Page 219 of Banter & Blushes

Cal glanced at his phone as a mischievous smile crept across his face. Stuffing it back in his pocket, he took off his hat, smoothed his dark hair down before putting it back on. “How would everyone like to have a bonfire at the beach tonight? The weather looks clear and beautiful.”

Jill and Joe nodded in unison. An event. Just what they needed! “What can we bring?” They both asked.

He looked from one person to the other. “Miss Joe, how about some of your delicious sweet tea?”

“I can do that,” she agreed.

“Jill, maybe something to make s’mores?”

Elva put her hand on her hip before asking, “what about me?”

“Oh, you know we all want your famous fried chicken, Elva. If you have time to make it, that is.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Wait a minute,” Jill crossed her arms, “what are you going to bring?” She waited for his answer.

“I think I’ll bring … Mitch, as instructed.” He waved his phone in the air.

Cal and Brettgot the fire going early and Mitch showed up right on time with Dozer. “Thanks so much for inviting me.” He held up a container and a bag of chips. “I didn’t know what to bring, so I made some salsa from my garden.”

Elva’s head cocked to the side. “I’m sorry, what?”

“HE MADE SOME SALSA FROM HIS GARDEN,” Joe answered much louder than necessary in case Elva didn’t hear his response.

Laughing, she tried to catch her breath, “I heard him.” Then turning her attention to Mitch she smiled, “you have a garden AND you cook?”

“Well, cook is a strong word. Salsa is really just a lot of chopping and in full disclosure I have one of those chopper things, so you just put in vegetables and it cuts it up. I am a mean mixer-upper though.” He looked at the salsa through the container, examining his handiwork.

“I’m seriously impressed.” Her hand rested on the small table.

His chest puffed up with pride and his cheeks looked like they were turning a darker shade of pink. “Thanks. What did you bring?” He set down his snacks and changed the subject away from himself.

“Oh, Elva makes THE BEST fried chicken you’ve ever had.” Brett answered setting down a cooler filled with water and soda.

Placing his plastic container on the table he turned his head to the side some, “huh. The best coffee AND the best fried chicken?”

“Hot chocolate, too!” Ava bubbled, grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler. “Just wait until you have her famous hot chocolate this Christmas! Yum!”

“This Christmas?” He smiled at the idea. “I’m looking forward to that.”

Elva’s attention was still on their newest guest, ignoring all the other talk. “What are you growing in your garden?”

“The usual things,” he counted off on his fingers, “tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers, lots of hot peppers, cucumbers, squash.” He started the count on his other hand. “I don’t do well with corn for some reason. Lettuces, either.”

Elva opened her folding chair and sat down while she listened. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

Mitch laid down a towel and sat on it next to her while he thought. “I’m sure there are lots of things I’m not good at. But at the moment, I can’t think of a single one,” he winked. “Do you have a garden?”

“Just a tiny one. Cherry tomatoes mostly. I have been thinking about trying fruit. I’d love to pick fresh berries in the morning for breakfast.”

Emily, Cal’s wife, turned around from her spot on the large cooler, “did I hear you say you garden and cook?” She asked Mitch, sure she’d met him before.

“That’s right.”

“Can you teach Cal?” She erupted in laughter, talking louder than anyone else. “Oh, Elva honey, don’t let this one get away!”

Elva wasn’t so sure why everyone was so insistent on this match. All because they were close in age and single didn’t mean they were right for one another. Watching him talk to people to his right, she studied his face in the firelight's glow. Animated and entertaining . He held conversations well. He somehow knew a little about everything. And he had a garden and cooked? That might be the most surprising thing she’d learned about him so far. Under his self admitted gruff exterior he was sweet and soft. Kind-hearted and funny. Smart, too. Still, she shook the thoughts from her head, that didn’t mean they would do well… together. Did it? The thing about matchmaking is looking at all aspects of the would be couple and how they would fit together. How their personalities merge and how they balance one another. She continued to watch him completely lost in her own thoughts.

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