wouldn’t want another book . . . one you haven’t already read? Or at least one in better condition?”
He studied her, his gaze intent. “It doesn’t matter which book I borrow. My aim is really just to have an excuse to return.”
Maggie flushed yet again, but was spared from fumbling for a response by Lulu emerging from the front of the shop. She eyed Peter suspiciously. “I finished with the toothpaste and shaving cream. Can I go back to reading now?”
Maggie put her arm around Lulu’s shoulder. “Thank you, Lulu. And you may go back to reading as soon as you allow me to introduce you to my new friend, Mr. Nowak.”
Lulu eyed him in silence before raising her hand and allowing Peter to shake it just as Maggie had taught her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Her sullen tone belied her words. “You talk funny. And why aren’t you in uniform?”
“Lulu!” Maggie warned, squeezing Lulu’s shoulder.
Peter put a gentle hand on Maggie’s arm. “That’s all right. The young should be rewarded for being inquisitive. . . . It’s how they learn. To answer your questions, young lady, I’m originally from Poland but emigrated to the United States when I was a boy. As for my lack of uniform, it is because I have asthma. I seek only to do as much as I can for the war effort without donning one.”
“Jim wore a navy uniform. He died at Pearl Harbor defending our country.”
Peter sent Maggie a questioning look.
“Jim was Cat’s husband. We . . . we were very fond of him.” Peter raised an eyebrow. “It’s hard to say good-bye to those we love, isn’t it? He must have been an admirable and honorable man to have won the respect and admiration of three beautiful and intelligent women.”
Lulu’s face softened for a moment and Maggie gave her shoulder another squeeze. “He was.”
Peter knelt in front of Lulu and reached inside his jacket. “Because of my travels and position, I am sometimes able to acquire items that are a little more difficult to find these days. When Margaret told me that she had a younger sister, I knew just the thing that I had to bring if I had the good fortune to meet you today.”
He pulled out a cream-colored lace hair ribbon. “Handmade in Brussels, Belgium. I bought just a few last time I was in New York looking for fabrics. And I can’t think of a lovelier young lady more deserving than you.”
When Lulu hesitated to take the proffered ribbon, Maggie nudged her. Slowly, Lulu extended her hand and took the ribbon. Fingering it gingerly, she looked up at Peter, her face serious. “Thank you, sir.”
Maggie wanted to suggest that Lulu place the ribbon around her ponytail as a proper form of thank-you, but she didn’t. Lulu was always slow to warm up to people—except for Jim—and some people never did break through her reserve. It would take more than an exquisite hair ribbon to win her over.
Peter stood and faced Maggie again. “If I’m not being too forward, Margaret, I was wondering if I might ask you to accompany me tonight to dinner, and maybe some dancing afterward.”
“I . . .”
Maggie’s answer was interrupted by Lulu, who blurted out, “She can’t. She needs to watch me in the evenings because I’m only nine years old.”
Maggie sent her sister a warning look. “I would love to. I just need to arrange for someone to stay with Lulu. What time were you thinking?”
“Seven o’clock?”
“I close up here at five, so that should give me plenty of time.”
“Wonderful. And since you’re a local, I’ll have you suggest a place.”
Everything Cat had ever taught her about playing hard to get or never giving away how she really felt by her facial expressions evaporated from all conscious thought. Without even trying to hide her enthusiasm, she said, “Do you like fried shrimp? Best place around here is Andre’s. It’s nothing special, just an old frame house, but you can’t beat the food. It’s close to the riverbank, so it’s
He studied her, his gaze intent. “It doesn’t matter which book I borrow. My aim is really just to have an excuse to return.”
Maggie flushed yet again, but was spared from fumbling for a response by Lulu emerging from the front of the shop. She eyed Peter suspiciously. “I finished with the toothpaste and shaving cream. Can I go back to reading now?”
Maggie put her arm around Lulu’s shoulder. “Thank you, Lulu. And you may go back to reading as soon as you allow me to introduce you to my new friend, Mr. Nowak.”
Lulu eyed him in silence before raising her hand and allowing Peter to shake it just as Maggie had taught her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Her sullen tone belied her words. “You talk funny. And why aren’t you in uniform?”
“Lulu!” Maggie warned, squeezing Lulu’s shoulder.
Peter put a gentle hand on Maggie’s arm. “That’s all right. The young should be rewarded for being inquisitive. . . . It’s how they learn. To answer your questions, young lady, I’m originally from Poland but emigrated to the United States when I was a boy. As for my lack of uniform, it is because I have asthma. I seek only to do as much as I can for the war effort without donning one.”
“Jim wore a navy uniform. He died at Pearl Harbor defending our country.”
Peter sent Maggie a questioning look.
“Jim was Cat’s husband. We . . . we were very fond of him.” Peter raised an eyebrow. “It’s hard to say good-bye to those we love, isn’t it? He must have been an admirable and honorable man to have won the respect and admiration of three beautiful and intelligent women.”
Lulu’s face softened for a moment and Maggie gave her shoulder another squeeze. “He was.”
Peter knelt in front of Lulu and reached inside his jacket. “Because of my travels and position, I am sometimes able to acquire items that are a little more difficult to find these days. When Margaret told me that she had a younger sister, I knew just the thing that I had to bring if I had the good fortune to meet you today.”
He pulled out a cream-colored lace hair ribbon. “Handmade in Brussels, Belgium. I bought just a few last time I was in New York looking for fabrics. And I can’t think of a lovelier young lady more deserving than you.”
When Lulu hesitated to take the proffered ribbon, Maggie nudged her. Slowly, Lulu extended her hand and took the ribbon. Fingering it gingerly, she looked up at Peter, her face serious. “Thank you, sir.”
Maggie wanted to suggest that Lulu place the ribbon around her ponytail as a proper form of thank-you, but she didn’t. Lulu was always slow to warm up to people—except for Jim—and some people never did break through her reserve. It would take more than an exquisite hair ribbon to win her over.
Peter stood and faced Maggie again. “If I’m not being too forward, Margaret, I was wondering if I might ask you to accompany me tonight to dinner, and maybe some dancing afterward.”
“I . . .”
Maggie’s answer was interrupted by Lulu, who blurted out, “She can’t. She needs to watch me in the evenings because I’m only nine years old.”
Maggie sent her sister a warning look. “I would love to. I just need to arrange for someone to stay with Lulu. What time were you thinking?”
“Seven o’clock?”
“I close up here at five, so that should give me plenty of time.”
“Wonderful. And since you’re a local, I’ll have you suggest a place.”
Everything Cat had ever taught her about playing hard to get or never giving away how she really felt by her facial expressions evaporated from all conscious thought. Without even trying to hide her enthusiasm, she said, “Do you like fried shrimp? Best place around here is Andre’s. It’s nothing special, just an old frame house, but you can’t beat the food. It’s close to the riverbank, so it’s
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