Page 220 of Banter & Blushes

“Isn’t that right, El?” She felt Josephine’s elbow nudge her left arm.

“Oh, what? Sure.” She agreed to the mystery conversation.

Joe leaned in closer to her friend, “are you okay? Where were you?”

“Here, I’m here.”

Joe wasn’t so sure. Though she followed her friend’s gaze to see Mitch’s profile illuminated with dancing light from the fire. “Okay.”

Everyone chatted and ate, then talked some more before it was time to clean up and leave.

Without asking, Mitch started packing up the dishes from the food into perspective coolers. “You don’t have to do that,” Elva told him. Though even she had to admit it was really nice that he did.

“I’m happy to help. Want a lift home? I happen to know just where to find you,” he joked from their conversation that morning.

“You don’t have to go to all the trouble. I can walk. It’s a beautiful night.”

Looking up at the stars above them he smiled, “you’re right it is. The night air would do me some good and you do have this cooler to take. How about if I escort you home? We can walk. That is, if you don’t mind me tagging along?”

Letting out her breath, she folded her chair in half, “I don’t mind. Thank you.” Having a little company might not be bad at that.

They walked slowly; her carrying the chair; him carrying the small cooler with Dozer running ahead of them like he already knew the way. “You really don’t have to carry that.” She wanted him to know she could do it herself.

“I do, actually. That’s what a gentleman does in the presence of a lady.” He answered, showing his age and good upbringing.

Nodding she watched the ground as she stepped. “That is true. Your mother taught you well. I’m just used to doing it myself, I guess.”

“Good thing I’m here, then.” He followed her lead down Main Street. The small paved street gave way to brick pavers and a charming downtown quiet and put away for the night. A small coffee shop accented a few old buildings turned into offices, then the quaint post office. Pots of perfectly coordinated flowers trailing down the sides sat outside each building along the sidewalk, pulled it all together. Vintage looking street lamps illuminated the way.

Solar lights on each side of her porch lit up the steps at her home. Dozer waited at the base of the stairs patiently. “You can come in, sweetie.” She motioned for the dog to come up the stairs.

Pretending she was talking to him, Mitch chuckled. “Thanks. Would you like me to set this inside for you?”

Weighing her options, she decided, “sure. You did carry all this way, what’s another few feet?” As she slid her key into the lock. Stepping inside she clicked on a lamp with Dozer matching her step for step. She turned around quickly to nearly run face to face into Mitch coming up right behind her. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She said instantly.

“No, my fault entirely. I’m sorry.” His green eyes stared into hers as he apologized, wanting to say more.

“You can, uh…” she forgot what she was going to say momentarily, lost instead in his eyes. “The kitchen. You can set that in the kitchen. And then we could sit on the porch for a few minutes?”

“I’d love that.” He reappeared from the kitchen and followed her back outside with Dozer in tow.

They sat side by side in a rocking chair, looking at the night sky. “This is a really nice street. Nice town, honestly. Reminds me of home.”

“Red Bird?” She guessed remembering him mention that town before.

“Yes. It’s a lot like the Landings. Quiet, sleepy. I actually live just out-of-town now. But I grew up right on Main Street next to my cousins.”

Slowly rocking her chair back and forth, she looked from Dozer laying happily on the porch floor to him sitting next to her. It was a nice scene. “Big family then?”

“I wouldn’t say big. Just big enough. It’s just me and my two cousins now. Everyone else is gone.”

“I’m sorry. I know what that’s like.”

Dozer sat up, wagging his tail loudly against the porch floor. “You’re lucky to have such a good dad, aren’t you buddy?”

“Actually,” he cleared his throat, “I think you’d really like Red Bird.” He trailed off, not finishing his thought.

“I hear it’s nice. I’d love to visit one day,” she fed right into his idea.

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