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It feels so good to be close to Molly. How is it that I have been resisting for so long? We are so much more than friends. I’ve been pushing her away and now I feel as if I’ve been wasting time. We could have kissed earlier. I could have told her how I feel weeks ago. We could have been close like this. I should have been more courageous; more of a man. I should have told Molly that I love her and that she is perfect. But I didn’t. Idiot. I rest my chin on top of her head and smile.
“Do you have plans for tonight?” I ask quietly. “Will you have dinner with me?”
“No, and yes. Please. That would be nice.”
I kiss Molly’s cheek. She slips her hand into mine and we walk down the road together.
Chapter 21
Molly
The Oak River Annual Spring Fair has been and gone for another year: yet another resounding success for the organizing committee, stall holders, and pretty much everyone in our funny quirky little community.
There were no major dramas. Dennis, our very own Elvis impersonator, performed his signature version of “Viva Las Vegas” without a hitch. He invested in some stretch-fabric pants, so the audience wasn’t subjected to last year’s eye-popping show. All indecent exposure charges have been dropped. The police were very sympathetic once Dennis’s claims of “accident” were verified.
The battle re-enactment was spectacular once again. Westie said, at the committee meeting, that interest in the Historic Society is at an all-time high, reflected in a growing paid-up membership. He’s thinking of running a week-long workshop with a focus on how people lived in eighteenth-century Oak River. He’s talking about bringing in experts to run classes in blacksmithing, leatherwork, spinning and weaving, and armory, of course. He’s going to do the numbers and get a proposal together for next year. We applauded and offered support and assistance with any organization or setup.
Doggy Dress-Ups was fabulous, with more entrants than last year, and an incredible standard of creativity and presentation. Ernie and Sinatra didn’t enter. Ernie said, magnanimously, that it would be unfair to hog the limelight for the second year in a row. He was happy to allow new talent to shine through. Kevin found a dog to borrow and won, hands down, in an intricately crafted Willy Wonka outfit. The dog, a schnauzer called Captain, was dressed as an Oompa Loompa.
Dex and Meryl ran a stall selling their goat cheese. They have two types that are doing well, a creamy brie and a traditional white feta. They brought along some of their goats to the fair too: a nanny and two kids which were adorable and a big hit with the children. Dex and Meryl made up some goat cheese sandwiches to sell and had a generous plate of giveaway samples. The chef at the Old Oak Bar & Grill was very impressed with the quality of their wares and reworked his summer menu around the goat cheese flavors. Dex and Meryl are loving their new life. They tell me it’s hard. They’re putting in a lot of hours, but the benefits are absolutely worth the time and effort. Baby Daniel even helps out with caring for the animals.
Cam and I regularly babysit Daniel to allow Dex and Meryl a date night somewhere. It’s fun to be in the country and Daniel is such a good baby. Sometimes we stay over in their spare room and help out with the goats and cheese making. There’s always loads to do.
The Floral Display Awards was another triumph for Lydia and the team. Business at Blossoms in Bloom is so good that Lydia has taken on an apprentice. Although being Lydia, she finds it hard to release the reins. She is expanding her floral empire to cater more for corporate events and weddings. And she’s my maid of honor and helping to organize my wedding.
Yes. Cam and I are getting married. And soon. Cam proposed in that week he came back to Oak River. We had dinner at the Old Oak Bar & Grill after he surprised me in the Romance section at the library. The waiter showed us to a secluded corner table that Cam had reserved for us.
“This was where we had our first date,” Cam says as we sit down.
I laugh. “Cam, we never dated.”
“Maybe not. But it felt like a date to me.” Cam leans over to kiss me. “That whole time we were hanging out and organizing the Spring Fair felt like we were dating. It’s so nice to be actually dating and not pretending not to be dating, doesn’t it?”
“It certainly takes the guesswork out of it.”
“Yes, it does. And I feel like celebrating… Let’s get some Champagne.”
Cam flags down the waiter who responds eagerly with an ice bucket, two flutes, and a chilled bottle of Moet & Chandon. He makes a show of popping the cork and pouring the luxurious effervescence out into the glasses.
“Cheers Molly Ryan. To us,” says Cam lifting his glass to mine.
“Cheers.” Clink.
“I was a bit worried that you wouldn’t want to have dinner with me tonight. And that would have been terrible. I would be sitting here all alone like Nigel No Mates.”
“I can’t believe you’re here…” I sip my Champagne. The bubbles tickle my nose. “I can’t believe that you changed your mind about your cool city life.” I put the glass down in front of me.
“No? Then, you don’t understand.”
“What don’t I understand?” I lean toward Cam with both elbows on the table, interlacing my fingers under my chin. Cam leans my way and looks deep into my eyes.
“That you have me, Molly Ryan. Totally.” At this point, I feel close to tears, but I sip some Champagne and gulp back a sob. Cam continues. “I couldn’t be away from you. It’s as simple as that. I got back to my apartment, which was exactly how I left it. I thought I could slot back in. Pick up where I left off. But…” Cam smiles and shakes his head. “… turns out the things I thought were important, well, they’re just not anymore. Everything there seemed empty and pointless. And the only thing that matters to me is what I have found with you.” This is not the time to fall into pieces. I sip more Champagne. “You are here. So, here I am. Unless you want to live in the city, then I am open to a discussion about that.”
We kiss some more. Then we’re interrupted by the waiter who wants to know if we’re ready to order. But I’m overwhelmed. My mind is not on food. Cam orders for both of us: a shared mezze platter of olives, hummus, slivers of smoked salmon, and toasted flatbread.
I’m so happy I could burst. Cam and I chat about life in Oak River. I fill him in on what’s happened since he left. Not a huge amount, really. We talk about Dex and Meryl and the fire chief job that’s going to be filled soon.
“And if I don’t get it. I’ll find something else to do here. I might look at starting a business.”
