Maui, bungalow
"Tim! This is so nice," Carrie said from the beach right outside the bedroom. "Are you sure we can afford this?"
"You deserve this, Care. We need this."
He stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle. It was paradise. His beautiful wife in his arms, the beach right outside, the sounds of waves. Perfect.
She turned and slipped her arms up over his shoulders. "I love you, Tim."
"I love you more," he whispered as his lips met hers.
Deacon's house
"What if we painted the bathroom a light yellow?" Essie suggested.
"Whatever you want, babe."
"What is your favorite color, hon? I don't think I know that about you," she said.
"Whatever color you like is fine."
She stopped painting and looked at him. "You know that doesn't answer my question, right?" He shrugged. "I want to know, Deacon."
"I don't really have one. Do most guys have a favorite color?"
"I don't know. So you are telling me you really don't care?"
"Yep. Colors don't matter to me. You matter. Having an amazing marriage and raising children and living with you for the next fifty years matters."
She put her brush down and walked over to him. "Deacon, promise me something."
"Anything."
"When it comes to deciding important things, not paint colors, please don't just give in and do whatever I want. I want to know what you think. Its important to me that we decide things together."
"Okay. I promise." He gave her a sweet kiss. "Yellow will look nice."
"I think so too."
Ruthie punched in at Emilie's Eatery where she worked as a waitress to pay the rent. She couldn't wait for fall term to start. Hopefully she would get confirmation of her first teaching position as a kindergarten teacher soon.
"Hey, girl!" her good friend and fellow waitress Brandy Coulter said as she tied on her apron.
"Hey. Busy today?"
"Yeah. I better get back out there. Oh, and Kalen wants you to call him."
She nodded. Kalen Coulter, Brandy's brother, had been asking her out for the last six months. She had first told him that she didn't want to risk their friendship. Then he asked again and she told him that she wasn't wanting to date anyone until she finished school to minimize distractions. He asked yet again and she chose to ignore his text and pretend she didn't get it.
Now, Ruthie didn't know what to say. All the reasons she had given him were true and he was really cute, but the main reason was because she knew that Brandy and Kalen's adoptive mother Rosie had previously been engaged to Ruthie's dad and it hadn't ended well. It was way too complicated a situation to complicate even further.
As her shift went on, she tried to come up with a reason to give him. Maybe the whole truth was the only thing that would do.
So that afternoon, as she sat in her car after work, she called him.
"Hey, Ruthie," he greeted in his deep, kind voice. Her cheeks turned red making her grateful she was alone.
"Hey, Kalen. Brandy said you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yeah. Smooth is having two for one appetizers and drinks tonight. I'd love it if you went with me."
Smooth was a jazz club downtown and she'd always wanted to go. It was so hard to turn him down. "Kalen...we really need to talk. Will you meet me at Raymond Beach?"
"Sure. I'll be there in ten."
She beat him there which allowed her to take a few moments to get her thoughts together.
He pulled up in his black mustang convertible, looking really good. Better than good. Looking like anything but the police officer he was. He turned his head and smiled at her, waving with two fingers. She couldn't help but smile back.
"Oh boy," she muttered as he got in next to her.
"Hey there."
"Hi. Look, Kalen…"
"Before you turn me down again, you should know, I'm starting to get a complex here. What about me don't you like?"
"Nothing. Kalen, my dad and your mom were engaged once."
"Years ago."
"You already knew?"
"Yeah. Mom told me ages ago."
"So you know why we can't go out then."
"No. What difference does it make if over thirty years ago, my mom and your dad were a thing?"
"You know how awkward it will be for them?"
"But we are not them, Ruthie. Look, if I'm just bothering you, say the word, but I really like you. I want to get to know you without Brandy hanging around."
She wanted that too, heaven help her. Ruthie closed her eyes and took a quick breath. "I've always wanted to go to Smooth."
"Woohoo!" he cheered. "That's a yes?"
"Yeah. I'll go with you. What time?"
"I'll pick you up at seven."
"Okay. But I'm not drinking, that way I can drive us home."
"I won't drink either. I'm a Dr. Pepper man." She giggled.
"Great. Now get so I can go home and get ready."
He gave her one more grin and got out of her car. Well, she had a date. Now, she just needed to decide whether to tell her parents or not.
She decided not to tell them and had the intention of not telling Joel either but the outfit she had on later that evening caught his attention.
"Date, Ruthie?" he asked, stirring whatever delicious concoction he was creating.
"Yeah, actually."
"Well, you're not wearing that."
"Yes, I am. What's wrong with it?" She thought she looked pretty good.
"From a big brother standpoint, everything. Skirt is too short and the top is too revealing."
She looked down. The skirt was a cute leopard print that ended about mid thigh. Maybe a little short but Brandy told her she had nice legs and she should show them. She had a black tank on as well, maybe a little revealing. "I think I look fine."
"Look, I'm sure this guy is a good guy but you are not going out looking like that unless I go too."
She rolled her eyes and went back to her room. He definitely wasn't going on their date so she decided to change.
When she walked back out, he looked at her and raised his eyebrows, but kept his mouth shut. "No comments about this?" she asked, gesturing to her dark skinny jeans and flowy tank combo.
"Nope. So who's the lucky guy?"
She didn't answer, unsure if she wanted to open the can of worms.
"Oh boy. Its Kalen Coulter," he said, knowing.
"So what if it is?"
"Wow, my baby sister is becoming a rebel."
"Joel, its been over thirty years since Dad and Rosemary broke up."
"Yeah. What did Dad say about this whole thing?"
"I'm twenty two years old."
"Meaning you didn't tell him."
"No."
Someone knocked on their door. "I hope you know what you're doing, little sister."
She did too.
Jack and Elizabeth's house
Elizabeth watched as the movers from the charity left with most of their belongings. They didn't need the furniture and they could only take so many things with them in the RV.
"How's it going, sweetheart?" Jack asked, bringing another box down from the master.
"I'm sad."
He gave her a hug and kissed her forehead. "I know but this is what we've been planning."
"I know, dear, and I'm ready to go. Its just weird seeing the house empty. Bittersweet, you know?"
"Yeah," he said, squeezing her tight. "The kids are coming this weekend to finish grabbing the stuff from their rooms. Well, our younger two, anyway." There wasn't a lot and most
were things they probably had forgotten about.
"Alright."
He picked the box up again. "Bathroom stuff. I'm going to go put this in the RV."
"Thank you."
"Oh and I thought we could go to China Wall for dinner. For old time's sake?"
"Okay. Sure."
"And it's a date so dress up, babe," he said with a wink as he walked out the door.
Smooth, downtown
When they pulled into the lot, Ruthie got nervous. This was it. They were going to see how it felt to be more than friends. He already told her she looked beautiful tonight and of course, she blushed.
He looked great too, wearing a green v-neck shirt and gray pants. The green looked amazing with his dark skin tone and brown eyes.
Kalen got out and walked around to open her door, offering his hand. She smiled and slipped her fingers into his grasp, allowing him to lead her into the club.
They let their eyes adjust to the darker atmosphere and then Kalen pointed to a table. She nodded. He hadn't let go of her hand so again he led her to their destination.
He pulled her chair out for her and then chose the one next to her for himself. "I'm excited," she told him. "I've heard about it but haven't had the chance."
"I'm glad you're here with me then."
"Me too."
A waitress stopped by their table. "Hey there. I'm Allie. What can I get you?"
"Dr. Pepper for me," Kalen told her.
"Me too," Ruthie told her.
"Okay. The appetizer menu is right here," Allie mentioned, handing it to them. "I'll be back with your drinks."
"Let's get the spinach and artichoke dip," she told him.
"Yeah and jalapeño poppers."
As they listened to the swoony jazz and ate their appetizers, they chatted. "So, what made you finally say yes?" he asked, curious.
"You."
"What do you mean?"
"I like you. You're sweet and kind. Not just to people you know. Strangers too. You're strong and not a pushover. You're kinda cute, plus we were already friends."
"Kinda cute, huh? I'll take it."
She grabbed a jalapeño popper and took a bite. "So why keep asking me? Most guys would have given up."
"You amaze me."
"Me? Why? I'm boring. Plain."
"You are neither of those things, Ruthie Thornton. You are adorable."
She blushed as he reached and tucked a soft curl behind her ear. "I love your curls. Just as soft as I imagined. Your eyes are so expressive and you're so cute when you stutter when you're angry or nervous."
"I...I mean...I don't stutter."
"See? Adorable. I've liked you ever since I met you."
"Really?" Her heart was literally melting into a pool.
"You're going to be a great teacher. I can picture it."
"I hope so."
"You will. You're very calm and sweet and patient. Very good traits in a kindergarten teacher."
"Well, if I don't end up getting hired, we'll never know."
"Are you really worried about that?"
"Yeah. I mean, I don't know." She knew there was always a need for teachers, but why would someone want her over someone else?
He squeezed her hand. "Have you interviewed yet?"
"No. But I've sent out a few applications. I really want to work at East Pointe Academy. Its a charter school."
As they talked for another hour, Ruthie marveled at how easy it was. Comfortable. At the same time, she felt as if she definitely wanted to see him again. Soon.
He took her hand and led her to his car a bit later. "Did it live up to your expectations?" he asked.
"The date?"
"Well, I meant Smooth, but yeah. That too."
She stopped at the car and kissed his cheek. "I want to plan our next date."
"Next….oh good! Yes."
She giggled and squeezed his hand. "This was a good night. Thank you, Kalen."
"My pleasure, I assure you."
Jack looked toward the parking lot they were driving past. "Is that….Ruthie with some guy?"
Elizabeth looked. "Yeah."
"At a place called Smooth?"
"Its a jazz club, Jack. I've heard good things."
"Who is the guy?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask her."
"She kissed him."
"On the cheek. Perfectly respectable."
"My baby girl is kissing some guy I don't know in the parking lot of a place called Smooth."
"She is old enough to date, dear."
"I don't think we should sell the house. Clearly we are needed here."
"Very funny. Relax, honey. She's dated before and…"
"And I didn't like it then either. I mean, why didn't she tell us about this guy?"
"Jack, we are leaving town. We need to realize our kids are responsible adults and have their own lives."
"Yeah. But I don't need to like it."
"No, but you should support them, at the very least."
She took his hand and laughed. "Jack? What do you say we go home, grab some wine and use the hot tub one last time?" He looked at her, and then accelerated, making her laugh. She knew that would get his attention.
Joel turned on his laptop and leaned back against his headboard. A few clicks later, he was on Facebook. He wasn't a big social media guy but it couldn't be that hard to find a person, could it?
He typed Elaina Paul in the search field. "Come on, Laney. Where are you?" he muttered.
"Bingo!" he said, finding her a few moments later. Still as beautiful as ever. Big, hazel eyes, gorgeous smile, shiny brown hair, he loved to run his fingers through….
The pictures on her posts didn't indicate she was seeing anyone, so that was a plus. He held the pointer of his mouse over the messenger icon. It said she was online.
He debated whether or not to contact her. And then, as if his fingers had a mind of their own, the button clicked and he typed, "Hey, Laney. This is Joel."