Amazing Grace chapter 3
Continuing on their tour of the building, Johnny smiled to himself when he observed Grace and how proudly she carried herself. He did however keep thinking to himself about Grace's background, and her unwillingness to share it so easily. Convinced that he would just have to wait it out, he knew that she would eventually tell him about it.
Finally making it out to the back patio, Johnny looked around in awe as Grace led him to one of the tables. The landscaping was beautiful. The patio floor was made of a very smooth concrete surface that had been painted to look like red bricks. The property was lined with various kinds of trees…majestic palms, magnolias, oak trees, and even a lemon tree, and had a low brick wall that acted as a fence, for safety and privacy, and had a gate. There were several large rectangular plant boxes that housed all kinds of colorful flowers, and even a small vegetable garden. Eight round tables with four chairs each, were scattered on the patio, and all had umbrellas attached to them to help with shade from the sun. Placed in several locations throughout the area were hanging baskets of flowers or plants, hanging from tall iron posts. All in all, Johnny thought that it was a wonderful place to eat a meal, or even to just sit and talk.
"It's really beautiful out here, Grace. You come out here often?"
"As often as I can. Sometimes…sometimes I'll bring my violin out here and play."
Smiling at the thought of his new friend playing an outdoor "concert", Johnny had a few thoughts come to mind, but didn't voice them. Either she attracted a group of people who would come out and listen to her play, following the sound of the same lilting melody that had seemingly directed him to her…or she had attracted some animal friends…birds, squirrels, and other small four-legged friends. His bet was that it was the animals that would come to hear her play.
Pulling out a chair from the table, Johnny helped Grace to sit down.
"Thank you, John." came the appreciative reply. "You're quite the gentleman. I'm sure you're a hit with the ladies."
Johnny's slow response threw Grace. "Don't tell me that you have trouble with the ladies. You're…you're so sweet and handsome…"
"Getting dates isn't the problem. I suppose the bigger problem is seeing things through. They usually don't work out for me."
Patting Johnny's hand, as he was now sitting in a chair beside her, Grace smiled knowingly. "Ahh…you'll find someone special…someone who will love you for you. Maybe Stephanie will be the one."
Again Johnny smiled. While he initially was attracted to the recreation director, it was no longer about going after her, for him…it was about giving of himself to other folks who needed a bit of extra attention, and more specifically about Grace and his friendship with her.
"Who knows…maybe we'll hit it off and fall madly in love." The paramedic had his doubts about it, but for the sake of Grace's hopeful optimism, he didn't express them.
The two friends were out on the patio talking for about twenty minutes when a familiar voice called out to them.
"Grace…John…"
Looking up, Johnny did smile when he saw Stephanie walking towards them.
"Hi there. Thank you for the idea of having the two of us eat out here. It is so beautiful. If I worked here, I'd never get anything done…all I'd wanna do is to just stay out here all day."
Stephanie gave the handsome paramedic her best smile. "Yes, it would certainly be tempting, but if you want to keep your job…"
"Yeah, I figured as much. I guess that's why I am glad that my job isn't a job that keeps me cooped up indoors."
While the three of them were casually talking, a woman pushing a cart came outside.
"Lunch is served." The young woman greeted with a smile.
Helping the other woman, Stephanie set the table so Grace and Johnny could be served their meal.
Bending his head over his plate of spaghetti and meatballs, Johnny took in the aromatic scent.
"I'll bet you this is even better than Mike Stoker's spaghetti."
Looking at him questioningly, the three women wondered what he was talking about. It was Stephanie who asked the question.
"Who's Mike Stoker, John?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Mike Stoker is the engineer at my fire station. He makes the best spaghetti, however I am sure that this rivals anything that he makes."
The young woman who brought out their food smiled. "Enjoy your lunch." After making sure that Grace and her lunch guest were all settled, she returned inside.
"Well, I guess I should head back inside too. Don't forget about the make your own ice cream sundaes today. Johnny, I'll see you this evening."
"Sure thing."
Stephanie turned around to walk away, but stopped to take another glance at the duo. She again smiled at the sight, observing what came next.
"Grace, I'd like to propose a toast."
"I'll go for that." She answered with a smile.
With both of them lifting their glasses in the air, Johnny looked into Grace's eyes, seeing not an old woman, but a new friend that age had nothing to do with.
"Grace, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."
Smiling widely, Grace nodded her head. "I agree, John. To friendship."
Clinking their glasses gently together, they smiled at one another, and took a sip of their drinks.
"Casablanca is one of my all-time favorite movies. That ending scene…"
Johnny nodded his head in agreement. "Yep, one of my favorites too."
After enjoying a very pleasant meal together, including some more good conversation, Grace and Johnny headed back inside with the intent of making their own ice cream sundaes.
Returning to the dining room, they stepped up to the long table that had chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, as well as various syrups, nuts, chopped fruit, and whipped cream, and of course sprinkles. Johnny made Grace's sundae first, and then his.
Sitting down at a nearby table, they were soon joined by the nursing home administrator, Mr. Conway.
"Hello again. Did you enjoy your lunch outside?"
The older woman smiled and looked affectionately over at Johnny.
"The food as always was delicious, and the company was wonderful."
"Yes, I enjoyed everything too. I was telling Grace and Stephanie that the spaghetti I had for lunch was even better than what one of the guys at my station makes…and his is really good. Oh, and yes, the company was very enchanting."
Mr. Conway smiled at the unlikely pair. "I'm glad that things are working out so well for the two of you."
When they were finished with their ice cream sundaes, Johnny walked Grace back to her room.
Looking at his watch, Johnny was surprised at the time. He had already been there for a few hours. "Well, I guess I should get going. You look like you can use some rest."
Grace nodded her head. "I am a bit tired. I usually try to take a nap in the afternoon…to rejuvenate myself for the evening. I had a wonderful time with you today, John. You are a delightful young man."
Johnny smiled embarrassingly at her. "Grace…the pleasure was all mine. You're a special woman."
Leaning over slightly, Johnny gave Grace a small peck on the cheek. "I'll try to get back here tomorrow…but if something comes up, I'll come back as soon as I can. I go back on duty in two days."
"And I'll be looking forward to it. Promise me that you'll tell me all about your date with Stephanie."
Laughing softly, Johnny nodded his head. "I will. Take care, Grace…au revoir."
"Au revoir, John."
Leaving Grace's room, Johnny made his way to the front lobby to go home. As he got to the lobby, he was met once again by Mr. Conway.
"John…" He called out.
Turning around at hearing his name, Johnny smiled when he saw Mr. Conway.
"Hi there. Need me for something?"
"No. I just…I just wanted to thank you for coming here today. It's actually been a while since I've seen Grace so happy. Around you today…she just lit up like a Christmas tree."
Johnny was actually taken aback by the administrator's comment. "It was my pleasure. But what do you mean by 'a while since Grace has been happy?' Does she have a tendency to be depressed?"
"Well, I wouldn't say depressed…just that she has a tendency to stay to herself. You sure brought her out. Will we see you again soon?"
"Yes, hopefully tomorrow."
"Wonderful. You have a good rest of the day, John."
"Thank you…you too."
The two men shook hands, and then Johnny left.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
After relaxing at home for a few hours, Johnny got ready for his date with Stephanie, though his mind continued to be on Grace. The comments that both Stephanie and Mr. Conway had made to him about Grace, as well as Grace's unwillingness to share things about herself so readily, made him all the more curious about her. He hoped that in time she would trust him enough to share these things with him.
Once he was ready, he picked up his wallet and keys, and went out his door. In his Rover as he drove to the restaurant he turned on the radio. The song that came on was Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." He immediately sang along with it.
"Sweet Caroline…good times never seemed so good…"
So engrossed in the music from the radio, Johnny suddenly realized that he had arrived at the restaurant.
Parking, Johnny shut off the radio, and got out. He wasn't sure where this date would lead, but he was willing to give it a chance. He had a feeling that even if things didn't quite work out between them as a couple that they would still be able to be friends.
When he got to the door, he saw Stephanie outside waiting for him.
"Hi there. I'm not late, am I?" Johnny asked embarrassingly.
"Hi…and no you're not…I'm a little early. I hope you're hungry, John…I hear the food here is wonderful."
"Hungry?" replied Johnny. "I was born hungry." Smiling, he opened the door for her, and followed her inside.
Once they were seated, Johnny let out a small laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"It's something that Grace said to me today…in fact it was the last thing she said to me. She made me promise her that I would tell her all about our date the next time I saw her."
"Well, hopefully it will be something good."
"Hopefully." replied Johnny with a smile.
After ordering, the two of them shared a bit about themselves.
"I bet you never have a dull moment in your work, Johnny."
"You'd be surprised, Stephanie. Some shifts are more hectic than others, but we actually spend a lot time at the station."
"Cleaning and polishing, no doubt."
Nodding his head, Johnny let out another laugh. While the banter between them was easy and fun, he didn't quite feel the spark.
"I'm sure you have your fair share of excitement too. You know, like discussions about sex and what not."
"Definitely."
"Can I be honest with you?"
Stephanie nodded her head. She had a feeling that she knew what he was going to say, but before he could say anything else, their food came.
Once the food was on the table, and they started to eat, Johnny decided to continue.
"So…yesterday when my partner Roy and I were there giving that fire safety presentation, I saw you and…really wanted to meet you. And if I'm being honest, the real reason why I agreed to talk to you about volunteering was just to see you and maybe ask you out."
Stephanie nodded and smiled wistfully. "I figured as much. But the only thing was that you DIDN'T ask me out…I asked YOU out."
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I hope you're not upset with me."
"Not at all. But the thing is, while that may have been your intent…you DID end up deciding to volunteer."
"I did. Grace is an amazing lady. But I still don't know much about her. She's been very vague about things…and no one else is telling me anything. I just hope that she's okay."
"She's fine, John…especially now that you're in her life. Trust me when I say this…she'll open up to you. So…why didn't you ask me out?"
"I don't know. I guess at the time, I was more intrigued by Grace than by the prospect of going out with you. I've had a lot of people in my life over the years…family, friends, co-workers…every once in a while someone comes into your life that has some kind of effect on you. Grace is one of those people for me. The thing is…I really like you, Stephanie…I just think for now the two of us would make better friends than a couple. It's probably pretty strange hearing that from me."
"Not really. You seem like a pretty good guy, John Gage. How about a toast to friendship?"
Smiling, Johnny lifted up his glass of beer to meet hers. "To friendship."