Linda’s eyes filled. She turned her head to follow his gaze. The small office held a silence between them for a long moment.
“I know, I do too,” Linda answered.
“Linda,” Tom began, “I think I’ve done something stupid. And I don’t even know why.”
Linda’s eyebrows drew together.
“Did you sell the bakery?” Linda asked.
“No.” Tom blinked at her. “Never.”
“Did you commit a crime?” Linda pressed.
“No.” Tom managed a small laugh. “At least not the last time I checked.”
“Then it’s probably a mistake that can be sorted out.” Linda gave him a warm, reassuring smile. “And you’ve obviously come hereto talk to me about it. So spill.” She waved at the chair in front of her. “Sit. Whatever it is, you can tell me.” She held up one hand before he could open his mouth. “Except if it’s anything to do with intimate things,” She shuddered. “I think we had that conversation when I was twelve, and it was very, very awkward.”
Tom laughed properly. The sound caught him by surprise as he sat in front of her.
He could still remember Eleanor begging him to be the one to give Michael and Linda ‘the talk.’ Michael had nearly died of embarrassment. Linda had thrown a small couch pillow at him and stormed out of the room, telling him very firmly that they had classes for that at school precisely so they wouldn’t have to have these conversations with their parents.
“That conversation has never been repeated,” Tom confirmed.
“Phew, that’s good,” Linda breathed. “So now we’ve narrowed it down. What could be so bad?”
Tom looked at her. He drew a breath.
“I think I asked Lila on a date,” Tom blurted out.
Linda’s face went perfectly blank. She blinked at him for two full seconds. Then she burst out laughing. Tom raised his eyebrows.
“Well, it’s good to know my crisis is amusing,” Tom drawled.
“No.” Linda was trying and failing to get her laughter under control. “No, I promise you it’s not funny, Tom.”
“It looks like you’re enjoying this.” He looked at her pointedly
“No, I’m sorry, Tom.” Linda pressed a hand to her mouth. “It’s just that you came in here looking so distraught I thought you’d run over Harold.”
The mention of his cat brought back the moment. Lila in his arms. The warmth of her against his chest. The quiet catch of her breath against his. Tom shook the picture off and wrestled himself back to the conversation.
“Tom,” Linda said, leaning across the desk and taking his hand. The smile on her face had not left, but had changed to one of warmth and understanding. “It’s about time you asked her out.”
“What do you mean?” Tom asked, a little bewildered.
“Me, George, Maggie, and even Rosa,” Linda explained, “have all been quietly noticing how the two of you look at each other.”
Tom stared at her.
“You all knew?” Tom asked.
“Well, we couldn’t be sure. But the way you look at her when you think no one is watching, and the way she looks at you when you’re not looking,” Linda told him gently. “It’s pretty obvious that the two of you have feelings for each other, Tom.”
“She does?” Tom asked, then immediately admonished himself. He sounded like a sixteen-year-old hoping the girl in the next row had noticed him. He could not believe what was coming out of his mouth.
“She does,” Linda confirmed. “Now tell me what happened. How did the date come about?”
Tom told her about the dinner at the bakery the night before. He told her that Lila had kept the place running yesterday while he was at the hospital. He told her about Lila’s quiet suggestions for the menu and the bakery.
