twenty-six
Today is going to be a big day for this house, and I cannot wait. Monday is a crummy day for most people, but it’s a great one for me right now. The new windows are going to be installed in the living room and the kitchen by another of Paul’s crews, and the French doors out to the porch are going in. The light that’s going to flood this dark house is going to be breathtaking. Matteo and Slowski are already outside, continuing to paint the exterior, while Danny finishes staining the porch.
When I take my usual spot at the end of the dock, it’s hard not to keep peeking back at him, but I force myself to keep my eyes on the water and not distract either of us. Of course, I cheat now and then, and aside fromhislure, there is undeniably the lure of the fresh coat of white paint that is already shining against the black tin roof on this side of the house. And the portion of the deck that Danny has covered with a dark stain makes me want to throw my arms up in the air because it’s a classic look that I will love for years.
For a few moments, I allow myself to cringe at the thought of how I’m going to tell my mother what I want. What I’m going to do. Quickly, I shake off the feeling of dread though and go back to happier thoughts.
Even though I won’t be hosting brunch next weekend because of Wakefest, I still look over menu ideas, read recipe reviews, and watch video after video. It’s been such an unexpected pleasure to have people over and feed a large group, and I don’t want to fail them when the next one rolls around. Alex and I are getting a rhythm down, and this past Sunday’s gathering went incredibly smoothly. The cherry chocolate muffins and croque monsieur casserole were hits, and it was smart of Alex to suggest fruit in some form, so I loved doing skewered fruit kabobs.
Nicole thanked me for the lemon that I gave her for her crepes, and Jackson thanked me for the hat. Apparently, she’d needed one lemon for her crêperie, and Jackson had been hit with a summer flu, so the hat helped his chills.
Their words made me smile, as I saw again how much Alex was a helper.
It’s taken hours of planning, but I finally send Paul links to what I want for the kitchen. After browsing through countless inspirational pictures, I stumble across one that I know is my kitchen. It’s bold, unique, and outside my comfort zone, but I know it’s right. Anjou-pear green cabinets and shelving with matching beadboard on the walls, a darker juniper-green patterned ceramic backsplash, vintage-style appliances—including a six-burner gas stove—butcher block counters, a small island, a farmhouse sink with a brushed-gold faucet, a few floating shelves, and mixed-metal fixtures throughout. But one of the things I love about it the most is what I want for the ceiling—a fantastic hanging light and painted tin tiles in a light green. He’s going to have to figure out the exact configuration and how much I can pack into the space, but I at least have the general concept down.
Mary Ann texts me and asks if I can meet up with her at the farm. There are about a hundred weird emojis and exclamation points along with a 911, so I immediately reply that I’ll be right over. Given that my house is being ravaged, I don’t mind leaving, so I don’t have to witness the mess. I wave to Danny as I drive away, and it feels so nice to have someone to say good-bye to.
Mary Ann is pacing like nobody’s business when I get to her, and I’m now worried that there’s some sort of crisis she hasn’t told me about.
“What’s happening? What’s wrong?” I ask. “Should we call 911?”
“What? No!” She laughs. “It’s not that kind of emergency.” She finally holds still. “I’m so into Slowski. Like, so, so into him. Thinking about him all the time, watching him, the way he moves, hanging on his every word and hoping he doesn’t notice, but also wanting him to notice, you know? It’s making me crazy. I want to ask him out. Ihaveto ask him out. But what if he hates me? Okay, fine, he doesn’t hate me,” she says more to herself than me. “But what if I’m still one of the guys to him? What if it’s a hard no? What if he isn’t interested and then everything gets all weird after?”
“Okay, yeah, let’s all calm down here.” My heart rate is now back to normal because she’s obviously not having anactualemergency. “I’m so digging this! And it definitely won’t be a hard no. And I don’t even think it’ll be a no. I mean, you’re you. A hot, desirable, vivacious, sensitive, and caring you.”
When she looks at me, she seems slightly less stressed. “Well, now, I’m wondering if I should ask you out.”
“Okay, very funny. So, what can I do to help?”
The pacing starts up again. “So, I’m thinking about inviting him to go on a picnic. Like, wouldn’t that be cute? Kind of old-fashioned maybe, but it could be fun. I have an actual picnic basket that my grandparents use. But what do I bring? Serve? What’s a sexy lunch? And I can’t cook a damn thing. Callie, would you—”
“Of course. I’ll pack you up a great lunch!” I answer before she can finish asking. “Gimme a minute. I’ll find something.” While I have to browse online for a bit, I smile as I share what I come up with. “Okay, so what if you do a Greek theme? Greek appetizers. Homemade hummus and tabbouleh. Shrimp, orzo, and feta salad. Olives. Pita bread and lemon wedges for everything. Maybe, most importantly, iced mint tea, for good breath. You know, in case there’s a kiss or a hundred.”
“Okay, I love that!” Mary Ann stops in her tracks. “Holy shit, a kiss? What if we kiss? Fuck, that would be unreal. And so unlikely. But what if?”
“If he doesn’t kiss you, he’s a moron. And it’s the perfect setup, right?”
“I could do it somewhere on my grandparents’ property. Although there’d be a risk we’d be smelling some sort of animal manure, which is definitely not sexy.”
“Danny’s got a lovely property. Lots of open fields and shit. So perfect for a picnic. Maybe ask him?”
Mary Ann clenches her hands and thinks. “Okay, yes. That’s smart. And way sexier than manure pastures.”
“We might be staring out the window as your date happens, but of course, I don’t mind.”
She freezes. “Wait a minute. Did you saywe?Yes, you did!Wemeans you and Danny! You guys are awe?”
There’s no way that I can hide my expression. “He may have spent the night here...”
“What?” She shrieks with glee. “So, that night on the couch wasn’t a one-night stand. At all.” She follows me to my car and twirls, and I know I’m going to answer to her likelymanyquestions later.
After we pick up what we need for me to make everything for her picnic, I suggest that we stop at Finley’s Minis. A few small dessert items to finish off a date.
Jackson welcomes us with enthusiasm and asks what we’re looking for. I make a show of gesturing to Mary Ann and tell him how she wants to impress someone.
“So, we want something sexy. Maybe something she could feed to a date perhaps.”
“Okay, understood.” Jackson claps his hands. “Okay, how about a selection of petit fours? They’re tiny bite-sized cake bites. I have lemon and berry, almond, chocolate-covered raspberry, carrot cake. Or mini cannoli?”
