And tonight, he smelled so good. He was wearing afuzzy lined flannel shirt and well-worn jeans and I had the craziest urge to wrapmy arms around his waist, under his jacket. I wanted to press my body againsthis and let him remind me that I wasn’t just a mom, but that I was a woman too.That I wasn’t just a girl with a past, but a woman that had a future here.
Here specifically.
The mountains had worked their mysterious magic on me.I didn’t want to leave Frisco.
I didn’t want to run again.
I didn’t want Juliet to have to run with me.
“How about this, Juliet. How about you let me takeyour mama out on a date this weekend and I’ll see if I can’t sweet talk herinto letting you try out one of the big ones. Does that sound like a plan?”
Juliet’s entire face lit up, her smile brightening thedark night with pure, innocent glee. “That sounds like a plan!”
Jesse turned to me and waggled his eyebrows. “Howabout you, Caroline? Does it sound like a plan to you too?”
“You’re unbelievable,” I told him. If only I hadn’tbeen smiling.
He leaned in. “A little birdy told me you enjoy art.”
I raised an eyebrow. Where was this going? And who hadtold him that?
Jesse nodded down Main Street. “I don’t know if youheard about the new gallery opening this weekend? But Friday is opening nightand I’d love to take you, Caroline.”
Sucking my bottom lip between my teeth I tried not tolook happy or flattered or interested. Juliet climbed on my lap and I pulledher against me, wrapping my arms around her tiny waist. She turned her face andkissed my cheek. “Please, Mommy? Please go with Jesse and talk about the bighorses?”
I slowly shook my head at Jesse. This was impressive.He’d managed to con me—the con! I was trapped between my relentless affectionfor my daughter and his stupidly adorable dimple!
Plus, I really did want to go to the gallery opening.The name had caught my attention first. The DC Initiative.
It reminded me of home. The good parts of home.
I’d asked around about it in town and apparently theowners were wealthy business guys from back east. A few years ago, that wouldhave freaked me out and sent me into a tailspin of panic until I met them. Butafter spending some time in Summit County, I was familiar with wealthy peoplemoving here from either coast. They bought up rental properties and touristshops like they were playing Monopoly. They never lived here permanently, butthey sure managed to make a whole lot of money from a distance.
The DC Initiative was apparently another east coastertrying to make a quick buck by offering the tourists a bit of culture. It wassupposed to be part fine art gallery and part swanky cocktail lab or something.
I’d also resigned myself to the realization that itwasn’t going to be kid friendly and I would have to wait a very long timebefore I got to check it out.
Jesse’s offer was a dangling carrot in front of astarving bunny.
“I don’t know,” I told him. “I’d have to find ababysitter and on Fridays we usually do—”
“Aunt Francesca could watch me!” Juliet offered. “Wecan do pizza night without you one time.” She turned to face me with foldedhands in the prayer position. “Please, Mommy. Please, please, please!”
Well, it was true. Francesca could watch her. Whateversocial life she’d attempted when we first moved here had fizzled a couple yearsago. Her schedule was as exciting as mine. Which meant she would have nothinggoing on Friday night except for a date on the couch with Juliet and me.
Jesse held up his hands in a similarly pleading pose.“Please, Caroline? Please, please, please!”
I dropped my head back so I didn’t have to look atthese two traitors in cahoots. “Ugh,” I told the stars, feeling my resolvecrumbling. “You two are bad influences on each other.”
“I’ll have you home by ten,” Jesse added, sweeteningthe pot. “So you don’t miss all of movie night.”
My eyes narrowed. “You’ve been talking to Francesca?”
“She thought this was a great idea when we ran intoeach other at the grocery store the other day,” he said quickly.
Rolling my eyes, I gave up completely, “I bet shedid.”
I breathed deeply through my nose and gave into Jesseand myself for maybe the first time in five years. “Okay, Jesse. I’ll go withyou. Thank you for inviting me.”
