My thirteen-year-old daughter had given me permission to date.
And so here I was, gussied up and cruising past million dollar homes in an olive green, four-wheel-drive relic, on my way to spend a few hours talking with complete strangers who—if I knew Maureen—were all going to be watching to see if her matchmaking skills were as legendary as she made them out to be. My foot came off the pedal, and the Bronco complained, dropping from twenty-five to a lurching ten miles per hour. I could turn around. Call her and say I’d had car trouble. She’d believe that.
I guided the Bronc to the curb and prepared to make a U-turn, but waited when I saw headlights coming up behind me. As the car neared, I saw that it was actually a truck, a black F-150, and it stopped just as it was about to pass. The passenger window slid down, and a dark-haired young woman gestured to me.
Cautiously, I rolled down my window, and peered into the cab. The interior light came on, and I was surprised to see Adam, leaning around the woman who must be Cara.
“Lost? Or chickening out?” he called.
“You scared me!”
“Guilty conscience?”
“I thought the guard had chased me down to give me an ugly vehicle ticket or something.”
“Nope, he’s harassing a pizza guy in an El Camino. This is Cara, by the way.” His wife smiled and waved her fingertips in a hello. “We’ll do better introductions at the house.”
The Ford pulled ahead, but stayed slow until I started moving. Suddenly, I felt much better. Everyone made jokes about SaltWynds’s exclusivity—even people who lived there. And if I didn’t like this guy Maureen wanted me to meet, so what? It was just one evening, and there would be other people to chat with, too.
The dark road continued to curve toward the waterway that buffered the coast from the ocean, and just as I was wondering when the pavement would hit the marsh, it ended on a graceful cul-de-sac. Maureen and Phil’s property dominated, with a sweeping lawn that dipped east into a blackness that could only be the water’s edge, and sloped upward and westward to a grand, Southern Colonial home that seemed to have more French doors and windows than walls.
Landscape lighting peeped from the foliage, creating an artistic display of light and shadow across the live oaks and waving palms—along with the Japanese lanterns. They swayed in the night breeze, glowing in red-hued satisfaction at being included in such a beautiful setting, while the house itself shone from within. Chandeliers, sconces, and lamps exuberantly spilled their excess out of the windows and onto the wide stone walkway leading up to the gabled portico. Another pair of French doors marked the entrance, and these, too, were lit and welcoming.
I eased my old beast around the arc of the stamped concrete driveway, parking it beside the big Ford. We were the first to arrive, which would make it that much easier for me to be the first to leave.
Adam was already helping Cara down from the cab, so I hurried to gather my purse and the bouquet I’d brought. It felt a little silly to bring Maureen flowers, but she hadn’t wanted food, and any bottle of wine I’d selected would’ve been shamed by Phil’s collection. My grandmother had taught me to bring a hostess gift, so flowers would have to do.
The delicate scents of freesia and tea roses perfumed the night air as I joined the couple on the walkway. Sweet old Miss Hester had been happy to select her freshest blossoms, and had seemed very interested in the party, asking who’d be there, what I’d wear, and whether I was excited. So cute. I remembered my grandmother telling me that she’d been quite the social butterfly in her day, with full dance cards for every event at Lumina.
“Hi, again,” I greeted Adam and Cara. “It’s very nice to meet you, Cara—and congratulations!” As I shook her thin hand, I was struck by how very young she seemed. Perhaps it was the rich darkness of her hair layered against her heart-shaped face, or maybe it was just the ballooning tummy that overwhelmed her small frame and lacy, sherbert-pink dress. Adam towered over her although he was only about six-three. Ouch. That’s gonna be a big baby.
“I love my earrings.” With a shy smile, she pulled her hair back so I could see the bits of frosted glass, then ducked against Adam’s encircling arm.
Well, at least I wouldn’t be the most introverted person here tonight. If nothing else, maybe Cara and I could have a nice chat off to the side, away from the noise. Of course, since we were the first to arrive, there wasn’t any noise yet; but Maureen would no doubt crank up some pop music at first opportunity. I led the way up the walk, and before we reached the double doors, our hostess yanked them open.
“You came! Phil and I made a bet, and I just lost! But I’m so glad I did!”
“You thought I’d bail on you? Never.”
“Phil hedged his bet.” Adam called from behind me. “He told me if I saw her to drag her by the hair if I had to.”
My jaw dropped, and I glared back at him before I could catch myself, but this seemed to amuse him even more. I was just going to have to accept the jokes tonight.
“Phil!” Maureen shrilled into the house. “Get your butt out here! You owe me that back rub. Adam confessed!” Like that man wouldn’t hop on one foot to Switzerland and back to bring her a gift-wrapped masseuse.
Phil met us in the foyer, singling me out with obvious glee. “You didn’t expect me to sic Adam on you!”
“You’re a pain in the butt.”
“You need to be kicked in the butt, missy.”
I groaned, but couldn’t think of a retort. Apparently even my daughter thought
