18
Thanks for taking me out tonight, Jeremiah.”
“You’re welcome, Thea. I really enjoyed the movie. Did you?”
“It was fun, but I hate how they always finish off with a cliffhanger. They want to make sure you go to see the next one.” She sighed. “And I probably will.”
“Yeah, me too,” he laughed.
They didn’t say anything for a long moment as they walked side by side to his truck. While the movie had been good, what he’d really enjoyed had been her company. It had been years since he’d taken a woman out on a date, and when he’d suggested a movie, he hadn’t any idea what type of film she liked watching. He’d let her decide, and was thrilled when she’d chosen one of the super-hero flicks he was hooked on.
When they reached his truck, he opened the door and helped her inside. He couldn’t help noticing that she smelled good, and she looked good, too, in slacks, a blazer and blouse with a pretty floral scarf around her neck. He had a feeling Thea usually looked good. It was obvious that she took pride in her appearance.
“It’s still early,” he said, glancing at her after he’d gotten into the truck and started the ignition. “Do you want to stop somewhere for coffee and dessert?”
“No thanks. But if you have a taste for both, I make pretty good coffee. And I baked a pan of banana-nut bread this morning.”
Jeremiah smiled. She was inviting him inside for a snack. “That sounds wonderful.”
On the drive to her place, they talked about the movie, and she told him how she got into Marvel comics years ago when her youngest daughter was a huge fan. “I finally told her to come get her comics before I moved out here. She had a huge boxful of them. She’d convinced me that one day they would be collector items.”
Jeremiah chuckled. “My son Lyle was into comics as well. I didn’t have to convince him to come and get them, though. The boy guarded them with his life and still has them. He, too, believes they will be worth a fortune one day.”
Their conversation moved to the changing weather and how forecasters predicted it would be the nastiest winter ever. “I still plan to come over and chop some wood for you,” he said. “Will this week be okay?”
“That sounds perfect.”
And then they talked about church. He told her how long he’d attended his church, what his duties were, and what committees he was on. He invited her to come with him one Sunday, and she told him she’d be happy to.
When he pulled his truck into her driveway, it occurred to him just how easily he’d become a part of her life, and she, a part of his. They just seemed to fall in together as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It was nice.
“It’s cool tonight, isn’t it? I’m glad I wore a jacket,” she said, as they walked toward her front door.
She was right, the air was rather cool. He was tempted to put his arms around her shoulders but wasn’t sure such a thing was appropriate on their first date.
When they reached the door, she unlocked it and he followed her inside. Tonight had been their first official date, and he intended for there to be many more. He hoped like the dickens that she liked the idea of that. He was certainly warming up to the possibilities.
“You can use the hall bathroom to wash up while I make coffee and get out the dessert.”
“Okay, thanks. Be right back.”
When he’d finished, he heard Thea moving around in her kitchen. He called out to her, and she popped her head out of the kitchen door. “I’m in here. I thought we could eat in the kitchen instead of in the dining room. It’s a little less formal.”
When he got to the kitchen, he saw that she’d already placed cups of coffee and plates filled with pastry on the table. “Go ahead and sit down, Jeremiah.”
“Not until you do.” He was raised to be a gentleman, which included pulling out a woman’s chair for her. He’d taught his sons to be gentlemen as well, although he wasn’t sure if they kept up the practice now.
“You’re such a kind and thoughtful gentleman, Jeremiah.”
Kind and thoughtful? He wondered if she’d still think that if she had any idea what had crossed his mind when he’d walked into the kitchen and saw how good she looked without her shoes and blazer.
After he pulled out her chair and she sat down, he took a seat, himself. While enjoying their snack, they continued getting to know each other better. He told her more about his sons and daughter, and she relayed stories about things her daughters had done. Their conversation was so easy, so natural. They discussed things they liked to do, and places they would just love to go. Germany headed the list, followed by England, for both of them.
Even after they’d finished coffee and dessert, they continued to talk. Because he saw no reason not to, he told her about his ex-wife Edwina and the hurt and heartache she’d caused his family. She spoke of her husband and how rigid and structured he’d been, yet still a great husband and father. And they discovered they had another thing in common—they both liked to bowl. He wasted no time inviting her to join him at the local alley one evening later on in the week.
He glanced at his watch and saw it was after midnight. “It’s time for me to leave, Thea,” he said, standing after gathering up their dishes. She grabbed the coffee cups, then they both headed for the sink.
“I’d like to invite you out to dinner. I’m an okay cook, but I won’t try any of my meals out on you yet. However, I know of a place in Chicago that’s owned by an army friend of mine. Every once in a while, I try to patronize his place. I think you’d like it. Would you go there with me on Sunday?
She smiled. “I’d love to.”
He helped her wash up the dishes, disregarding her protests that it wasn’t necessary. Though he wasn’t happy about leaving, he didn’t want to wear out his welcome.
She walked him to the door. “Thanks for a nice evening, Jeremiah. I truly enjoyed myself.”
“Me too.” And before he could talk himself out of it, he leaned in and kissed her. It had been years since he’d kissed a woman but the moment their lips touched, he realized it was like riding a bicycle. You didn’t forget how it was done. And as if they’d both been starving for such intimacy, the kiss quickly deepened.
As far as Jeremiah was concerned, the kiss could have gone on even longer, but her phone rang. She pulled back and whispered, “Oh my.”
Oh my, indeed, he thought, staring down at her. “Do you need to get that?” he asked.
She shook her head. “It’s probably one of my daughters, calling to see how our date went.”
He laughed. “I expect Carrie will grill me, as well. I think they assume we don’t know how to handle our own business.”
Thea laughed. “You’re right.”
“Then we’ll just have to prove them wrong.”
He leaned in and kissed her again, unable to stop himself. When the kiss ended, he straightened and stared down into her beautiful face. “Goodnight, Thea.”
“Goodnight, Jeremiah.”
As he left, he whistled his way back to his truck. Tonight, for the first time in more than thirty years, he felt extremely happy.