Lawson

 

 

Scottsdale was a small agricultural town. With a population of two and a half thousand people, there was a primary school, a high school, a small supermarket, a pub, post office, a bakery, and not a great deal more. It was very scenic, though. The main street had kept its heritage look with old-fashioned bull-nosed verandas, window shutters, and antiquated signs. It was charming.

“Where am I taking you to?” Jack asked as we drove down the main street.

I took out my phone and read the email confirmation. “Bloom’s Bed and Breakfast. It was either that or the pub. I don’t fancy the noise of a pub, so I opted for the quieter option.”

He smiled knowingly. “The B&B is lovely. Well, I’ve never stayed there, but it looks real nice and the owners are good people. The pub’s not bad, though. No real late nights out here, and never any trouble, if that was what you were worried about.”

I ignored his implied question. “Do you know everyone in this town?”

“Pretty much.”

“How long have you lived here?”

“Three years. And I love it. It was a helluva lot greener when I moved here. A lot prettier, but I do love it here regardless.”

“Where are you from?”

“Hobart. And you?”

“Melbourne.”

Jack nodded and pulled the ute to a stop out the front of a quaint looking cottage with a Bloom’s Bed and Breakfast sign swinging from a post in the front yard. “Well, this is you.”

“It is.”

“So, about dinner,” he started. “I had every intention of taking you somewhere nice in Launceston because I thought that was where you were staying. But now you’re staying here. I mean, we can still go back to the city if you’d prefer because our dining options are limited. We have the pub or the corner takeaway shop. Their fish and chips are good, and the bowlo has pretty good Chinese food, but if I were wanting to impress, I’d rather eat somewhere a little fancier.”

“Are you?” I asked. “Wanting to impress?”

Jack looked right at me. “Yes.”

My stomach twisted in a strange but pleasant way. “Then I shall leave it to you to surprise me.”

“Oh good,” he said with a laugh. “No pressure then.”

I smiled, feeling victorious. Over what, I had no clue. “And so you’re aware, my expectations are not directly related to the food we eat, but rather the company. And I’m already impressed.”

His smile was immediate and heart stopping. Before I could do something stupid, I unbuckled my seatbelt, pushed on the door handle, and climbed out of the ute. Jack scrambled to do the same, and he met me around my side. He lifted my suitcase out and put it between us, his hands still around the handle. “So, is six o’clock okay? It’s three hours away. Is that enough time?”

“Six o’clock would be perfect.”

He grinned and stared at me.

“Uh, can I have my suitcase?”

“Oh. Sure.” He took his hands off it and wiped his palms on his thighs. “Six o’clock, then. I’ll just park right here.” He took a step backwards, his smile still in place. He took another step backwards as if he didn’t want to turn away from me, and even when he walked around his ute, he still smiled at me. He really was ridiculously endearing. The fact he was as sweet as he was tall was purely a bonus.

I found myself smiling as I dragged my suitcase to the cottage front door. I was greeted by a small, grey-haired woman with rosy cheeks who introduced herself as Nola. After I confirmed my booking and handed over my credit card, she kept eyeing my bow tie. “We don’t get many folks during the week. Here on business?”

“Yes.” I smiled pleasantly, and she was a friendly woman, but I wasn’t one to blurt all my personal details to a stranger. A handsome, mountain-sized stranger with a delightful smile, maybe. But I got the feeling this lady was partial to gossip.

“Did I see Jack Brighton drop you off?”

Yes, gossiper for sure. “Ah, yes.”

“Such a nice fellow. Moved here about three years ago. Works in the Rangers offices, lives out on Stanning Road. We didn’t give his city-self long to stay before he got bored with it all, but he fit right in from day one. They say it takes twenty years to become a local, but I’d reckon he’s as good as one already.” She looked around the room conspiringly, like someone might overhear her. “They say he’s not inclined to date women, if you know what I mean. Not that that’s any of my business…”

It was clear she made everything her business, and it was also clear by the way she was looking at me, she was suggesting he may be interested in men and in particular, me. I’m surprised she didn’t wink at me.

“No, not that it’s any of your business,” I said with a smile that belied my tone. “If you could show me to my room, I’d be most appreciative.”

“Oh yes.” She didn’t miss a beat. She just prattled on about the goings on of Scottsdale as she showed me to my room. “It’s a private room. You’re the only guest here tonight, and Bill and I are at the other end of the house. You won’t hear a peep from us.”

“Thank you,” I said, opening the door and wheeling my suitcase in. I could see all my personal effects had been delivered, as organised.

“Oh, they arrived yesterday,” Nola said, nodding toward the plastic storage tubs. “We stacked them in here for you, but of course we didn’t look in them. I didn’t want to pry.”

That told me she’d looked inside every one. She was still talking, but I needed some time. “Thank you. I do need to rest. It’s been a long day.”

“Oh, of course. Don’t mind me. I’ve been known to chatter,” she said with a grandmotherly smile. “What time would you like dinner served?”

“Oh, I won’t be requiring dinner this evening. But thank you.”

“Oh.”

She waited for me to explain, which I had no intention of doing.

“Well, then. What time would you like breakfast?”

“Seven, if that’s suitable.”

“Yes, yes. Very suitable.” She sighed dreamily. “I must say, it’s such a pleasant change to have someone your age who speaks properly. Most kids these days―”

“Thank you, Nola. If you’ll excuse me. I need to use the bathroom.”

“Oh!” she said and stepped quickly out of my room. “Gracious. And here I am keeping you.”

As I closed the door behind her, I could still hear her talking as she walked down the hall. I fell back on the bed, which was surprisingly soft and comfortable. I sighed loudly, taking in the blessed silence. I was lying about needing to use the bathroom, but I wasn’t lying when I said it had been quite a day. Not only had I met Professor Tillman and had yet to truly absorb all he’d told me, but I’d also met one Jack Brighton.

And I somehow had a date with him.

Me, Lawson Gale. Nerd and brains extraordinaire. The guy who never gets asked out, who never dates. I wasn’t a eunuch, by any means, but I wasn’t… promiscuous either. I never caught the eye of handsome strangers. Hell, I never caught the eye of any strangers. Yet, despite all odds and reason, he’d seemed quite interested in me.

I wished we’d exchanged phone numbers. I’d call him and advise him not to pick me up for our date. Surely I could walk down to the main street and meet him, away from the prying eyes of Nola Bloom. I’d also be able to ask about what my expected dinner attire should be. I had no idea where he was taking me, if it were back into Launceston for five-star dining or to the park for a picnic.

I really should have asked. And I really shouldn’t have been so brazen as to suggest a surprise.

Regardless, by the time six o’clock came around, I was showered and dressed in what I hoped were appropriate clothes. Jack was pulling up just as I walked out. “Perfect timing,” he said as I climbed into his ute. The first thing I noticed was his smile. The second thing I noticed was the warm spice of aftershave: subtle but stirring.

“I was hoping to avoid Mrs Bloom,” I explained. “I don’t assume to know your personal business in this town, but she sure does. She told me she’d heard you don’t date women. I’m sorry if you thought your private business was private, but it seems Mrs Bloom has made it… not private.”

He stared at me for two long beats of my heart, then he burst out laughing. “Nola Bloom is the town gossip. And I don’t hide the fact I’m gay. I never have. As far as I know, the whole town knows I am and Nola would be very upset to find out she’d been the last to hear it officially.”

“Oh.”

His smile morphed into a frown. “Is that okay with you? That people know? If you’re not comfortable with people thinking we’re on a date…”

“But we are on a date, aren’t we?”

“I’d hoped so, yes.”

“Then I don’t care. If you’re concerned if I’m out, so to speak, then yes. Since I was thirteen. It’s never been anything I’ve had to ‘come out’ about because everyone who meets me assumes…”

He gave me a tentative smile. “Assumes you’re kinda amazing?”

I could feel myself blush. “Ah, no.”

Jack settled back in his seat. “Okay, so this surprise date,” he said. “I had to pull some strings. But I think you’ll like it. At least, I hope you will.”

“Am I dressed appropriately?” I’d chosen navy trousers, and a white shirt with a navy and maroon chequered pattern.

He looked at my bow tie, then back to my eyes. “Perfect.”

He was wearing tan coloured pants and a black, long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. It matched his dark eyes. “You look nice.”

“Thank you.” He cleared his throat and started the ute, taking us down the main street. “I had to request a favour or two, like I said. But I didn’t want to take you to just any old place.” He brought the car to a stop not far from the pub, which I truly hoped he wasn’t taking me to.

Jack hopped out of the ute and waited for me to join him on the footpath. He walked in the direction of the pub, where I could hear music and loud voices inside, and my stomach curled. “Are we going to the pub?”

“No,” he said. “We’re going here.”

He was standing in front of the bakery, next door to the post office, which was next door to the pub. There was only one problem… “Uh, Jack. It’s closed.” The lights were off and the sign across the door very clearly spelled Closed.

Jack grinned. “Surprise!”

He pushed on the door, and to my surprise, it opened. He stepped inside and waited for me to follow him. There was a blonde woman behind the counter, whose face split into a massive grin. Jack took a deep breath. “Remmy, this is Lawson. Lawson, this is my dear friend and owner of Scottsdale’s finest bakery, Remmy.”

“Hello,” Remmy said to me. Her whole face smiled, if that were possible. Then she quickly looked at Jack. Something silent very briefly passed between them. “Right. I’ll be off. Don’t forget to lock the door when you leave.” She grabbed her bag and was gone with the jingle of the bell on the door. Jack locked the door behind her, and it was then I noticed the room. There was a small table set for two with a covered basket of baked goods in the centre, some bottles of some kind of drink, and a small white vase with a single flower.

He must have caught me looking at it. “It’s a native daisy,” Jack said quietly. “The botanical name is Helichrysum milliganii or Milligan’s everlasting daisy. It’s found here in Scottsdale. I thought it would be a nice touch.”

I was utterly speechless.

Jack swallowed hard. “I’m not strictly a fancy guy. I could take you to the best restaurants and order the most expensive wines, but you wanted a surprise. And I wanted to do something that shows you who I am. I’m just an ordinary guy, and this is my friend’s bakery. Remmy’s French, her husband, Nico, is Portuguese. Between them they make the best pies and pastries anywhere. And I thought this would be private.”

“This is perfect.” I looked at him and had to swallow past the lump in my throat. “And you’re not just an ordinary guy.”

His smile was pure relief. “You sure this is okay?”

I nodded. “Quite.”

He pulled out my seat and I was gifted with a waft of his aftershave as I sat down. “I will admit to being nervous when you pulled up in the street. I thought we might be going to the pub.”

Jack took his seat and gave me a soft smile. “Why were you nervous?”

I smoothed out the fabric on my thighs. “I’m not exactly the type of guy welcome at most small town pubs.”

“The guys here aren’t too bad. Like I said, I’ve never hidden the fact I’m gay, and no one’s ever said a thing to me.”

“Because you’re over six feet tall and built like a mountain. I, on the other hand, am not. And my fashion sense tends to offend the masculinity of some men.” I shrugged. “I also don’t find conversation about sport or lewd jokes about women terribly appealing.”

Jack fought a smile. “I do like football, though I prefer union, which isn’t too popular here. And I’m happy to say I’ve never heard lewd jokes from the guys here. Not that I frequent the pub too much.” He looked at my shirt and tie, then back to my eyes. “I happen to love your fashion sense. I never realised that I would find bow ties so appealing.”

I could feel my face heat at his words and was grateful he didn’t push it. He simply uncovered the basket between us to reveal a selection of what looked like pies and a folded note on top. “Dinner,” Jack said. “I asked Remmy what she’d serve to someone she was trying to impress. She said to leave it to her.” He took the folded note and opened it, smiling when he read it. He then handed it to me. It was a handwritten menu.

Lamb, mint, and honey pastry parcels made with fresh and local ingredients, served with baked vegetable cups. Suggest the local brewed apple cider to accompany. Desserts in the fridge. Enjoy!

“Wow.” It was so personal and so intimate, but relaxed. It couldn’t have been more perfect for me. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t this. If you wanted to impress, you’ve succeeded.”

Jack slid some portions of pastries onto my plate. “Remmy deserves the credit. I just had the idea and set up the table, she did the rest.” He poured me a glass of apple cider, then himself, and held his glass up. “Cheers.”

I clinked my glass to his. “To the most unique first date I’ve ever had.”

Jack grinned. “I’m glad.”

I sipped the cider and hummed my appreciation. “This is good.”

“It’s locally produced, not too far from here, actually.”

“You’re very proud of where you live, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “I love it here. Small towns aren’t for everyone, I get that. But I feel a part of the community here. I contribute and am rewarded with friends who make the most unique ever first dates happen.” He smiled. “I like the quiet life.”

“I can appreciate that. City living has its perks, but it is draining.”

“You’re from Melbourne?” he asked. I nodded. “So, tell me about you. What’s the Lawson Gale story?”

“There’s not much to tell,” I started.

“You’re a lepidopterist with an IQ to rival Einstein. Believe me, there’s a lot to tell.”

I took a forkful of pastry and meat and savoured the taste before talking again. “Wow, that is exceptionally good.” Then I answered his question. “I grew up in Melbourne, lived there all my life. Studied at Melbourne University. My parents weren’t too happy about my chosen career but accepted it as my decision.” I ate some more, this time of the vegetable cup. It was filled with sweet potato, eggplant, and artichoke, drizzled with feta and balsamic glaze. It was incredible. I got so side tracked eating, I forgot to keep talking.

Though Jack seemed happy to watch me eat. His eyes were trained on my mouth, his lips parted lasciviously. The look of desire on his face sent a bloom of heat through my chest. I wondered if he’d think it unbecoming of me if I stood up, stepped around the table, took his face in my hands, and kissed him.