Page 76 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Chapter Thirty-Six
Foolishly he’d thought a black dress was a black dress but boy was he ever wrong. For a woman who claimed no interest in fashion Fee was being mighty picky in Tom’s opinion although he hadn’t been stupid enough to say so.
‘How about this one?’ She emerged from the changing room and twirled around. If he told her the dress was great to get this ordealover with she’d pick up on his indifference in one second.
‘Oh, yeah. Great.’
‘It’s the same one I showed you five minutes ago that you said had an ugly neckline. Pretty amazing.’
He threw his hands in the air. ‘Okay. You win. I’m hopeless at this.’ Tom went for complete honesty. ‘You look damn beautiful in anything to me and one black dress is much the same as the next.’
‘I’ll need to buy some heels to wear with the dress.’ Fee frowned.
‘You could borrow some. There’s enough females in my family surely someone must have a pair to fit you.’ Tom pulled out his wallet. ‘I’ll pay. You get your stuff.’
‘I’m perfectly capable of buying my own…’
He gave her a hard kiss. ‘I know you are but let me, please.’ If nothing else it might makeup for his uselessness.
‘If it’s any consolation I hate shopping too.’
‘It is.’ Tom grinned.
Five minutes later they were back in his truck.
‘What’s the plan for the rest of the day?’
‘I need to catch up with some work in the office for an hour or so and then I’ve got to go tidy up Mee Maw’s garden. She insisted we have the funeral tea at her house insteadof the church so I’m delegated to get it straight while Mama and the girls swoop in to clean.’ Should he take it for granted Fee would come with him? Taking her for granted could have negative connotations but he was pretty sure she’d want to be there.
‘What on earth is going through your mind now? I can see the wheels turning.’ Fee nailed him. ‘Whatever “this” is we’re in it together.From my perspective it’ll take some working out because I’m clueless about… long-term relationships.’
Tom swiftly poured out everything rattling around his brain.
‘Silly man, of course I’ll come with you. That’s not “taking for granted” in a bad way. It’s doing things together.’
Before they went any further he should explain more about his marriage but Tom didn’t knowwhere to start.If you want to tell her something do it outright. It’s always best. Hard maybe but for the best. His grandmother’s advice resonated and he wished he’d listened to her more often.
‘Spit it out.’
‘What?’
‘Whatever is putting the frown on your face.’
‘Okay.’ Tom exhaled a deep, long breath. ‘I respect you for never asking much about Gina but it’s timeyou knew a bit more.’ Tom hated to watch her smile disappear.
‘I’m not sure I…’
He touched his finger to her lips, stopping whatever she’d been about to say. ‘Please. I need this and so do you.’ Tom hurried on before he could lose his nerve. ‘I loved Gina dearly in many ways. We were best friends since we were little kids. I was a year older and looked after her at school andstuff.’ Tom sighed. ‘Anything going on around Pine Ridge she tagged along with me and by the time we were in high school we’d somehow become a couple. I hate to say she worshipped me because it sounds vain. Gina was beautiful and all the other boys envied me.’
‘You were flattered.’
Tom shrugged. ‘Sounds lame, but yeah, I was. She never had any ambition to go to college. All Ginawanted was to settle down and have a whole brood of children. ’
‘With you.’
‘Yeah.’
Fee rested her head on his shoulder, giving comfort without speaking.
