Looking at the kid made Bobby feel old. He missed the days when all he needed to be happy was Suzanna and the keys to his daddy’s car. Life was good back then. Now he was weighed down with responsibilities: a house, a country club membership, a job where he was constantly on call, and if he wasn’t tied up with filings and depositions then he was expected to scout out new clients. He didn’t have a choice. Brenda wanted things, the kind of things that cost money. He’d thought he wanted the same things, but now remembering how it was with Suzanna he was starting to wonder if he actually wanted this life or had just been sucked into the appeal of it.
For the past four years he’d believed he had it all, but maybe he was only fooling himself, thinking what other people wanted him to think. Remembering how it was with Suzanna lit a fire inside of him, a fire that wasn’t going to be squelched by peeking through a shop window. He had to see her, touch her, feel her in his arms again. He had to know if she still felt the same about him. If she did, well, then, maybe they could work things out. Find a way to be together.
He drained the last of his coffee, paid the check, and left.
He walked back, stood across the street from the shop, and watched the woman he thought to be Suzanna. With his eyes glued to her movements, he failed to see the tall redhead who came from the back. A dark cloud hovered overhead, the wind rattled the barber shop sign, and a roll of thunder sounded in the distance. Moments later the rain began.
To prevent getting soaked, he stepped back and stood in the doorway of the dry cleaners. As he stood there he became colder still, and a feeling of apprehension settled in his stomach. A second boom of thunder sounded, louder than the first and far more menacing.
This wasn’t at all the way he’d thought it would be. He’d pictured himself strolling into the shop with his shoulders back and his head high; proud, confident, a man to be reckoned with. He’d imagined Suzanna running to him, her arms open wide, her mouth crushing against his. Instead of it happening as he’d thought, she was going about her business, not seeing him, not even noticing he was there.
Lightning flashed across the sky, and seconds later the lights in the shop flickered. Cold to the bone, Bobby shivered and pulled his jacket collar up around his neck. He thought of his nice warm office, a job that few men his age were fortunate enough to have, a lifestyle that almost anyone would envy. If he were honest with himself, he’d face facts. He’d be a fool to give all that up. For what? A woman who wasn’t anything like the girl he’d known? No way.
He moved out of the doorway and crossed the street, heading back to his car, but just then Suzanna stepped to the front window of the shop and looked out. Her face was tilted toward the sky, but he saw precisely what he’d been looking for. It was Suzanna, the same Suzanna he’d loved. As she turned and walked toward the back, he burst through the door of the shop.
The redhead walked over to him. “Good afternoon.”
Bobby craned his neck looking for Suzanna, but she’d disappeared behind a rack of dresses.
“Are you looking for something special?” the redhead asked.
“Um. Not really.” Bobby turned his jacket collar back down and straightened his shoulders. “I’m an old friend of Darla Jean. I was passing through town and thought I’d stop and say hello.”
“How lovely.” The redhead extended her hand. “Colette Cavalier.”
“Robert Doherty.” As they shook hands, he smiled, turning on the charm. “If she can spare a few minutes, I thought maybe we could grab a cup of coffee, catch up…”
Colette glanced up. “Here she is now.” She raised her arm and gave a wave. “Darla Jean, someone to see you.”
Suzanna walked toward the front of the store then stopped dead in her tracks when he smiled and said, “Hi, Darla Jean.”
She gasped. “Bobby. I never—”
He smiled. “I know, it’s been a long time. Too long.” He walked over put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek. He’d hoped for a warmer response but she stood there like an icicle, her face pale and eyes wide.
Glancing over at Colette and then back to Suzanna, he said, “If your beautiful boss doesn’t mind, perhaps we could grab a cup of coffee. We’ve got tons of catching up to do.”
“Go,” Colette said. “Take the afternoon off. With this weather, I doubt we’ll have many customers coming in, so it will be slow.”
Bobby flashed her another smile. “Thanks.”
“Yes, thanks, Colette,” Suzanna said and gave a tight-lipped smile. She excused herself, disappeared into the back room, and returned wearing her coat.
Bobby hooked his arm through hers, and they left the shop.
——————
SUZANNA FELT HER HEART HAMMERING against her chest as they walked along Main Street. A million questions raced through her mind, and she didn’t have the answer to even one. Yes, they needed to talk but not here. Not in a town where people knew her and would start to wonder who the stranger was. She suggested a restaurant out on the highway.
“I’m guessing you don’t want people to overhear our conversation.” He grinned and opened the door to a big black Lincoln. Once she was seated inside, he circled around and slid behind the wheel. As soon as they’d pulled away from the curb, he glanced over and said, “Looks like you’ve been keeping a whole lot of secrets, huh, Suzanna?”
He was
