Chapter 15
Louisiana
After dropping Amy off at my parents’ house, I made my way to Life in Bloom.
Carrie had asked me to work extra this week.
I’d spent a couple of days painting the wall we rented, but all I have to show for it is a big white rectangle.
Carrie says she has faith that it will look great when I’m finished, but I don’t think I’ll ever finish if she keeps asking for me to take a break to help her with other projects. This week it’s a wedding.
“Sorry, I got caught up with something after dance class.” I waved as I burst through the door. Carrie was moving about the small space, talking to herself in the process.
“Well, you’re here now.” She smiled as she pulled a large bucket filled with white roses out of one of the coolers. “Laurie is supposed to be here any minute to man the front so we can work on this in the back.” She lifted the bucket and disappeared through a set of swinging doors.
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to help you with this. I do advertising. You’re the designer,” I called as I reached for a green apron and tied it around my waist.
“All those years we helped Mom with decorating… I’m sure you picked up a thing or two. Besides, I know you can learn this stuff.” She waved me off as she stuck her head out.
“Sorry I’m late,” Laurie called as she too breezed through the door. “Traffic is terrible in town right now.”
“Seems to be a pattern today.” Carrie sighed. “Come on back now that she’s here.” She grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the double doors. Once we were on the other side, she paused and crossed her arms over her chest. “I heard you have an admirer.”
“What? From whom?” I was confused.
“My niece says there’s a new girl in dance class and her daddy is handsome.” She tapped her foot. “So, what’s his name?”
“There’s nothing going on. We’ve had friendly conversation, that’s all.” I gave her a look, hoping she’s drop it.
“By that look, I’d say it’s something.” She grinned as she placed several vases on the table in front of us.
“What look?” I was confused. Issac was just being nice, right?
“That look. The one that says there’s a new boy in school and I think he’s cute. So, do you?”
“Do I what?” I helped lift the buckets of flowers onto the table.
“Think he’s cute?” she stressed as she began pulling flowers out and placing them strategically in the vases.
I paused for a minute. This was Carrie. We never really talked about boys growing up, so talking about men now just seemed a little weird. “He’s good looking,” I mused as I lifted a rose and slowly leaned in to sniff it.
“How good looking?” Her lips twisted as a sly grin spread across her face.
“I don’t know.” I began to get flustered. “He’s got dark hair and these light blue eyes. He can rock a pair of jeans. He’s good looking.” I shrugged.
“When you look at him, do you want to jump his bones?” She giggled.
“Carolina!” I hissed.
“What? It’s an honest question. If you don’t get all hot and bothered when you look at him, then you’re wasting your time, and you’ve wasted enough time in your lifetime.
” She placed a peony in the bouquet and stepped back to admire her work.
“Perfect. Now just fifteen more.” She blew out a deep breath.
“Here. Copy this.” She turned the vase to face me and then waved at me to get started.
“I haven’t dated anyone since I was sixteen. Charlie is the only man I’ve been with. I don’t even know how to flirt,” I grumbled, dejectedly. I placed flowers in the vase and when I looked up to get Carrie’s approval, she was tapping away on her phone.
“You’re not that clueless, you already had a date!” She squealed as she showed me her phone. She was texting Amy, and of course Amy was turning our little ice cream outing today into a date.
“I have not had a date. He asked us out to the ice cream shop, and we went.” I rolled my eyes.
“He paid!” Carrie’s eyes went wide. “That’s a date, silly.” She shook her head at me. “Amy says that his daughter told her that he thought you were pretty.” She pressed her lips together and looked at me as if she were saying I told you so.
“Great, I’m being set up by two almost eleven-year-olds. That has success written all over it,” I lamented.
“Hey, look at The Parent Trap, that worked out,” she teased.
“That was a movie,” I reminded her.
“True, but really. You deserve a good guy and you’re never going to find one if you don’t put yourself out there.” She came around the table and put her arm around my shoulders. “Promise me if this guy does want to take you out, you’ll say yes.” She hugged me to her.
“I promise I will consider it,” I murmured. The truth was, I didn’t really know much about Issac Mathis. I knew he raced horses and bought the Henderson farm. Everything else was a mystery. “It’s only been two years, Carrie.”
“I know, but I love you and I want you to be happy.” She squeezed once more before going back to work.
We spent the better part of the evening putting the arrangements together and then placing them in the large walk in cooler in the back.
This wedding was tomorrow in Roan and if I didn’t have to be at the studio, I would probably offer to help.
As it was now, I was taking Amy to class and then I was going to be painting in the afternoon.
Ooooooooo
Issac
“Hey, Daddy?” Hallie shuffled her feet as we made our way into the studio.
She had two classes today, and then I had to check on Lucky Star.
I was hoping to meet with two different sellers today, too.
There’s a three-year-old I’ve had my eye on for a few months and his owner put him up for sale two days ago.
I’d managed to get ahold of him this morning, and he’s going to try and stop by this afternoon.
“Yeah, sweetie?” My mind was anywhere but where it should be and I had to remind myself that my baby girl was getting ready to ask me something and I needed to pay attention so I wouldn’t just agree to something like last time.
“Do you think Amy could come over sometime to play?” She bounced on her toes.
“Sure. We have to check with her mom first, though.” The thought of talking to Lou again made me smile. I wasn’t sure what it was but she just made me happy to be near her.
“Do you think that could be today?”
“How did sometime turn into today?” I laughed as I looked down at her.
“You always tell me to seize the moment and not let stuff pass me by.” She grinned.
“Do I say that? I guess I do.” I shook my head. My little girl was going to make a shrewd businesswoman someday.
“How about we talk to her mom first and see if that works?” I tried. I was planning to be at the farm all afternoon, so if Amy and Hallie wanted to hang out there, it wouldn’t really be a big deal.
“Ok, see ya later.” She skipped away and disappeared inside, leaving me in the parking lot.
When I opened the door, moms were sitting around either reading or looking at their phones.
The girls must have just made their way into class.
I weaved through the dance bags and took a seat over near Lou.
She looked up and smiled before going back to her book.
I nodded a hello and then began going through my email on my phone.
I didn’t really know what to make of her, and I didn’t want to push too hard.
From the little bit I’d seen, someone had hurt her.
She’s guarded, almost too guarded and I didn’t know if she’d even let me in.
It seemed like most of the afternoon had passed by the time class was let out.
The girls came rushing into the lobby sweaty from class.
They were chattering away as they grabbed their bags to put their dance shoes away.
Amy and Hallie came over to us with their eyes downcast. I knew this move from Hallie.
She was getting ready to ask me something and she wasn’t sure how I’d respond.
“Daddy?” Hallie rocked on her feet. “Can Amy come over and play?” She batted her eyes and clasped her hands together.
“Please, Mama?” Amy begged. “Can I go see the horses?”
“Uh?” Lou was getting ready to say no. I could see it on her face. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but I beat her to it.
“I’m ok with it if Amy’s mom is.” I shrugged. I mean, the girls could play while I had my meeting. “I have a meeting to possibly buy a horse, but Craig can keep an eye on them for me for a few minutes.”
“Please, Mama?” Amy pleaded. “I’ll be good. This way I have something to do while you paint,” she reasoned.
“Paint?” I asked.
Lou gave in. I could see it happening. The moment she decided that the idea was ok. “Ok.” She nodded. “I can come get her in few hours, if that works for you.” She smiled as both girls jumped in the air, squealing.
“If that works for you, sure.” I smiled. “I don’t mind bringing her home, though.”
“It’s ok. I should be finished by four. Does that work for you?” She put her book in her purse. “You be good and listen to Mister Mathis.” She hugged her and Amy kissed her cheek.
“Thanks, Mama.” She grinned. “I’ll be good. I promise.”
“You can call me Issac.” I stood and offered to carry their bags. As we made our way out to my truck, I watched the two girls whispering to each other and giggling. Every few seconds, they’d point at me and giggle and I wondered what could be so funny.
“Hey, Daddy?” Hallie asked as I opened the truck door for them. “Can we get lunch on the way home?”
“How about I grill us some burgers when we get home? We’ll cook out on the deck and you guys can relax in the hammock,” I suggested.
“Yay.” Hallie bounced in her seat. “My daddy makes the best burgers ever and he puts cheese in the middle of them instead of on top. It’s so good.
” She closed her eyes and sighed. “After lunch, we can go down to the barn and I’ll show you the horses.
We have a horse that’s going to have a baby next spring.
It’s going to be a race horse and win big, then we win lots of money. ”
“Hallie!” I gave her a look to warn her to stop boasting. We’d had this discussion before.
“Sorry, Daddy.” She bit her lip and then looked over at Amy. “I’m not supposed to talk about money. It’s rude,” she lamented.
“It’s ok. I don’t mind.” Amy shrugged. “My daddy used to talk about money all the time.” Her voice trailed off and a sadness washed over her face. I made a mental note to try and find out the story behind Amy’s father and where he was in the picture.