“What’s your name, handsome?” Willa asked, even though she could see his embroidered name on the chest of his uniform. It was hard to miss with the way his shirt clung to his muscular torso.
“My name is Harley, ma’am,” he said politely. “Harley Sutherland.”
“Respectful,” Willa said. She extended her hand to him and said, “I’m Willa Richmond and this one’s,” she hooked her thumb in Meredith’s direction, “mother.”
“I was going to guess older sister perhaps,” Harley said when he shook her hand. “You don’t look old enough to be Miss Richmond’s mother.” Oh, the guy was laying it on thick.
Willa giggled and covered her hand over her heart. “A charmer too. Snatch him up,” she said to Meredith in her no-nonsense voice.
“Mama, I don’t think this is the time or place…”
“You’re not getting any younger,” Willa told her. “So, Harley, do you like children?”
“I adore kids,” he replied with a smile. “I have two nieces and three nephews. I’m their favorite person on the planet.”
“You hear that?” Willa asked her. “He loves kids.”
“Mama.” Meredith put so much pleading in that single word.
“Child, don’t even act like you weren’t expecting that package today at work instead of home. You’ve been tracking the progress on your phone app thingamabob and don’t think I didn’t notice that you wore that powder blue top that everyone says looks so good with your complexion.” Harley beamed with joy at the prospect of Meredith wearing a special shirt for him.
“And you,” Willa said, returning her attention back to Harley. “Are you serious about wanting to date my daughter? Are you one of those asshat white boys who doesn’t want their white friends and family to know that they’re dating a black girl?” Willa wanted to know. “She’s had enough of that bullshit. So, if you’re not man enough to want to show her off on your arm then walk away right now.”
“I’d be honored to have her on my arm,” Harley said, looking into Meredith’s eyes.
“She doesn’t have any plans on Saturday. What about you?” Willa asked Harley.
“Mother!”
“Hush, child. If you’re not going to look out for your fairytale love, then I sure as hell will.”
“My nephew has a birthday party at one, but I’ll be able to go out afterward. How does seven sound?” Harley asked Meredith.
“Seven is good,” Willa responded when Meredith stood silently staring back at Harley. “Girl, have you lost your mind? Give the man your phone number so you two can work out the details. I can’t be responsible for all of it.” Willa harrumphed and turned her chair back around. I caught her eye in the mirror, and she shot me a playful wink.
Meredith gave her number to Harley, and he entered it in his phone. I could tell she was nervous by the way she tucked her hair behind her ears. She glanced over at me, and I gave her a reassuring smile. Our pasts were so similar that it was almost comical. Meredith’s easy smiles and contagious joy made it easy to forget how badly she’d been hurt in the past. I had my happily ever after and it was past time she found hers too.
Harley pushed a few more buttons on his phone then looked up at her with a huge smile on his face when Meredith’s phone chimed with an incoming text. “Now you have my number too. Is it okay if I call you tonight?”
Meredith caught her mother’s eyes in the mirror and asked, “Mama, is it okay if he calls me tonight?”
“So much sass,” Willa said, but couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Do you like that in a woman, Harley?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do,” Harley replied.
Meredith rolled her eyes then turned to face her suitor. “You can call me tonight.”
“Great,” Harley said, walking backward. “Is eight okay?”
“Eight is perfect,” Meredith replied and gave him a genuine smile for the first time.
The poor guy tripped over his own two feet and nearly fell on his ass. He blushed profusely and hastened his exit out the door. I had a good feeling about the guy and figured I might be seeing him at my dinner table on Sunday nights before too long.Now if I could just wrangle Chaz and Kyle together…
DORCHESTER MADE A FEWphone calls and tracked Alice Davenport to a house in town she was cleaning. She met us on the porch when we arrived. Alice had tears streaking down her face, and she wrung her hands nervously. It was obvious word had reached her before we showed up. What’s that saying about how news travels? Something like news travels fast and bad news travels faster.
“Is he really gone?” she asked in a grief-stricken voice.
“I’m sorry to say that he is, Alice,” Dorchester said softly. “I know this comes as a real shock, but we need to ask you a few questions.”
