got out of the car he wrapped me in his arms and squeezed me tight. ‘How was the drive?’

‘Not bad. I listened to an audiobook.’

He stepped back and his eyes scanned my body. ‘Something’s different. Hmm. Your hair. You did something to your hair.’

I tossed my head, flinging my hair off my shoulders. ‘I was at Andre’s before coming here.’

Eric looked puzzled. ‘Andre?’

‘My hair stylist.’

‘Oh, yes. Of course. You mentioned that. You look amazing.’

‘Thanks.’ I looked up at the house. ‘Your house looks amazing.’

Eric grabbed my overnight bag from the back seat and took my hand. ‘Let me show you around.’

We walked up the sidewalk through his backyard. Even though the area was small, Eric had managed to turn it into a private oasis. A wooden fence surrounded the yard. A small pergola was tucked into the corner. The sidewalk was made from large pieces of slate. Dwarf shrubs and trees along with bold perennials packed the space.

I stopped before entering the back door and turned around. ‘I had no idea you had such a green thumb.’

Eric laughed. ‘There’s a lot about me you don’t know – yet!’

I followed him inside and he gave me the grand tour.

I looked around, drinking in every detail. ‘I love the high ceilings, built-ins and molding.’

‘Thanks. Most of the molding is original.’

We walked into the dining room, tiled in classic black and white marble. ‘Is this floor original?’ I asked. ‘It’s absolutely gorgeous!’

Eric smiled. ‘Yes. Original floor and original fireplace.’

I turned around in a circle. ‘Your dining room could be featured in a home decorating magazine. It’s gorgeous.’ I ran my hand over the cherry table and sideboard. ‘Are these pieces you bought?’

‘Yes. I like antiques, as you can see. The whole house is full of them.’

As I toured the house, I noticed that nothing was out of place. Even the books on the coffee table were neatly stacked, largest to smallest, each one placed exactly in the middle of the one beneath it.

My vocabulary was nothing but ooohs and aaahs. The upstairs was equally impressive, from the leaded stained-glass windows to the mirrored tiles in the bathroom.

‘Here’s the guest bedroom.’ Eric opened the door and I walked into the buttercup yellow bedroom.

I turned in a circle, my eyes jumping from the brass bed to the antique wooden armoire to the oak washstand with its harp style towel bar. ‘Everything is so beautiful.’

‘Please make yourself at home,’ Eric said. ‘My home is your home.’

Chapter 8

I sat across from Eric eating the Cobb salad he’d made for lunch. ‘Not only are you a skilled decorator, but you’re also a whiz in the kitchen. This is delicious. Thanks!’

‘Glad you like it. Whenever I eat a Cobb I think about the Brown Derby in Hollywood.’

I nodded. ‘Ah, yes. The purported birthplace of the Cobb salad.’ I laughed.

‘What’s so funny?’

‘I was just thinking about that scene from I Love Lucy. They’re eating at the Brown Derby and Lucy inadvertently causes a waiter to hit William Holden in the face with a pie.’

‘My grandmother loved that show,’ Eric said. ‘You’re way too young for that!’

I smiled. ‘I’m an old soul, I suppose. I love old black-and-white movies and TV shows. I’m forever watching the channel that broadcasts all the oldies but goodies.’

Eric sliced a dinner roll in half and buttered each side. ‘Maybe we can watch that channel later. First, I’d like to show you around town. There’s a lot of cool stores you might like. I have to run by the university anyway to check on one of my properties.’

‘You own properties?’

‘Just a few. I rent them to college students. It’s proven to be a nice investment and a great side income.’

That explained the bush of keys he carried around. Maybe that’s why he wondered if I’d ever move here. He probably liked living near his properties in case there was an emergency, like a broken water pipe.

I finished my salad and stood to take my plate over to the sink.

‘Sit!’ Eric shouted. His eyes and mouth were wide open as if my behavior had shocked him.

I jumped and almost dropped my plate. I’m certain he noticed the horrified look on my face. What just happened? I felt like a child being scolded by a parent.

He held up his hand. ‘Sorry. So sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.’ He jumped up and rushed over to me, rubbing my arm. ‘I didn’t mean to scare you, but I want to take care of you. You’re my guest. Please sit. Relax.’

‘I’m not used to being pampered.’ I sat back down. ‘I spent most of my life taking care of myself.’

‘Well, I want to take care of you. I want this weekend to be perfect for you.’

‘It’s off to a great start.’ I sipped my wine.

Eric smiled.

I finished my wine while he cleaned up. He was very thorough, wiping off the salad dressing bottle and butter container before putting them in the refrigerator. He straightened the set of canisters sitting beside the stove and wiped all the counters, even the ones he hadn’t used.

‘Is there anything you can’t do?’ I asked. ‘You cook, you clean, you build, you decorate.’

Eric smiled and took my empty wine glass and placed it in the dishwasher before turning it on. ‘Are you ready to go downtown?’

I followed Eric out to his car and he opened my door and I got in.

‘I’ll be right back,’ he said. ‘I forgot something.’

When Eric returned, he was carrying his leather satchel. He threw it on the back seat and it slid off. I reached to pick it up and put it back on the seat.

‘No!’ he shouted.

I shook. It was the second time in less than an hour that he’d made me jump out of my seat.

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I did it again, didn’t I? I didn’t mean to startle you. Please forgive me. I’m just fussy about my satchel. It’s sort of like a pocketbook to me.’

‘I wasn’t going to open it or anything,’ I explained. ‘I was just going to put it back up on the seat.’

‘I know,’ Eric said. ‘I feel like such a jerk for making a big deal about it, but it’s very personal to me.’

I nodded. ‘No problem. I understand. I have things that I’m particular about, too.’

His reaction to the satchel had startled me, but after seeing how neat his home was and how everything was just so perfect, I wasn’t surprised. I was curious about what it held, though, especially since he was so protective of it.

Eric drove down the main street in the city towards the campus on the outskirts of town. ‘Do you want to see the campus?’

‘Sure. I’d love to. I haven’t been on a college campus in years. Actually, since I graduated.’

Eric glanced over at me. ‘You’ve never gone back to visit?’

I looked out the window, surveying the surroundings. ‘No, but I might this year. My sorority is having a reunion.’

‘I didn’t know you were in a sorority,’ Eric said.

I looked at him and smiled. ‘There’s probably a lot about me you don’t know.’

‘Like what?’

‘Uh, I don’t know. Little things.’

‘For example?’

‘I hate odd numbers and cameo jewelry and any show containing the word “reality”.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. And I hate clicking on a twenty-second video and having to watch a forty-five second commercial first.’

Eric nodded. ‘I’m with you on the commercial pre-rolls. They drive me crazy, too.’

‘What bugs you? Besides visitors helping to clean up after dinner or touching your satchel,’ I joked.

He looked at me and smiled. ‘It’s going to take me a long time to live those things down, isn’t it?’

‘We’ll see,’ I teased. ‘It depends on how good you are the rest of the visit.’

‘Oh, I’ll be on my best behavior,’ he assured me. ‘You can count on that!’

‘Good. Now, tell me what bugs you.’

Eric looked at his sleeve. ‘I hate putting a coat on over a long-sleeve shirt and having the shirt’s sleeves roll up to my elbow.’

‘Good one.’

‘And I hate reading online dating profiles in which the woman states she likes to have fun – as opposed to what, hating fun and being miserable?’

I laughed. ‘Yeah, I’ve read some doozy online profiles, too.’

Eric reached over and touched my arm. ‘Thank God my days of reading online profiles are over. I found my match.’

My face warmed and tingles erupted inside. He’s so sweet. Kind and gentle. And thoughtful. Very thoughtful.

We left the campus and turned right, driving about three blocks before pulling in front of a two-story house with gray siding and black shutters. Eric turned off the car. ‘I’ll be right back. I just have to check on something.’

Not that I wanted to go with him, but Eric didn’t ask, which seemed strange given how polite he was.

Eric grabbed his satchel and hopped out of the car. I watched as he ran around to the back of the house. I passed the time looking at photos on my phone. I had a ton of images of Izzy. Then there were lots of photos of houses I’d sold and a fair number of Jackie and me, mostly selfies taken at Tony’s.

About twenty minutes later, Eric returned. He laid the satchel on the back seat. This time it didn’t slide off. ‘Sorry, that took a little longer than I anticipated.’

I wondered what he had to do but figured if he wanted me to know, he’d say.

We drove downtown and parked in a garage near the shopping district. The streets were lined with boutiques and quaint shops selling everything from specialty teas to hand-crafted soaps.

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