Game of Hearts (9 page)

 

I stared at myself in the mirror. White bra, white cotton panties. I needed an update. Maybe some new lingerie would add a dash of excitement to my life.

Who am I kidding? The only person who'd get to see it would be me. What fun would that be? I reached over and picked up a perfume bottle from my dresser. It smelled of hyacinth. It might be old, but it would do.

Sarah watched me as I went through my closet. I'd pick something out, and she'd shake her head. It wasn't like I had a lot to choose from. Most of my nicer clothes were too big on me since I'd lost weight. While good for my ego, it didn't do much for the nicely-fitting clothes issue.

"Why are you so nervous?" Sarah punched the pillow behind her back. "It's not like Brandon hasn't seen you at church and stuff."

"This is different. It's a real date."

"Well, I'm glad you're going. It's good for you to go out. There for a while I thought you would be celibate the rest of your life."

I glared down at her. I knew my cheeks were red because of the warmth in my face. The scary part was, I'd thought the same thing.

"What? I do know about sex, Mom."

I shook my head. "I just wish I hadn't agreed to
the date
this weekend. I have a lot of work to do."

"It can wait and you know it. Your business is growing, so now your love life needs to grow also." She raised her eyebrows up and down.

I jumped when the phone rang. Please let it be Brandon canceling. Then I can get back in my sweats.

Sarah answered before I got the chance. I pulled out a red dress I'd worn to the last church dinner. I showed it to Sarah and she cringed. Maybe it had to do with the rhinestones on the front. It looked like someone had bedazzled it to death.

"It's Ms. Mitchell." She held the phone out to me.

I quickly covered myself with a robe. Not that Scarlett could see me, I just felt weird talking on the phone while half-naked. "Hi, Scarlett."

"I was just calling to see how you're doing. I know you've got your big date tonight."

"Yippee." How could I be enthusiastic when my palms dripped with sweat? "I can't believe I agreed to do this."

"What're you talking about? Brandon's a nice guy, and I know he likes you."

"It's been years since I've been out on a date. Things have changed. I'm not even sure how to act anymore."

"Just be yourself."

"Because I'm so impressive. I don't even know what to wear." I sighed. "I wish we hadn't had to cancel the card game. At least it would've taken my mind off this for a while."

"By the way, I spoke to Jory this morning and she said her dad's doing better."

"That's good."

"Now tell me why you're feeling so down. You've got a good-looking man coming to pick you up in a few hours. What could be wrong?"

"Nothing a facelift and a tummy tuck couldn't solve." I flopped back on my bed.

"You don't need a facelift. You're a beautiful woman and have a lot to offer a man."

"Yeah, right."

A loud breath of air came over the line. "Brandon seems to find you attractive, or he wouldn't have asked you out. And he's not just anybody, he's a Navy man. I'm sure he looks good in his uniform. Look on the bright side—if you fall into the water, he'll be able to save you."

"Yeah, but once he sees what he's caught he might throw me back in."

"All right. That's enough of that type of talk. Tell me what's really bothering you."

"I don't know. Maybe it's because Michael called earlier. He changed his mind about wanting the kids early. He insisted I bring them to the wedding instead. His fiancée even sent me an invitation. It says I can bring a date. Nothing like rubbing my nose in the fact he's moved on with his life while I'm standing still."

"Why don't you ask Brandon to go with you?"

"Like that won't scare him off." I laughed. "He'll think I'm trying to give him a hint. Besides, he doesn't see me as anything more than just a friend, I'm sure."

"He must see you as more because he asked you out. If not, we just need to have him see you as a woman."

I stood and looked again in the mirror. "Not much of one anymore."

"That's enough of that. This isn't like you."

"I guess I'm just worried that I care more for Brandon because of the way he looks than for what's inside. I'd rather be alone than put up with another man like Michael, or my father."

"I know Brandon," Scarlett insisted. "He's a nice guy, nothing like Michael or your father."

"Maybe I'm afraid I'm looking for a man to take care of me. I need to learn to take care of myself."

"You do take care of yourself and your children." She paused. "I've got an idea. You need something to jumpstart your eagerness to go on this date. I'll be over in a little bit."

Scarlett disconnected before I could say anything further. A stone dropped in the pit of my stomach. Uh-oh. What was she up to? And how bad was it going to be for me?

****

It took two hours to try on everything in my closet. I even tried to mix and match outfits. Still nothing looked right. I pulled my sweatpants and tee shirt back on. Why did I agree to this date? I paced the room, wondering if I had time to run out and get something new.

A car door slammed outside. I glanced out the bedroom window. Scarlett and Victoria walked up to the front porch carrying a large garment bag, three makeup cases, and two types of curling irons between them. What had I gotten myself into? I pictured myself with bright blue eye shadow and my hair standing up on end. I raced to the living room, looking for a means of escape. My kids blocked the back way through the kitchen, and Scarlett stood at the front door. I was doomed.

"What is all this?" My heart
caught
in my throat. My children stood watching me. "Help."

Anthony shook his head. "No way."

Matthew rolled his eyes and walked back to his room.

"Come on, Mom. This'll be fun." Sarah had a huge smile on her face. Why did I get the feeling she'd been in on this?

"I see you're using the bowl I gave you." Scarlett brushed at the daisies standing at full attention on my dining room table. "I never would have thought to use it as a vase."

"I don't know why you don't like it. I think it's pretty."

"Because it's an old chamber pot. I don't want something that someone used to pee in anywhere in my house. Even if it did come from a Southern plantation."

"Well I think it's pretty, and the flowers fit just right." I pulled a dead leaf from the bottom of a plant.

"If nothing else, you finally have a pot to piss in."

"Ugh. That was bad."

"Good thing I have thick blonde hair and a Southern accent." Scarlett ran her hand through her hair.

"Can I borrow one of those?"

"Oh, you don't need either. You've got Brandon mesmerized. I see it every Sunday morning. And I can tell you like him too."

"I just don't want to give up chocolate to get him." I trudged back to my room behind her. The girls left for Sarah's room. I couldn't get excited about getting all made up. Anytime Brandon came near, I turned into a disaster. The cake, taking a walk. Surely none of it had impressed him.

"Here." Scarlett unzipped the garment bag. "We got you something every woman should have."
Inside hung a black dress. Not just any black dress, but a slinky black dress with one shoulder strap.

"I'm not too sure about this," I moaned. "It looks awful short."

"You're going on a date, so you should look sexy. Besides, it goes to just above your knees." Scarlett gave me a one-armed hug. "You just wait. You'll look awesome."

For the next hour and a half Scarlett primped and preened me. She curled my hair, curled my eyelashes, pretty much curled anything straight. She painted my fingernails and my toenails. Colored my eyes with smoky grey eye shadow and added light pink lipstick that matched the nail polish. Sarah and Victoria made themselves up in the other room, laughing and giggling. I couldn't laugh. I felt too much like throwing up.

"Okay," Scarlett said. "Now before you look at yourself, let's put the dress on."

We shimmied it from the ground up so as not to mess up my hair. The fabric got stuck at my hips. Scarlett gave me a smile. She jerked and pulled. Finally she succeeded in getting it on me.

"Where are those black shoes you wore to Clarissa's wedding?"

"Somewhere in the closet."

She got down on the floor and tore through the bottom of my closet until she came up with two-inch pumps with bows on top. She rushed into the bathroom to wipe the dust off.

"Here." She handed them to me.

I put them on. She spun her finger in the air for me to turn around. "Sarah, Victoria, come in here," she yelled.

Both girls rushed in. They stopped when they saw me.

"Wow. Is that really you, Mom?"

My heart beat in my chest. Was that a good wow or a bad wow? "How do I look?"

"You look…wow." Sarah's eyes widened and a smile creased her lips. She had yet to roll her eyes. I took that as a good sign.

"Can I see now?" I pleaded.

Scarlett
nodded and covered her mouth with her fingertips. Hopefully I hadn't nauseated her. I walked to the mirror hanging on my door. Frowning, I looked over my shoulder, trying to find the strange woman in the room. Could that be me? I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Well?" Scarlett walked up beside me. She bit her bottom lip.

"I actually look…" I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye.

"You actually look what? Say it."

I laughed. "Pretty."

"That's right. And when Brandon sees you, you're going to knock his socks off."

Brandon. In all the excitement, I'd forgotten about the actual date. The knock at the front door made my heart skip a beat.

Anthony rushed to answer it. Scarlett gave me a hug and shoved me out of the bedroom. "Don't worry. You'll have a good time."

"How are you?" My voice cracked when I saw him. Did I look as nervous as I felt?

"I'm fine." He let out a low whistle. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you." He didn't look bad himself. The blue button-down shirt he wore brought out a deeper brown in his eyes.

I grabbed a freshly washed sweater from the back of the sofa. Brandon helped me put it on, then snickered and tugged something off my back. A dryer sheet. Great. A wonderful start to what would probably be an imperfect evening. With my luck, I'd fall flat on my face as we walked out and have bloody knees for the rest of the night.

Brandon held my hand and escorted me out to his Chevrolet Avalanche. Thankfully the vehicle had a running board I could step onto. Otherwise, any sense of modesty would have disappeared while I tried to climb in. Scarlett, Victoria, and my kids all waved as we pulled out of the driveway.

We made small talk as he drove. "I hope you like Mexican." Brandon pulled into El Toro Mexican Restaurante just outside town.

"I love it." I prayed I didn't have lipstick on my teeth when I smiled.

Green booths and
potted plants
decorated the inside. Photographs of what I assumed was Mexico dotted the orange stucco walls. A small man greeted us at the door and led us to a table near the back.
M
ariachi
music played low from speakers in each corner. The aroma of seared meat drifted my way. I scooted into a booth, and Brandon slid in the opposite side.

"You look wonderful," he said.

"I wasn't sure where we were going, but thought this could fit just about anywhere." I didn't have it in me to tell him Scarlett was responsible for the way I looked. Why let him know I don't know how to dress myself?

"So how's your bookkeeping business going?"

"Pretty well. I'm actually making more now than when I worked full time with the car lot."

"That's good."

"How's retirement with you?" I asked. "Catching up on all the soaps?"

Brandon's laugh reassured me that I hadn't made too much of a fool out of myself yet. "Not really a soap opera type of guy. My construction business has picked up pace. It might end up more full-time than part-time."

"Wow. I thought when you retired, you were supposed to sit back and relax."

"Keeps me from getting bored. I always thought I'd do some traveling when I retired." He glanced over at me. "But it's not much fun to go alone."

"It's also not much fun with three kids who keep asking 'are we there yet?'"

He laughed again. Either he enjoyed my company, or I had become one funny comedian. B
y the time
the food arrived
,
we'd discussed a variety of topics—his family, his stint in the military, and my kids. I hadn't realized how at ease I'd felt with him until now.

After we ate, Brandon paid the bill. I excused myself to the restroom and reapplied my lipstick. I hoped the refried beans didn't kick in before I got home.

"Would you like to go for a walk in the park across the street?" he asked when I returned.

"That sounds nice."

Brandon offered his elbow. His muscles were strong beneath my fingers. The path through the park led to a fountain spraying water from the mouth of a cherub in the center. A half orb of the sun glowed orange as it faded into the horizon. A few other couples walked on the lighted path, but for the most part we were alone.

Brandon's hand felt warm as it engulfed mine. He stopped and brushed back a strand of hair that had blown across my face. "I had a wonderful evening, but I guess I'd better be getting you back to your kids."

"If you have to." Please God, don't let me faint or burp or do anything stupid.

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the mouth—just lips, no tongue. We barely talked on the way back. I couldn't get the grin off my face. It had been a wonderful evening.

I finally got my courage up on the drive home. "Can I ask you a question? And don't take anything from it. We can go as friends. It's not like I'm asking you for any reason other than I need a date. And feel free to say no if you want to."

"You've got me real curious now." He eyed me. "What's up?"

"My ex is getting married in a couple of weeks, and I have to take the kids down to Ponte Vedra Beach. I've been invited also. I just thought if you had nothing else to do, maybe you'd like to join me."

He gave my hand a squeeze while he focused on the road. "I think I could do that."

When we pulled into my driveway, Brandon hopped out of the truck and came around to open my door. He escorted me up to the front porch. I thought that only happened in movies.

"I'd like to see you again before the wedding. Maybe we can do something with the kids and something without." He pulled me into his arms. "We can talk after church tomorrow."

"Okay." I stared up into his face.

He pulled me closer and lowered his head to mine. My body shivered with the feeling of six eyes peering out from behind the drapes. But when our lips connected, thoughts of anything else left my mind.