Page 43 of The Good Guy on My Porch

“My brother-in-law, Chip, buys them all pretty amazing gifts.”

“Time spent doing fun stuff is better than stuff you buy,” she said. “I bet they’ll love Buddy, too. Carrie’s kids were so excited to meet him.”

“I might have to take full custody of him the weeks the kids are here.”

Her smile dipped the tiniest bit and I wished I was better at reading her, wished I had some hint of what was going through her head. “Sure. I guess I’ve been hogging him lately. Would you like to have him stay at your place a couple nights this week?”

“Only if you plan to be out.” Of course, I’d love to hang out with Buddy, but my question might have been more about finding out how serious she was about her boyfriend.

She chewed and glanced away. “I do have plans a couple nights.” I got the feeling she was lying again. Why would she lie to me? “Probably Thursday and Friday nights?”

“I’m free.” Was she exaggerating her relationship with her boyfriend because she knew I was interested and didn’t want me to make a move? Or was she lying so I wouldn’t feel guilty about having Buddy for a couple nights?

We finished eating and chatted easily. I kept trying to ask her personal questions, to find out more about her, and she kept dodging them and changing the subject to the weather or my plans for my next hike or the ages and interests of all my nieces and nephews. It was like she’d put up some sort of wall between us, and I couldn’t get over it no matter how hard I tried.

***

The theater was packed, and Dilly seemed to know just about everyone in the building, except the college students. We ran into our landlord, Mary, as we were about to head in and find our seats.

She grinned and wrapped her arms around us in a tight hug that squished my body against Dilly’s. “It’s so good to see you two out together.” She released us and beamed. “I didn’t want to say anything too soon and jinx it, but I was so hoping the two of you would date. I think you are a perfect match.”

“I have a boyfriend,” Dilly said. She glanced at me and then back at Mary. In every situation, even hiking, Dilly had been confident and sure of herself, but tonight at the restaurant and now with Mary she seemed thoroughly vulnerable and lost.

“Oh, right,” Mary said. “The church man. What church did you say he works at?”

“I didn’t,” Dilly said. “We should probably get in and get our seats.”

“I’m just asking, Dilly, because just about all the church leaders in town are married, except for poor Egbert and he’s pushing ninety, so I doubt you’re dating him.” She patted Dilly’s shoulder. “I just don’t want a repeat of your last relationship, dear.”

Dilly pinched her lips together tight. She should have been angry at Mary’s suggestion that she was dating yet another married man, but she just looked worried. “He works at a church in Carmichael.”

Mary frowned, but her eyes danced with mischief. “Carmichael? That’s a long-distance relationship for sure. I never did like long-distance relationships myself.” She winked at me. “I don’t like to be alone or lonely for long.”

“It’s fine,” Dilly said. “I see him all the time and he’s wonderful. The most amazing guy.”

I barely registered Dilly’s words, because something she’d said didn’t jibe and I couldn’t figure out what. I shook my head. I was just looking for a reason to hate her boyfriend.

Dilly tried to maneuver us past Mary, but she grabbed Dilly’s elbow and held on. “How is your mother feeling, dear? Did she like my chili?”

“She loved it,” Dilly said. “But we really should get our seats, the show is starting any minute.”

Mary tsked. “You young people, always in a hurry.” She stepped aside and let us pass but grabbed my arm as I followed Dilly through the crowd. She leaned in close and whispered something, but it was mostly lost in the noise of the crowd. It sounded like ‘don’t let her push…’ But that’s all I got.

“What was that about?” I asked Dilly, once we’d taken our seats.

She crinkled her nose. “Mary and some of the older ladies in town worry over me.” She forced a smile. “It’s a hazard of running their book club at the library.”

Before I could ask any more questions, she shifted in her seat and faced me.

“Are you ready for this?”

Her question caught me off guard and I wondered for a brief moment of idiocy if she was about to lean in and kiss me. “Ready for what?”

“To see this play?”

I shrugged. “I’m ready to be bored out of my mind for a couple hours.”

She mock-frowned and playfully swatted my shoulder. “You just need to get in the right frame of mind. Close your eyes.”

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