Chapter 25 #2
Simon handed her the ice cream cone, and they all walked further into the park, where they sat on the grass and ate. “Thanks for bringing us,” she said to Simon, as she dug into a bite of chocolate. “I’m glad your team won.”
“So am I,” he said. “What would you like to do now? It’s only two, and I thought we could walk over to play a game of frisbee golf if it isn’t too busy.”
“Frisbee golf?”
“You throw Frisbees into baskets. There’s a course on the other side of the park.”
“Sure. What do you think, Riley?”
“Let’s go!” Riley jumped to her feet and started to walk.
“Wait,” said Sarah. Riley stopped and turned back, having the grace to look guilty for trying to take off again.
“Do you have Frisbees?” she asked Simon.
“Of course,” he said, picking up his backpack. “I like to be prepared.”
The course was busy, but after waiting for a few groups to start ahead of them, they entered the course, taking turns to throw the discs toward the baskets that populated the park.
Their attempts were met alternatively with laughter and encouragement as they made their way through nine baskets.
When they were done, they all decided that Simon was better at bocce and that Sarah needed practice if she had a hope of learning to put her disc into the baskets within nine chances.
They walked toward the car then drove to the restaurant for hamburgers, before heading home to get ready for the dance.
“What did you like most about today?” Simon asked the girls, as they waited for their meals.
”Everything,” said Sally.
“I liked playing Frisbee with Mom,” said Riley, grinning up at Sarah. “It was fun.”
“Yes, it was,” said Sarah.
“What did you like best, Mom?”
“Me?” she scanned the faces around the table. “I think I enjoyed trying things I’ve never done before, and spending time together.”
Riley nodded. “Simon has great ideas for fun, doesn’t he, Mom?”
“Yes,” Sarah said, her gaze slipping to Simon’s. “Thanks again for including us.”
“Glad you had fun,” said Simon. “We’ll have to see what we can do next time.”
“We could go to Coombs to see the goats,” said Sally. “Or see the sandcastles in Parksville.”
“That’s right. The sandcastles are interesting. And there’s a great mini golf place there.”
“Can we go, Mom?”
“We’ll look at our schedules and arrange something,” said Sarah. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about the sandcastles.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve never seen them either.”
“No, I haven’t. It seems that before I met you my life was rather dull.”
He laughed as though she had said something amusing, but underneath her joking tone, she was serious. Since meeting Simon, her life had more facets to it. And she liked those new facets.
They all sat back while the waiter placed their food on the table in front of them. “Now eat up, because tonight Sarah and I have a salsa class. And you two, I am told, have one of Mrs. Waverly’s famous card games to play.”
“Salsa?” Sarah said. “Is it hard? I’ve never tried it before.”
“Which is why we need a lesson,” he said, tapping himself on the head and pulling a very serious face. “We teachers are always thinking.”
She laughed, and he joined her.
“What’s so funny?” asked Riley, looking up from her conversation with Sally.
“Simon is telling me about salsa lessons,” said Sarah. “We’re going to try it tonight when we go to the dance, and I have a feeling his feet will be sore afterward.”
“Mom doesn’t dance,” Riley said, looking at Simon seriously. “Better not wear your sandals.”
He answered her by laughing louder. “I’ll take my chances, young one. Once summer rolls around, I rarely wear shoes. It’s just wrong somehow.”
Riley turned back to her meal and muttered, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Which only made Simon laugh harder.
“I have danced, I’ll have you know,” she said under her breath. “It’s just been a while.”
“I’ll risk it,” he said. “Now, let’s eat so we can get home and make sure those cats are okay before Mrs. Waverly comes.”
“What time do you expect her?”
“I told her five thirty. I thought I could drop you at home to give you time to change, and take the girls to my place. Then I can swing by and pick you up.”
“Riley, are you okay to go to Simon’s place now?”
“Sure, Mom,” Riley said, the picture of innocence. Her expression made Sarah worry only slightly. Was the girl up to something?
An hour later, showered and changed, Sarah stood in front of her mirror, admiring how her new dress skimmed her curves and the embroidered leaves caught the light as she swished the skirt back and forth.
She curled her hair into a smooth bun that showed off the pearl drop earrings she hadn’t worn in years.
Her polished nails, which she had managed to keep from chipping, were almost elegant against the silky fabric.
The woman in the mirror was different than the one she’d been a month ago. This woman wasn’t as serious as the old one. This one liked dancing and enjoying the little things in life. This one liked to have fun.
The doorbell rang, and she took one last look in the mirror before walking to the door in her silver sandals and opening the door to Simon.
Simon was standing on the doorstep dressed in a tan jacket and pants, a white cotton shirt, and, of course, his sandals.
She grinned at them and prepared to make a joke, but when she looked up, she was struck speechless.
His gaze was dark, seeing her in a way she hadn’t felt seen in a very long time.
“You look…” he started, then stopped, swallowing hard. “Beautiful.”
She wanted to fling her arms around him, to thank him for saying it, thank him for helping her feel like she was attractive rather than like a cast off being put on the shelf for a younger model, but instead she said, “You clean up well yourself.”
“Um, I thought you might like these.” He pulled a small bunch of roses out from behind his back. “Mrs. Waverly grows them in her garden and said I could have some.”
“They’re beautiful. Thank her for me?” She took the flowers, absurdly pleased, put them in water, and stood a moment to admire them before grabbing her purse and following Simon out to the car.
The drive to the community center was short, but Sarah felt every minute of it—the awareness of Simon beside her, the way his hand rested on the gear shift, the faint scent of his cologne mixed with the summer evening air coming through the cracked window.
“Ready for our lesson?” he asked.
“Yes. It should be fun. It’s been such a long time since I did any ballroom dancing. Unless you count my occasional Zumba class.”
“It’s been a long time for me too.” He pulled into the parking lot, which was already filling up. “I’m glad I have you to share this with.”
“Me too,” she admitted. “Though you’d best guard your feet. My daughter may have a point.”
He chuckled and walked around to her side of the car to take her arm, so they could walk in together.
The community center had been transformed.
Strings of lights hung from the ceiling, white tablecloths and vases of summer flowers were arranged around a dance area, and a live band was setting up in the corner.
They passed several people Sarah recognized, and she was grateful she’d made the effort to dress well. Others had on their finery, and it added a special vibe to the room.
“Simon!” A woman in a bright pink dress waved them over. “You made it!”
“Hi, Daphne.” Simon escorted Sarah over to his friend and took the time to introduce her to the rest of the group there.
“That was a great race today,” said Sarah.
“Thank you! It’s our first win.” Daphne beamed. “I’m glad you could come. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Sarah wrinkled her brow in question. What was Daphne talking about? What had Simon been saying about her?
Simon seemed to read her mind. “I’ve been telling Daphne about the cats.”
“Yes, that’s right. The cats,” said Daphne, pursing her lips as though to hold back laughter. Then to Sarah she murmured, “Small town. People like a good story, especially when it’s about the school’s most eligible bachelor.”
The band began to play a tune, and Daphne nodded toward a group of people moving toward the dance floor.
“The Latin lesson starts in a few minutes,” she said. “I’m going to find Joe. You’ll join, won’t you?”
Simon and Sarah shared a glance. “We’ll meet you on the dance floor,” he said.
Daphne rushed away, and Simon offered her his arm again. “Ready?”
“Let’s do it,” she said.
The instructor was a petite graceful woman from the local dance studio. She lined them up to face their partners and began to demonstrate the basic salsa steps.
Sarah stumbled at first, and Simon instinctively shifted his feet out of the way.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Just relax and follow my lead.” Simon put his hand back on her waist, and she let him guide her through the basic steps and then a pivot.
“You’re doing great,” he said, pulling her a little closer.
“You’re a good lead.” She looked up at him and away from her feet.
They moved together, repeating the simple steps, and fell into a rhythm that, while not yet graceful, worked for them and spared Simon’s toes.
When the band started up, they continued to dance—badly, but well enough to enjoy themselves. Especially since every misstep was cause for shared laughter, and, every time she tottered on her heels, Simon’s warm hand against her back steadied her.
Between songs, they retreated to their table to catch their breath. Sarah’s feet were protesting in the silver heels, but she didn’t care. She felt alive in a way she’d forgotten was possible.
“I should warn you,” Simon said, leaning close so she could hear him over the music. “My friends are going to ask questions after this evening.”
“About what?”
“About you. About us.” He met her eyes. “They’ve been trying to set me up for years. Me showing up with a date they didn’t arrange is already causing a stir.”
“Does that concern you?”
“No,” he said, turning to face her. “I know we started this whole thing because of the cats, and then it became about the girls, but somewhere along the way…” He paused, searching for words.
“Sarah, I like you. I like spending time with you. I like the way you are with Riley and Sally. I like that you’re careful and cautious, because it means when you do let someone in, you mean it. ”
“Oh,” was all Sarah could say over the pounding of her heart. He liked her. And what was more, he understood her need to be careful. Her need to take things slow.
“I’m not asking for anything big,” he continued. “Just…” He smiled. “Permission, I guess. Permission to keep doing this. To take you to dinner sometimes, just the two of us. To call you without needing to pretend it’s about the cats. To see where this goes.”
The band shifted to a slower song, and couples paired off around them.
She looked at Simon, with his warm eyes and smile, and remembered his kindness, his patience with Riley, how easily he included them, and how he never pushed her faster than she was ready to go.
She paused as she thought of Riley, her little girl who already had a man who had drifted away from their lives.
She decided to trust her first instinct.
“I’d like that,” she said.
His smile widened. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He stood and offered his hand. “Then may I have this dance?”
She let him lead her onto the dance floor, and she walked into his arms and rested her head against his shoulder, swaying with him as the music danced around them.
She lifted her head to whisper in his ear, “For the record, I like you too. I’ve been trying not to, but it hasn’t worked very well.”
He chuckled, his breath warm against her hair. “I noticed.”
“You did?”
“You’re not as subtle as you think.”
She pulled back to look at him, ready to be indignant, but found him grinning at her with such obvious affection that her protest died in her throat. Instead, she stretched up and kissed him—a brief, soft press of lips that warmed her to her core.
When she pulled back, his eyes were wide, surprised, delighted.
“Well,” he said. “That’s one way to settle the question.”
“What question?”
“Whether it was too early to try to kiss you.”
“Mr. Ward?”
Simon stiffened and stepped back, looking over at a woman Sarah recognized: a parent, blinking as if to process what she was seeing.
“Evening,” Simon said, in what she now recognized as his teacher voice. He slid his arm around her shoulder protectively. So this was what he meant. She hadn’t considered how little privacy he might have, being known so well by parents.
“Surprised to see you here,” the parent mumbled.
“It’s a good cause,” said Simon, smiling evenly.
“Yes, it is,” said the parent, looking as though she wished the floor would open and swallow her. “Enjoy your evening.”
“We will,” said Simon, turning back toward Sarah.
She stepped closer.
“Well, looks like we’ve been seen, so…”
“We may as well pick up where we left off,” she said.
“That’s what I was thinking too.” He grinned and bent down to kiss her, much less briefly this time, and the crowd faded into the background as the band played on.