Stitches in Time (10 page)

M
arta had come Wednesday morning to clean while I was out doing my deliveries. I could have paid her to prepare something for dinner, but I chose to make a batch of lasagna to have with Brenda and Tina. Salad and garlic bread would top it off.

I thought the dining room would be too formal and decided we'd eat at the breakfast nook table. I'd just finished completing the place settings when Haley walked into the kitchen.

She placed a kiss on my cheek. “It looks so nice, Mom. Thanks for having them over for dinner.”

“I like Tina and I'm looking forward to meeting her mom. Do me a favor and fill that vase on the counter with water and then arrange the flowers.”

“Oh, pretty. Did you get these at Maddie's?”

“Yeah. I thought they'd brighten up the table.”

I began preparing the salad while Haley tended to the flowers.

I was lost in my thoughts concerning Chadwick and looking forward to dinner at his house the following night. I certainly had not planned to dive into another relationship but I was beginning to see that relationships were another thing that we have no control with. I had always been a planner and organizer and decided that maybe it was time for me to let go and see where life took me.

“Mom, did you hear me?” I heard Haley ask.

“What's that?” I said.

“Do you want me to put the garlic bread into the oven?”

“Not yet. I thought I'd offer Brenda a glass of wine and we'd sit on the patio for a little while before dinner. The lasagna comes out of the oven at six thirty and we can stick the garlic bread in then.”

“Okay,” she said, just as the front bell rang. “Oh, there they are. I'll get it.”

I placed the salad in the fridge to stay crisp and followed Haley to the front of the house.

“Hey,” she said, opening the door wide. “Come on in.”

“Hi, Brenda,” I said, extending my hand. “I'm Isabelle. I'm so glad you could come.”

A smile covered her face. “Thank you so much for inviting us. What a beautiful house you have,” she said, stepping into the living room.

She was medium height, slim build, and had thick, dark hair like her daughter's. But unlike Tina, Brenda had a stunning, exotic quality about her. Dark eyes and olive skin added to her looks.

“Oh, it's not really our house,” I explained. “We're just renting it, but yes, it's a very nice home. Come on, let's go sit on the patio till dinner is ready. Would you like a glass of wine?”

“Yes, that would be nice,” she said, following me to the kitchen.

“We're going up to my room,” Haley said. “Call us when dinner is ready.”

“Oh, my goodness,” Brenda exclaimed. “This kitchen is nicer than some restaurants.”

I smiled as I uncorked a bottle of red wine. “Yeah, it
is
pretty wonderful.”

“Do you do a lot of cooking? I think I'd be in here all day and night cooking,” she said.

I passed her a wineglass and shook my head. “Not nearly as much as I probably should. Do you enjoy cooking?”

“Oh, yes, very much. My mother owned a restaurant in Mexico before we came to America. Then my father died and we went to Texas. My mother opened a small restaurant there and I used to help out as a kid.”

We walked out to the patio and sat down. “Oh, that's great. Does your mother still have the restaurant?”

Her expression looked sad. “No, I'm afraid not. My mother passed away three years ago and I wasn't able to keep it going on my own.”

“That's too bad. I love Mexican food. I know you're an RN, but have you thought about opening a restaurant here?”

“I'd love to, but financially I couldn't do that right now.”

I nodded. “Well, maybe in time.” I saw the doubtful look she gave me. “Haley told me you moved here last year for your job.”

Brenda paused a moment before saying, “That was one of the reasons, yes. But I had just gotten divorced . . . and . . . I just thought it best if we left the area and started over.”

“Right. I did the same thing when we left Atlanta. Actually, my divorce documents just arrived today.”

“Are you still in touch with Haley's father?”

“I wasn't very much at first, but I think we've arrived at a good place for all three of us. Haley has plans to fly to Atlanta in April to spend some time with her dad. Tina said she's not in touch with her dad at all?”

“No. She's not,” was all she said.

That seemed to be a subject she'd rather not discuss.

“So you like it around here?” I asked.

Brenda took a sip of wine and nodded. “Yes, very much. I really like my job and my coworkers have been kind and friendly. When we arrived here last year, we didn't have much with us and people were so giving.”

I had a feeling there was a lot more to Brenda's story than she wanted to discuss on our first time meeting each other.

“I've also found this to be a wonderful community.”

“Do you have family here? Is that why you chose Ormond Beach?” she asked.

“Actually, no. Chloe wasn't really family but close enough.” I went on to explain about my father and Chloe and how Haley and I came to be here.

“Chloe sounds like a wonderful person. You were fortunate she took you under her wing and introduced you to Mavis Anne.”

I was beginning to feel more grateful each day. “Oh, you have to meet Mavis Anne. You'll just love her. Well, let's take our wine inside. That lasagna should be about ready.”

* * *

The girls and Brenda helped me clean up after dinner. We had just finished loading the dishwasher and I looked around the kitchen.

“I think that's it,” I said. “Thanks for your help.”

“That was delicious,” Brenda said. “I can't thank you enough for having Tina and me to dinner. I'm not sure if she told you, but we just have an efficiency apartment on the beach. So my ability to cook is very limited.”

For somebody who loved to cook that must be difficult. I recalled some of the run-down motels along the beach and assumed that was where they lived.

“Do you want me to go check on Mavis Anne?” Haley asked.

I glanced at the clock and saw it was just past seven thirty. “No, that's okay. There are cupcakes for dessert if you girls would like some. I'm going to make coffee for Brenda and me and then I thought I'd take her over to meet Mavis Anne.”

“Oh, okay. Tell her I'll be over by nine thirty to spend the night with her. We're going to go watch a video.”

I saw a smile cross Brenda's face. “I'm very happy that Tina met such a nice girl as Haley. It's so scary today with kids.”

“I feel the same way. Haley had a bad experience with bullying at school before we moved here, so I was hoping she'd meet some nice kids. She's made a good circle of friends, but it's obvious that Tina is her favorite.”

Brenda nodded. “Yeah, Tina feels the same way. Having a close female friend is good. I've never had one.”

I was surprised to hear this. “Really?” I said, thinking of Petra and was not able to picture my life without her in it.

She shook her head. “Oh, as a kid in Mexico I did, but when we came to America, I lost touch with them. I had a few friends at school in Texas but I didn't have a lot of free time, helping my mother at the restaurant after school and on weekends. So it made it difficult to be part of a group. And then I went to college for nursing and I guess I was more focused on my studies than socializing.”

I found this to be sad. Every girl or woman should have that one special person she could depend on, no matter what. But Brenda had never experienced that kind of friendship.

She accepted the mug of coffee that I passed her and waved her other hand in the air. “Oh, I'm not complaining. Not at all. I'm very grateful to be here, to have my job and to see my daughter so happy.”

I liked Brenda Sanchez. I'd only known her a few hours but I could tell she was a special person and we were developing a connection.

“Come on,” I said. “Take your coffee and let's go check on Mavis Anne.”

We walked out the French doors and Brenda said, “Oh, is that the yarn shop over there?”

“Yes. Do you knit or crochet?”

“I love to knit. My mother taught me when I was a child. She was an expert knitter. But I haven't knitted in quite a while. I had to fill the car only with essentials when we came here, so I didn't bring any of my yarn stash.”

Leaving a yarn stash behind? Yes, Brenda was special and made me realize she was the type of person who not only wasn't selfish but also didn't seem resentful of the hand life had dealt her.

“Well, you should stop by the shop sometime. We have loads of yarn and needles and all kinds of fun stuff.”

“Yeah, maybe,” was all she said, and I could have kicked myself. It was pretty obvious that money for yarn wasn't an option right now.

* * *

“It's so nice to meet you,” Mavis Anne said after I made the introductions. “And I simply adore your daughter. She and Haley are my two favorite girls.”

Brenda smiled as she sat down. “Thank you. She's a good girl. I'm not sure what I would have done without her these past few years.”

“And Isabelle told me you're a nurse at the hospital. So you like our community?”

“Oh, I do. Very much. Koi House is your childhood home?”

“Yes, I grew up there with my sister and brother. But I won't lie, I love living here with David and Clive. Not that they spoil me or anything, but I'm happy Koi House has the energy of Isabelle and Haley living there.”

If Brenda thought it odd that a house could have energy she didn't say anything. I saw her glance at the sweater that Mavis Anne was working on.

“That's a beautiful sweater. I love doing cables.”

“Oh, you're a knitter? How nice. You'll have to join us for a knit-along or one of the knitting groups.”

“Thank you, but we'll see. I work a lot of hours . . . and right now my time is limited.”

“Well, you drop by whenever you want. You'll be very welcome.”

After about thirty minutes, Brenda looked at her watch and said she needed to get Tina and head home.

“I'm working day shift tomorrow for some overtime, in addition to my normal night shift,” she explained.

I walked back to the house with her and we hugged before Brenda thanked me again for dinner and a wonderful evening.

I watched her pull out of the driveway in an older model car and knew she was one of so many single parents trying to get along in life. For the first time, I felt a twinge of guilt. I had thought I'd had hard times, but I had a feeling they were probably nothing in comparison to what Brenda had endured since she was a child.

W
e had just returned from Mavis Anne's hair appointment. “Can you stay and have coffee with me?” she asked.

It wasn't quite four and I had two hours before Chadwick was picking me up. “Yes, that would be nice. Have you heard from David?”

“I have,” she said as she prepared the coffeemaker. “They're having a wonderful time. He said the weather is perfect. They're shopping, enjoying the Italian food and wine, and also relaxing. So it sounds like the perfect getaway.”

“That's wonderful. Any mention of your yarn yet?”

Mavis Anne laughed. “Not yet, but he assured me they're going to focus on that tomorrow.”

A few minutes later we were settled with our coffee, and Mavis Anne asked about my mother.

“Isn't she arriving next week?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I haven't heard from her, but Haley told me she flies down here a week from today.”

“Are you feeling any better about her coming?”

“I can't do anything about it, so it really doesn't matter,” I said, and heard that sulky tone in my voice again.

“Well, I hope you won't think I'm disloyal . . . but I'd really like to meet her.”

I wasn't surprised to hear this. Mavis Anne Overby was a people person. She welcomed meeting new people; my mother would be no exception.

“Oh, I'm sure you'll meet her. My mother is a knitter. Or at least she used to be when I was a kid. I don't know that much about her now. But I'm sure Haley will convince her to stop by the yarn shop after she gets settled in.”

“That would be nice,” was all Mavis Anne said on the subject. “So Chadwick is having you to dinner this evening. I'm sure you'll enjoy that. In case you haven't gathered, he's one of my favorite people.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I sort of thought so.”

“Chadwick is such a wonderful addition to the community. He's quite the philanthropist and hosts fund-raisers for various causes. We really appreciate all that he does.”

I recalled that Chloe had mentioned this to me.

“He does seem to be a very giving person and that's a good trait to have.”

“Oh, he is. Wait until you see the Fourth of July gala that he'll be hosting. He has it at his home every year and the proceeds go to the local hospital.”

That was still five months away; I didn't know if Chadwick would continue to be in my life then. After the breakup of my marriage and the reason behind it, I still wasn't feeling all that confident when it came to romance.

“Well,” I said after finishing my coffee, “I need to get home. Chadwick is picking me up at six.”

“You be sure to tell that handsome man I said hello, and you have a wonderful evening,” Mavis told me.

* * *

Chadwick arrived just before six. I opened the door to see a huge smile on his face.

“Hey,” he said. “Ready to dine at Chez Chadwick?”

I laughed. “I am. Just let me grab a sweater.”

“Your daughter isn't home?” he asked when I walked back to the living room.

“No, she's having dinner with Mavis Anne tonight. Which reminds me, Mavis Anne said to be sure to say hello to you.” I left out the part about him being handsome.

“She's a character,” he said and laughed. “All set?”

“I am.”

We drove the short distance down Beach Avenue and pulled into a circular driveway on the right. Not ostentatious but certainly a lovely brick home that sat back from the sidewalk and was surrounded by a black wrought iron fence.

As I walked in the front door, my gaze went straight back to the open living room and patio area, which overlooked the Halifax River.

“This is just beautiful,” I said.

“Come on in the kitchen. We'll have a glass of wine before I start grilling the steaks.”

“Sounds good,” I told him as I followed behind.

Chadwick uncorked a bottle of red, filled two glasses and passed one to me.

“Cheers,” he said.

I nodded and took a sip. “Oh, this is very good.”

“I hoped you'd enjoy it. I brought it back from Italy last year.”

I noticed a stainless steel built-in wine cooler and realized this man certainly knew his wines.

“Do you travel a lot?” I asked.

He reached into the fridge and removed a platter of various cheeses before filling a bowl with crackers.

“Let's sit on the patio,” he said, and I followed him out to the screened area. “I don't really travel a lot,” he explained. “But I do enjoy visiting Europe. The food, the wine . . . I love all of it. Have you been to Italy?”

I was almost ashamed to admit that I'd never been to Europe. I didn't even own a passport. My college dream of traveling the world never materialized after I met Roger.

I shook my head. “No, I'm afraid not. I always wanted to travel, especially to Europe. Of course, Paris, and I wanted to visit Prague and Vienna. But, well . . . life kind of intervened and that never happened.”

“Oh, that's a shame,” he said, and he looked sincerely sorry. “Everybody should visit those places at least once.”

Call me silly, but I had the strangest feeling that Chadwick Price was determined to make that happen for me.

“Well, if this wine is any example of the great wines in Italy, I'd say it was well worth the trip.” I couldn't help but wonder if he'd visited there solo or had a female companion with him.

“So how did your dinner with Tina and her mother go?” he asked.

I was surprised that he showed interest in the little things going on in my life.

“Very well. I like Brenda a lot. She's another single mom, but she's really struggling. Working full-time and finding it difficult, I'm sure. But she's not a complainer. She seemed really happy to just be living here. I'm not sure what kind of situation she left back in Texas, but it's obvious she's happy to be away from it. It makes me feel extra grateful that Roger has been generous financially to Haley and me.”

He nodded. “Yeah, some women go through very difficult times. I sponsor various fund-raisers for the domestic abuse center in town and I'm always amazed at the strength and resilience of some of those women.” He took a sip of wine. “Have you heard from your mother? Doesn't she arrive soon?”

“Yeah, a week from today. I haven't heard from her, but she's been in touch with Haley. She'll be staying at a hotel for one night and the movers arrive the next day.”

“I imagine Haley is happy her grandmother will be living so close.”

I nodded. “I think she is. With so much distance between them, they never had a chance to develop a proper relationship. So I imagine they will now.”

“How do you feel about that?”

I shrugged. “Hey, it's between them. I certainly would never stop Haley from seeing her. I just plan to keep my own distance.”

He took the last sip of his wine and stood up. “Well, let me get the grill fired up.”

“Can I do anything to help?”

“Sure. You can get the table set out here. I thought we'd eat on the patio.”

I followed Chadwick into the house, where he pointed to where the dishes and silverware were located.

I arranged the place mats and table settings and then stood gazing out at the river. Such a pretty spot—a beautiful terraced area with brick steps leading down to a brick patio, all of it surrounded by a black wrought iron fence. That was when I noticed a pontoon boat moored to the dock.

“Is that your boat?” I asked as Chadwick placed steaks on the grill.

“Yeah, it is. We'll have to take it out sometime. Maybe Haley and Tina would also like to go for a ride.”

That was considerate of him. “Oh, I'm sure they'd love that.”

Following a delicious dinner of steak, salad, and rice pilaf we settled down on the patio sofa to finish off the wine.

“Are you sure you don't want coffee?” he asked.

“No, the wine is fine. Thanks.”

“How are the wedding plans coming for Chloe?”

“Very well. We're going shopping in a couple of weeks for our dresses. She's asked Haley to stand up for her and, needless to say, Haley is thrilled.”

He laughed. “Yes, all young girls love a wedding. I'm really happy for Chloe—Henry seems like a great guy.”

“He is. Haley and I like him a lot. After losing my dad, Chloe deserved another chance at love. I'm just glad that my father met her and she came into my life. We've become very close these past few years.”

“That's really nice. Yeah, I think everybody deserves another chance. Especially when it comes to love.”

He took my wineglass and placed it on the table before he leaned over to kiss me. My arms automatically went around his neck. This man definitely had kissing down to a science. Like the last time, when we pulled away we were both breathing heavily.

He nuzzled his face in my neck. “You're a great kisser. Did you know that?” he said, and I detected huskiness in his tone.

“Hmm . . . no . . .” I began to say before he kissed me again.

“You are,” he whispered when he moved away and let out a deep breath. “Very much so.”

There was no doubt about it. His kissing turned me on. But it also confused me. I wasn't at all sure where we were going from here. I wasn't even sure exactly where I wanted to go.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

He passed my wineglass back to me and took a sip of his own.

Reaching for my hand, he said, “Isabelle, I like you. A lot. I know you're just coming out of a bad relationship. But I need you to know . . . I want you to know . . . you mean a lot to me. I enjoy being with you and I'd like us to continue seeing each other. I have no idea where we'll end up . . . but for right now, I want to be with you. If that's what you want.”

I knew that I did. “Yes,” I said, and smiled. “Yes. I'd like that very much.”

His smile matched mine. “Good.”

He leaned over and placed another kiss on my lips.

“So does that mean I can be your plus-one at Chloe's wedding?” he asked.

I laughed. “Oh, so all of this was only to wangle a wedding invite?”

He pulled me into an embrace. “Not at all,” he said. “Not at all.”

And I knew I was about to embark on a new chapter in my life.