the rockers were Claire was sitting and laid down beside her. Claire inched closer to the opposite side of her chair and looked at Drew.
“Looks like he likes you.”
“Really? I can’t imagine why.”
“Neither can I,” Drew said. Covering quickly he added, “I thought you all might feel safer if Ike spent the night. He’s a great watch dog and if anyone tries to enter the house he risks losing a leg.”
“That’s very thoughtful,” Diane said, standing up with the pitcher of lemonade. “Would you like some lemonade, Drew?”
“Thank you, but no.” Pointing to the bag he said, “I brought food and Ike’s bowls. You won’t have any trouble with him.”
The screen door opened and Jill walked out wearing a soft, flowing, floral dress that reached just below her knees. She had a simple, gold chain around her neck and gold, hoop earrings. On her feet she wore strappy, heeled sandals. Her hair was shiny and curly. Anyone who didn’t know her wouldn’t recognize the signs that she had tried to straighten her hair without success. She wore a little eye makeup and just a touch of lipstick. With her newly, acquired tan she looked young and lovely.
Drew’s eyes sparkled. “You look beautiful, Jill.”
Jill blushed and reached for his hand. “Thank you.”
“What time will you be home?” Claire inquired, sounding almost rude.
“No clue. Don’t wait up,” Jill said, with a wink.
Leading the way down the steps Drew looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Nice meeting you.”
Opening the passenger door, Drew helped Jill into the car and then walked to the driver’s side and got in. He backed slowly out of the drive and Jill waved as they drove down the road.
“Did you see that?” Claire said, rocking faster. “He opened the car door for her. Nobody does that any more, not even Spence.”
“Claire you are acting like the mother of a sixteen year old going out on her first date,” Diane said. “I think he’s nice.”
“Me too,” Caroline added.
“I take the fifth,” Claire said, taking a long drink of lemonade.
“Why don’t we head into town and see what the special is at Blackbeard’s. Maybe there’s music.” Diane stood up and stretched.
“Great idea,” Caroline said, collecting the pitcher and glasses on a bright yellow, plastic tray.
“What do we do with Ike?” Claire asked, holding the screen door open for Caroline.
“We’ll leave him in the house. He’ll be fine.”
***
At Blackbeard’s, the special was fried clam sandwiches with coleslaw and French fries. Claire and Diane opted for the special and Caroline chose a Cobb salad. They were disappointed there was no live music, but there was an old jukebox they loaded with quarters and stacked with their favorite oldies.
“Gosh, it’s strange without Jill, isn’t it,” Claire observed.
“It is,” Caroline agreed. “Do you think it will turn into anything with Drew?”
“Too early to tell, but if he’s as nice as he seems I hope it does,” Diane offered.
“Diane, what about you?” Claire asked. “Isn’t there anyone special?”
“Interesting that you asked that Claire. Listening to Jill talk about Drew has me thinking. There is a friend who has been there for me for quite a while. He does the occasional, odd job around the house and when I need an escort for a special event he goes with me.”
Lowering her fork, Caroline asked, “Really? You’ve never mentioned anyone. What’s his name?”
“Ed. I’ve never really thought of him in any way other than just a friend. Now, I’m wondering if I’ve missed something, and if I’ve been taking advantage of him.”
“If he’s been hanging around this long, you really need to take a closer look,” Claire said.
“You know, I think I will.” Claire took a sip of iced tea and smiled with a faraway look in her eyes.
“Maybe our vacations are going to turn into couples vacations,” Claire thought, out loud.
“Don’t count on it,” Caroline
“Looks like he likes you.”
“Really? I can’t imagine why.”
“Neither can I,” Drew said. Covering quickly he added, “I thought you all might feel safer if Ike spent the night. He’s a great watch dog and if anyone tries to enter the house he risks losing a leg.”
“That’s very thoughtful,” Diane said, standing up with the pitcher of lemonade. “Would you like some lemonade, Drew?”
“Thank you, but no.” Pointing to the bag he said, “I brought food and Ike’s bowls. You won’t have any trouble with him.”
The screen door opened and Jill walked out wearing a soft, flowing, floral dress that reached just below her knees. She had a simple, gold chain around her neck and gold, hoop earrings. On her feet she wore strappy, heeled sandals. Her hair was shiny and curly. Anyone who didn’t know her wouldn’t recognize the signs that she had tried to straighten her hair without success. She wore a little eye makeup and just a touch of lipstick. With her newly, acquired tan she looked young and lovely.
Drew’s eyes sparkled. “You look beautiful, Jill.”
Jill blushed and reached for his hand. “Thank you.”
“What time will you be home?” Claire inquired, sounding almost rude.
“No clue. Don’t wait up,” Jill said, with a wink.
Leading the way down the steps Drew looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Nice meeting you.”
Opening the passenger door, Drew helped Jill into the car and then walked to the driver’s side and got in. He backed slowly out of the drive and Jill waved as they drove down the road.
“Did you see that?” Claire said, rocking faster. “He opened the car door for her. Nobody does that any more, not even Spence.”
“Claire you are acting like the mother of a sixteen year old going out on her first date,” Diane said. “I think he’s nice.”
“Me too,” Caroline added.
“I take the fifth,” Claire said, taking a long drink of lemonade.
“Why don’t we head into town and see what the special is at Blackbeard’s. Maybe there’s music.” Diane stood up and stretched.
“Great idea,” Caroline said, collecting the pitcher and glasses on a bright yellow, plastic tray.
“What do we do with Ike?” Claire asked, holding the screen door open for Caroline.
“We’ll leave him in the house. He’ll be fine.”
***
At Blackbeard’s, the special was fried clam sandwiches with coleslaw and French fries. Claire and Diane opted for the special and Caroline chose a Cobb salad. They were disappointed there was no live music, but there was an old jukebox they loaded with quarters and stacked with their favorite oldies.
“Gosh, it’s strange without Jill, isn’t it,” Claire observed.
“It is,” Caroline agreed. “Do you think it will turn into anything with Drew?”
“Too early to tell, but if he’s as nice as he seems I hope it does,” Diane offered.
“Diane, what about you?” Claire asked. “Isn’t there anyone special?”
“Interesting that you asked that Claire. Listening to Jill talk about Drew has me thinking. There is a friend who has been there for me for quite a while. He does the occasional, odd job around the house and when I need an escort for a special event he goes with me.”
Lowering her fork, Caroline asked, “Really? You’ve never mentioned anyone. What’s his name?”
“Ed. I’ve never really thought of him in any way other than just a friend. Now, I’m wondering if I’ve missed something, and if I’ve been taking advantage of him.”
“If he’s been hanging around this long, you really need to take a closer look,” Claire said.
“You know, I think I will.” Claire took a sip of iced tea and smiled with a faraway look in her eyes.
“Maybe our vacations are going to turn into couples vacations,” Claire thought, out loud.
“Don’t count on it,” Caroline
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