"Jack! Be careful!" Chrystal squealed, slightly embarrassed as he lifted her out of the front seat of his convertible and set her down on her feet. "You'll get a hernia!"
"Nonsense, you're lighter then a saddle." Jack grinned, then escorted her up the walk of the school office. "Considering how healthy you eat…."
"What…can I help it I like salad!" she laughed, then quieted as the school secretary went by, smiling.
"Well, thank you for a great lunch, Jack. It was a lot of fun."
"You're welcome, thank you.. Can I call you again?" he asked, taking her hand, and Chrystal nodded.
For an uncomfortable moment she thought Jack was going to pull her to him and kiss her, but instead he gave her hand a squeeze, then let go and climbed back into his car.
"Bye!" she waved, then watched him drive out the school gates.
"Miss Austin, isn't that Mr. Calla from the stables?" A couple of Chrystal's students ran up to her, excited.
"Yes, it is, Mindy. He was asking if you guys enjoyed the field trip." She improvised, trying not to blush. "Did you finish your papers on state expansion yet?"
"No, Miss Austin, I couldn't find the tourism figures in the text book." One of the girls said.
"Well, I have a few minutes before class…come on and I'll help you find the information." Chrystal promised.
As they walked to her classroom, she thought about Jack Calla. Handsome, funny, he was interesting but seemed to shy away from any personal information. All she knew about him after two dates was that he worked scheduling auctions and shows at the riding stables, and that he grew up in California.
"Oh, well. He's just a nice guy…I'm sure he'll get interested in someone else, if he isn't all ready." She decided.
That afternoon, as she pulled her mail out of her office mailbox, a gasp of admiration sounded in back of her.
"Who are those for?"
Turning, Chrystal saw a beautiful arrangement of roses and daisies, topped with a blue teddy bear sitting on the secretary's desk.
Several of the student aides were gaping first at it, then at a tall man who came in the door.
"Hey, Dad…" she smiled, then introduced Steve to the younger women. As they shyly said hello, then left, Chrystal retrieved her belongings.
"Chrystal, don't forget your flowers." The receptionist said, an envious look on her face.
Startled, she replied, "They're for me?", as her father grinned. "Someone decided to skip the apple for the teacher, honey."
Pulling an envelope out of the bouquet, Chrystal opened the pink and green card, then her eyes lit up.
"Thank you for a really great time. I look forward to seeing you again. Sincerely, Jack"
"Want me to carry those for you, honey?"
Chrystal nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Dad. I'd be afraid of dropping them."
Saying good night to the office staff, she followed her father out to his car, then loaded her book bag and flowers into the trunk. As he drove them home, she found herself thinking about Jack. Was he that serious about her?
As if reading her mind, Steve spoke up. "Chrissy, were those flowers from that Jack?"
"Yes, Dad. He thanked me for, uh, a good time. And he wants to see me again." She admitted. The silence from the driver's seat let her know her father was digesting this information, then finally he cleared his throat.
"Honey, I know you're old enough to know better, and I'm not over-reacting, but.. do you like him?"
Touched, Chrystal waited until they pulled up to her parents' condo, then she turned to him.
"Dad, I'd worry if you didn't say something. I do like Jack, he's nice and funny and we had a fun time. But…I'm not serious about him, if that's what you mean. We've been to lunch twice now, and he's not so much as, well, tried anything yet. I wouldn't mind getting to know him better, but that's it."
Breathing an obvious sigh of relief, Steve embraced her. "I love you, Chrissy, and I trust your judgment. Tell you what, " he added, getting out of the car and getting her stuff out of the trunk.
"Why don't you bring him to lunch on Sunday, that way your mother and I can meet him. We promise not to scare him off."
"Oh, I don't worry about you and Mom, Dad. Uncle Oscar….hmmm." she teased, then took his arm as she climbed out of the car.
"I do want him to meet my family, though…so thanks Dad." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. As they went up the walk, Jaime opened the front door, then beamed at the floral offering.
"For me, oh honey, you shouldn't have!" She opened her arms as if to accept the flowers.
Laughing, Chrystal put her stuff down and hugged her. "I love you, Mom. You are too funny. Let me get settled and I'll give you the lowdown on the flowers.