A Year And A Day. Inglath Cooper
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“That’s surprising.”
She shrugged. “I’m going to college next year. And I work part-time. There’s not much room for anything else.”
“You’re smart to keep it that way for now.”
In that moment, Audrey was glad there was no one else. She sensed that if she shifted in his direction, he would have kissed her. But she didn’t have the courage to try it.
Unnerved by the awareness between them, she looked down at her lap and said, “Thank you for the ride, Jonathan. I really appreciate it.”
He put a hand on the steering wheel, and said, “No problem.”
“I’ll get my dad to come over in the morning and take a look at the car.”
“Will you be coming with him?”
She nodded. “I have to be there for work at eleven.”
“Good. Then I guess I’ll see you at lunch?”
She smiled. “I guess so.”
THE NEXT MORNING, Audrey’s father drove her to work and called a tow truck for her mother’s car. The Colbys came in from church just before twelve-thirty. Audrey’s stomach fluttered at the sound of their voices in the foyer. She could hear Jonathan’s low tones and felt a fresh rush of anticipation at the thought of seeing him again.
She followed Mary into the dining room, carrying steaming bowls of mashed potatoes and cream-style corn. Her gaze immediately found him, seated again at the far end of the table. The same dark-haired young woman sat next to him. Audrey’s heart dropped to the floor.
She tried not to look at him again and went about the business of putting food on the table, wanting only to finish so she could escape back to the kitchen. Once there, she ran her hand under the cool tap water and splashed a little on her face.
It was after three o’clock when the kitchen door swung open. She looked up from wiping the counters. Jonathan stood in the doorway, and she could not deny the gladness she felt at the sight of him. “Hi.”
He smiled at her. “Did you get your car fixed?”
She shook her head. “Dad had a tow truck pick it up.”
“Will you need a ride home then?”
“I’ll call him when I’m through here.”
“I’ll be glad to take you. I’ll be on my way out of town anyway. I’m heading back to Atlanta in a little while.”
Audrey hesitated, recalling Mary’s earlier warning. But even though she knew the woman was probably right, she found herself saying, “If you’re sure it won’t be too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all. I’ll go upstairs and pack up the rest of my things. How much longer will you be?”
“Twenty minutes or so?”
“I’ll meet you back here.”
Audrey called her mom and told her she had a ride home.
Jonathan was back in exactly twenty minutes. “I already said goodbye to my folks, so if you’re ready—”
“All set.” She reached for her sweater where she’d hung it earlier on the hook behind the door.
“Here, let me help.” He took the sweater and held it for her while she shrugged her arms inside. His hands grazed the side of her shoulders, sending unexpected sparks of electricity through her.
“Thank you,” she said, not meeting his gaze for fear that he would see awareness in her eyes.
“Do you have to be home right away?” he asked, once they were in the car.
The question surprised her. “Not right away.”
“Want to take a walk in the park?”
“Sure. I’d love to.”
He pulled over at a 7-Eleven, coming out a couple of minutes later with two Cokes and a bag of chips. “Not much of a picnic,” he said, “but it’s the best I can do on short notice.”
She laughed, thinking it was wonderful that he’d thought of it at all.
They parked on the street beside the entrance. Jonathan opened her door for her and pulled a blanket from the trunk. By the pond, Jonathan spread out the quilt, tossed the chips and Cokes in one corner and motioned for her to sit. She did, pulling her knees up in front of her chest.
He sat down beside her, plucked a blade of grass and twirled it between his fingers. “Why do you do that?”
“What?”
“Hide yourself.”
She avoided his eyes. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“The clothes you wear. The way you hunch your shoulders. The way you’re hiding behind your knees right now.”
Face hot, she kept her gaze on the grass in front of the quilt.
“You’re beautiful, Audrey,” he said. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of in that.”
They stayed for a good two hours, talking about his work, her hopes for the future. Despite their age difference, they shared many of the same interests, good books, art.
He didn’t kiss her that day, but she knew in her heart that he wanted to. He took her home a little before six, and she hated for the day to end, knowing she’d probably never see him again.
“Thank you, Jonathan,” she said when he stopped in her driveway. “For the ride. And the afternoon.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, watching her with considering eyes. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his wallet. Handing her a business card, he said, “If you ever need anything—”
“Thanks. Have a good trip back.” She got out of the car and ran up the walk to her house.
FOR THE NEXT WEEK, she looked at the card every night before she went to bed. She debated about writing to him, talking herself out of it at least five times before deciding there wouldn’t be anything wrong with a thank-you note.
She went to the drugstore and bought a pack of stationery cards with a pond on the front and ducks standing by the water’s edge. She kept the note brief.
Dear Jonathan,
I just wanted to thank you again for taking me home last Saturday night and for the picnic on Sunday. I really enjoyed our conversation.
Audrey Williams
She agonized over sending it, but finally forced herself to put it in the mailbox and push it from her mind.
Four days later, she heard back from him.
Audrey,
I’m coming home next weekend. If you don’t have to work Saturday night, I’d love to take you out for dinner. If you’d like to go, give me a call at the number on the card I gave you.
Jonathan
Audrey reread the note three times before letting herself believe it was true.
She ran to her room and pulled the card out of her jewelry box where she’d hidden it. She went downstairs to the phone in the kitchen and dialed the number.
THAT AFTERNOON, she went into the den where Mrs. Colby was having tea and knocked at the door. “Excuse me, Mrs. Colby?”
“Yes, Audrey?”
“May I speak with you for a moment?”
“Of course. Come in.” She put down her cup and motioned for Audrey to sit opposite her on the sofa. “What is it, dear?”
“I wondered if I might have next Saturday