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FRANNIE ROLLED HER chair back from her drafting board and stood up. When she worked on a new illustration she liked to get up and pace around her studio, glancing back at it from time to time in the hopes of seeing it from a new perspective.
It wasn’t her best work but at the moment it was just a sketch and she liked the movement she’d built into the image. With some modification she was confident that she could create another dazzling book cover. When the publishing house had requested a concept piece she’d hesitated. Her name was synonymous with the best in fantasy cover art and she had plenty of commissions to keep her busy. Approaching the drafting board she made a note to change the arc of the dragon’s tail. If the publisher chose her design for the new series another steady stream of work would ensue, plus there was already talk of a video game and she dearly loved working with video game developers. The process was entirely different and kept her work fresh and unique.
The alarm on her watch sounded and for a moment she couldn’t remember why she’d set it. Oh yes, she was supposed to stop by and pick up Shayna. Her friend managed the book store in the mall and had called yesterday about stopping by for a quick coffee at the Food Court. They usually met once a month so the call had come out of the blue, but her friend had indicated that she had some ‘news’. Frannie didn’t want to disappoint her, but she’d already spoken to the publisher and knew that the author of the books for whom she created the covers was coming to the mall for a book signing later this month. They wanted her to sit at the table with him, and she’d reluctantly agreed. Brad Lyon wrote fantasy/science fiction novels aimed at what the book sellers called the teen and young adult market and she doubted that his fans would have much interest in her. Enthusiastic as she was about her designs, she was uncomfortable putting herself ‘out there’, but this publisher was her biggest customer and she’d agreed. Besides, she’d never met the author and maybe he’d give her some useful feedback. She’d try to appear surprised when Shayna told her about the book signing.
Frannie smiled to herself as she pulled on her winter coat and grabbed her bag. She had some news of her own and wondered how Shayna would react when she told her. For some time now the friends had been bemoaning the lack of available men in the area. “Maybe we’re too fussy,” Shayna had said just a few weeks ago. “But I don’t fancy lowering my standards. I mean look at us, we’re both successful women in our own right.” She’d paused. “Okay, you more than me, but you know what I mean.”
“I do, and the truth is, I’d rather be single than settle.” Frannie had turned to her friend. “Maybe we’re destined to be old maids together, going on guided tours for seniors in the hopes of meeting a man with a pulse.”
They’d both laughed, but sometimes that was how it felt. And then last week – the day after she’d had lunch with Shayna – Frannie had been in the produce department of her favorite upscale grocery store, trying to decide between acorn and butternut squash.
* * *
“EXCUSE ME BUT COULD I ask your advice?”
She turned and for a moment she thought she was looking at one of her illustrations. The dragon-hunters featured on her book covers were by default handsome, sculpted and in most cases swoon-worthy. She was tempted to ask him where he kept his sword, but managed to rein herself in. He was holding a head of garlic in each hand.
“Sure.” She glanced at the garlic. “Although I’m not a garlic expert.”
He shrugged and offered a sheepish smile. “Even so... What’s the difference between the white one and the purple one?”
“Oh, that.” She took a step closer. “If you look closely, the cloves in the purple one are larger. Some people like that.”
“Is there a difference in taste?”
“Not really. At least not that I’ve ever noticed.”
“Huh. I think I’ll get the purple one.” He glanced beyond her to the squash display. “Speaking of differences, which one did you decide on?”
Frannie picked up a small butternut squash. “This one, although it makes me feel disloyal.” Noticing his puzzled expression she smiled and continued. “My Dad always grew acorn squash. We ate a lot of it during the winter and I like it, but after tasting butternut, I’m a convert.”
He grinned and put a hand over his heart. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you.” She looked around. “I don’t recall seeing you here before. Are you new to the area?”
His smile faded and he took a short, sharp breath of air. “My wife died about a year and a half ago and I recently moved to the island.”
“I’m sorry.”
He gave her a sad smile. “Me, too. I’d been living in Vancouver and thought maybe a fresh start was in order.”
“You and your wife lived in Vancouver.”
He frowned. “Yes, isn’t that what I said?”
“Sorry... you said ‘I’d been living in Vancouver’. It confused me.”
He shook his head. “I do that. Sometimes I think I try too hard to put the past behind me.” He tossed the garlic in his basket and stuck out his hand. “Brett McCallister.”
“Francesca Williams. My friends call me Frannie.”
“Nice to meet you Frannie. I’ll let you get on with your shopping.”
“Good luck with the garlic.” She wanted to add that she hoped he’d find peace here on the island, but that sounded too personal. She chose a squash and headed for the dairy case.
As she walked up and down the aisles, she found herself wishing that she could loosen up and engage in small talk. Take Shayna for example, she could talk to anyone. Maybe it was a good thing her friend worked in a retail outlet while she worked alone in her studio with her fantasy creatures. Lost in thought, she didn’t hear him come up behind her as she studied the mouth-watering display of pastries.
“Vanilla slices,” he said. “They’re delicious.”
She looked up. “Hello again. You’ve tried them?”
“Only every time I come into the store.” He gestured to the in-house coffee bar next to the bakery department. “Would you like to join me for a coffee and pastry? I think we owe it to ourselves after all this hard work.”
She took a step back. “Oh no, I don’t think so but...” Visions of seniors’ cruises came to mind. She smiled. “On second thought, that sounds nice.”
Brett brought coffees and pastry to the table. “This probably sounds corny,” he said, “but I’ve never done this before.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “I mean hitting on someone in the grocery store. It’s like something out of a movie.”
“Is that what you’re doing? Hitting on me?” There was a slight challenge in her voice.
“In the most respectful way possible, of course.”
His response brought a smile. “Then that makes us even. I’ve never accepted an invitation from someone I don’t know.” She reached for some cream. “There’s a first time for everything, I guess.”
He acknowledged her comment with a nod. “So tell me, Frannie. What sort of work do you do that you can wander around a grocery store in the middle of the week?”
“I’m self-employed.” What about you?
“I was off work for a year and now I’m working slowly back into the schedule. I’m a pilot.”
She thought for a moment. “Wouldn’t you be better off living on the mainland?”
He took a bite of pastry while he considered his response. “Probably, but I’m on the Hawaii run and at the present time I’m only doing two runs a week, so it’s not a problem getting back and forth between here and Vancouver.”
She studied him through narrowed eyes. “I would have thought that those flights are all taken by pilots with the most seniority. Did you lose your standing when you took time off?”
“Fortunately not. The company allows compassionate leave with no loss of seniority.” He drifted off for a moment and she left him to his thoughts. When he spoke again, he seemed to have recovered. “I suppose you’ve been to Hawaii. It’s a tired old joke, but they say that during the winter months you can’t swing a cat on Maui without hitting a Canadian.”
Frannie smiled. “It’s been quite a few years. I understand things have changed a lot.”
“So they tell me. I’ve been sticking close to the hotel on my layovers, but one of these days I’ll arrange my schedule to take some days off.” He paused, fork part way to his mouth. “But that would mean putting Tina in a kennel and I don’t like doing that.”
“Tina is your dog?”
He grinned like a proud father. “Sure is. She helped me through some rough times.”
“What sort of dog is she?”
“Small. She’s some sort of cross-breed with hair that sticks out all over the place. That’s why I called her Tina... for Tina Turner.”
“I’ve never owned a dog myself but when I was small we had a purebred cocker spaniel and she was very high strung. I’ve always thought that if I were to get a dog it definitely wouldn’t be a purebred.”
He shrugged. “All I know is that I found her on the side of the road shortly after I moved here. Looked as though she’d been hit by a car. I wasn’t sure if she’d even live but I took her to the vet and he was able to save her. She’s been my buddy ever since.”
“Nobody ever tried to claim her?”
“No. I advertised, but by then I’d fallen in love with her and was glad nobody came forward.”
“So who takes care of her when you’re gone?”
“Gone?” He looked startled.
“Yes, when you’re working.”
“Oh. I have an elderly neighbor who stops by. I think she takes him into her condo, but I don’t mind.”
Frannie leaned forward. “My grandmother loves dogs too. She has a couple of small beagles.”
“What’s her name?”
“Who, my grandmother?”
“Yes.”
“Ruby. It’s an old-fashioned name but it suits her.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
She frowned. “How many ‘Ruby’s do you know?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. My Gran’s name was Ruby also. What a small world.” He finished his pastry and sat back. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. Would you like to do this again?”
She studied him over the rim of her coffee mug. “I suppose that would be all right.”
He chuckled softly. “Your enthusiasm is a little underwhelming.” He sobered. “I know I’m not very good at this but you’re an attractive, intelligent woman and I’d really like to get to know you better. Is that so bad?”
Struck by his candor, she softened her response. “Not bad at all.” She stared into her coffee mug then raised her eyes. “It’s just that I haven’t had a lot of success in the dating department, so I’m a bit cautious.”
His eyes softened. “I know what you mean. Maybe we can both put our past behind us and see where this leads. What do you say? Shall we take a chance?”
Did it take a leap of faith to at least meet him once more? Not really, and it was time to stop dwelling on the past and step into the light.
Okay, now you’re going too far, she chided herself with a small smile.
“I hope that smile means yes,” he said softly.
Frannie took a deep breath. “It means yes, I’d like to take a chance.”
He leaned forward eagerly. “Wonderful. Let’s see, today is Tuesday. I have to go out of town tomorrow and won’t be back until the weekend. Can I call you then and we’ll set something up?” He pulled out his cell phone and she gave him her number. The last time she’d given her number to a man things didn’t work out so well, but she had a feeling this time was going to be different. Odd how a chance meeting in a grocery store could change her entire attitude.
