All of a sudden I smiled.
“What?”
“You. I love how your mind works. There’s a pattern to it. I don’t always see it at first, but it makes sense once I do.”
“I’m glad one of us thinks so,” she muttered. “Nana says I’m a flibbertigibbet. My nana, I mean, not yours. Of course not yours! I haven’t met her yet. I suppose we should— What’s so funny now?”
“That word. Flibbertigibbet. I don’t know it.”
“Seriously? I found a word you don’t know?”
“There’s lots of ’em. What’s this one mean?”
“Someone like me.” She continued in a Brahmin accent, “Don’t be a flibbertigibbet, Christine. No one takes a young lady seriously, especially if she’s flighty and frivolous.” She punctuated it with a hoity-toity expression that turned into a glower. “She doesn’t understand what it’s like. To be me, I mean. Sometimes my brain runs too fast and my mouth can’t keep up.”
“Well, I don’t think you’re a flibbertigibbet,” I said gently. “I think you’re perfect.”
“Thank you.”
“I wish you kept more regular hours,” I added with a chuckle, “but I suppose I can’t have everything.”
“No, sorry. Are you ready for bed?”
“Yes, but you aren’t. You have too much energy.”
“Sorry.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I know how to tire you out. You need a special potion.”
“A love potion?”
“No, more like a sleeping potion. You swallow the first draft.”
Her eyes flashed with interest. “First draft? Is there a second?”
“An injection.”
“Ooh, my favorite kind.”
“And if you can’t sleep tomorrow night…”
She grinned. “More potions? And injections?”
“Exactly.”
“For the rest of our lives?”
“For the rest of our lives.”
* * *
I rose early and went for a run the next morning. I needed to get back in the habit, but I also wanted to plan my day. I’d decided how to ask Christy to marry me, but I needed a few things from town. I also needed a good segue from the quarry measurements to the proposal itself. I didn’t want her to suspect anything until I surprised her with the ring.
I eventually worked it out and made my turn. Then I moved on to more immediate plans. I didn’t think anyone else would be awake yet, but Trip and Leah were chatting over coffee in the clubhouse. They waved for me to join them.
I hesitated and gave our bungalow a long look. Christy and Brooke were still in bed, warm and probably just waking up. The little head was already excited, but the big head overruled him. I turned and went into the clubhouse instead.
“Oh, wow,” Leah said, “look at you.”
I did. I hadn’t turned into a giant chocolate cake or anything.
“What about me?”
“Shirtless and sexy. And those running shorts make your bulge look even bigger.”
“Oh, brother,” Trip muttered, “his head won’t fit through the door already.”
“I like yours too,” she said, soft and affectionate, “but Paul was my first love. He’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
“Are you sure it’s your heart he wants?”
“Of course,” she laughed. “What else could it be?”
Trip and I both scoffed at the same time, and she did her best Scarlett O’Hara.
“Oh, stop!”
It was a fitting reminder that Leah was a southern girl, born and bred. She looked like an exotic foreign beauty, but she was a belle at heart.
“Oh, please,” I said, “you know you’re gorgeous.” I used my watch as an excuse. “Trip, you can explain better than I can.”
“Oh?” Leah said. “Where’re you off to?”
“I need to get ready for my meeting.”
She checked her own watch and frowned. “I thought you didn’t have to leave till nine thirty?”
“I don’t,” I said vaguely. I hadn’t counted on her knowing my schedule. “I… um… need to…”
“Take care of his harem,” Trip finished.
“Oh, that’s right!” Leah said, completely unfazed. “Rise and shine! Or should that be ‘rise and shoot’? Whatever it is, don’t let us stop you.”
“Thanks.”
“Tell Christy to save some for me!” she called as the door swung closed behind me.
I waved without turning and continued across the patio. I couldn’t help but wonder what my life might’ve been like if things had worked out differently, if Leah and I had had better timing. But then my thoughts turned to Christy and I knew for certain. Leah was amazing, but Christy was the love of my life, my soulmate, my little princess.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the little head carped, save the romance for the wedding night. Right now she’s the love of my life… my suck-mate… my deep throat princess. And she’s in bed with a hot redhead who wants some attention too. So, chop-chop.
Ha! Using logic against me? Will wonders never cease…
* * *
Granville and I had the most productive meeting ever, two full hours of actual work. We reviewed my notes for the convenience store and sketched out a floor plan. Then we discussed vending machines in the RV bathhouse, which had turned into a mini-clubhouse. The current design wouldn’t work, so we completely revised it. We were still going when the clock in the hall struck noon.
Part of me wanted to keep working, but I had errands to run. And Granville was such a creature of habit that his stomach actually growled, audibly, before the sound of the chimes had even faded. Beatrice appeared in the doorway and started to say something.
I preempted her, “I’m sorry, Bea, but I can’t stay for lunch today.”
“Why not?” Granville said. “It’s Tuesday. Bea’s made spareribs, haven’t you, Bea?”
“M’yessir.”
“And they smell delicious, but I have a bunch of errands while I’m in town.” I started to gather my things.
“They can’t be that important,” Granville protested.
“They are,” I said. Then I decided to explain why. “I’m going to ask Christy to marry me.”
Beatrice clapped her hand to her mouth, and Granville’s bushy eyebrows twitched.
“Tomorrow,” I added. “But I need to pick up things in town first.”
“Ah say,” Granville drawled, “congratulations are in order, my boy. Bea, fetch us a bottle—”
“Thank you, but I really can’t,” I said. “We’ll celebrate when she’s said yes.”
“We’ll have a party in your honor,” Granville agreed. “Won’t we, Bea?”
“M’yessir. Of course, sir.”
“That’d be nice.” I slung my carrying tube, snapped my sketchbook closed, and tucked it under my arm. “Thank you again. I wish I could stay, but—”
“No, no, my boy, go on,” Granville said. “We’ll talk on Thursday. You can give us the good news.”
I nodded briskly and headed for the hall. Bea stepped back, but on a whim I leaned in and kissed her cheek. I nearly gave her a heart attack.
“Ah say!” Granville blurted.
I wasn’t sure if it was an objection or approval, and I didn’t really care. Bea stood very still and met my eyes. Hers were dark and unreadable, although her lips compressed with what I hoped was a smile.
“Run along now, my boy,” Granville said. “Bea, show him out?”
She nodded immediately and gestured toward the door. I stopped when I reached it. Granville couldn’t see us, and I pitched my voice so it wouldn’t carry.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I hope I didn’t… I mean, I wasn’t thinking. I just…”
“You surprised me is all,” Beatrice said in her slow contralto. “Ain’t nothin’ t’ apologize for.”
“Thanks. I—”
“Bea…?” Granville called.
“Better do as Mister Granville says. Run along now.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I opened the door and left. Bea followed me onto the porch and pulled the door closed behind her. She watched in silence as I climbed into the Cruiser. She was still watching as I drove away. Then she raised her hand in a tentative wave.