“I thought I would, but I don’t. Zora is the love of my life, and she makes me happier than I ever thought I could be.”
* * *
Later that evening, Ellie stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, taking off her necklace and earrings. “So what did you think of Trey and Zora?”
“I like them,” said Jack. “They remind me a lot of us.”
Ellie looked at Jack’s reflection in the mirror. “How so?”
He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gently on the neck. “Well, Trey served in the military, just like me. And Zora’s in education, like you. Besides that, Trey realizes what a treasure he has in Zora.”
“That’s sweet. Did he tell you that?”
“Not in so many words, but he’s obviously crazy about her.”
Ellie turned and slipped her arms around Jack’s neck. “And she’s crazy about him too,” she said, gazing into his eyes.
“Are we still talking about Trey and Zora?” He grinned.
“Them, us… Hey, why don’t we stay a couple more days?” She unbuttoned his shirt. “It’s supposed to rain, and I was thinking we could take advantage and spend the weekend in bed.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “I like the way you think, Professor,” he said, then reached for the zipper on her dress.
* * *
On Saturday, it rained, which gave Jack and Ellie an excuse to sleep in. Having nothing to do and nowhere important to go was refreshing, and they took advantage of the downtime. Around ten, they woke, and Ellie made a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits with gravy, and bacon. It reminded Jack of breakfasts his mama had made him when he was a child.
“I haven’t had a spread like this in years,” he commented as he drizzled honey on a biscuit.
“That’s the one thing I will give my mother credit for,” said Ellie. “She taught me everything I know about cooking.”
Jack took a bite of his food and washed it down with a sip of orange juice. “She taught you well because this food is amazing.” His compliment caused Ellie to blush. “Oh, that reminds me, I meant to tell you I stopped by the bookstore yesterday while you were having your interview. Did you know Sam has a poster of my book hanging in the window?”
“Aww, that’s so nice of him. Did he remember you?”
“Not at first.”
Ellie reached for the pepper and sprinkled a little onto her eggs. “How was he? I haven’t seen him since school let out.”
“Fine, but he mentioned his wife was ill. Did you know?”
Ellie nodded, swallowing a bite of eggs. “She has Lou Gehrig’s disease. Apparently, there’s no cure. It’s terribly sad. For as long as I’ve known her, Alicia has been an active, vibrant woman. This has really taken a toll on Sam. I’ve watched him age ten years in the past twelve months.”
Jack got up and topped off his glass. “He also mentioned you showing interest in purchasing his store.”
Ellie nodded. “I told him if he was ever serious about selling to let me know. It’s always been a dream of mine to own a bookstore.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Some of my fondest memories are of me and my father visiting the bookstore near our house. It’s where I developed such a love for reading and for science.” She spread a little jam on her biscuit and took a bite.
Jack leaned against the counter, thinking. “But how would you manage a business and a teaching career?” he asked.
“I could be there during the summer and on holidays, but I’d need someone to run it while school was in session. Ellie leaned in her chair, letting her mind wander. “The first thing I’d do is fill it to the brim with all sorts of books. Science and astronomy, of course, but there’d be something for everyone, especially girls. I want to show young women there’s more to life than being a wife and mother. Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course. It’s just that I want them to realize they have potential outside the home.”
Jack listened quietly while Ellie revealed a detail about herself he hadn’t known before. As he was learning, every day with her was a new experience, an opportunity to peel back another layer and explore the richness that made up who she was.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
