Chapter 14 #4
The line moved fast because Rider just wrote down your order, waited until he had five slips, then ran back to the kitchen. For whatever reason, he didn’t use the fancy electronic system today.
Soon, Moore and Kell were seated with Luke, Dean, and Allen. The waitress, Doreen Kelly from Luke’s grade, rushed over with a pitcher of water.
“Drink?” she asked Kell.
“Water’s good.”
Moore nodded and she took off, rushing to the kitchen to pick up orders.
“You look weird,” Allen said to Kell. The guy wore a thick black beard, extremely short hair he buzzed with a quarter-inch razor every month, and his bushy eyebrows rested over bright green eyes. “Like you’re only half-finished.”
“Did I ask your opinion?”
Allen shoved a fry in his mouth and chomped. “No. Giving it anyway.”
“February 10th, huh?” his dad said loudly, clearly trying to help Kell end the stupid conversation with Allen. “It’ll all be quiet again on the 15th,” Dad said, looking around with a big, nostalgic grin. “I love seeing it so busy.”
“Me, too,” Moore said. “We’re selling Valentine’s Day inventory like diamonds are in short supply. Have to modify my orders for next year. I’m thinking about making a Boston run for more.”
“That’s amazing. Business is booming,” Dean said, reaching for his bottle of root beer.
Luke stared at Kell. “You look weird.”
“Says the man in the red cop’s uniform.”
Moore laughed through his nose.
“You look great!” his dad said. “Your mom will be thrilled.”
“I didn’t do this for Mom.”
“Got a hot date with Rachel?” Luke asked.
Kell nodded.
“He’s getting his suit tailored,” Moore told them.
“You gain too much weight?” Luke asked. “You filled out when you came home.”
“Too much muscle.”
Dean patted the small paunch he’d acquired recently. “I remember when I had more muscle.”
“What’s your goal with Rachel?” Luke asked.
Doreen appeared, saving Kell from answering. She was carrying a tray with five plates, all burgers and fries, some with cheese. Kell’s had cheese, bacon, and pickles, and Moore’s had…
Peanut butter.
“How can you eat that?” Luke groaned as Doreen set the abomination down.
“It’s good. Cheese, peanut butter, mustard. Yum.”
“You’re a sick man, Moore,” Kell said, making gagging noises as he watched Moore take a bite.
“Not sick enough to change my appearance for a date with a woman who’s leaving in a few days.”
“Says the man who was divorced twice before thirty,” Luke poked.
“You’re a confirmed bachelor,” Dean said to Moore around a mouthful of fries. “This is all about love.”
All the men at the table froze at the mention of the L word. They ate and said no more.
Within ten minutes, they were all done, phones buzzing away. Dean stood first, looking at Kell.
“You ready?”
“I’ll drive separately.” Kell wasn’t looking to be grilled or given advice on the way to their job site.
“You want to make sure you make it back for your date? I can do that.”
“I’ll drive, Dad.”
“You really want to get this right, huh? Is everything set up? Where you taking her to dinner?”
“That’s the one problem.”
“Blake can’t get you in at The Food Alchemist?”
Kell shook his head. “Best he could do was offer me takeout surf and turf.”
“Sounds perfect,” Moore said matter-of-factly. “Have dinner at your place. Easy transition to the post-dessert festivities.”
Dean looked uncomfortable. Luke just laughed. Moore was like that.
Direct.
“I want it to be more romantic.”
“Being stared down by a Maine Coon cat isn’t?”
“Cally actually likes Rachel.”
All the men halted.
“She does?” Luke asked, incredulous.
“Son,” Dean said, hand on Kell’s shoulder, “marry the woman. That cat hates everyone except you.”
“I know.”
Everyone tossed cash on the check folder, Dean tucking it neatly under the clip. They all walked to the door, Luke peeling off first, then Moore, then Dean and Allen.
Kell walked around the building to his truck.
It was nearly 1:00, and he had to work with his dad all afternoon.
The job site wasn’t far away, no more than twenty minutes, but his father had a tendency to prolong their work.
Always up for a good gab, he would go on and on and on with the public works crew or whoever else was around.
For the next four hours, he, Allen, and his dad worked a job taking out a beautiful, two-hundred-year-old beech tree that was threatening a house. By the time 5:30 rolled around, Kell announced he was leaving. Dean and Allen were chatting with the house owner, exactly as Kell had thought.
He’d done the right thing.
As he drove back, he looked around, the town more red than usual. The red, white, and pink holiday lights gave the main drag a cheerful sparkle that he looked forward to seeing every year. The Love Committee liked it so much, they decreed that it had to stay up through Sweetest Day, October 15.
Which basically meant the lights came down, Halloween happened, and then the town was covered in Christmas lights.
He parked at his apartment and started to walk to Labrecque’s, the cold air clearing his head.
His phone buzzed. The text was from Rachel.
I’m at the trailer now. I’ll drive into town and meet you for dinner. Easier that way.
Park behind Bilbee’s, he wrote back.
A thumbs up was all he got in return.
And the thrill of anticipation.
As he entered the shop, an older woman waited in line in front of him, her white hair pulled up in a tight bun.
“Hello, Mrs. Armistead.” She turned with a start, then smiled at him with a confused look.
Always imposing, she was a fixture in town, the kind of person you have to acknowledge, even if you’re a little intimidated.
Kell wasn’t a kid anymore, but seeing Lucinda reminded him of Rachel’s real purpose in town.
She wasn’t here for a fancy dinner with Kell. Not here to kiss him or sleep with him. The entire reason Rachel had come to Luview was this woman, standing before him with a piercing, curious look aimed at his head.
Confusion was not a natural state for Lucinda Armistead.
“I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“It’s Kell Luview.”
“Oh, my goodness, Kell! What did you do to your face?”
“I pruned it.”
The old woman reached for his chin, grasping it in smoth, dry fingers, tilting his head slightly.
“I can see that! Who knew such a handsome young man was underneath that bear costume!”
Grady shot him an amused look.
“What made you do that?” she persisted, dropping her hand, giving him an expectant look, as if Kell were supposed to answer her question with a very strong reason impervious to debate.
“I wanted a change.” He leaned in. “I have a date tonight.”
“With Rachel?”
“How did you guess?”
“Oh, please.” She looked smug. “It’s obvious. I’m an old woman and my husband died a while ago, but I do understand love, my dear.”
“I don’t know about love. It’s our first date.”
“You understand love perfectly well. Whether you understand women remains to be seen.”
Kell couldn’t argue with that.
“I assume you’re taking her somewhere nice?”
“Every place is booked solid. I even tried the cousin angle, but no luck. Blake’s giving me takeout. Filet and lobster tail.” He had no idea why he was telling her all this, but something about Lucinda made him flap his lips.
His newly hairless lips.
“You need a nice, romantic place to take her.”
“I wish. I’m stuck with my apartment.”
“You most certainly cannot do that! It’s too much pressure for a first date.” She looked horrified.
“Pressure?”
“Your bedroom is there! That’s not acceptable!”
Kell tried really, really hard not to laugh.
“When is this date?” she asked.
“Eight o’clock tonight.”
“You are in luck, young man. I will offer you the chocolate shop. Our conference room has a view of the hot springs–you can set up your dinner there. Bring candles.”
The image began to form in his mind. For as strange as the idea sounded, it had a certain appeal.
Especially that view.
“You’re serious?”
“I would never have offered if I weren’t.”
“Mrs. Armistead?” Grady interrupted them. “You’re all set. Here are Boyce’s shirts.” He handed over two hangers in plastic covering.
Lucinda sniffed. “Thank you, Grady. And for goodness sake, call me Lucinda. I’ve been telling you that since you were eighteen.”
“I can’t start now!”
“And you, too, Kell. Boyce will text you the code for the front door. The store closes at seven. Come at seven-thirty.”
“You’re sure–I mean, thank you again, Lucinda.”
“Might as well show Rachel the beauty of the place she wants us to sell. Maybe she’ll understand the magnitude of this decision a little better.”
As she exited the store, Kell watched her in awe. The woman had presence.
And she just saved his butt.
“Come back!” Anya said, poking her head out from behind Grady. “You fit.”
Kell eased behind the counter and followed the old woman to the partition, where his suit was hanging on a hook.
“Try on.”
He did as told, nervously sliding one leg in, then the other. The cloth fit snugly, but he could breathe.
Blood could flow.
Lifting his arms, he stripped off his sweater, still wearing his sweaty undershirt.
“You work?”
“Cut down trees.”
“Good work.” She reached for his biceps and squeezed. “Strong man work.”
Having Anya’s approval made him feel good.
The jacket fit, too, a very close cut but way better than he expected. He carefully put it back in the bag, leaned down, and kissed her cheek again.
“Thank you, Anya.”
“You find girl. Marry. Give Deanna grandbaby.”
“Did Deanna pay you to say that?”
Anya winked and walked away.
As it headed toward six, he rushed home, the shower a longer affair than normal as he had to wash his hair twice to get the stray cut pieces out of it. As he stood in front of the mirror, styling the short locks, he paid closer attention to his appearance than he had in…
Forever.
Five years, at least.
Tonight was happening. Yes, it was a first date, but he also knew it was probably going to be their first time having sex, too.