As Marcus opened the door for her, she was tempted to tease him for having a surplus ofgoodwomen friends, but she thought better of it. After all, what was that to her? Some men just preferred female friends.
“Marcus, my man!” A heavyset woman wearing a gingham apron came around the corner to give Marcus a big hug. “I was just thinking I haven’t seen you in a coon’s age.”
“Apparently I was thinking the same thing.”
“Or else you were just craving your blueberry blintzes.” She winked. “I just happened to make some.”
Marcus introduced Riva as Nellie led them to a booth by the window. “We were off to the plant nursery before we realized they weren’t open.”
“And that we haven’t had breakfast,” Riva added.
Nellie handed them menus. “Well, you came to the right place.”
“It smells like it.” Riva smiled. “Could I get some coffee?”
“You got it.” She pointed at Marcus. “You too?”
He nodded and, as Nellie left, they perused the menus. Once again, Riva felt nervous—as if she were on a first date. But she hadn’t dated in forty years. She knew it was juvenile and that she needed to get over it, but this was all new to her. To calm her nerves, she made small talk, asking him about his career and then listening carefully as he told her about the challenges of teaching middle school.
“I used to coach too, basketball and baseball.” He paused as a server set down their coffees and took their orders. “When Annegot sick, I quit coaching. Probably good timing. I was getting a little long in the tooth, and younger teachers were stepping up and probably needed the additional income that came with the gig.”
“Did Anne have a career too?”
“She was a teacher’s aide in a kindergarten classroom. The kids adored her.” He sipped his coffee.
“I always liked children at that age. Wide-eyed and innocent but still interested and curious.”
His expression turned somber. “Anne used to say almost that same thing.”
“I thought I wanted to go into education. Maybe teach art.”
“You’re interested in art?”
“I’ve dabbled with it over the years. Nothing serious. And I never did finish a degree.” She shrugged sheepishly. “Got married young instead.”
“Did you ever work outside of the home?”
Her heart warmed at his words. “Thank you for acknowledging that workinginsidethe home matters.” She smiled. “And yes, I did work. After the kids were solidly in school, I played legal secretary at my husband’s law firm.”
“Played?”
“Well, I didn’t have any law training, but I read a lot of books. My father and grandfather were both attorneys and our library was well stocked. So I read and read and taught myself a few tricks. I got pretty good at legal research eventually. Paul appreciated my help, and it kept my brain active.”
“Impressive.”
Riva felt herself relaxing as their food was served. Really, this was simply two friends having breakfast. Why had she been obsessing? By the time they were done, the nursery was open.
Before long, they had all the plants neatly loaded in the back of his pickup and were on the way home. “Any other errands you need to do in town?” he asked at a stoplight.
“The only other thing I want to do today is get all these plants in the ground. I didn’t realize how many I purchased yesterday. And if the weather forecast is to be trusted, we’re in for some super-hot days next week. I’m not much of a gardener, but I know plants do better in cool, damp soil. Especially before a heat wave swoops in.”
“I’m pretty good with a shovel.” He turned onto her street. “I’m not much of a gardener, but I can dig a mean hole.”
She glanced at some of the larger plants in back. “I originally planned to only get plants to put in pots, but I guess I got carried away. I will definitely need some holes dug.”
“I don’t have anything else going on today—”
“Oh, I don’t expect you to help me.”
