Chapter 20
20
The phone rang, and Lenore grabbed it quickly, barely checking the caller ID to ensure it was Sisco. Just as she’d predicted, Evie had fallen fast asleep after her long day of school and activities.
“Hey.” She was sitting on the edge of her bed and glanced into the mirror over the dresser, seeing the goofy smile on her face.
“Hey yourself, beautiful. Did everything go okay with Evie today? I know you mentioned that today she'd have PE and recess, and I worried that might be too much for her.”
For a few seconds, Lenore didn't respond. There was so much packed in his simple greeting that she felt the need to digest each thing he said. He'd called her beautiful, and while she was secure about her looks, she hadn't worried about them in a long time. William had never been effusive in his compliments, and as the marriage progressed along with Evie's illness, it was still a hit to her self-confidence. One night, he’d complained that she was too tired for sex after she'd been with Evie in the hospital all day long for a chemo treatment. He'd been frustrated that she couldn't be everything for everybody. It also struck her that William had gotten to the point where he rarely remembered when any of Evie’s appointments were. He certainly didn't know when Evie would have a physically strenuous day and be concerned. So Sisco's words struck her to her very core.
“Lenore? Are you okay? Is everything okay?”
“Yes!” she rushed. “I'm sorry. I was just so surprised that you remembered about Evie's day. That's really sweet of you.”
“She's important.” His simple reply was so poignant.
“And to answer your question, yes. She had a great day and was happy but worn out. She's already been down for an hour, falling asleep quickly.”
“I'm glad.” He hesitated, then added, “We… um… need to talk… well, I’d like us to talk… now… before I come home.”
A prickle of unease slithered through her. As soon as those words met her ears, her heartbeat stuttered. She'd discovered that “ We need to talk ” is rarely a good start to a conversation. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and steeled her spine, readying herself for whatever Sisco said. He’s single… and I’m a single mom. An overwrought, mostly tired, often afraid single mom. Then her eyes popped open, and her jaw tightened. And if he can’t see what we could add to his life, then screw him! The friend zone is fine! More than fine! But even as these thoughts darted through her mind, she knew she was lying. She’d make the friend zone with Sisco work, but it would suck if that were the only status she could have with him.
“Okay.” She tried to keep her one-word response from sounding too harsh but wasn't sure she had accomplished that feat. Clearing her throat, she forced a more casual tone and added, “What's up?”
“I know you have a lot going on?—”
Oh God… here it comes. She closed her eyes again, fighting the urge to toss her phone across the room.
“And to try to fit something else or someone else into your life wasn’t in your plan. I thought?—”
Once more, her eyes popped open as incredulity hit her gut. “Not in my plan?” she barked.
“Um… what?”
“You said that fitting more into my life wasn’t in my plan. It’s rather presumptuous of you to act as though you know what’s in my plan.”
Silence reigned for a few seconds. “I think that you might not understand?—”
“And for the record…” She interrupted. “You pursued me in this relationship that you no longer have time for. Try speaking plainly, Sisco. I know you have a lot going on in your life, and a single mom with a child wasn’t in your plan, so own your feelings. Don’t try to project them onto me.”
“Lenore, swear to God, we need to start over,” he stated, punctuating each word.
She blinked as her chin jerked backward. “Start over?”
“I’ve fucked up what I wanted to talk to you about. Please, give me a chance to get it all out.”
Resignation now settled deep inside, but she nodded as a sigh left her lips. “Okay. I’m sorry I kept interrupting. Please… continue.”
“I wanted to askyouout.”
Her mouth opened, then snapped closed as she tried to understand his run-together words. “You wanted to… what?”
“Sorry, but I was afraid you’d interrupt again. I wanted to officially ask if you would do me the honor of going out with me?”
She blinked, and this time, staring into her mirror, she could see surprise etched in her expression. Shifting on the bed so she would no longer be watching herself, she said, “You want to ask me out?”
“A date, Lenore. I'm asking if you would like to go on a date with me.”
An undignified snort sounded out, but she was too stunned to be embarrassed. “Absolutely! Oh God, I’m so sorry! I thought you were backing away from me.”
“No, no,” he assured. “I’m not good at this. I tried to think of all the reasons you wouldn’t be ready. But my friends convinced me that I shouldn’t make that decision for you even though it felt chivalrous of me to do so.”
“Chivalrous?”
“Yeah… you know… me taking the pressure off you so that you wouldn’t have to be the one to tell me to back off.”
She thought she'd given him all the signs that she would love to go out with him. I either need to practice my game or just be more direct. Choosing directness, she added, “I would love to go out with you.”
“Thank God,” he said, his voice filled with the surety she was used to from him.
“When?”
“I'll get in tomorrow but will need to go to the compound and debrief.”
“I have to work tomorrow anyway.”
“How about Saturday?”
“I'll need to find a babysitter?—”
“No, you don't. I mean, I'd love to take you out by yourself. Of course, I'd like to take you out by yourself. Obviously… but … I know there will be times you'll need a babysitter because we want to be together. Just you and me getting to know each other better. But I thought, maybe, to start with, you, me, and Evie could do something together so she doesn't feel left out.”
Lenore wasn't sure her heart could hold more happiness than she already felt. Chancing a glance in the mirror again, she spied the biggest smile on her face, unable to remember the last time she felt this way.
“My original agreement still stands,” she said. “I would love to go out with you, and I know Evie would be super excited. What did you have in mind?”
“I thought we could go out and get something to eat and then just see what happens.”
“Valier is having a town day on Saturday. All day long, there are food trucks and vendors and even a small fair with rides. And that evening, there will be fireworks. Evie and I were thinking about going anyway, but if that's not too lame of a date for you?—”
“It's perfect. Absolutely positively could not fucking be better!”
She laughed, glad he was game. “Well, that's a rousing endorsement.”
“Lenore, doing anything with you would be phenomenal. Doing something with you and Evie makes it even more so. I can't wait to spend the day with you two and have the evening with fireworks.”
As they chatted for a few more minutes, she couldn't help but think of the fireworks she wanted to experience with him.