CHAPTER 8
As they walked into the restaurant, Eric instinctively put his hand on the small of Calleigh's back to make it clear that she was with him even though, technically, she wasn't. Calleigh was more than pleased with this gesture as it made her heart flutter when she felt Eric's gentle yet protective hand on her back. She couldn't stop smiling as they were shown to a table in the center of the room. Before they had a chance to start a conversation, they were approached by a waiter who asked them if they would care for anything to drink. After ordering, Calleigh decided to start some pleasant conversation. "It really is beautiful here." She sighed, turning in her chair to look behind her where the majority of the lifts and mountains were.
"It is." Eric agreed, looking partly at the mountains, and partly at the woman sitting across the table from him. She turned back around in her seat as the waiter arrived at their table with their drinks.
"Have you decided yet?" He asked.
"No, we need a few more minutes." Calleigh smiled sweetly.
"That's fine." The waiter smiled back, not taking his eyes off Calleigh for a second.
"Thanks." Eric more or less growled at the man, who quickly walked off. Calleigh tried not to giggle at Eric's over protective manner, since she really wasn't his to protect, but it was charmingly cute. It was then that the couple at the next table over decided they would introduce themselves.
"Hello dears, my name is Lena Robinson, and this is my husband Eli. Is this your first time here?" A lady in her mid forties asked.
"Hi, I'm Calleigh, this is Eric. It's my first time here, but not his." Calleigh smiled in a friendly manner at the couple next to them.
"Newlyweds?" Lena guessed. "How I miss those days." She winked at her husband who rolled his eyes.
"Um, no, we're just friends." Calleigh smiled with what Lena sensed to be regret in her eyes.
"Oh, I see." The older woman smiled knowingly. "Eli and I were friends for years before he finally came around and asked me out."
"Interesting." Eric joined in the conversation. He knew how that felt. "Do you come here often?"
"About once or twice a year, every winter, sometimes in the summer too." Eli answered. "She said you'd been here before?"
"Yeah, I usually come every winter with one of my sisters, but this year Calleigh joined me instead." Eric explained.
"That's nice." Lena smiled warmly. When the comment was said by most people, it was a polite way of saying they weren't interested, but when Lena said it, you could tell she genuinely meant it.
"Mom! Paul's putting salt in my drink!" A young girls voice called from a few tables away.
"Our children." Lena smiled with a hint of embarrassment. "Paul, be nice to your sisters."
"They like to sit at their own table at dinner time, it makes them feel grown up." Eli explained, "And we definitely do not mind the quiet time. Kids go crazy on vacation."
"I know what you mean." Eric chuckled, "I remember vacations with my sisters when I was little and boy, and we were fighting like cats and dogs at the end of every trip. Siblings in cars and secluded vacation spots make for very interesting arguments." Calleigh just smiled uncomfortably at the prospect of family talk, something which didn't go unnoticed by Eric. "What are their names?"
"Well, Teah's the oldest, followed by Paul. We wanted three children, but instead, we wound up with Haleigh and Lucy Jane, and we couldn't have been happier."
"Well I definitely know how Paul feels- I was the youngest of three sisters, it could be torture at times, but I love them." Eric provided some insight.
"What about you dear, what were your siblings like?" Lena asked Calleigh.
"I had all brothers," Calleigh answered, "I was always just one of the guys at home."
"Well you certainly don't look like one of the guys." Lena remarked, eyebrows raised making Calleigh uncertain of what to say, and Eric smirk.
"Mom! Paul is driving me nuts!" One of Lena and Eli's girls screeched, making several heads in the restaurant turn towards the table of kids.
"Haleigh, Lucy Jane, why don't you two come over here for a bit?" Lena suggested. Moments later, two petite brunettes appeared beside the table and climbed up on chairs. "This is Calleigh and Eric." Lena introduced.
"I'm Haleigh, this is my sister Lucy Jane." The obviously more outgoing of the twins spoke up.
"Hi." Lucy Jane looked first at Eric, then at Calleigh, smiling shyly.
"Hey!" Calleigh smiled at the twins. Eric noticed her southern accent came out more when she as talking sweetly to the children. "Do you like skiing out there?" Calleigh asked.
"Yeah! It's super fun!" Haleigh exclaimed enthusiastically. "Me and Lucy Jane were skiing all day! Right Lucy Jane?" Her sister nodded vigorously.
"Excuse me, are you ready to order?" The waiter was back at the table shyly smiling at Calleigh and avoiding Eric's gaze.
"Yes we are." Eric nodded and proceeded to read what he wanted off the menu, Calleigh following suit.
"It'll be a few minutes." He informed them before walking off, afraid of what Eric might say to him if he lingered this time. When Calleigh and Eric turned back to talk to Lena and Eli once again, the two young girls were back at their own table.
"Are you going to that dance tonight?" Eli asked them.
"We're thinking about it, are you?" Eric answered.
"We hope so, we have to get Paul to agree to watch Haleigh and Lucy Jane and convince him he can't come to the dance. Teah met a boy today on the slopes so I think she's going to the dance with him, right honey?" Lena smirked at her husband who made a face, obviously not liking the idea of his daughter going out with a boy. "Eli doesn't think that Teah's old enough to go to dances with boys." Lena explained.
"She isn't!" Eli protested.
"Eli- she's seventeen, that's plenty old enough." Lena laughed.
"Is not." Eli added quietly, under his breath making Calleigh and Eric smile.
"Someday when you have kids you'll understand." Lena told them.
"We're not-" Calleigh started.
"Oh sorry- forgot." Lena shrugged. "Well we better let you get back to your meals," She gestured to the waiter who was on his way over, "And hopefully we'll see you later tonight."
"Nice meeting you!" Calleigh smiled, turning back to their table which was being served.
A/N: Alright, thanks SOO much to everyone who's been reviewing, I really appreciate it! I hope that you're still liking it- be sure to let me know what you think!
Thanks!