Some Day Somebody (17 page)

“Well, I was thinking maybe I’d call Dave and ask him to stay in the house until this situation is behind me.”

Elaine stared at her daughter then got up to go to her fridge.  She reached inside for the massive turkey. “Surely, we can think of a better solution than that.”

Carrie maneuvered her mother gently out of the way to lift the bird from the fridge and placed it in the stainless steel sink. “I don’t see anything else to do right now, Mom.”

“Maybe it’s Dave making the phone calls to get you to do exactly this.”

‘So, the phone was off the hook, and that’s why I couldn’t get hold of you last night. I nearly called Kathleen to go check on you.”

“Kathleen? Oh, Rob
LeDoux’s
mom. I keep forgetting she lives next door to Christie.” She sucked in her breath, suddenly feeling guilty for making her mom worry. “Glad you didn’t do that, I was fine.” Carrie placed her hand on her mother’s shoulder. “I’d like your opinion on something.”

Elaine filled two stoneware mugs with steaming coffee and placed them on the table before seating herself. “What’s going on, Honey?”

Carrie stared into her mother’s eyes, wishing she knew beforehand what her reaction would be. “The phone wasn’t off the hook the entire time last night. I was talking to a friend of mine.”

Elaine’s mouth opened and she nodded, giving Carrie her classic I’m-not-surprised look. “Was it Sam, the guy you work with?”

“Uh, yes it was.  How’d you know?”

“Just a feeling, dear,” Elaine said. “So, it’s happened.”

Carrie’s mouth snapped closed. “What’s happened?”

“You’ve found someone new.”

Her mother poured creamer into her coffee, acting as calmly as though her daughter...
this
daughter...found a new man every other week. “Well, Sam and I are friends, but that’s as far as it’s gone.” She faltered and gazed down at the table, turning her cup nervously until the hot liquid splashed over the top. “He’s asked, but I haven’t accepted any dates from him.”

Elaine raised her cup to her mouth, one brow lifting noticeably.

“Why not?
Don’t you like him?”

“I like him a lot.”

“Is he married?”

“Divorced.”

“Is he a criminal?”

“No.” Carrie bit on her lower lip to keep a straight face. She couldn’t wait to tell Sam about this conversation.

Elaine brought her cup to her lips and paused. “What’s the problem, then?”

“It’s too soon to date. I’ve only been divorced four months. I’m afraid my kids would have a fit. I don’t think Lauren could handle this right now—”

“Good Lord, it sounds like you’re reading from one of Letterman’s Lists.” She splayed her hands up as though she were framing a marquis.  “The Top Ten Reasons Carrie Should Never Date Again.”

Carrie released a tortured sigh as she gazed across at her mother. “It’s too soon for me to date, isn’t it?”

Elaine lifted her mug. “I don’t know. Are you grieving over the divorce?”

“God, no.”

“Is he a good man?”

“I think so.”

“Then he probably is. You’d know all the danger signals, thanks to the father of my three gorgeous grandchildren.” She sipped her coffee and threw in the traditional southern accompaniment to any insult. “Bless his heart.”

“Jesus, Mom. I thought for sure you’d give me the old ‘find yourself first’ speech.”

“Are you lost?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Elaine’s laughter echoed through the cozy kitchen. “Well, I should think you’d know if you were.”

Carrie blinked several times in an effort to process this conversation.

Elaine covered her daughter’s hand. “Look Honey, I’m over seventy years old and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: It’s never too late, or too
soon
to find joy in your life. If you think you need some time alone to ‘find yourself’, then take that time. If not, go for it.
You
make the rules now, remember?”

Carrie’s worried brow lifted. “I do, don’t I?” She gazed into the eyes of the woman whose unconditional love had been doled out equally among eight children. “But,
you’re
happy alone.”

“I am. If I want to read until five o’clock in the morning and sleep until noon, there’s no one to stop me, except maybe someone from the Garden Club Committee.”

“Or the Museum Committee,” Carrie added.

“Or the Ladies’ Alter Society.”

Carrie wiped tears from her eyes as their laughter abated. “The point is, maybe I should be more like you.”

“You mean alone for the rest of your life?” Elaine asked. “Aw hell, why would you want to do that? Your dad and I were married over forty years when he died.”

“You could have remarried. Remember when Mr.
Potier
called you for a date a few years back?”

“He was an old man then, and he’s even older now.” She waved her hands before her. “I’ve had my great love. I married your father when he was young, gorgeous, and in his prime. It took years to train him the little I could. I have no desire to start whipping another old man into shape at my age.” She patted Carrie’s hand. “You’re too young to give up on finding love again.”

“But, the kids—”

“Will leave home and have families of their own one day.” She caught Carrie’s hand in her own. “Do you want to be alone when that happens?”

Carrie studied her mother’s face, still beautiful for a woman her age. “I don’t want to hurt them.”

“You’re a good mother, and your children love you. They’ll adjust to any changes you make right now. This is your time...they’ll have their time later.” She passed her hands through hair white as a cotton ball. “Honey, I can’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. I just want to see you happy for a change. If you can do that alone, fine. But if finding a good man who you can be happy and grow old with makes it easier for you, that’s fine too.”

Elaine sat back and relaxed in her chair. “So, tell me about this Sam who wants to date you.”

“Sam Langley is from Kenton.” She placed one hand on her stomach to calm the butterflies she felt just from speaking his name. Carrie gave her the low down on Sam then lifted her gaze to meet her mother’s. “He makes me laugh.”

Elaine’s face creased with a knowing smile. “And those are all qualities you want in a man, but does he melt your butter?”

Carrie’s mouth fell open at her mother’s frankness. “Melt my...
Ew
...I so don’t want to have this conversation with you!”

Her mother’s eyes twinkled with mischievous laughter. “Well, he sure has put a smile on your face and a sparkle back in your eye. As your
mother,”
Elaine said the word with emphasis, “I can tell you it’s been too damn long since I’ve seen you like this. Will you see him over the holidays?”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Didn’t you say Grant and the twins would be with Dave through most of the holiday?”

Carrie used a paper towel to wipe up her coffee spill from the table. “Yeah, so they could visit with their Texas cousins, but they’ll be here tomorrow for lunch.”

“Does Sam have plans tonight?”

“Nope,” Carrie said, draining her cup and setting it in the sink. “His kids have something with their mom tonight and tomorrow. Where’s the pan for the turkey?”

Elaine pulled a large, aluminum roaster from a bottom shelf and handed it to Carrie. “I don’t see a reason in the world why you two can’t go on a friendly date. Why don’t you go out and have some fun?”

Carrie pulled out what she needed to inject the turkey then paused as she thought about her mother’s comment. “You really think it would be okay?”

***

Sam stood on the porch discussing lawn mowers and garden tillers with his son-in-law. “Yep, before you know it, it’ll be time to plant the spring garden.” Seconds after he heard his phone ringing, Amanda walked onto the porch carrying the cordless to her father.

“Here, Pop. A Carrie
Jeansonne
for you, and if we don’t leave right now, we’re
gonna
be late. Let’s go, Nick.”

Sam watched his lanky teenage son lope off behind his sister. “Y’all
be
careful,” he said, before addressing the caller. “Carrie, is everything all right?”

“Yes, but is this a bad time to call?” she asked him.

“Not at all.
What’s up pretty girl?”

“Christie won’t be home until tomorrow, and I don’t care to sit at home all night.”

Sam held his breath as his heart pounded out the George of the Jungle kettle drum rhythm in his chest.

“So, I was wondering...”

God, I want to see her so bad.

“If you don’t have anything to do tonight...”

“I don’t.”
Come on baby, say the words.

“How about we go on that first date?”

He clenched his fist in victory while struggling to keep his voice calm.
“Absolutely.
We still talking dinner and a movie?”

“Sounds great.”

“What time can I pick you up?”

“Maybe I should meet you in Kenton. There’s not much to do here in Gardiner.”

Sam glanced around, thinking of everything that he’d need to do before she got here. “I’d love to have you come over, but I hate the idea of you driving all the way over here.”

“The nearest theater to Gardiner is an hour drive. Besides, I need to get away. I’m on edge over here.”

***

By two o’clock, Carrie and Elaine had finished with the meal preparations. She drove back to town and pulled in at a gift shop boasting a huge sale. Fifteen minutes later, she walked out with a small gift box for Sam, along with a card.

CHAPTER 10

Dave stood
in her doorway, one hand fisted midair in pre-knock position. The other gripped a huge bouquet of red and white roses in a cut crystal vase. His gaze seared her as though she were a piece of meat on a hot grill.