Chapter 16
16
Bright sunshine came through Michelle’s window. She stretched and smiled, remembering how the previous day ended. Gene was nice, but she was more pleased with how she handled the situation. Just because she wanted companionship didn’t mean she was ready for a relationship. Happy with her newfound direction, she rolled over and picked up her cell. Her eyes widened as she gasped. “Eight o’clock!”
Even though she worked from home, she didn’t like sleeping in. She enjoyed her time in the mornings before she went to the gym or for a walk with Jackie. “Ugh,” she sighed. “Jackie’ll be here in soon.” She grabbed her robe and shuffled down the hallway to the kitchen.
When she took her phone off “do not disturb,” there was a message from Jackie. “Don’t look at the news. I’m coming over early, and I’m bringing breakfast.”
Michelle laid her phone on the counter and started a pot of coffee. She had to admit that Jackie’s message intrigued her. There were no messages from her children, so it couldn’t be bad. Maybe something happened with Oscar. A knock sounded on her door as she pulled two mugs out of the cabinet. She turned to see Jackie grinning from ear to ear with a bag of food in her hand.
Michelle smiled as she unlocked the door. Jackie hugged her before she even crossed the threshold. “You’re just starting the coffee? Did you oversleep?”
“Yeah, I did. I don’t know why, but it was nice.”
Jackie held up her hands. “Oh my word, is the world coming to an end? I’ve never known you to sleep late.”
“What’s going on? Why didn’t you want me to look at the news?”
Jackie placed the bag on the counter and pulled out her phone. “This. Look at this.” She held her phone toward Michelle. “Can you believe it? Keith Mason is coming here, to western North Carolina, to make a movie. You know he may need a shoulder to cry on after his divorce. You could finally meet your crush!”
Even though inside Michelle knew she would love to meet him, she handed Jackie her phone. “I read somewhere that you shouldn’t meet your crush.”
“What? Why?”
“The article said you’d always be disappointed. I guess people see them in their favorite role or how friendly they are during PR stunts, then when they meet them, they’re rude or even just human.” Michelle shrugged. “And besides, what are the odds anyway...”
“What’s that look for?”
Michelle cupped her forehead. “With everything that happened the day of Ronnie’s game, I forgot to tell you.”
“Forgot to tell me what?”
Michelle couldn’t explain the butterflies in her stomach then or now, just thinking about it. She didn’t know his name, but God, she wouldn’t ever forget his eyes. “I had the strangest exchange at the Coffee Café the morning of Ronnie’s game.”
Jackie’s brow raised in question. “Oh? Do tell.”
“A man bumped into me, and Jackie, I swear he could have been Keith Mason’s twin brother.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t Mr. Mason himself?”
“Why would he be here? That article says he isn’t due here for weeks yet.”
“I don’t think he has a brother.”
Michelle placed her hand on her stomach to calm herself. “Then he has a doppelganger here in North Carolina, or maybe his stunt double.” She shrugged. “The odds would be one in a million.” She poured their cups of coffee. “Is that even a reliable source?”
“It’s the Gazette . I read it all the time for real estate sales and divorces.” She winked. “One for work and one for personal.” She laughed.
“Which is which?” Michelle laughed along with her.
“Funny.” Jackie placed the milk and sugar on the table along with the breakfast sandwiches. “Look, it says he’ll be filming in different locations around western North Carolina. You never know. Other stars have been here, and people have met them.”
“I’d have to be where they are, and I’m not looking to find out where they’re filming.” She looked at Jackie. “Thank you, but I’m happy with him living in my fantasies.”
“It says he’s scheduled to be here in a few weeks.” She raised her brows. “I hear the leaves will be beautiful in Boone in a few weeks.”
Michelle rolled her eyes. “So, they’re filming in Boone?”
“Supposedly that’s the first stop.”
“I’ll make sure to stay out of Boone then.”
As they ate, Michelle felt Jackie continually cutting her eyes toward her, and every time Jackie moved to open her mouth, Michelle held up her hand. They finished their coffee and breakfast in silence, but Michelle wouldn’t call it comfortable. She wanted to tell Jackie about Gene, but Jackie was too caught up in this movie filming close by.
Michelle wiped her mouth and took one last sip of coffee. “I’m going to dress for our walk. I want to hear all about you and Oscar, and I have something to tell you too.”
Jackie’s face became animated. “You met someone?”
“We’ll discuss it while we’re walking,” Michelle said as she left the room.
Jackie fidgeted like a schoolgirl until they parked in the lot at the lake. As soon as they got out of the car, Jackie looked at Michelle as they set their pace, “Well?”
“Well, what? I told you I wanted to hear about you and Oscar first.”
A huge smile crossed Jackie’s face. “Things are good. We saw each other yesterday, and I’ll see him again tonight.”
“I thought you were taking it slowly.”
“We have been, but he asked if we could change our status on the dating app last night.”
Michelle quickly turned her head. “What did you tell him? I mean, you’ve never agreed to do that... for anyone. Not even Mr. Almost Right.”
“I told him we’d discuss it tonight.” Jackie glanced at Michelle then focused on the road in front of her. “I like him, Michelle.”
“You liked Mr. Almost Right too.”
“I did, but he lived halfway across the country. I didn’t want to move then or now. And, well, Oscar is right here.”
“Let me ask you something. Has he dated anyone else since moving to town? I mean, I’m sure he was like fresh meat at the market as soon as he showed up on that dating site.”
“He was, and he did go out with a couple of ladies around town. I know because I get the evil eye anytime we see them. And to be honest, he confessed that one of the reasons he wanted to take things slowly was because he was also seeing a woman in Asheville.”
Michelle’s eyebrows tried to find her hairline. “And you’re okay with that?”
“I wasn’t at first, but he had taken her out before we met, and they already had plans for a couple of events.” Jackie held her hands up. “Look, I know he isn’t perfect, but he didn’t have to tell me. He did, and a part of me respects him for it.”
“But . . .”
“But now I wonder if there’s someone else out there that I don’t know about.”
“Have you asked him?”
“That was what we talked about before he asked about making the change.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that he’d just moved here from Texas to take the job at the credit union.” She grinned and looked at Michelle. “And he does have that sexy Texas drawl. Anyway, he’d had a nasty divorce from the woman he’d been with since college.” She looked over her shoulder and leaned closer to Michelle. “He lost his virginity to her.” She slid her bottom lip between her teeth. “He stayed around Dallas until his kids went off to college. His oldest is Adam and Pete’s age and his youngest is close to Cade’s age. He went through a phase where he screwed anyone in a skirt, so to speak. I understood because I slept with some real horndogs after my divorce. He decided he wanted out of that life, a fresh start. When this opportunity came along, he jumped on it. What he didn’t want to jump into was a relationship. He’s still a little bitter. His wife cheated, so he has some trust issues.” Jackie shrugged. “He feels like he has his sea legs per se, and he’s ready to try a relationship.”
“What about the lady in Asheville?”
“That ended when she started dropping hints about a ring after their third date. And by that time, he’d met me.”
“Have you been honest about Mr. Almost Right?”
“I told him I’ve dated a lot since my divorce and that one man had proposed many years ago, but I wasn’t looking to relocate. I love my life here. And to be honest, that’s one of the reasons I’m considering this.”
“So, changing your status lets people know you’re in a relationship, so why not just remove your profile if this is something you want to pursue wholeheartedly.”
“And this is why you’re my best friend. I want to propose just that tonight. I mean, if we’re considering a relationship, we shouldn’t be on a dating site. Why have the temptation there, right?”
“That’s how I see it.”
By the time Jackie finished talking, they’d walked more than halfway around the lake. She nudged Michelle. “Your turn.”
Michelle smiled. “Do you remember Gene Franklin? He and Bill played golf together.”
“Tall guy. Has that financial business on Main Street?”
“That’s the one.”
Jackie’s eyes widened. “I hear he dates a lot.”
“He goes out with different women, yes, but he’s not looking for a wife just yet.”
“Sounds like you two have similar thoughts on that subject.”
“Do you think it’s weird? I mean, he was friends with my late husband. In some ways he may know more about Bill than I do.”
“You’ve only lived here ten years. I’m sure you know more than Gene ever will, but I think you should test the waters.”
“He said he was going to call, and we’d go get coffee one morning this week. I don’t want to miss our gym class, so I’m thinking maybe Thursday if he calls.”
“You know, Michelle, this may be just what you’re looking for. Nothing romantic, at least right now. Just companionship like you told the kids.”
Michelle smiled inside and out. “Yeah, I think you might be right.”