Jake cleared his throat. “Dear Lord, we thank thee for thy bounteous gifts, including this delicious food made by my dear Selma. We’re thankful for our home, the country we live in, our health, the health of our children….” He went on to name his children and grandchildren individually and pray for their specific concerns.
It was the sweetest thing Elinor had ever heard, but her arms were beginning to ache. Edward must have either felt the same way, or sensed her discomfort, because he lowered his arm with hers until they reached the table top. Except it didn’t feel solid and smooth and table-like. Her eyes flew open, and when she saw their joined hands resting in the butter dish, an uncontrollable desire to laugh almost did her in. Edward’s completely panicked face wasn’t helping either. He shook his head, telling her not to laugh while fighting it himself, and together they eased their hands off the butter. There wasn’t much they could do about the fist-sized dent in it though. She quickly squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her lips together, pretending everything was fine. Butter? What butter? Jake, meanwhile, moved on to politics and prayed for their leaders to rise above self-interests.
“And please, Lord. Bless Edward and his sister in their travels.” He paused. “Sorry, not his sister. Bless Edward and this nice woman in their relationship, whatever it may be.” That was strangely fitting.
After the amen, Elinor took her buttered hand back, not sure what to do with it. Hiding it in her lap wasn’t exactly an option unless she wanted to be greasy everywhere.
Edward cleared his throat. “Um, we had a little mishap with the butter.”
Selma looked at his hand, and then at Elinor’s, and then down at the butter dish. “You sure did. Off to the kitchen with you both. And don’t worry about the butter. We can still use it. That’s why we wash up before we eat.”
“They were snitching butter during the prayer?” Jake asked, looking appalled.
“No, dear.”
“But they said they had a little snack with the butter.”
Elinor stopped walking toward the kitchen, but Edward put his hand to the small of her back and nudged her forward, hopefully with the hand that wasn’t buttery. “Selma will explain it to him, and probably better than us.”
***
After their interesting lunch appointment with the Tuckers, Edward was almost afraid to see what Janet Staley had in store for him, but all Rosa’s worry ended up being for nothing. Janet’s longtime boyfriend was there with her, and the appointment was all about business. Edward showed Janet her returns on her investments, confirmed that she wanted to continue at her current risk levels, and talked about contribution limits. He had to admire her dedication to saving money. She didn’t make a lot, but at the rate she was going, she’d be set for retirement.
If it wasn’t for what she whispered in his ear on the way out, he really would have thought their last meeting with her never-ending hug was all in his head.
Elinor raised an eyebrow at him when he got in the driver’s side after getting her door. “Okay, what did she just say to you? I know it was something weird because she stared at me until I continued down the porch steps and out of hearing range.”
He swirled his key ring on his finger and then gripped the key fob. “She said thanks for not saying anything to her boyfriend about how she acted in my office last time. They had been working through some things and she had felt very vulnerable.”
“Yikes. What did you say? Please tell me you didn’t tell her it was okay.”
“I said, ‘thanks for letting me know.’”
Elinor nodded. “A very diplomatic answer.”
“So, it meets with your approval?”
Elinor rested her head back against the seat. “You don’t need my approval. I just think… never mind.”
Against his better judgment, he couldn’t let that one pass. “No, go on. What are you thinking?”
“Don’t be so nice that you let people use your sympathy for their own gain.” She stared down at her lap. He had a feeling this was about more than Janet Staley and her vulnerable roving hands. And if she was thinking what he thought she was, Elinor’s motivation in telling him mattered.
“Is this about Lucy?”
Elinor twisted her hands together. “I still feel the butter on my hands. I think I will for days.”
“Me too.” He started the car, since Elinor obviously didn’t want to answer his question. They were almost out of the neighborhood when she finally spoke again.
“Yes, I was referring to Lucy, but it’s a complicated situation I’m not even supposed to know about, and it’s none of my business.”
He held in a smile. “Well, that depends. Were you telling me as a concerned friend and neighbor, or because my relationship status matters to you?”
Elinor shook her head. “Nope. We’re not going there yet. It won’t do any good.”
He sighed. “Fair enough.” She’d said ‘yet.’ He’d tuck that hopeful word away and be satisfied. “Thank you for coming with me, even though it ended up not being necessary.”
“You’re welcome, and it was totally necessary. Rosa will agree with me. I guarantee it.”
“When it comes to siding against me, Rosa will always agree with you.”
Elinor laughed. “I won’t fight you on that.” She settled back against her seat, but he could feel her eyes on him as he drove. He wondered what she was looking for, what she saw.
“Do you need anything for the ride home? I’m going to fill up here.” He pulled into the last gas station before the highway turnoff.
“I’ll run in and get snacks. I’m still so full from lunch, but I could go for a bag of Skittles. What about you?”
“Same. And a water. Thanks.”
She got out and shut her door, her navy skirt swishing back and forth in celebration of her hips as she walked up to the store. Edward turned away and smacked his own cheek before digging out his credit card. It was getting harder to pretend he didn’t notice everything about Elinor Dashwood.
