I squeal and squeeze her knee. “What did you do?”
She tells Rose and me about their tour through town and their evening at Chips on the Table. She even tells us the heartwarming story about how Oliver became a firefighter.
“His job does make me nervous,” Lindsey says. “But if it’s really as low-key as he said, maybe it’s not so bad.”
“I’m sure it’s not,” I say. “Just think about what happened with Rose. I bet most of the calls he goes on are like that.”
Lindsey trails her fingers along June Bug’s back. “That’s kind of how he put it—that most of the calls they get are medical.”
“So, how did you leave things?” I ask. “Are you going out with him again?”
She gives me a nonchalant shrug. “He did ask me to dinner on Wednesday night.”
“And?” Rose and I blurt in unison.
A smile spreads over her mouth. “I said yes.”
The three of us are screeching with delight, and June Bug lets out a squeaky howl to match our energy.
“Tell us the rest,” Rose insists. “Did he kiss you?”
Lindsey shakes her head, her cheeks flushing pink. “Not yet. I think he wanted to, though. And if he’d tried, I think I would have let him.”
Our squealing commences once again.
“Oh, that’s wonderful, sweetheart,” I say.
Lindsey picks at the hem of her sweater and sighs as June Bug toddles over to my lap. “There’s just something about him. Being around him makes me feel…lighter, somehow. Like I can just be silly and have fun.”
“You need that in your life,” I say. And she does. After the loss of her father, and then her subsequent break up with Daniel, my eldest daughter retreated inside herself. It took me a while to notice because I was so swallowed up in my own grief. But once I waded through the thick of it, I returned to find Lindsey a little less whole.
“Yeah,” she says. “I think you’re right.” A soft meow comes from the top of the steps, and Lindsey rises from the couch. “I should check on Catrick Swayze and get some sleep. You want me to tuck in the little heathen first?”
“No, that’s okay,” I answer, stroking the silky hair of the pup's ear. “I’ve got it.”
Lindsey grins. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you actually like having her around.”
“She certainly kept me on my toes today,” I say. But Ihaveenjoyed having her. Yes, she’s a little destructive, but she’s also a sweet little thing with a feisty personality all her own.
Rose eases onto her feet. “I suppose I should hit the hay too. I’ve got physical therapy in the morning before I head home.”
“You don’t want to find out what happens with the farmer?” I nod toward the television.
“Nah.” She gives a disinterested wave toward the show still playing silently in the background. “He’s got goofy ears, anyhow.”
We say our goodnights, and Lindsey and Rose each head off to their respective bedrooms, leaving me, June Bug, and Farmer Gary in total stillness.
15
LINDSEY
“Thank you,”I say as Oliver pulls my chair out at Antonio’s Wednesday evening, the scent of his woodsy cologne forcing me to swallow a dreamy sigh.
“Of course.” He sits across from me, and I catch a blissful glimpse of the way his forearms flex in his rolled-up button-down. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“You said that already.” The girlish giggle that tumbles out of my mouth surprises me.
“Not that you don’t always look amazing,” he says. “Because you do. But…wow.”
