Chapter Ten

Mr. Nelson happily climbed into Alec’s SUV, which was honestly a bit surprising. He’d assumed that by the time Saturday afternoon rolled around and it was time for the meeting, Mr. Nelson would be trying to get out of participating on the committee. With a grin that met his eyes plastered on his face, the older gentleman buckled his seatbelt and said, “I haven’t been in the passenger side of a vehicle for as long as I can remember.”

“You don’t say?” Alec asked, buckling his own safety belt before he backed down Mr. Nelson’s winding driveway. “Well, you and I need to go out together more often.”

With a hearty chuckle, Mr. Nelson replied, “I’d like that. I need to get out more. You know, I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t go. It might be too hard. But then I remembered what you said, and I thought of all the seniors who would enjoy having a get together, and I heard Lilly’s voice in my head encouraging me to get involved. She was always the one going out with friends, trying new things. Sometimes I’d tag along. Without her around, I guess it’s just been hard to make that leap.”

“I imagine that would be very hard,” Alec agreed. “But you should definitely know there are a lot of people who care about you who want to have you around.”

“I don’t think I realized that until you asked me to volunteer for this committee. I mean, Valerie had mentioned it a few times, but I wasn’t sure if she really wanted my help. Now, I know I’m needed. It feels… nice.”

Alec smiled at Mr. Nelson, not sure what to say. He hoped his expression was enough to reassure the man that he was both needed and wanted by the committee and others in town who hated to see the fire go out in his eyes.

Mention of Valerie’s name had Alec remembering the night before. He’d driven to the diner at closing and parked just down the street from the back parking lot, watching to make sure she got home safely. When her car hadn’t started, he’d been just about to drive over and offer her a ride when that other guy, the one who worked in the kitchen, had done so. While he was happy that Valerie had gotten home safely, he was disappointed he’d missed out on an opportunity to spend time with her, although it also may have seemed a little odd to her that he was sitting outside of her restaurant just in case she needed help. In retrospect, perhaps it was a good thing she didn’t need his assistance after all.

They pulled into the Methodist Church parking lot. Valerie’s car wasn’t there yet, but he recognized both Mrs. Gregory’s and Mrs. Carpenter’s cars from the other night. Everyone expected Valerie to be a few minutes late since her shift didn’t end until 4:00 and that’s when they’d agreed to start their meeting.

Before stepping inside, Mr. Nelson paused and looked up at the building. “Are you okay?” Alec asked, stopping beside him.

“Yes, yes,” Mr. Nelson replied, waving his hand. “It’s just been a little while since I stepped inside one of these places.”

“That’s okay,” Alec shrugged. “They haven’t changed much.”

Mr. Nelson smiled, and Alec held the door open for him, thankful that the wind had died down, and it wasn’t nearly as cold as it had been the day before.

As they approached the meeting room, they heard the two women chatting about flower arrangements. They stopped when the men entered the room, and both of them smiled broadly. “Mr. Nelson!” Mrs. Gregory said. “It’s just lovely to have you on our committee.”

“Here, have a seat.” Mrs. Carpenter gestured to the seat next to her.

“And one of my famous sugar cookies.” Mrs. Gregory slid the plate down to him.

“Why, thank you,” Mr. Nelson replied, taking a heart-shaped, pink-frosted cookie off of the platter. He took a bite. “These are delicious.”

“Thank you.” The smile on Mrs. Gregory’s face lit the room. “It’s my mother’s secret recipe.”

Alec sat down in the same seat he’d been in last time, leaving the end of the table for Valerie again, should she choose to sit there. The women finally seemed to notice him. “How are you, Alec?” Mrs. Carpenter asked as she slid the platter of cookies in his direction. “Are you all ready for your big show tonight?”

He couldn’t help but smile, thinking of a high school dance as a big show. “I’m doing quite well, thank you, Mrs. Carpenter. How are you ladies?”

“Not so bad,” Mrs. Carpenter replied.

“Other than my aching knee, I’m hanging in there,” Mrs. Gregory laughed.

“Good,” Alec said. “I’m excited to DJ for the kids tonight.”

“Oh, that sounds like such fun,” Mrs. Carpenter said, turning to Mr. Nelson. “Do you like to dance, Horace?”

Mr. Nelson’s eyes grew wide a bit, and then a touch of sadness darkened the corners. “It’s been ages, Mrs. Carpenter…”

“Please, call me Elvira,” she interrupted.

“Elvira…. Lilly loved to dance, but once she got sick, well, that was sort of out of the question.”

“Lilly was such a lovely woman,” Mrs. Gregory offered. “I was blessed to know her.”

“Why, thank you,” Mr. Nelson sad, an appreciative smile on his face.

Alec picked up on both a hint of tension in the air from the mention of Lilly and something else radiating from Mrs. Carpenter. The way she was looking at Mr. Nelson seemed a bit too familiar to Alec, and he began to wonder if Valerie wasn’t the only one on the committee with a secret admirer.

Just as he thought of her, footsteps began to echo down the hall, and a few minutes later than their agreed upon start time, Valerie came in the door, a flurry of her coat, her bag, and a package she held in her hands. “So sorry,” she muttered. She plunked the package down in the center of the table as Mrs. Gregory assured her she was just fine. “Frank sent some treats.”

“Oh, how lovely.” Mrs. Carpenter wasted no time breaking open the box to find a dozen or so mini-pies. “That sure was nice of him.”

“Yes, he said to tell you he’s sorry he won’t be able to help plan, but he will be able to come over and help decorate, and that he and Mrs. Bishop are looking forward to ‘cutting a rug.’” She said the last part so that they would know she was quoting him exactly, and everyone let out a chuckle.

Even though she was a bit disheveled as she hung her coat on the back of the chair and dropped her handbag on the floor, Alec couldn’t help but think she looked beautiful. She was still wearing her uniform and smelled a bit more like grease than cupcakes at the moment, but he could still catch a whiff of the sweet aroma coming from her hair whenever she moved around. She pulled a pen—the one he’d given her, he decided—and a notepad out of her bag. And then, after a glimpse around the table, she froze. “Mr. Nelson?”

“Hello there, Valerie.” His face was glowing as a broad smile stretched from ear to ear.

“Oh, my goodness! I didn’t expect to see you here!”

“Well, Alec asked me to come, and even though you’d mentioned it a few times yourself, I thought, if two people are asking for my help, it must be important.”

Valerie reached over and grabbed Alec’s wrist. The contact of her bare skin on his sent little electric shocks up his arm. “Alec! You did it!” she exclaimed, giving him a squeeze.

No words would come to him, so he just smiled and gave a little shrug. Eventually she pulled her hand away, but even after it was gone, the warmth of the contact lingered on.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” Valerie said, returning her attention to Mr. Nelson.

“Happy to be here,” he replied politely.

“Okay, now, let’s talk about the specifics,” Mrs. Gregory said, finally getting down to business.

The women jumped into a discussion about the table decorations and went over the food again as well. Once they’d all agreed on those aspects, they turned to the lighting. Mr. Nelson had some great ideas, and both of the older women assured him that they had plenty of strands of lights available for his use.

“And we’re all set on the music?” Mrs. Carpenter asked, smiling at Alec.

“Yes. I’ve got all the songs you requested and similar songs from the same eras as well.”

“Perfect,” Mrs. Gregory smiled. “We’ll have you set up right here.” She had already started a diagram of the room where the dance would be held, and she drew a rectangle near the front of the area to signify Alec’s tables. “There are lots of outlets nearby on this wall.”

“That looks great,” he assured her.

“What about setting up? Did anyone get volunteers?”

“I did,” Valerie nodded. “Several people from my church will stop by. They couldn’t all stay the entire time, but they’ll be there at various times before the dance starts.”

“I got some guys from church as well,” Alec offered, catching Valerie’s eye. She smiled at him.

“Wonderful. And we have both recruited from our friends and churches. I think we should try to make sure everything is ready to go by 6:00, even though the dance doesn’t start until 7:00.” Mrs. Gregory wrote 6:00 on the top of her diagram.

“What time do you want us to start?” Valerie asked.

“We can get in the building any time that day. We’ll have some pieces to move in, like the grandfather clocks,” Mrs. Carpenter reminded everyone.

“Reid said he’d be there about 5:00 with those and the other clocks from the antique store that Valerie picked out,” Mrs. Gregory noted.

“I’d say, we should try to make sure at least a couple of us are there by 3:00 so that Macey and Delaney can bring their items whenever they’d like,” Mrs. Carpenter suggested.

“I can be there by 3:00,” Valerie replied. “I can make sure the tables are all arranged appropriately and start decorating with what we have—the tablecloths, set the vases and faux flowers, things like that.”

“I can help,” Alec offered. “I mean… probably not with the flowers. But I can help you move tables and set up chairs.”

“Wonderful. I’ll be there before 4:00 and will bring Mr. Gregory with me.”

“It might take me a while to arrange all of the lights. I’ll get there by 4:00 as well,” Mr. Nelson nodded.

“I can help with that, too,” Alec reminded him. “You just tell me where to put them.”

Mr. Nelson chuckled. “Deal.”

“I have a hair appointment at 4:00, but I’ll be there as soon as that is over,” Mrs. Carpenter said.

“A hair appointment?” Mrs. Gregory asked, making a surprised face at her friend.

“Yes,” Mrs. Carpenter answered, sitting up straight. “I want to look my best in case a handsome gentleman asks me to dance.” She slowly turned to look at Mr. Nelson, a coy smile on her face. Alec watched as Mr. Nelson’s face morphed from shock to amusement. And was there something else in his smile as well?

Mrs. Gregory glanced down at the silver watch on her wrist. “All right. I know you’ve got to skedaddle, Alec, but is there anything else?” Everyone looked around at each other, shaking their heads. “Very good then, I think we are done! This dance is going to be just perfect, thanks to you kids.”

“Oh, please,” Valerie said, waving her hand at Mrs. Gregory as if she would shoo her out the building. “You’re the masterminds. We’re just the feet on the ground.” She looked at Alec and smiled in comradery, and he felt his face flush.

“Now, after having a taste of those pies, I believe a trip to the diner is in order. Valerie, I’m sure that’s the last place you’d like to go, but Elvira, Horace, care to join me?”

Once again, Horace’s eyes grew large. “Oh, I would, but Alec is my ride.”

“Mr. Nelson, it’s 5:00, the same time you always come to Bishop’s,” Valerie reminded him as she gathered up her belongings. “Go have some fun.”

“I’ll give you a ride home,” Elvira offered, still smiling at him.

Though he looked a little bit like he wasn’t sure what to think of that offer, Mr. Nelson nodded his head. “Okay, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“Not one bit.”

Valerie stood and put on her coat while the other ladies gathered up their things. “Mrs. Gregory, do you want to take those pies to Mr. Gregory?”

“Well, I better or else I’m in for it if he finds out I didn’t,” she chuckled.

“All right. You kids have fun,” Valerie teased, patting Mrs. Gregory on the shoulder and waving goodbye to the others as she headed for the door. Alec also said his goodbyes and followed behind her.

The others all shouted for them to each have a good evening, take care, be careful on the roads, those sorts of things, but Alec wasn’t quite paying attention to them as he caught up to Valerie in the hallway.

She turned and smiled at him. “I really think this is going to be a lot of fun.”

“Me, too,” he replied. “I’m so glad Mr. Nelson agreed to help.” He was walking next to her now.

“How did you do that?” she asked, giving him a playful nudge that sent his heart sailing.

“Oh, I don’t know. I have my ways.” He raised his eyebrows, which made her giggle. “So what have you got planned now that your shift is over?”

“Honestly? Not much. Probably read or watch a movie with Soph.” He noticed she was wearing sparkly pink pearl earrings and a matching necklace.

“Are those from your Cupid?” he asked eyeing the pearls.

Valerie took her hand out of her coat pocket and clutched the necklace. “Yeah. I got this one today.”

“Still no idea who it is, huh?”

She sighed loudly. “Nope.”

They had reached the door, and she paused before she went out. “Think it’s warm enough for your car to start?” Alec asked, lingering behind her.

“I hope so. I really have to do something about that. But… money’s a little tight right now. I’m saving up to go to cosmetology school.”

“Really?” Alec asked, surprised. “That’s great to hear.”

“Yeah, I’m a little nervous about it.”

“Why?” he asked, leaning against the wall by the door.

Valerie shrugged. “I guess I’m just afraid I won’t be any good at it. Starting over is hard.”

He could understand what she was saying. In fact, he’d sort-of avoided that scenario himself by turning down a better paying job in Washington, DC, to stay with his family and make sure his dad’s company had their finances in order. “It’s always scary to take a risk, Val. But if anyone can do it, it’s you. You’re great at everything you do. You always have been.”

She looked up at him through her eyelashes, her cheeks beginning to turn pink. “You really think so? I mean, I know there truly are some things I’m not so good at—like yoga, and karaoke—but do you really think I’d be good at cosmetology, Alec?”

“Of course,” he replied. A smile broke over her face, and he couldn’t help but smile back at her. She was so beautiful when she smiled. “I do think you’re going to need a more reliable vehicle if you’re going to be driving out of town so often, though.”

“I know.” The smile was gone and she sighed again. “I’ve looked at getting the Bug fixed, but it’s just so old. There’s not much they can do that won’t cost a fortune.”

Alec could see how much it was troubling her, and he really wished he could help her out somehow. “I’m sorry, Val. Maybe something will come along.”

“Hope so,” she said, looking him in the eye again. “Or else Sophie’s going to get really tired of driving to Berryville to pick me up.”

The sounds of the older folks coming down the hallway made them both turn and look in that direction. “I guess you better get going,” Valerie said.

“Oh, yeah.” He might be a few minutes late, but this was worth it.

She pushed the door open and took a few steps toward her car when a crazy, impulsive idea crossed his mind. “Why don’t you come with me?” he called after her.

“What?” Valerie asked, turning to face him, her face scrunched up in confusion.

“Come with me. I mean, you said you wanted to hear me perform, so why not?”

She seemed to consider the offer for a moment before she began to shake her head. “Oh, Alec, I wish I could. But… I’m still wearing my uniform. And my hair smells like french fries.”

He wanted to assure her her hair didn’t smell like grease; it smelled like cupcakes, but he could see from her body language that she didn’t want to go. “Oh, okay.”

Taking a step toward him, she said, “Really, if I was dressed. Or if there was time for me to get dressed, I would totally go with you.”

“Maybe another time,” he said, suddenly wishing he could beam himself off of the planet.

“Definitely,” Valerie agreed. “Any other time. I’m there.”

“Great. Well, have a good night, Valerie.” He vaguely heard her say, something like, “You too,” as he jumped in his SUV and tore out of the parking lot as quickly, but nonchalantly, as possible. Halfway out of the lot, he glanced in his rearview mirror to see if her car was started, and while it was, he noticed she was just sitting behind the wheel, banging her head with the heel of her hand. He had no idea what that was all about, but since her car was running, he decided to make his escape and head for the high school dance, secretly wishing he’d never learned to speak. Things were much safer when Erin did all of his talking for him.

***

Valerie dragged herself in through the front door and didn’t bother to pick her purse up off of the floor when she missed the hook. Instead, she dropped her coat on top of it and left it all in a pile on the floor, deciding she would deal with it later.

A note on the coffee table let her know that Sophie had run over to Melody’s house and would be back soon. She was actually glad her roommate wasn’t there. It made feeling sorry for herself less embarrassing.

After a quick shower to rinse the smell of “french fries” out of her hair, Valerie put on her most comfortable pajamas and wrapped herself in a blanket, the rest of the Symphony bar the only company she wanted. She turned the TV on and cast the remote aside. In front of her, Julia Roberts was talking to Denzel Washington, but she had no idea what either of them were saying.

How could she be so stupid? He had asked her to go with him—like, on a date—and she’d said no! Her reasoning might have been sound, but she could’ve said something else—anything else. Now, Alec would never ask her out again because she said she couldn’t go smelling like a diner.

Granted, showing up at a high school dance dressed in her uniform might’ve been embarrassing, but she could’ve said she’d go home and change and meet him there. Or asked him to stop by her house so she could run in really fast. Or… something other than big fat stupid “No.” Grumbling aloud to herself about being an idiot, Valerie took a huge bite out of her candy bar, no longer caring about sugar or fat or calories or anything else except for how to undo what she’d already done.

She was still trying to chew the enormous bite when Sophie popped in the door. “Hey!” she called. Looking down at the mess by the door that Valerie still hadn’t picked up, she mumbled, “Uh-oh. Someone’s having a bad day.”

“I am so stupid,” Valerie said, little specks of chocolate flying out of her mouth. She didn’t care.

Sophie stopped to hang up Valerie’s belongings before shaking her own coat off and also hanging it by the door. “Swallow that and then tell me what happened.” She dropped down on the sofa next to Valerie and patiently waited for the chocolate to disappear.

“Alec asked me to go with him tonight, and I said no.” It all came out in a rush. It had to, or else she wouldn’t have been able to get it out at all.

It took Sophie a minute to process. “Oh,” she finally said. “Why did you say no?”

Valerie eyed the chocolate bar again, the temptation to shove more chocolate in her face overwhelming. Sophie snatched it out of her hand. “I smelled like Bishop’s, and I was wearing my uniform. And I’m stupid. I didn’t understand what he was asking until I was in my car.”

“What did you think he was asking?”

A sigh of frustration hit her roommate in the face. “I don’t know. I guess I thought he was just being friendly. Then, I remembered that all of you have been saying you think he’s interested in me. I mean, not all of you. Just you. I guess. I don’t know.”

“All of us… sounds accurate to me.”

She sighed again, this one even louder. “So… I blew it, I guess. I mean, who would ask someone out a second time after she turned him down flat?”

“Did you say it was because you smelled and were wearing your uniform?”

“Yes!” It was hostile, and Sophie leaned back a bit. “Sorry. It’s not your fault. I’m just… frustrated.”

“It’s okay, Valerie. It’ll be all right. He’s not going to suddenly not like you anymore because of this.”

“Ha!” she exclaimed. “You should’ve seen how fast he whipped his car out of that parking lot. I didn’t even know a Subaru could corner like that. It was like he never wanted to see me again.”

“Well, where is he performing tonight?” Sophie asked, setting the chocolate down on the coffee table.

Valerie followed the bar with her eyes. It took a moment for Sophie’s question to register. “Uh, Berryville—Clark County High School, I think.”

“Well, that’s not too far. Why don’t you go get dressed and show up! He’ll appreciate the gesture.”

Her eyes wide, Valerie said, “You think I should just drive over to a high school dance? Are you insane? They wouldn’t even let me in.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course they will. Just tell them you’re with the band. Wear those black boots of yours that come to your knees and that gray pencil skirt with your mauve and black checkered sweater. You look so pretty in that.”

“I haven’t even agreed to this hare-brained scheme, and you’re already picking out my outfit?”

“Oh, come on. He probably had to get there early to set up. The dance likely doesn’t even start until 7:00. You could be there well before 8:00.”

Butterflies morphed into dragons in Valerie’s stomach. “Seriously, Soph, I don’t think I can do that.”

“Of course you can. Show the man that you appreciate the invitation! He’ll realize you care about him, too, if you do this.”

Was that what she was afraid of? How did Sophie know for sure that Alec really felt that way about her? It’s not like he’d mentioned having feelings for her to Sophie—or probably anyone.

“Do you want me to call Erin and make sure that’s where he went?” Sophie had her phone in her hand, and Valerie knocked it away before she could use it.

“No!”

“Then get up, woman!”

Sophie was petite, but when she shouted like a drill sergeant, one couldn’t help but follow orders. Valerie was up and headed for her bedroom before she knew what had come over her. The dragons still danced in her stomach, but she realized she had to do this. If Alec thought she’d turned him down because she wasn’t interested in him, then she’d never be able to make it up to him. And for some reason, losing Alec’s friendship—and possibly more—meant everything to her right now.

She threw on the outfit Sophie suggested and hurried through her makeup routine. Her hair had dried in curly waves so it didn’t take her long to style it, deciding to leave it down so that curls cascaded around her face and down to her shoulders. After one more quick check of herself in the mirror, she came back out to see Sophie finishing the last bite of her chocolate bar. “Seriously?”

“What?” she asked, her mouth full of chocolate. “It’s my payment. For letting you borrow my car.”

Even though it wasn’t that cold out yet, it might turn that way. Having Sophie’s more reliable automobile was a good idea. Valerie shook her head at her roommate but said no more about the stolen candy. “This better go well, or else I’m blaming you.” She put on her nicer, black dress coat and grabbed Sophie’s keys. She was carrying a smaller pocketbook, which she hurriedly shoved her wallet and her phone into.

As she headed out the door, Sophie shouted, “You can name your firstborn after me!” Valerie couldn’t help but chuckle at her friend, but she didn’t stop to look back at her. She had a feeling if she stopped for anything at all, she’d never find the courage to start moving again.