Everyone knew that.
My heart skipped as I wondered what he might try next. Part of me hoped he would kiss me and another part of me wanted to keep my word to my dad. Luckily, I didn’t have to decide. When the credits rolled, all Jim had done was hold my hand for half of the film.
It was a sunny day, so we went for a walk in the park afterward. It was a shame we couldn’t have driven there in his beautiful car, but we were stuck on foot as some rules couldn’t be broken.
“What kind of business does your father have?” I asked him.
“He had two businesses. An apartment building and a Laundromat. But he sold them both, and we moved here.”
By the tone of his voice, it sounded like there was a story behind that decision, but I didn’t want to be nosy, so we continued walking, enjoying the sounds of birds happily chirping overhead.
An old couple sitting on a park bench caught my eye. Jim noticed them, too. “That’s how it’s supposed to turn out,” he said. His words had a sharp edge to them, and as I looked at his face, I could see pain in his eyes. “My parents are divorced. That’s why we came here… to get away from it all.”
Divorced? I didn’t know anyone whose parents were divorced. I didn’t know what to say.
“My dad said he’s going to start over. Get another Laundromat, buy another building.” He looked into the distance, as if seeing the future they’d planned.
“I’m sure you’ll help him be successful again,” I said.
Jim turned to me. “I will.” He smiled.
He glanced at my lips, and I thought he was going to kiss me, but he didn’t. “We should be getting back,” he said. “I’m sure your dad is worried sick waiting for you.”
“How did you know?” I teased.
“Because I make a habit of observing people. I can tell my dad worries about me all the time even though he never says it. Plus, I’m a guy,” he smirked. “Your dad probably thinks I’ve tried to have my way with you.”
I blushed. “We did have the talk on the way here,” I said.
Jim laughed. “I’ll bet.”
He reached for my hand, and I laced my fingers through his as we headed back to his car.
“Thanks for the movie and the popcorn,” I said. “I had fun on my first date.”
Jim stopped. “This is the first date you’ve been on?”
“Uh huh,” I replied nervously.
We got to his car and faced each other. “Well, I’m honored I could be your first date. How did I do?”
I blushed. “I can’t think of how it could have been any better.”
Jim stepped closer. He gazed deep into my eyes and said, “Me neither.” He gave me a kiss on the cheek, hopped in his car and drove away.
Chapter 12
The next day I walked to Bernice’s house, my mind buzzing with all that had happened since we saw each other last.
Her mom answered the door. “How’s your arm?” I asked her, noticing her artwork covered cast.
She lifted it. “Healing… in style.”
I smiled, and Bernice came in.
“What’s new?” she asked.
“Tons. We need to talk.” We went outside and began walking to the park.
“Let me start with the bad news. Aunt Violet died.”
“Oh no! Your mom must be so upset.”
“She is. But I think it’s for the best because Aunt Violet was in a lot of pain.”
Bernice kicked a large pebble. “True.”
“And now for the good news. I met a boy named Jim. He just moved here from New York.” I paused and added, “We went on a date.”
Bernice stopped walking. “No way.”
“Yep.” I beamed. “He’s really nice. I think you’ll like him.”
“He sounds great,” she said, but she wasn’t very enthusiastic.
I didn’t expect her to jump up and down, but this was a big moment. “How come you don’t seem happy for me?” I asked.
“I am,” she assured me. “I guess my mind is elsewhere. Sorry.”
“What’s going on?”
She exhaled noisily. “It’s this college thing. There just aren’t very many options for women, and that’s so
My heart skipped as I wondered what he might try next. Part of me hoped he would kiss me and another part of me wanted to keep my word to my dad. Luckily, I didn’t have to decide. When the credits rolled, all Jim had done was hold my hand for half of the film.
It was a sunny day, so we went for a walk in the park afterward. It was a shame we couldn’t have driven there in his beautiful car, but we were stuck on foot as some rules couldn’t be broken.
“What kind of business does your father have?” I asked him.
“He had two businesses. An apartment building and a Laundromat. But he sold them both, and we moved here.”
By the tone of his voice, it sounded like there was a story behind that decision, but I didn’t want to be nosy, so we continued walking, enjoying the sounds of birds happily chirping overhead.
An old couple sitting on a park bench caught my eye. Jim noticed them, too. “That’s how it’s supposed to turn out,” he said. His words had a sharp edge to them, and as I looked at his face, I could see pain in his eyes. “My parents are divorced. That’s why we came here… to get away from it all.”
Divorced? I didn’t know anyone whose parents were divorced. I didn’t know what to say.
“My dad said he’s going to start over. Get another Laundromat, buy another building.” He looked into the distance, as if seeing the future they’d planned.
“I’m sure you’ll help him be successful again,” I said.
Jim turned to me. “I will.” He smiled.
He glanced at my lips, and I thought he was going to kiss me, but he didn’t. “We should be getting back,” he said. “I’m sure your dad is worried sick waiting for you.”
“How did you know?” I teased.
“Because I make a habit of observing people. I can tell my dad worries about me all the time even though he never says it. Plus, I’m a guy,” he smirked. “Your dad probably thinks I’ve tried to have my way with you.”
I blushed. “We did have the talk on the way here,” I said.
Jim laughed. “I’ll bet.”
He reached for my hand, and I laced my fingers through his as we headed back to his car.
“Thanks for the movie and the popcorn,” I said. “I had fun on my first date.”
Jim stopped. “This is the first date you’ve been on?”
“Uh huh,” I replied nervously.
We got to his car and faced each other. “Well, I’m honored I could be your first date. How did I do?”
I blushed. “I can’t think of how it could have been any better.”
Jim stepped closer. He gazed deep into my eyes and said, “Me neither.” He gave me a kiss on the cheek, hopped in his car and drove away.
Chapter 12
The next day I walked to Bernice’s house, my mind buzzing with all that had happened since we saw each other last.
Her mom answered the door. “How’s your arm?” I asked her, noticing her artwork covered cast.
She lifted it. “Healing… in style.”
I smiled, and Bernice came in.
“What’s new?” she asked.
“Tons. We need to talk.” We went outside and began walking to the park.
“Let me start with the bad news. Aunt Violet died.”
“Oh no! Your mom must be so upset.”
“She is. But I think it’s for the best because Aunt Violet was in a lot of pain.”
Bernice kicked a large pebble. “True.”
“And now for the good news. I met a boy named Jim. He just moved here from New York.” I paused and added, “We went on a date.”
Bernice stopped walking. “No way.”
“Yep.” I beamed. “He’s really nice. I think you’ll like him.”
“He sounds great,” she said, but she wasn’t very enthusiastic.
I didn’t expect her to jump up and down, but this was a big moment. “How come you don’t seem happy for me?” I asked.
“I am,” she assured me. “I guess my mind is elsewhere. Sorry.”
“What’s going on?”
She exhaled noisily. “It’s this college thing. There just aren’t very many options for women, and that’s so
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