“Miss! Hey, Miss! You dropped this.”
Logan turned around and gazed into the most remarkable sea-green eyes she had ever seen. She then noticed the rest of the ruggedly handsome stranger’s features, a deep dimple in his left cheek that probably spoke volumes about his sense of humor, full lips, sexy, not spoiled or indolent, upturned, showcasing a glorious smile. His nose was slightly crooked (which was probably a story in itself!) and he had a shock of sandy brown hair that dipped down onto his forehead. He held her credit card in his hand.
“Oh, I didn’t realize I dropped it! Thank you!” As she looked up into those incredible eyes again, a wide smile crossed her face for the first time in a week. “That was very nice of you,” she continued.
It was difficult for her to be reserved around this stranger when everything about him exuded easygoing charm and friendliness. Reaching for the card, she felt a slight tingle pass through her body; it was a warm good feeling. She then extended her other hand in introduction. “Hi, my name is Logan Massey. But I suppose you already know that,” she said as she held up the credit card. “I’m sure I would have missed it down the road”, embarrassed and awkward under the observant eyes.
Tom grasped her hand, holding onto it for what seemed an eternity, unabashedly staring at the pretty woman standing before him. Curly brunette hair, cascading in ringlets down to her shoulders, framed her heart-shaped face, capturing beauty. She had velvety soft brown eyes and an upturned nose that bordered on ‘cute’. Her lips were glistening and inviting, with a hint of sadness in them.
Wondering about that, his eyes traveled back to their hands. Reluctantly, he let go and said, “No problem. I was on my way out the door and noticed it lying on the floor. I’m Tom Doherty, by the way.” Continuing the conversation, “I looked up and saw you walking towards your car. I wanted to catch you before you left.”
A slight pause followed, not feeling awkward to either of them.
“So, is this your first visit to Nineveh?”
Now that was stupid!
“I mean I don’t think I’ve seen you here before,” he stammered.
Logan felt protective of privacy but trusted her instincts, “I’m on vacation. My folks have a house on Sweetwater Lake but recently I’ve camped. This time I think I want to see the cabin again.”
“Oh, that’s great! I’m sure your parents will be happy to see you.” The change in her expression told him he had made a mistake.
Her head dropped, “My parents are both gone. That’s why I haven’t stayed there in a long time…hard you know...”
He felt bad. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ... I didn’t know...”
She looked up and smiled faintly. “It’s okay. I’m actually looking forward to seeing the place again, spending some time alone.”
Tom was embarrassed. Obviously she was giving him a message she didn’t want to be bothered. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time here in Brown County. Nice meeting you and take care”, he said quietly.
He started to turn and walk away when Logan said, “Nice meeting you and thanks for finding my card.”
“Ah, well enjoy your vacation.”
You idiot! Can’t think of anything better to say!
“Listen,” she said on impulse, “I was wondering if you could recommend a good restaurant. I’m starved. Haven’t been here in a while, haven’t eaten since yesterday and I don’t want to cook when I get to the cabin. In fact, I’m sure I’ll be busy cleaning for the next several hours.” Smiling, trying to put him at ease, sensing awkwardness when she mentioned her parents, she felt some attraction for this man and didn’t want to leave the wrong impression.
“Sure! The Travelers’ Inn is just around the corner. It’s a motel and restaurant. Betty and Lou Gleason are the owners. Tell them I sent you. They’re good friends of mine. They’ll take care of you.”
“I remember the place! My Mom and Dad took me there often when I was little. I had forgotten but thanks for reminding me.” She climbed in her car and turned the ignition on. “I wonder if they’ll remember me?”
Tom stood outside the car. “I bet they will.” He hesitated as if he hated the conversation to end. “You picked a perfect time to visit. The fall colors are in their glory.”
“I know,” she sighed, “and again, thank you, nice to meet you and I hope to see you soon,” giving him a friendly wave as she drove out of the parking lot.
Whispering, “Hope to see you too,” he watched her drive off and reluctantly walked back in the station.
“Hey Tom,” Carl said, “Great looking lady! Did you get her phone number?”
“Bite me, Carl.”
“Now, is that nice?”
“No, but knowing you, you’ll have me married before the day is over!”
Carl was the owner of the Mobil station, the only one in the tiny town and a gathering place for the locals. But, Carl was also the town gossip, and Tom was sure his encounter with the beautiful brunette would be the talk of the town before the day was through.
“Hey, I’m just trying to do our friendly county veterinarian a favor, ol’ buddy,” he jabbed at Tom’s chest with his middle finger.
In response, Tom leaned over the counter, acted like he was handing him a twenty, playfully lifted the bill up in the air and let it float down between them.
Carl snatched it in mid-air and slowly, methodically, took his time giving change. “God knows you don’t need any help with the ladies,” he teased, planting his tongue firmly against his cheek.
Tom chuckled, “Carl, contrary to what you and the rest of this town think, animals aren’t my only interest.”
Carl let out a derisive snort as Tom waved a friendly goodbye and walked out the door.
* * * * *
Driving past the Travelers’ Inn, Tom saw Logan’s car parked beside the restaurant. On the spur of the moment, he wheeled his jeep into the lot and parked by the office.
As he climbed out, he thought about going into the restaurant, but no, she might think I’m being too bold. Maybe I’ll just go and see Betty and Lou; haven’t seen them in a while.
The bell let out a soft tinkle when he opened the door. Tom could hear the television blaring in the corner. Lou liked to have the volume way up. He didn’t want to admit that his hearing was not as good as it used to be. Betty was always kidding that he turned up the volume on the TV so he could tune her out, but he wouldn’t do that. She was the love of his life and they both knew it.
“Tom!” Betty exclaimed, rounding the corner from their apartment. “Haven’t seen you in a long time. What’s up? Wouldn’t have anything to do with Logan Massey would it?”
Smiling, he said, “Just missed seeing you.”
Laughing, “I’m not your type.”
“Yeah, and she’s already taken,” Lou spoke up from the other room.
“He hears what he wants to hear,” throwing her hands up in explanation.
Tom grinned, but couldn’t help stealing a glance out the window, training his eyes on the area where Logan parked her car.
Betty watched him and thought about how tragic the last few years had been. Jenny, Tom’s wife, had died of breast cancer four years ago. It had been such a shock and the whole community had rallied around the grieving young man.
Jenny and Tom had known each other since eighth grade, married when he was in veterinary school and only been married a year when she found out she had cancer. He graduated and then devoted himself to taking care of her, putting his practice on hold. She died a little over a year later.
Tom was devastated but he plunged into his work, ignoring everyone’s attempts to help him forget. People were beginning to wonder if he would ever get over her death.
“Betty, are you listening to me?”
Her attention was sharply brought back to Tom standing in front of her, “Oh, I’m sorry. “I must have been daydreaming. Say again?”
“I asked if you had reminded Logan of your wonderful blueberry pancakes.”
“Not yet, but I will. In fact”, she added, “you might want to come for breakfast tomorrow ... just in case.”
“I might do that,” turning to stare out the window one more time, leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“I chatted with her briefly when I was in the restaurant a few minutes ago. We talked about her parents. I knew them when they used to come down on the weekends and during the summer. Saw a lot of her when she was a little girl but haven’t seen her in quite a while. Guess the accident had something to do with that…Poor thing…too young to lose her parents…very sad…very sad,” Betty shook her head.
“I mistakenly said something about her parents being glad to see her later on, but I didn’t know them, and didn’t know they had died, or how it happened. I felt like such an idiot when she told me.”
“Don’t feel bad, Tom,” she patted him on the arm. “You wouldn’t have known. Her parents weren’t full-time lake residents and when Logan left for college, they came less and less often. I can’t remember the last time I saw them…” Betty stared into space, thinking. “She did seem preoccupied though.”
“Yeah, I noticed. I met her at Carl’s,” he explained, “She had dropped her credit card, I picked it up, ran after her to give it back. We talked a little and I could see that something was bothering her.” He paused and let out a deep breath. “She said she was staying at her parents’ cabin and I made the stupid mistake of saying I was sure they would be excited to see her. That’s when she told me they had both passed away.”
“Now, Tom, you didn’t know. Don’t beat yourself up about it. She probably had her mind on other things and didn’t even think twice about it.”
“Yeah, well, I’d like to make it up to her.”
“Absolutely! That’s why you need to come for breakfast in the morning.”
“We should be nice to our part-timers,” he reasoned, beginning to relax, a grin forming on his face.
“They’re not all as pretty as she is though.”
“Oh, I hadn’t noticed.” he snickered. With his hand on the doorknob, “See you tomorrow for breakfast!”
Betty was still chuckling as she walked into the apartment behind the office.
“Why didn’t Tom come back and say ‘hi’?” Lou asked.
Betty looked over at her husband. He was watching the first game of the World Series. Cardinals were ahead by two runs, bottom of the ninth. Lou had a bowl of popcorn nestled on his lap; a large glass of iced tea sat on the table beside him.
“I think his mind was a bit distracted.”
“Wouldn’t have anything to do with that attractive young lady you just talked to in the restaurant would it?”
“Might. That was Logan Massey by the way. You remember her parents? They’re the ones who were killed in the car accident.”
“Oh, yeah. I remember. Haven’t seen her in a while. Turned out very pretty.” He went back to eating his popcorn.
Betty reached down and ruffled the few wisps of white hair still remaining on the top of his head.
She watched him grab another handful of popcorn and thought back to the first time she had seen him. He looked so handsome in his uniform! He was at the train station in Chicago and the Korean War was just over. She guessed he was on his way home.
Pleasantly surprised to find that he was taking the same train, they wound up sitting next to each other and talking all the way to Indianapolis. Before he left Union Station, Lou had her address and phone number. He called that week and they were married a year later.
More than forty years had passed and they still shook their heads in amazement at their ability to finish each other’s sentences, seemingly read each other’s mind, and know exactly how the other was feeling on any given day. They shared a sense of humor that bordered a little on the sick side, some people would say. They loved to have spirited political debates at the breakfast table over the morning news. Even though they never had children, Betty and Lou treated each other like the child they never had. Their devotion and love was widely recognized among friends and relatives.
Letting his eyes stray from the TV screen, he stole a peek at his ‘young bride’. So intent in her own thoughts, she didn’t realize he was staring at her. He too was thinking about the first time he saw her. She had this incredible long, red hair that flowed down her back. Her eyes were bright blue and she wore a polka dot dress with black and white pumps to match.
The whole time he was at the train station, Lou prayed she would be going to Indianapolis. His spirits soared when she boarded the train ahead of him. Following from a respectful distance, he felt quite proud of himself when he was able to sit down next to her. After talking the whole trip, he was able to get her address and phone number--couldn’t wait to call her.
His brother teased him for the longest time about that first week home from the War. All he talked about was the beautiful girl he met on the train.
Betty and Lou dated and married the next year, shared a wonderful life together, and he still thought she was gorgeous!
When they retired from their respective jobs fifteen years ago, they moved to Nineveh and bought this small motel/restaurant to supplement their pensions. They felt like they belonged here and other residents in the town would agree. Small, with few residents, and even fewer who moved here from ‘the city’, as they referred to Indianapolis, the ‘natives’ had claimed the couple as their own.
In the past few years, with Lou’s health deteriorating due to the effects of high blood pressure and diabetes, Betty carried most of the responsibility for running the business.
Lou reached out and grabbed her hand. “Hey you, Give me a kiss.”
She leaned over, “Old memories making you feel sexy?”
Futilely, he tried to swat her on the bottom as she ran by him on the way to the restaurant.