“How aboutyougo sit,” she fires back, and I have lost all my will to fight so I do as she says.
“Afraid I’m going to give you cooties?” he teases.
“Something like that,” I answer, knowing that I’m actually scared I’m going to start falling for him the more I see him, the more he gets along with my friends and family, the more he starts to fit like the missing puzzle piece in my life.
25
HENRY
When I came over to drop off Maisie’s keys, I didn’t expect to be sitting down for a family lunch. I’ve already eaten but I’d be an idiotic man to say no to more time with Maisie.
I won’t lie, though, that sitting here across from her, with her mom next to me, has me feeling anxious. I’m usually very confident but right now, I’m tongue tied, making sure I say the right thing and don’t embarrass myself.
This isn’t her mom’s first impression of me but it is the first time we’ve actually sat down to have a conversation that wasn’t at Ruby’s Diner or Lakeside Grounds.
“How’s the Dew Drop Inn coming along?” Elaine asks as I do my best not to reach over the table to fix the hair falling into Maisie’s face.
“So far so good,” I respond and take a drink of water. “There’s a lot of work to be done but we’ve kept a tight schedule and have done a lot in the last month. It should be done come the end of August.”
Being here in the Winslow’s home makes me miss being back home and the closeness I had with my parents. Of course we’re still close and talk as often as possible but it’s not the same asliving under the same roof and being able to have these daily conversations about life and work. It’s the little things like this that I took for granted in my childhood.
“I’m so happy it went to someone from here and not some hoity-toity business man with a stick up their ass.” She huffs as she picks up her glass of water.
“Dang, Mom,” Maisie giggles and it sends butterflies throughout my body, “tell us how you really feel.”
“Ever since Grandma died, I’ve had way too many men who think they can run the diner better than we can ask how much we’re selling it for,” she exhales. “I’m so over rich business owners thinking they can take over small towns like ours.”
“I can’t imagine a place like this being modernized, it would lose its charm,” I chime in.
“These people don’t care about charm when it can put money in their pockets.” Elaine rolls her eyes, clearly a sore subject.
“What’s your favorite memory living in Ruby Lake?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation in a more positive light. I’m surprised to see Maisie looking at me since she’s avoided eye contact this whole time, and even more surprised when she mouths a “thank you” to me.
“Just like Maisie here,” she looks over at her daughter with a genuine smile, “I’ve lived here my whole life. But I think my favorite part was watching her grow up and do all the things I did as a kid.”
“She’s forgetting the memory of throwing me in the lake to prove that I could swim.” The glare she gives her mom is lethal. “Mind you, I could not swim.”
“But we put you in swimming lessons right after that!”
“Against my will!” The bickering back and forth reminds me of Miles and I, they’re also just two best friends who just happen to be family.
“You two are funny." I wipe my face with a napkin.
“I know Miles has lived here since he was a boy. You and your family visited, right?” Elaine asks.
“Nearly every summer! I actually went to the diner a lot as a kid, I even remember the candy store that used to be in town.” I chuckle. “Miles and I used to pocket salt water taffy and one day a cop happened to be off duty there and saw us stealing. Safe to say that I’ve never stolen, or eaten salt water taffy, since.”
A laugh leaves Maisie’s mouth and an instant grin appears on my face. I love being the reason behind her laughter.
“I’ll ask my mom if she has any pictures, I’m sure she does. She took pictures of everything growing up,” I say. “There has to be one at the diner somewhere.”
“You guys and your pictures,” Maisie teases, clearly more relaxed and comfortable now.
“My mom always had her film camera, and I love looking at all the things she would capture from my childhood.” I think back on all the times I would huff and puff over having to smile for a photo when the whole time she just wanted to have these moments to reminisce on.
“That’s really sweet actually.” She looks at me in awe. “Mom, yours was a film camera too, right?”
“Sure was. I saved up all my tips to buy one when I found out I was pregnant so I could keep the memories of you growing up.”
