Just w hat are we wagering?”
“If you win, I’ll buy you a latte or whatever it is you’re drinking.”
“That would be chamomile tea with honey and lemon.” She touched her throat and added, “I have the most pampered vocal chords you’ll ever meet. I have to keep these babies in tip-top shape. ”
“So do we have a deal?”
She shook his hand as she said, “Ok, we have a deal, I’ll go. I’m done with my Christmas shopping and have a free day tomorrow. ”
“Great! St. Andrew’ s church, be there at three . See you then.”
As she watched him walk out, she wondered what she was getting herself into. But knowing that she’d get to spend the afternoon with Luke , she didn’t really care.
***
The next afte rnoon, Ellie sat staring blankly into her large, walk-in closet, trying to decide what to wear. She was already running late and didn’t like the stress of having to choose something too quickly. This was a delicate situation that needed focused thoughts and planning . It wasn’ t exactly going to be a date, but s he had seen the way Luke was looking at her at the Sit-n-Sip and she wanted to wear something that would capture his attention but in a subtle way. Trying to look good without appearing that she was trying to look good. It was a fine line to walk and she wanted to be on the right side of that line .
She finally settled on a pair of skinny bla ck jeans with a dark pink sweater. She’d wear her new wool co at with the pink cashmere scarf she bought in Chicago before she left and her new black boots . While she was getting ready her mother knocked softly on her door.
“Can I come in, darling?” she asked in a voice as soft as the knock. Ellie had missed that soft, sweet voice of her mother while she was at college. The one downside to wanting to live in big cities and travel the world is that she’d miss her parents. Growing up, she felt like she was the luckiest girl in the world. When, during her teenage years, friends would be complaining about their parents, doing anything to escape, Ellie would relish the family Thursday night pizza and game parties or Sunday dinners that also included her grand parents .
“My, d on’t you look pretty, Eleanore !”
Ellie smiled to hear the formal version of her name. It was only ever used by her mother, so hearing it out loud made her feel at home.
“Thanks, Mother, I’m getting ready to meet a friend at St. Andrew’s church. ”
“A friend?”
Ellie could tell that her mother’s interest was piqued.
“So, tell me, Eleanore , would this be a female friend or a male friend?”
Ellie smiled at her mom and rolled her eyes. “It’s a male friend , mom . An old friend that I ran into at the Sit-n-Sip. He was a couple of years ahead of me in school , though. Do you remember Luke Williams?”
“Luke? Of course I remember that boy, he was the start of all the high school musicals when he was here. I thought you said he working in a Broadway show or something?”
“He was, but not anymore.” Ellie didn’t want to explain any more than she had to, she still had trouble understanding the concept of leaving stardom to move back to Danning .
“I see. Well, please be careful, my dear, St. Andrew’s is not in a very good part of town. It’s dangerous so I want you to make sure you have your phone with you. And pay attention to your surroundings. Are you sure you wouldn’t like your dad to drive you there?”
Ellie laughed. “I’ll be fine, mother-I’m going to church. I’ll call you when I’m on my way home, ok? Now, I need to run, though, or I’ll be late. ”
***
Driving across town from her neighborhood, one of Danning’s most affluent, to the older, run down area where St. Andrew’s was located was eye opening for Ellie. She never usually had a reason to drive through that area and remembering her mother’s words made her feel slightly uncomfortable, li ke she wanted to lock her doors even in the middle of the day.
“If you win, I’ll buy you a latte or whatever it is you’re drinking.”
“That would be chamomile tea with honey and lemon.” She touched her throat and added, “I have the most pampered vocal chords you’ll ever meet. I have to keep these babies in tip-top shape. ”
“So do we have a deal?”
She shook his hand as she said, “Ok, we have a deal, I’ll go. I’m done with my Christmas shopping and have a free day tomorrow. ”
“Great! St. Andrew’ s church, be there at three . See you then.”
As she watched him walk out, she wondered what she was getting herself into. But knowing that she’d get to spend the afternoon with Luke , she didn’t really care.
***
The next afte rnoon, Ellie sat staring blankly into her large, walk-in closet, trying to decide what to wear. She was already running late and didn’t like the stress of having to choose something too quickly. This was a delicate situation that needed focused thoughts and planning . It wasn’ t exactly going to be a date, but s he had seen the way Luke was looking at her at the Sit-n-Sip and she wanted to wear something that would capture his attention but in a subtle way. Trying to look good without appearing that she was trying to look good. It was a fine line to walk and she wanted to be on the right side of that line .
She finally settled on a pair of skinny bla ck jeans with a dark pink sweater. She’d wear her new wool co at with the pink cashmere scarf she bought in Chicago before she left and her new black boots . While she was getting ready her mother knocked softly on her door.
“Can I come in, darling?” she asked in a voice as soft as the knock. Ellie had missed that soft, sweet voice of her mother while she was at college. The one downside to wanting to live in big cities and travel the world is that she’d miss her parents. Growing up, she felt like she was the luckiest girl in the world. When, during her teenage years, friends would be complaining about their parents, doing anything to escape, Ellie would relish the family Thursday night pizza and game parties or Sunday dinners that also included her grand parents .
“My, d on’t you look pretty, Eleanore !”
Ellie smiled to hear the formal version of her name. It was only ever used by her mother, so hearing it out loud made her feel at home.
“Thanks, Mother, I’m getting ready to meet a friend at St. Andrew’s church. ”
“A friend?”
Ellie could tell that her mother’s interest was piqued.
“So, tell me, Eleanore , would this be a female friend or a male friend?”
Ellie smiled at her mom and rolled her eyes. “It’s a male friend , mom . An old friend that I ran into at the Sit-n-Sip. He was a couple of years ahead of me in school , though. Do you remember Luke Williams?”
“Luke? Of course I remember that boy, he was the start of all the high school musicals when he was here. I thought you said he working in a Broadway show or something?”
“He was, but not anymore.” Ellie didn’t want to explain any more than she had to, she still had trouble understanding the concept of leaving stardom to move back to Danning .
“I see. Well, please be careful, my dear, St. Andrew’s is not in a very good part of town. It’s dangerous so I want you to make sure you have your phone with you. And pay attention to your surroundings. Are you sure you wouldn’t like your dad to drive you there?”
Ellie laughed. “I’ll be fine, mother-I’m going to church. I’ll call you when I’m on my way home, ok? Now, I need to run, though, or I’ll be late. ”
***
Driving across town from her neighborhood, one of Danning’s most affluent, to the older, run down area where St. Andrew’s was located was eye opening for Ellie. She never usually had a reason to drive through that area and remembering her mother’s words made her feel slightly uncomfortable, li ke she wanted to lock her doors even in the middle of the day.
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