Page 47 of Catch Yourself a Snowmance
“It is.”
“Ashland City? It’s awfully cold for kayaking.”
“We’re not kayaking.”
“Phew. This skirt would not survive. But I’d love to kayak this summer with you.”
“Deal. Let’s do it.”
We assume our short-term future on a regular basis, and privately, I assume a whole lot more. I’ll let her in on those hopes and dreams in due time.
“Lynchburg?”
“Nope.” I smile over at her.
I don’t care if she guesses the town. We’re about thirty minutes from her finding out anyway.
“Shelbyville?”
“Are you consulting a map on your phone?” I glance over at her and then back at the road stretching ahead into the darkness. The light from her cell illuminates her features.
“Mayyybe. Leipers Fork?”
“No, but I did consider that as a close runner up when I was making plans.”
“Franklin! Is it Franklin? You know I love Franklin!”
“Ding. Ding. Ding. You win!”
“Awww, Carson. You’re taking me to Franklin for Valentine’s?”
“I am.”
She shakes her head lightly and smiles over at me. “You’re the best.”
“I hope you keep believing that.”
“How could I not?” She says it so easily.
We drive along with the music filling the car, pulling into downtown Franklin about twenty minutes later. We circle through the public square. Historic brick buildings and trees line both sides of the street. I find parking right near the restaurant.
“I’ve always wanted to eat there,” Alyssa says absentmindedly when I come around the car to open her door.
She’s pointing up to the marquis-style sign over the doorway.
“You don’t say?” I wink at her.
“Wait. You made dinner reservations at Grays?”
“Yes. I did. Noelle gave me some hints as to what you might like.”
“Well, thank you, Noelle.”
I grab Alyssa’s hand and interlace our fingers. We walk into the restaurant and approach the hostess. The double-high exposed ceiling gives the room a larger feeling even though it’s a bit narrow. The walls are brickand the fixtures wood.
“Carson for two,” I tell the hostess.
“Oh, yes. I have you here. Follow me, please.” The hostess grabs two menus and leads us through the restaurant all the way to the table I reserved—one of the few at the edge of the stage.
