Page 28 of Anything for You
My teeth clenched, and I exhaled. Could I do that?
There were so manyifsinvolved, I wasn’t sure I needed to think it through too closely, but I took a heartbeat. And then I nodded once more.
“Good. And will you?—”
Luc covered Kenny’s mouth with his hand and shoved him outside, both of them laughing as they stumbled onto the porch and into the driveway.
“Thank you,” I said, hoping they knew I meant for coming for tea and… whatever else had just happened.
Kenny blew kisses as though to a crowd and Luc rolled his eyes and dropped into the driver’s seat. Looked like they’d driven together today. When Kenny’s door finally closed and they eased out of the driveway, I nearly tripped over myself as I shut everything down and hustled to the couch. Bear trotted along next to me, a spike of worry in his energy.
“It’s alright, bud. I’m being an idiot.” But damn if I could help the surge of excitement sending me to myfavorite spot in the living room and sliding a finger under the edge of the envelope. She’d sealed it down this time.
Had she licked it?
Shut up, weirdo.
I was grinning by the time I unfolded the card.
Dear Dorian,
I’m writing this in a somewhat perturbed state. See, I saw you holding Jess’s baby (adorable, btw) and we chatted a bit. And then you disappeared.
Dorian Q. Forrester, why’d you do that? Aren’t we friends? Don’t we say hello and goodbye?
But then, I’ve ended up working for seven and a half of the last eight days and I haven’t seen you. And I guess I’m writing to say I’d like to, because I had a great time picking blackberries and hearing about your life and the farm. I’d like to do that again, especially if my dear neighbor covertly slides me a blackberry cobbler the next day and said cobbler sustains me for the next three days because I can look forward to it during my long shifts at a job I’m losing my passion for.
(Thank you for that, by the way. As with everything you’ve given me, I’ve never had a more delicious blackberry cobbler. I’m sorry my gratitude is coming woefully late. Also, are we going to finally acknowledge that you are the artisan of all these delicious delights? It’s obvious to me now, even as much as it seems unlikely or maybe even impossible one human man could make so many things so completely perfect.)
Can we do that again? The berry adventure? I mean, no pressure, right? I don’t want you to think you have to haulme around with you, but it was good for me to get out and be reminded of things other than the antiseptic world that is nursing care.
So that’s all.
Have a good week.
With aspirations of friendship,
Dove L. Jensen, IV
Instantly, I wrote back.
Dear Dove,
You’re a fourth now? Will you be a fifth in the next letter? I wonder. I hope I’ll find out.
I’m sorry I left. I’ll explain in person because it is both less compelling and more valuable to tell you face-to-face.
I’m glad you came over today, and very happy Kenny interrupted your surreptitious delivery. I’m going to invite you to tea, but I’ll do that in person, too.
Do you think you’d like dinner, sometime? I could drop something by on a day when you work so you don’t have to worry about cooking. I’d love to do it. It’s more a favor for me than anything, should you decide to accept the offer. Just drop me a note and let me know if you have any allergies or food preferences to be aware of.
And yes, I may as well confess. I love to bake. It started as a way to learn something new at a time when I had neither appetite nor desire to learn. With growing interest came some amount of capability and now I’m a bit addicted to it, but can’t eat everything I make so my newfound joy is to foist the things I make on other people.
Thanks for stopping by and for the note, and if I may be so bold, for accepting my invitation to tea.
Yours,
Dorian Q.
