Chapter 26
“Bridal shower or a Jack and Jill?” Stacey sat in Melinda’s kitchen with a blank pad in front of her. She was tapping the closed end of the pen on it. “What do you think the happy couple would like better?”
“Did you ask Molly?” Melinda set the teapot on the counter and poured them each a cup.
“She said she trusts me and whatever I decide is fine.” Stacey sipped her tea. “To be honest, I think working with the wedding planner in Newport is overwhelming her and they’re just too busy to make any additional decisions.”
“I’m sure the wedding is going to be stunning. I’ve looked online at other weddings held in the mansion, and what a setting.” Melinda sighed and fanned herself. With a smile she said, “So romantic, and a Christmas theme will put it over the top.”
Stacey brightened. “I think we should do a girls-only party. She deserves to be pampered. We could keep it small and intimate, go to the spa, and then we can meet up with the guys and enjoy a nice dinner. Molly is wound up like a top and this would be just the thing.”
“That does sound nice. When should we do it?” Melinda grabbed the calendar from the wall and slid it across the counter to Stacey. “With the wedding in early December, we’re just about out of weekends, especially with Thanksgiving right around the corner.”
Chewing her lip, Stacey pointed to the Saturday before the holiday. “Do you think we’ll be able to book the spa and restaurant on short notice?”
Melinda hurried out of the room and yelled over her shoulder, “Only one way to find out. Let me look up the number and we’ll make a few calls.”
“I’ll work on the guest list.” Stacey replied.
She came back into the kitchen with her computer. “Did you figure out how many girls?”
“There are two, including me, in the wedding party. Molly gave me the guest list.” She looked at Melinda. “I think if we invite the girls who are local, we’d have ten.”
“Nice size group.” Melinda clicked a few keys. “Here we go, the Blue Door. It has a five-star rating.” She scrolled down the page. “There is a four-hour package that includes a massage, mani and pedi, shampoo, blow dry and then makeup session. We could spend the afternoon there, then go to dinner at Vera’s. I’ll request the private dining room.”
“That sounds great. We could have the guys meet us for drinks and dinner. Pamper the bride and share our stunning beauty with the men afterward.”
Melinda laughed. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll call the spa and you call the restaurant. Book it for twenty. Are you sure we don’t need to check with Molly?”
Stacey smiled. “She loves surprises, and I happen to know Tim said whatever we planned he’d make sure it worked.” She picked up her cell.
Busy with their own tasks, they quickly wrapped up their respective phone calls. Melinda set her phone aside. “I’ll create the invitations and then when we get paper we can print them here, and get them out tomorrow.”
“While you do that, I’ll run down to the office supply store and get fancy paper and envelopes.” Stacey set her empty teacup aside and stood up. “I’ll pick up sandwiches for lunch while I’m out.”
“Sounds good.” Melinda stretched her arms over her head working a kink out of her lower back. She really could use a massage. Too many hours in front of her computer was killing her back. “Stacey, has Adam mentioned anything about Beth to you?”
With a slow shake of her head, Stacey said, “Not to me. I know he and Will talk a lot, pretty much about everything. It’s been like that since I started dating Will.”
Melinda frowned. “I don’t think it’s going well.”
“Why do you think that?” Stacey sat back down. “Has Adam said something to you?”
“He was telling me she’s high energy and doesn’t want to slow down and enjoy some of the quieter things in life, like a ball game, dinner, movies and concerts.” She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, her brain working in overdrive. “I thought he was a big outdoors kind of guy.”
Slowly, Stacey said, “Well, he is, but after he got out of the service he was different.”
“Different how?” Melinda’s curiosity was piqued.
Stacey seemed to measure her words carefully. “He’s less talkative than he was.”
“I’m not trying to pry, but I seem to be striking out in the love connection process. I’ve never had two poor choices in a row with one client.”
“Melinda, you’re being too hard on yourself. Beth and Adam had fun, but there just seems to be a lack of chemistry. That is something you can’t calculate with a questionnaire. You can match two people on paper, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into what you like to call a love connection.”
“I know you’re right, but I really want to find him someone wonderful.” Melinda shrugged. “He’s a special man.”
“I have faith in you and I’m sure he’ll fall in love before long.” Stacey grabbed her handbag from the back of the chair. “I’ll be back soon.” She pointed to Melinda’s laptop. “And you need to get creative.”
Melinda tapped the middle of her forehead and smiled. “I’ve got it all right here.”
Stacey laughed as she walked toward the front door. “Then get cracking.”
Melinda returned to the task at hand and jotted down the address of the spa and the date and time. She typed out the information to print later. Clicking a few keys, she pulled up Adam’s questionnaire. After scrolling down the page, she sat back, even more confused. Based on Beth and Adam’s personal compatibility and this document, they should be a decent match. “Was there something I missed? Or what is Adam holding back?”
A sharp rap on the back door distracted her. She looked around the corner and on the other side of the glass was Adam, grinning from ear to ear. She waved him inside.
He pulled open the door. “Hey, Mel.”
“Hey yourself.” Adam stepped into the kitchen. Melinda closed the door behind him. “I thought you and Will were working on Stacey’s pergola.”
“We were. Are. But I needed to see you.”
“Why?” She leaned against the counter, trying to look casual.
“Beth agreed to go to the Stones cover band at Geer Musical Hall. And I have to thank you for pushing me to try again.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun. The Stones are great.” She couldn’t help but notice the excitement didn’t reach his eyes.
He cocked his head. “I told myself to give it one more date before I make a final decision.”
“Adam?”
“Mel?” His voice was light and teasing.
“Am I pushing you too hard to date Beth?”
“No, not at all. I haven’t dated for a while. I forgot it’s tough, putting yourself out there.”
“That’s just it, dating shouldn’t be hard. It should be exciting, nerve wracking, and most of all, something you look forward to. You shouldn’t have to convince yourself to keep seeing someone.”
Adam’s brow furrowed. “I thought you’d be happy. She agreed to do something I enjoy.” Irritated and frustrated, he spun around and started to stalk out the back door. He stopped and turned to look at her. “Mel, I’m confused. Are you trying to discourage me from going out with her again?”
Her stomach clenched. Is that what I’m doing? “Not at all. I want you to be happy.”
“Would you be honest if I was going about this all wrong?”
She was at a loss for words. She finally said, “Of course I would. You’re doing all the right things. Be patient and see if you feel differently after Friday night.”
“So…I’m going out with Beth.” His voice was lacking enthusiasm.
Her heart felt heavy in her chest. She felt like a fraud. She wished she was going with him on Friday. What was wrong with her? The next words came out in a rush. “You’ll have a good time.”
“All right then.” A look of confusion slipped across his face.
“Be sure to let me know how it goes.” Melinda forced herself to smile.
“I’ll talk to you on Saturday. Let’s get together for breakfast. My treat.”
“Sounds fun.” Melinda knew she spoke the truth. She was already looking forward to seeing Adam again. She quickly told herself it was nothing more than to hear about his date.
He crossed the room and gave her a peck on the cheek. “I’ll swing by and pick you up around eight?”
“Sure.” She nodded and watched as the door banged closed behind him. She reached up and touched her cheek. What the heck was happening? She never had another client take her to breakfast or kiss her.
Flustered, she went back and tapped on the computer keys while she waited for Stacey to return.
Adam pulled into the sandwich shop’s parking lot. He turned off the ignition and sat there. What was it about Mel that had him wanting to tell her what happened to him; how he felt lost when he had to retire and of course the part of himself that was ripped away.
He hit the steering wheel with his fist and swore softly to himself. Mel wasn’t Anita. When she learned the truth, she would understand why he hadn’t said anything.
He turned the rearview mirror so he could look at his face. Talking to his reflection, he said, “Is this why you’re not connecting to Beth? You don’t want her to know about your extra hardware? Or is it really because of Mel?”
He didn’t have answers to his questions. Since Anita had walked away from him, Adam had protected his heart from feeling an emotional connection with any woman. Will understood as much as anyone could who hadn’t lived through it, and Stacey was a sweetheart. They kept his secret.
A sharp rap on the window broke his train of thought. Stacey was smiling at him. He pushed the button and the window slid down. “Adam, what are you doing here?”
“I stopped to pick up lunch for me and Will.”
Stacey held up a bag. “Great minds think alike. I’m on my way back to Melinda’s.”
“Really? I was just over there and she didn’t say anything about you.”
Stacey cocked her head. “What were you doing there?”
“I wanted to tell her I have another date with Beth.”
Stacey looked at him but didn’t speak.
“We’re going to listen to music and have a bite to eat.” Silence from Stacey urged him to keep talking. “And if that goes well, we’ll go out again.”
She was still silent. “Aren’t you going to say something?” he asked.
She lifted a shoulder. “I’m going to be honest with you.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“When you met Beth, what was your first thought?”
Adam was confused. “I’m not sure what you’re asking.”
“Did you think she was smart, pretty, interesting? You know, what did you think?”
He dropped his head. “I wondered how I’d ever keep up with her. Based on her profile and just her personality, she’s like the Energizer bunny.”
“But did she catch your attention?”
“Well, no.”
“When was the last time you felt that way, totally captivated and like you never wanted the conversation or the moment to end?”
He slumped against the seat cushion. Without answering Stacey, he thought, Every time I’m with Mel.