Chapter Seventeen

Lila answered the door in her sweatpants and an old t-shirt, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. Her appearance didn't seem to affect the delivery man who handed her the floral arrangement and then hurried back to his van. Lila carried the flowers into the house, taking them into the kitchen and setting them on the table.

The arrangement wasn't large. A few carnations, some daisies and green pom poms. She pulled out the card, surprised to see the message inside.

I heard you were back in town. I'm down

visiting my mother. How about dinner?

--Dave Cooper

503-541-5118

Lila held the card, ignoring the bitter taste of disappointment. The flowers weren't from Alex.

She didn't know why she expected them to be. He hadn't tried to contact her at all in the weeks since she'd left Portland. Apparently he was taking the separation better than she was. She doubted he'd been moping around in sweatpants for days on end.

Lila had only left the house when forced to go out for supplies. Even then she often ordered pizza instead of going out for groceries. After a slice or two she generally gave up, her appetite deserting her for the first time in her life. The kitchen no longer seemed a safe haven, and she hadn't bothered to cook anything more complicated than scrambled eggs since her return.

At least I could probably fit into my size 18 jeans again, she thought. If I ever changed out of these sweatpants. But now it appeared she might have a reason. Dave Cooper wanted to have dinner. Maybe he hadn't heard about the implosion of her business and her personal life.

He'd sent her a few emails, very polite with a flirty undertone that had increased over time. She hadn't had the heart to say much in return and had kept things neutral. How could she consider flirting when her heart felt like it had died in her chest?

Because my business is dead. That's what she told herself was causing the pain anyway.

Now Dave was upping the stakes.

Two hometown heroes, he'd called them. Lila didn't feel much like a hero. A hero didn't hide out in her mother's house, wishing for things that could never be. A hero didn't drive her business into the ground before she'd even managed to get it off said ground.

And yet, maybe Dave Cooper was just what she needed to get out of her funk. Perhaps he'd have some advice about bringing a business back from the afterlife.

And, a little voice whispered in the back of her mind, maybe he can resurrect some confidence as well. A little light flirting with another man might help her shame pull out of its downward spiral.

Lila dialed the number, secretly hoping to get his voicemail. A message seemed much more manageable than conversation.

"Hello?"

No luck. "Hello, Dave?"

"Speaking."

"This is Lila Johnstone."

"Lila! It's great to hear from you."

"Likewise. Thank you for the flowers. They're lovely."

"Sure, sure," he said, his voice taking on a serious tone. "I know you've been going through some tough times."

Shit, so he had heard. Oh well.

"I appreciate it," she said, unsure of what else to say.

"So what do you think?" he asked. "About dinner?"

Lila made to answer, but a noise in the background distracted her. "Who are you talking to, David?" The voice was muffled, but sounded like an older female.

She thought he might have covered the phone, but could still hear his response. "It's Lila, Mom. I'm asking her to dinner."

"Oh no you're not."

Lila cringed. What happened to Mrs. Cooper being on her side? Alex Drake and you, fucking on the kitchen table, that's what happened.

"Stop it, Mother. Leave me alone." Lila heard some shuffling, then what sounded like a door closing. "Sorry about that," he mumbled.

"No problem," she said, swallowing past the lump in her throat.

"Look, I hope that didn't put you off dinner. I'd love to take you out."

Lila held back a sigh. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

"I disagree. We're both back in town at the same time. I consider that to be more destiny than coincidence. Besides, you never came by my burrito cart, so technically you owe me."

Lila let out a stilted laugh. He was correct, but she wasn't sure if she liked his pointing it out. Still, there was nothing else going on, she realized as her gaze scanned the empty kitchen. And the flowers were nice. She'd never received flowers from a man before.

"Okay," she said at last. "Dinner sounds nice."

"How about tomorrow night? I can pick you up at 7."

"I'll see you then."

The next day Lila forced herself out of bed and into a hot bath. She soaked, gathering her strength, willing herself out of the house and back into public. A date. At least it sounded like one. What did she know about dates? About flowers? About a normal relationship between a man and a woman?

Next to nothing.

She climbed out of the tub and concentrated on grooming. She painted her nails, shaped her eyebrows. Picked out an outfit that wasn't too casual, but wasn't very dressy either. Pulled up her hair into a sleek pony tail.

That still left too many hours of the day to wait. So she paged through magazines and stared out the window, wondering how she'd make it through dinner. Dave was nice enough, but she wasn't sure of his intentions. Or her own, not really. And his mother hates me now. Can't forget that.

She went through the motions of picking up the house to distract herself from her thoughts. There wasn't much to pick up, besides a few empty pizza boxes. She carried them out to the garbage can, then put the can on the curb. Stopping by the mailbox, she was surprised to find a large manila envelope inside.

She pulled it out. It was addressed to Gourmet on the Go, care of Lila Johnstone. The sender was something called The Mountain Home Foundation. She didn't recognize the name.

Lila threw the envelope on the table and stared at it. She didn't open it. Gourmet on the Go was over, that part of her life in the past. It would be easier to toss the envelope into the garbage and forget she'd even seen it.

But a part of her wouldn't allow it. So it sat there, unopened. And she left it there when, at precisely 7 pm, Dave Cooper arrived to take her out to dinner.