Page 10 of Grounds for Love

“Hey, I thought that was you.”

I look up and see my friend Kimberly walking up from the marina. “Hey, won’t you join me? I’ll split my sandwich with you.”

“No thanks. Bode and I just had lunch with Hannah and Blake. That woman can cook, and of course I felt it was my duty to eat everything I could.”

“Oh, totally,” I agree with a mocking grin.

“I wanted to remind you about book club Friday night.”

Shortly after we moved here, Joy and I were inducted into the women-only book club. The meetings are at Kimberly’s inn and we all love her pet chicken, Henrietta, so Book Chicks seemed like a natural group name.

Joy and I showed up at the first meeting with our assigned book in hand and a notebook full of observations and talking points, only to find out that nobody actually reads the books. Instead it’s a front for digging into everyone’s business, solving problems, and drinking the theme drink of the night. Margarita night will forever be seared into my brain.

“I wouldn’t miss it. I know Joy is looking forward to it as well.”

“Great. So how have you been?” she asks, much too casually.

I turn and instantly know something is up just from the innocent look on her face. “What do you know and what do you want to know?”

Kimberly’s shoulders droop and she sighs. “Dang. And I thought I was playing it cool.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Nope. I can read you like a book.”

Her eyes alight with excitement as she says, “Word on the street is that you and one particular gentleman had a moonlight walk on the beach after the cookout at the Murphy’s last Saturday night.”

“Wow.” I’m stunned that this is news and that people talked about it.

She snickers. “I know. Aren’t small towns great? Now give it up. Tell me everything.”

Kimberly has become a close and dear friend, but I am reluctant to share. I haven’t even told Joy about that night. Why should I? Nothing happened. “There’s nothing to tell. I went for a walk on the beach. I happened to run into Rod, and we walked back together. End of story.”

She sits on that news and stews for a few seconds. “Here’s the problem with that. When Rod returned, he was smiling. Rod is Bode’s uncle so I know what I’m talking about when I say that Rod never smiles.”

I turn my head to watch a boat dock at the marina to keep from meeting her gaze. “Nothing happened, Kimberly. And nothing is going to happen.”

After scrutinizing my face, she must decide I’m telling the truth. “Oh. Okay. We were all just hoping. Bode says that Rod hasn’t been the same since his wife passed about ten years ago. He’s never gotten over her. He used to be the life of the party, but now he’s a grumpy man who mostly keeps to himself.”

I didn’t know he was a widower. That would explain a lot, that connection I felt for one thing. “I know about the grumpy part. I’ve been warned by more than one person to watch out for moody Rod Murphy. I guess he has a good reason to be moody. Losing someone does change a person.”

Kimberly’s face drops. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up sad memories.”

“It’s okay,” I assure her. “I loved Bryan deeply and I’m not the same person I was when he was in my life. But life goes on and you find a new normal, and hopefully you learn how to smile again. It seems Rod hasn’t found his smile yet.”

Kimberly leans over and gives me a hug. “You’re a strong woman, Jen. I don’t know if I would survive if anything happened to Bode.”

“You discover an inner strength you never knew you had, but I hope you never have to find out.”

Long after Kimberly leaves, I stay beneath the live oak and enjoy the spring day. They say once summer comes, the quiet town turns into a madhouse with vacationers. I need to savor every peaceful day I can. I don’t take anything for granted anymore.

A few mornings later, I lean on the counter of the shop and wonder what Rod is doing. The man has been standing outside the shop for over five minutes. Just when I think he’s going to come in, he stops and takes a step back. I wish I could read lips.

A couple walk past him and push open the door, and that’s the last chance I have to wonder what he’s up to for a few minutes. I fill their order and look up to see Rod in line waiting his turn. When he gets to the counter, I ask, “Could you not decide what to order?”

A confused look appears on his face. “What? I know what I want. Coffee. Black. As large as you have,” he replies.

I grab a cup. “So what was with the pep talk outside?”

His face actually flushes with embarrassment. “Oh, you caught that, did you?”

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