Chapter 17
Evan
No matter how many times I left the place, every time I returned to Dillon and saw that view from the top of the hill, I got that same feeling of excitement. I used to look forward to every summer so much, and I would miss it so terribly when I had to go back to the east coast for school.
Even though I now mostly lived here again, aside from the time I spent in Sala Valley, Wytheville, and a few other towns around here, I still missed this place when I was away from it. This was home, this was where my heart was, and that was how it would always be.
“Wow, it's so pretty,” Lora said as we started the drive down the steep, winding road that would take us into the little town.
The look in her eyes was one of joy and an almost childlike wonder. Most people had a similar reaction when they saw the beautiful mountains and woods that surrounded this place.
“It is,” I said. “Even when I lived in places like Tokyo and Paris, I used to miss this place. I guess I'm just a small-town guy at heart.”
“I can't believe I've never been here before,” she said. “If I'd known it was so beautiful here, I would have come a long time ago.”
“Well,” I said, “I don't think very many people know about it. It's kind of a retirement town; there isn't much industry out here and it's not on the tourist map even though there's so much natural beauty. I think the residents prefer it that way; most people move out here for the peace and quiet and the scenic views. They don't want developers coming in and building strip malls.”
“There are enough strip malls elsewhere,” Lora said. “It's nice to be able to go to a place without them.”
“It is.”
“So, you have a restaurant here?” she asked, smiling. “Are there even enough people in this town to keep it open?”
I chuckled. “Barely. But I make my money from my restaurants elsewhere, places like Nine in Sala Valley. The one here is just a labor of love. It's much less of a gourmet style place, and more home cooking. On a good month I'll break even. Quieter months, well, I might run at a little bit of a loss, but that's okay, because, like I said, I make plenty of money from my other ventures. Here, it's different. Here my customers are like family; some of them have known me since I was a little kid.”
“I like that,” she said, and I could see that she was impressed. “It's not often that people dedicate themselves to such things these days. But I guess you're full of surprises, right?”
We looked at each other intently, and I watched as her lips curved up into a smile. I wanted to lean across and kiss her passionately right there and then, but I had to keep my eyes on the road; it was steep, and some of these corners could be treacherous.
“Full of surprises,” I murmured, grinning. “Yes.”
We reached the bottom of the road and started driving through the town. There was one main street, with a few little side streets branching off of it.
“You want to stop in at my restaurant quickly?” I asked. “I'd like to show you my house, too, but it's farther away and we don't have time right now.”
“Sure,” she said. “I'd like to see it.”
I turned down one of the side streets and pulled up outside my place.
“'Evan's',” she said, reading the name up outside the place. “Well, that's original.”
She winked at me and I chuckled.
“Yeah,” I said, “I know, not the greatest name, but here, it's all about simplicity. Like I said, this is much less exotic and experimental than my other places.”
“I'm just messing with you,” she said. “So, are we gonna go inside?”
“Yes, we are,” I said. “Come on.”
I got out and helped her out the passenger side, and then we walked in. I always smiled whenever I walked into my place.
“Oh wow,” she said, looking around at the subtle lighting, the simple minimalist décor. A fifties crooner soundtrack played softly from the jukebox in the corner. “It's like something from another era, yet it's modern at the same time.”
I nodded, smiling proudly. “It took a lot of experimenting to get the décor and atmosphere just how I wanted it, but I think I finally managed to get it right.”
She nodded. “It really looks great.”
Just then the only waiter, Johnny, came walking out of the kitchen area. “Table for two? Oh! Hi there, Evan. For a second I didn't recognize you.”
“Hey, Johnny,” I said. “Meet my girlfriend, Lora. She's from Sala Valley.”
“Ah, that’s a lovely place,” he said, shaking Lora's hand. “I hear the wine coming out of the winery there is top quality. We've got a bunch of it in the back, actually.”
Lora laughed. “I know you do. I organized that.”
Johnny chuckled. “Ah, well then I guess you know just how great it is. So, you work for the winery?”
“I do,” she replied.
“I'd love to keep chatting,” I said, interrupting them, “but I just brought Lora here to show her around. We might stop in for a glass of wine later, though. Right now, we have to get to my folks' house for dinner.”
He nodded knowingly. “Ah. Well, you'd better not keep Anne and Owen waiting. Especially not Anne,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“I know, I know. See you later Johnny,” I said to him.
“You know,” Lora said as we were getting back into the car, “you never actually told me your parents' names. So, your dad is Owen, and your step-mom is Anne?”
“That's right. Sorry, another detail I forgot.”
“That's okay. You've told me a lot more about them than most people would have this early on.”
“I guess I have. Anyway, let's get going. Their place is just outside town, about ten minutes from here.”
We drove through the rest of the small town, and then we were out in the woods. Well, not strictly woods, as there were plenty of houses here, but each house was located on a huge piece of property, and there were little areas of forest between each house so that it looked and felt to each homeowner as if they were out alone in the woods.
“Ah these woods,” I said with a smile as we drove through the trees, “I used to enjoy exploring them as a kid. When I was here over summer vacation, I would spend the entire day in the woods with my friends, just messing around and exploring. It was great. We would only come back when it was getting dark.”
“That sounds like a really wonderful childhood,” Lora said.
“It was. I just wish I could have stayed here instead of having to go all the way across the country to boarding school. But then I guess I wouldn't be the man I am today. I'd probably have just stayed here, and never would have seen the world.”
“Sometimes difficult circumstances bring out the best in people and turn out to be for the best later on in life,” said Lora.
“Yeah,” I said. “It certainly worked out that way for me.” Just then I caught sight of my parents' driveway. “Here we are.”
As I glanced across at Lora, I thought I caught sight of her face tightening with nervousness.
“Hey,” I said, placing my hand on hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Don't worry, everything is gonna be great. My dad will love you. So will Anne. And as for my step-brother…well, I guess that will depend on whether he even shows up. He said earlier that he wasn't sure that he'd be able to make the dinner, and I don't see his car here. He's usually late for everything though.”
“And it's just going to be us five, then?” she asked, still looking a little worried.
“Yeah. I've got family on my dad's side, but they still live in LA, so we don't see them that often. And as for Anne's side, she was an only child so there isn't much in the way of family there. Her first husband, JB's real father, he passed away ten years ago. We didn't see him much anyway, and I know that JB couldn't stand him. He always thought of my father as his real dad, I guess.”
“Well, I'm looking forward to meeting them.”
She seemed to be sincere, and I could see that she was doing her best to be upbeat and bubbly.
“Good. I think you'll like them. Come on.” I drove to the front of the mansion and parked the car.
“Wow, the grounds here are huge,” she remarked, looking around in wonder. “It's like a park.”
“My parents have a very talented landscaper who comes in and makes sure everything looks perfect. My dad doesn't mind so much, but Anne is pretty particular about stuff like that. Everything has to be perfect for her. Ah, and speaking of Anne...”
We both looked up and saw her standing in the middle of the doorway. Well, this was it. Lora was about to meet my parents.