I didn’t look to see Milly’s reaction. She hated it when our appearances were mentioned. I thought Milly was pretty. I wasn’t anything special. We had a lot of the same features. But no one had ever acted as if they needed to protect Milly from the world of men. Me, on the other hand, momma had been different with. Like I required special protection.
“That’s enough,” Momma said, stopping the conversation before it got worse. “We’ve got pies to make and work to do. No talking about boys and dating. That’s nonsense unless you got a ring on your finger.”
“Like Jamie does,” Hazel chimed in with excitement.
Momma nodded. “Yes, like Jamie.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jamie was making wedding plans and Ben had stopped glaring at me in the way that made me nervous. He was marrying Jamie and respected that. I even saw affection in his gaze when he looked at her. It made things easier and more difficult for us all at the same time. I had suddenly become the third wheel or at least I felt that way. Our easy friendship was no longer. Jamie was my best friend and Ben was now her fiancé.
My world here was changing and it was time. It was time it changed for all of us. The idea of my best friends having a baby was exciting. Seeing them go from the kids we were to parents was something they both wanted and they were happy about it. Personally, myself, I was ready for something different, for my own selfish plans to unfold. Seeing them start their life anew made me want to do the same. That just meant getting out of here. Which was a lot more difficult without the means and the means meant more money.
This morning I had to walk to the bakery. Momma left early so I chose to walk, the exercise was good for me, and being out of doors, instead of in the bakery, would help with having to sit inside staring at the walls all day.
Soon friends would start going off to college. Even if it wasn’t a college far away, it was still somewhere else. I wanted to do the same, that being the best of my options. But I wasn’t scholarship material and momma couldn’t afford tuition or board or even qualify for the basic loans. She also needed my help at the bakery and I just couldn’t leave her twisting.
A car slowed down beside me. I turned my head to see a black Mercedes, a sedan all slick and gleaming. The passenger’s window lowered automatically and there was Hale Christopher Jude III as present as the clouds in the sky.
“Good morning,” he said, with that smile that was almost too perfect.
“Morning,” I replied, smiling also. Apparently he hadn’t been bored enough to stay away too long. “You in town for a cupcake?” I asked him.
He gave me a small shrug. “That wouldn’t be a bad idea, but I was actually hoping to talk to you.”
Oh. “Okay,” I said, slowing to a stop as he did.
“Want to get in?” I was taught not to get into a car with strangers. But this wasn’t a stranger. Sure, I knew very little about him, but I did know enough I guess. Or at least I thought I did. Opening the door I climbed inside wondering if anyone was watching. The idea of my mother standing outside the bakery ready to scold me in front of Hale made me anxious. But this was definitely worth it. The smell that met me was his cologne and the luxurious smell of new car. I inhaled twice rather deeply.
“Did you enjoy the rest of the evening at the dance?”
I didn’t stay after he left, but I wasn’t sure I should tell him that. It made me sound pathetic. “The punch made everything enjoyable,” I joked and he chuckled in response: “yeah, I guess that would help. However, the little I was there, I enjoyed it completely sober.”
I felt my cheeks warm and blush. “It sure was a surprise you being there,” I said, expertly ducking my head so my cheeks weren’t on display.
“Really? I would have thought my interest was obvious. Do you think I actually come into town so often for cupcakes? Surely you’ve realized my visits are about you.”
This was my Cinderella moment. I wanted to take a photo, or better yet video this. Have it as a memory so when it was over I could remember it actually happened. I needed to respond appropriately. He was polished and refined and worldly. I didn’t need to remind him I wasn’t by saying stupid things. I liked him coming around and I’d deal with momma in time.
“Honestly, I thought you came through here on your way to work and liked the coffee and cupcakes.”
He laughed. I hoped that was a good laugh. One that meant he was really amused and not making me feel better about my true, but goofy response.
“That’s what I like about you. You’re so innocent and sweet. Women who are generally as beautiful as you are never either of those. At least not in my experience.”
I wasn’t beautiful like the women in his world. They had money to make them even more beautiful. But as he measured me next to them it made me smile, feel special and adore him.
“Can I take you to dinner? I enjoyed the dance immensely. But I’d like to spend some time with you, so we can talk and get to know each other, without the loud music and sets of eyes staring directly at us.”
Momma wasn’t going to like this. I would handle that. If I had to lie about where I was going I would do that in a second. This was a great opportunity. I didn’t want to miss this. Hale could be my future.
“I would love to,” I told him, trying not to smile too brightly, appearing psychotic and then scaring him away, leaving me, again, in Moulton.
“Tonight? Seven?”
I wasn’t sure how to pull this off. “Yes. Seven sounds good.” I would have all day to scheme, to figure out how to handle momma.