Perchance (17 page)

             
“One kiss and you are already talking dirty to me Cooper? And here I thought you were a gentleman.”

             
“I didn’t say anything dirty…but what I was thinking about...”

             
“Stop, stop, stop!!” She was laughing the whole time she said it and had put her fingers in her ears. “I’m going in before you corrupt me completely!”

             
She went in the house and I went back home happier than I’ve been in a long time. 

             
The next morning I woke up in bliss.  Pure and utter bliss. 
Aunt Brenda and I were having another girl Saturday where we went to the flea market, ate and then went to see Edith.  And then in the afternoon we would work on the gardening.  And tonight I needed to study since I
was going hiking with Cooper,
Josie and Troy tomorrow.

             
I put on a long pink maxi dress with some flip flops and heard Aunt Brenda in the kitchen. I walked out to find the table set and breakfast casserole in the middle. She was whistling and almost danced to the table. 

             
“I’m so excited for today! I feel like I didn’t get to see you at all this week. Between work and school and Cooper, I never see you anymore!” She filled a plate and handed it to me.

             
“You had to add last jab didn’t you?”

             
“Yup.” We ate and talked about what we wanted to buy at the flea market. 

             
There were more tents than usual today at the flea market and I didn’t see Eric and Cooper’s right away. 
We walked the length of one side and Aunt Brenda bought some Mayhaw jelly. The name of it kinda scared me, but I promised her that I would try it. 

             
We went down the other way and someone caught my elbow.  I turned around smiling, thinking  it was Cooper, but came face to face with…what was his name?   I think it was Kevin. 

             
“Hey Remi.  How are you today?”

             
“I’m fine. I’m kinda shopping with my Aunt, so…”

             
“Ok, well maybe we can have lunch together?” He wasn’t getting the hint.

             
“It’s an all day thing. So, see you later.”

             
“Oh, ok. “ He walked off.

             
Aunt Brenda took my arm in hers and led us away. 

             
I saw the little wooden tables and then I saw blonde tendrils whipping in the air.  I hoped her hair got caught in the wood and ripped it from her pretty little head.

             
We got closer and Aunt Brenda whispered to me. “She’s trying awfully hard, isn’t she?
  Bless her little pea pickin’ heart.
”

             
I snorted and we stood there for a minute watching the show.  Cooper was trying so hard not to laugh.  She kept flipping her hair here and there.  She would laugh really loudly and reach out over the tables to hold on to Cooper like it was so funny she couldn’t stand up.  He was glaring at his Dad, almost begging him to save him but his Dad had his back turned and from the looks of his shaking shoulders he was enjoying the show too.  Poor girl. 

             
I had finally had my fill, so I whispered to Aunt Brenda. “Watch this.”

             
I walked between two of the other booths and walked into the back of their booth and winked at his Dad.  He was still laughing at Pippy Cheerstocking and waved me in.  I walked up and snaked my arms around Cooper from behind and kissed him on the back of the neck. 

             
He turned around and brought me around to his front and kissed me on the temple as he held me to his
side.  She scoffed and tried to continue the conversation.  Why didn’t she quit already?

             
I held up my hand and said “Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt but I was just making sure we are still on for tomorrow? What time?”

             
He looked at me and beamed “Yeah, I will pick you up at noon.”

             
“Ok, good.  I need to go.” I squeezed him around his middle.

             
“Call me tonight after you get everything done, ok?”

             
“Yup.  See you later…I’m sorry what’s your name again?”

             
“Chrissie
.” She sneered and Cooper’s Dad had a sudden coughing fit which sounded a lot like laughing behind me. 

             
“Hey, lunch?” Cooper shot at me.

             
“Yeah, meet us in about thirty minutes, ok?”

             
“Ok.”

             
I left the tent and went back around to Aunt Brenda who gave me a hidden high five. 
We walked through the rest of the booths and I saw a ‘The Who’ keychain and bought it for Cooper.  I decided not to wait and we had to walk back towards his booth to go eat anyway, so I went to give Cooper his keychain.  He wasn’t in the booth so we just went ahead and ordered some
lunch.  We sat down and ate while we talked about school.  I told Aunt Brenda that Cooper hated the Bell Jar and she said, “All the boys do.”

             
We were almost finished and I saw Cooper in line waiting for food.  He was looking at me with wide eyes and I looked around him to see what the cause was.  Right next to him was another one of the blonde squad and she was talking non-sto
p.  Every time he progressed in line, she progressed
with him.  He ordered and moved to the next line to get his food and she shadowed him.  I knew what they saw in him, I more than anyone else knew he was a
catch.  But jeez, tone it down a little
.

             
He turned and made his way to our table and Aunt Brenda said she was going to go look some more and winked at me.

             
As soon as the girl saw me at the table, she left him alone but not before grabbing his bicep and giggling a goodbye.

             
I kept eating, trying not to smile. He got up to the table and almost slammed his tray down.

             
“It’s not funny.”He said and I busted out laughing.  Poor Cooper had groupies.

             
“I’m sorry.  And they’re eyeing you now. You better watch yourself.”

             
“Where? Are you serious?” He didn’t want to tip them off by looking around. 

             
His Dad walked up just in time.  He was laughing too, apparently he had caught the whole thing.

             
“Cooper, sit by Remi and I will block y’all by sitting over here.”

             
“Who’s watching the booth?” he asked.

             
“It will be fine for a few minutes. Mr. Lou next door is keeping an eye out.”

             
Cooper moved to sit by me, almost on my lap so his Dad would shield him.

             
His Dad cleared his throat. “I thought for sure Remi had nipped that in the bud with her coming into our booth and announcing y’all had a date.  But I guess not.  They are relentless.”

             
“Well I need to make sure they know that this is my girl.  The words “Grand Gesture” come to mind.”

             
“Oh Cooper, you are my son for sure.” His Dad laughed.
I could see planning and plotting in their eyes and I needed to bolt before they put it into action.

             
“
Oh you know what? Aunt Brenda needs me like now so yeah, bye!”

             
I scampered off and left the two Neal guys laughing their butts off at me.

             
Edith was not in a good mood.  She was sad and mopey.  I didn’t know what to do for her so I just sat and hugged her.  Aunt Brenda did some of her laundry while we were there and checked with her nurse to make sure she was taking all of her medicine properly and eating. 

             
“What’s wrong Edith? You can tell me.” I whisp
ered while Aunt Brenda was gone to check with the other nurses.

             
“Oh honey girl, today would’ve been our 50
^th
wedding anniversary.  I just miss him.  There’s nothing you can do, but I know if there was you would.  Some days are worse than others, but I miss him every day.  But don’t tell your aunt.  She’ll dote on me and I just don’
t want to talk about it.”

             
“Ok, but I’m sorry.”

             
“I know you are but there’s a lesson in this too.”

             
“There is?”

             
“Yes, love him with everything you have every
single
day.”

             
Aunt Brenda came back in with two nurses who looked frazzled spouting off dosages and times and pulling out checklists and unlocking some drawer with all of her medication.  I stood up and cleared my throat.

             
“Aunt Brenda?” She turned around to face me. “Her medication is fine.  And she’s been eating.  She’s just having one of those days, ok?”

             
“Are you sure?” She looked at Edith like she didn’t believe me.

             
Edith cleared her throat. “She’s sure Brenda. I have my bad days just like everyone else.”

             
I didn’t tell her why and she didn’t offer up the information. 

             
I hugged Edith one more time and asked her if there was anything I could do.  She said no and that she would see me Monday.  We left and Aunt Brenda questioned me about it but I told her it was our secret.  She fumed a little but got over it.  Soon we were digging in the garden and laughing about Cooper and his cheerleader stalker
s
.

             
We moved to the front yard and pulled a few weeds while we decided what to make for supper.  She said she wanted pancakes and I agreed.  She asked me about tomorrow, she called it my date with Cooper, but I disagreed saying that Troy and Josie were going too.  She argued back and then I refused to talk about it unless I was in front of a plate of pancakes.   

             
We ate and we agreed to call it a group date.  I showered and got ready for bed. 
I was getting into the covers when my phone beeped. 

             
Cooper:
I have news and I’m not sure what you’re gonna think.

             
Me:
Shoot.

             
Cooper:
Troy and Josie have backed out of tomorrow.  I think they’re fighting.

             
Me:
Oh crap. I hope Josie’s ok.
 

             
Cooper:
If you don’t want to go, it’s ok. I understand.

             
Me:
Don’t make me come over there in my pajamas again.

             
Cooper:
Don’t tempt me woman.