7. Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Lydia
T he hotel lobby is dim compared to the summer sunshine outside. Sheena is at the reception desk in conversation with an older couple. I walk over to the floral arrangement to check for wilting foliage, while I’m waiting for her to finish. I pull out some daisies that are past their best and tug the remaining stems around to fill in the gaps made by my extractions. In a few minutes, I hear Sheena wish the couple a pleasant afternoon. They walk toward to door. I seize my chance and approach the desk.
“Hey, Sheena. How are things going?”
“Lydia. It’s not Thursday already, is it?”
“No. I’m not here for floral design reasons.” I check that no one is going to interrupt before I continue. “You remember that gorgeous cowboy who stayed here a few weeks ago. His family bought the Dixon place.”
“Yes. Of course. A charming man.”
“Charming and handsome, as I recall.”
“Is he?”
“Yes. Sheena. You said so yourself. Gosh. You surprise me.” I check the hotel entrance half expecting Mr Luke Maddox to suddenly appear again. “You haven’t seen him, lately, have you?”
“No, Lydia.”
“He hasn’t stopped by… socially?”
“Not that I know of…”
“Oh,” I bite my lip and think. “Well, come to The Old Oak next Friday.”
“I can’t come out on Friday,” Sheena says without taking her eyes off the computer screen on the reception desk.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m getting a quote for my kitchen renovations.” Sheena mouths the words making very little sound, as if it’s a secret. She looks down at the keyboard for a minute, then back to the screen.
“On a Friday night?”
“Yes.” Her eyes flick up at me for the briefest second, then back to the screen.
“But Luke Maddox will be there. I went to see him at Green Acres because of the crabapple situation.”
“The crabapple situation?”
“Yes. Blight has ruined the Carmichaels’ crop that I was planning to use for Rita and Brodie’s wedding.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, Mr Maddox. Luke has some wonderful crabapple trees. Just gorgeous. And he’s so kind. He said that I was welcome to take what I needed. No charge. Isn’t that nice?”
“Yes. That’s a very generous gesture.”
“So, while I was up at his place sorting out the key design element.”
“Excuse me. Sorry, Lydia, I’m lost.” Sheena sighs audibly.
“Crabapples! The key design element for Rita and Brodie’s wedding.”
“Right. Yes. Of course,” Sheena says looking back to the computer screen.
“Well, while we were chatting, I invited Luke along to the gig on Friday night, and I told him that you’d be there,” I say emphatically even though it’s a little untrue. “He’s coming to see you.” This may be an outright lie.
Sheena stares straight ahead, then turns to me and says, “Now, Lydia. Do you think that you’re getting a bit carried away? Tell me exactly what Mr Maddox said.”
“I said that Star Rangers were a pretty good band and they’re playing next Friday, and he should come and meet some people.”
“So, he didn’t say specifically that he wanted to see me.”
“Alright. No. But it was implied.” I smile broadly. “I’ve set it up for you. All you need to do is, come along looking fabulous, and, voila!”
“Oh, I don’t know Lydia. I’ve already arranged for Gary from Gary’s Kitchens something non-design-y, if that makes sense. Rita is such a nature-girl. I think she’ll love this.”
“Absolutely.” I admire Kate’s handy work. “You know her best. When is she coming to see it?”
“She’s not. And that’s why I needed your opinion. She trusts me to make her wedding cake the best it can be. A wedding cake that’ll be perfect for them.”
“No pressure, then,” I say, making Kate laugh. “I’ll put together some table arrangements with pansies and violas.” I take out my notebook and write, ‘order pansies – R&B’s W’
She takes her tray of decorations back out to the kitchen and calls out, “Do you want a coffee?”
“Yes. Please. But only if you have time?”
“Sure thing. Go ahead and lock the door. And please, turn the sign around to say Closed. I love closing up early. It makes me feel as if I’m being a bit naughty. But if no customers are here, I’m allowed.”
“What will the boss think?”
“Haha. She’s okay, I guess, because she’s me!”
I settle into the corner table out of sight from the street. It’s the couple’s table. It’s the table in the café that’s private. Perfect for dating.
“I’ve sourced some crabapples,” I shout across the café to Kate who is at the coffee machine.
She turns toward me and holds up an index finger, then shouts back, “One minute, Lydia. I can’t hear what you’re saying.” I watch as steam clouds form from the milk jug. Soon Kate comes over with a cup and saucer in each hand. “I thought you might like a biscotti, too.” An elegant slim almond biscuit sits on each saucer. “I’m trying a new recipe. Let me know what you think.”
“Thank you.”
“What were you saying? Something about apples?”
“Ah yes. Rita called to say the crabapple trees at her parents’ place have blight. We needed to rethink the floral displays or find other healthy crabapple trees. So, I found some.”
“Good for you. Where? Not far, I hope.”
“Not at all. It was Marty’s idea. He really is such a help.” I dunk my biscotti into the cappuccino foam. “Green Acres.”
“The Dixon’s ranch?”
“Yes.”
“The place was sold, wasn’t it? Bought by some Texan horse breeder.”
“That’s right. Maddox. Luke Maddox.”
“Lydia. You’re blushing.”
“It’s the coffee. It’s hot.” But as I say these words I know I’m lying. An image of Luke Maddox’s broad shoulders and shy smile occupies my frontal cortex. The shadow across his face from his hat. His relaxed easy posture. Ah yes, the cowboy swagger.
“So great. We have crabapples for the wedding. I’d love to include a few on the top of my cake.”
“Perfect. That would tie everything in beautifully.” I sip my coffee and take a moment before saying, “And I’ve set Sheena up with Luke Maddox. On a date. They’re going to the Star Rangers gig next Friday. Are you coming? Should be good.”
“Gosh, Lydia. You are a force of matchmaking. Is this a side hustle you’re getting into?”
“Ah, no. I just like to see people happy. And when I spot a guy and a girl who look great together, I’m not averse to giving them a little helping hand.” I sip my coffee. “Sheena has been, you know, single for a while. So, when Luke Maddox turned up, I just put two and two together. Joined the dots.”
“Exciting.”
“I think so. But Sheena doesn’t share our enthusiasm. I thought she’d be over the moon about seeing Luke ‘Handsome’ Maddox at The Old Oak, but she was so ho-hum about it.”
“Perhaps, Lydia, she doesn’t think he’s as handsome as you do.”
I huff. “He’s not just handsome, he’s nice.” I lean back in my chair. “When I asked him about the crabapples he just said, ‘Take what you want, any time’. Isn’t that nice?”
“Are you sure he wasn’t flirting with you?”
“No.” I laugh. “I’d know if he was.” My reverie is interrupted by someone tapping on the café window. It’s Dylan, Rita’s brother. He cups a hand around his face and peers in. “I’ll go,” I say standing up to let him in.
“Hey, am I late?” Dylan walks in holding a toolbox.
“No,” says Kate. “Sorry, Dylan. It was quiet, so I just closed up early.” Kate turns to me and says, “Dylan’s been so kind helping me put up new shelving in the kitchen. It has been on my to-do list for yonks.”
“No problem, Kate. Anything for you. You know that,” Dylan says with a warm smile. “And this week’s good. I don’t have a trail booking, so I can be your handyman.”
Kate smiles then turns to me and says, “Since Rita decided to desert me and go off and get married, Dylan has been my best friend.” She turns her attention back to Dylan. “I swear this place, and this person would fall apart without you.”
Dylan laughs and begins to walk toward the kitchen, but he stops when I say, “Hey, I’m looking forward to the gig on Friday.”
“Cool. Me too. We’ve learned some new songs. Well, new old songs,” he laughs. “We’re doing some Nirvana, Chilli Peppers, and G.N.R.”
“Are you going to play any slow songs?” I ask.
“What?” Dylan tilts his head with inquiry and puts down his toolbox.
“You know… romantic type of songs so people can, you know, get close and slow dance.”
“We weren’t planning on it. Star Rangers like to rock out.” Dylan plays air-guitar.
“Yes. True. But don’t you think it might be nice. For a guy to grab a girl?”
“Everywhere around the world, like ‘Dancing in the Streets’?”
“Exactly!”
Dylan thinks for a beat, then says, “Do you know what. We weren’t planning on having it on the set list, but I’d love to play ‘Always’ by Bon Jovi. It’s a great power ballad with an awesome guitar solo.” He plays the solo on his air-guitar for a minute. “Yeah. We don’t usually do requests, but I think the guys would be cool working that song into the show.”
“Ah, perfect.” I put my hands together in prayer position. “Thank you, Dylan.”
“No problem. I think you’re right. We should mix things up a bit,” Dylan says as he picks up his toolbox in one hand, his air-guitar in the other, and walks away. Once in the kitchen, we hear him singing the lyrics to the nineties classic.
“Are you up to something, Lydia?” says Kate leaning across the table.
“Who me? Nah. I just like to encourage love, wherever possible.”