“Really?” I ask. I look down at my feet and wish I'd had time for a pedicure.
“Have fun,” she says before kissing my cheek, “and I expect to hear about everything!” She lets me go and heads to the front door. Sheturns back to blow me a kiss and ends up colliding with Beth in the doorway.
Raquel is a hurricane no matter where she is.
“Sorry,” Raquel says as she steps around Beth. She offers me a small wave before she dashes out the door.
Beth shuts the door as I walk down the hallway. She slowly turns around and sets the bag of groceries down on the table in the entryway as she takes in the sight of me.
“Thea,” she breathes, her lips curling up into a smile. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I blush at her compliment. “Graham asked me to dinner tonight.”
“So I’ve heard.” She places a hand on her hip. “He talked about it all afternoon after you left.”
“Really?” I ask. I find it hard to imagine someone being that excited to take little ole me out to dinner.
“Really.” She nods. “Is he coming here or are you meeting him somewhere?”
“He said he’d pick me up here.”
She nods again. “Well, I won’t keep you.” She glances at her watch. “He should be here any minute.”
“Is Charlie coming over for dinner?” I ask, nodding at the groceries.
“Yes,” she says and I can’t help but notice the giddiness in her voice.
Being smitten looks good on her.
“Be safe and have fun. I love you!” she calls out over her shoulder as she heads towards the kitchen.
I laugh as I walk to the doorway, unsure of what to do with myself until Graham arrives. I look at the phone in my hand; it’s four fifty-eight.
Two minutes later at exactly five o’clock, Graham rolls into the driveway…on his golf cart.
I meet him outside as he climbs out of it.
“Hi,” he says, grinning. There’s a bouquet of daisies in his hand.
“Hi,” I repeat, eyeing the golf cart suspiciously. I laugh nervously.
“The golf cart,” he begins as he walks around it to me. “I remember you saying cars still freak you out after the accident, so I thought it might be better to take you to dinner in this.” He hands me the flowers and motions at the golf cart. “Your chariot awaits.”
My heart swells at the gesture. I can’t believe he remembered that small detail from a conversation weeks ago.
I bring the flowers to my nose and take a breath of their sweet scent as I reach for his outstretched hand.
“Thank you,” I say, with a smile.
“You’re quite welcome.” He takes my hand and leads me to the golf cart and helps me in. I know Beth is watching from the kitchen window but I’m too excited to care.
Graham looks good tonight. He’s exceptionally handsome in his dark jeans and light blue polo. He smells freshly showered, his minty aftershave sharp and clean.
He climbs in and starts the engine. It rumbles to life and jerks a bit as he puts it in reverse to back out of Beth’s driveway. Graham pulls out onto the main road and we ride along, well under the speed limit. Thoughts of the last time I was in his golf cart surface, but I banish them from my mind. I don’t want to think of that disastrous night, not when one so good is within my grasp.
I can’t help but laugh each time we get passed by other drivers. He makes a big show of motioning for them to go around us. It’s endearing that someone would put this much thought into making sure I am comfortable. For the first time since the accident, my chest doesn’t feel heavy being in a moving vehicle.
“So, where are you taking me?” I ask as the warm late-July air whips my hair around my face. I brush a strand behind my ear as I wait for his answer.
