I didn’t know if it was a proclamation or an accusation. Maybe a little of both. I wanted to tell Beatrice Conway she wasn’t scaring me away again. I also needed to tell Ford he’d better not run away again. I planned to do neither.
We finished our round in a combined fit of laughter, mostly over my antics, and my worries seemed to fade away with the sun.
“I think I need some lessons,” I managed to say through another fit of laughter as we walked out of the clubhouse, leaving our clubs with an attendant.
“You’ll do better next time,” Ford said while tugging me into his side and kissing the top of my head. I’d forgotten how tall he was until today, when he kept gathering me under his arm. Next to him, I felt like a Polly Pocket doll.In height only. Remembering I was the curviest woman in the place, I used my outside hand to tug down my skirt.
“You look great.” Obviously Ford noticed my tugging as we headed toward the small bar on the deck. He’d always been perceptive, using his skill to put my tender feelings at ease. “I should have said to bring a change of clothes. We could have had dinner here.” Of course we weren’t allowed to dine in our golf clothes inside the main dining room.
“I remember coming here for your sixteenth birthday.” My words came out more wistful than I’d intended.
“When my mom staged a whole photo shoot with the senator’s daughter? I was so pissed at her. What was her name?” He snapped his finger, visibly running through a mental Rolodex.
I couldn’t understand how he’d forgotten the name of someone so pivotal to me. “Mallorie with an ie,” I said out of nowhere, tipping my invisible hat.
We made it to the patio as I mentioned Mallorie, and if I could’ve kicked myself in the mouth for bringing up the memory at all, I would’ve. To this day, Mallorie haunted me.
“Right. She was so stuck-up. I was so mad that any of that happened. I mostly tried to block that part out.” Ford slid out a stool by the bar for me and motioned for me to hop on.
“She seemed to be a pretty good catch…”
“I don’t know why you think that. It’s not like that girl could compete with you. Plus, I was sixteen. I didn’t even know what to do with a girl, let alone a catch. My teenage dick was no match for Mallorie.” He leaned over and grumbled the last part in my ear, the mere mention of his dick sending shivers down my spine.
When he sat next to me, I thought he certainly had learned what to do with his teenage dick by the time we graduated college.
“Ford,” I said, finally leveling him with my eyes, drawing on a confidence I didn’t think I had, “I was sixteen, and in love with you. My mom saved for weeks to buy me a dress to come here. To this club.”
“Shit,” he mumbled. “I didn’t know.”
“That I was in love with you? Or that we couldn’t afford a dress I wouldn’t feel like the evil stepsister in next to everyone else? I wanted you to realize the first, and hide the latter. I thought you would notice me at that party.” I had no idea where either the honesty or the forthrightness were coming from.
“What can I get you?” The bartender interrupted my moment of melancholy—thankfully.
“White wine spritzer,” I requested with a smile.
“Scotch on the rocks, surprise me,” Ford said. As soon as the bartender went to make our drinks, Ford took my hand. “I noticed you, but in my mind you were off-limits. We were friends.”
He leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek, causing the tingles to speed up. As they were zinging up and down my spine, I heard Ford’s name being called by a familiar voice and the spell was broken.
“Ford?” Scott slapped his brother on the back while saying his name and looking at me. “What are you doing here?”
The bartender slid our drinks in front of us, and Ford conveniently said, “Having a drink. You?”
“Meeting,” Scott said, still standing next to Ford. He finally addressed me. “Jamie Silver, wow! I can’t believe you’re here. I thought I’d see you after the funeral.”
Truthfully, I was shocked he knew my name and gave me awow. “I had another obligation, but I’m truly sorry for your loss. Your dad will be missed.”
He nodded. “Do you belong here now?”
He knew I didn’t. He was probably on the board, and every new member likely had to whisper sweet nothings in his ear.
“She’s a guest of mine,” Ford answered, and I took a sip of my drink, needing the fortitude.
“You must know a lot of people from your work at the hospital though?” Scott kept after it.
“She doesn’t work there anymore. You didn’t hear?” More from Ford.
The good vibes from our golf game long gone, I wished I could disappear.
