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Chapter 61

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Esther

Esther stood in her building’s common room, looking out the window. She was a nervous wreck. She was sweating, couldn’t breathe correctly, and was on the verge of tears.

Zoe stood right beside her in stalwart companionship.

If Zoe hadn’t stopped her, Esther would have canceled this date over an hour ago. This had been a crazy idea. Why had she agreed to it? She was a widow who still loved her late husband very much. She was still grieving. And she was also quite content to live out the rest of her life on her own. She liked her own company. So why had she said yes?

“This was a mistake.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

Milton walked into the room and jumped at the sight of them. He looked Esther up and down. “You look nice.”

Esther was certain this compliment wouldn’t have been given if she hadn’t let Zoe run to the drugstore for some mascara and lip gloss. “Thank you.” She leaned closer to Zoe. “What good can possibly come from this?”

Zoe looked at her. “You’re just going to have a nice dinner that a handsome man is going to pay for. That’s all. Doesn’t have to mean anything.”

Oh, this generation. Nothing meant anything. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Well, be sure. He didn’t ask you to marry him or anything.”

Esther gasped in terror.

“Sorry,” Zoe said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that. Really, we don’t know that he’s thinking about anything long term. It’s just dinner. Maybe he’s just lonely. Maybe he just wants a friend, someone to talk to, a reason to go to nice restaurants. Just try to enjoy yourself.” She stopped. “And get dessert. Maybe even bring me home one. There he is!” She sounded so excited. It was cute.

Esther thought she might faint. She imagined that she was pale as a ghost. “Are you sure—”

“Yes,” Zoe said emphatically. “I’m sure about everything.” Then, to Esther’s complete shock, Zoe wrapped her arms around her and squeezed. She held on for several seconds and then let go. “You’re going to do great. You are great. Just relax and be yourself. And please try to have fun.” She started toward the door, and for a second, Esther wondered if Zoe planned to come along, but then Zoe opened the door and stepped back to make room for her to exit the building.

Exit the building.

She needed to leave the building.

Her legs needed to move. She begged them to do so. Then they were so shaky that she asked for some divine assistance. “Please let me get through this evening without making a fool of myself and without making Walter regret the whole thing.” She stopped in front of Zoe and squeezed her hand. “No parties while I’m gone.”

Zoe laughed again. “Yeah, cause your apartment is so party-friendly.” She waved toward the car. “Go. I’ll be fine. There’s a TV dinner up there with my name on it.”

“No. I made you meatloaf. It’s in the oven.”

Zoe didn’t respond, so, after taking a deep breath, Esther walked away from her granddaughter and toward the waiting car.

Walter got out and came to open the door for her. This was so silly. She wasn’t a teenager anymore. She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” He tucked her into the car and then went around the front of his car to slide behind the wheel. He put the car in drive and slowly pulled into the street. “Esther, at the risk of lowering your opinion of me, I feel it is safer to just come clean and admit I am a nervous wreck.”

She almost barked out another ridiculous laugh but managed to hold it in. Good thing she’d gotten it out of her system with Zoe. “I’m fairly nervous myself,” she managed.

“Oh good. I mean, it’s not good that you’re not nervous ... I mean, it’s good that you’re not nervous. Ahh! Do you know what I’m trying to say?”

She tried to keep her laughter at a reasonable volume. “Yes. Definitely.”

“Oh good. I don’t want you to be nervous, but it makes me feel better about being nervous knowing that you are too.” He rubbed furiously at his jaw. “I can’t believe how hard this is. I mean, it’s not hard. I want to do it. I just can’t believe how nerve-racking it is. So ... I got us reservations.”

She smiled. “Good.” She couldn’t imagine eating under the circumstances. Her stomach was far too tied up to manage digestion, but it was probably too late to say she wasn’t interested in supper.

“So, how is the new granddaughter going? I mean, obviously, she’s not a new granddaughter, but her living with you is new.” This was adorable. He was usually so well-spoken.

“It’s going great actually. There have been a few bumps in the road, but I think she’s settling in nicely. I really like having her around. In fact, I’m going to get her a bed.” As soon as she’d said the words, she realized how stupid they sounded. “I mean, she’s had a bed. I have a hide-a-bed couch, and she hasn’t complained. But I want to get her a real bed.”

“That’s really kind of you. And I didn’t think that you didn’t give her anything to sleep on.” He chuckled, and they fell into an awkward silence.

“Last night she stayed up into the wee hours of the morning catching the sign vandal.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yep.” She was prouder than she should have been about this, maybe. “She stayed in the church until the kid came back, and then she chased her all the way to Ingalls Street.”

“So it was a kid? I’d heard that rumor.”

“Yes, she’s a kid. Eighth grader. But don’t let that fool you. I hear she’s quite the troublemaker.”

Walter laughed. “Well, I’m glad she caught her. We’ve got enough to do at church without repainting the same sign over and over.”

We. He’d said we.