Page 29 of Second Dance
“Kind of like us?” Delphine asked.
“Exactly like us,” I said. “And he adopted them, just like I did Grace.”
“It’s a remarkable coincidence,” Lila said.
“And you know what else?” I asked. “His wife’s the one who suggested he move the kids to Willet Cove. Isn’t that wacky?”
“Like she had a premonition or something?” Lila asked. “Like she knew you would be here waiting for him.”
Delphine groaned. “This is not one of Seraphina’s books.”
“It kind of sounds like it.” Seraphina wiped her forehead with a towel. “I’ve often wondered about what it would be like to meet someone you’d once been in love with after a decade or two. Does he still make your skin tingle?”
“God, yes,” I said. “And he’s so handsome. All I wanted was for him to kiss me. The way he did the last time I saw him.”
“When was that exactly?” Lila asked.
“He took me to the train station when I left New York for California.” I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering how he’d looked that day, standing on the platform, his gaze glued to mine, as if we could stop time with the intensity of our feelings. “He kissed me before I boarded. A kiss I’ve never forgotten. I never thought I’d feel that way again. Not with anyone else anyway.”
“Is this why you’ve never dated?” Seraphina asked.
“I’ve dated a bit,” I said.
“Not much,” Delphine said.
“Honestly? The few men I’ve dated since Alex did not make my knees all wobbly or hold my interest. There’s never been anyone even close to that.”
“For you,” Delphine said. “He married someone else.”
“Yes, and it sounds like he loved her very much,” I said. “Which makes me feel jealous. Isn’t that awful? She’s dead, for heaven’s sake, and all I can think about is how lucky she was to have married him.”
“It’s normal,” Esme said. “I mean, you loved him, and he had a whole life with someone else.”
“And now he’s back,” Lila said.
“I cannot wait to hear how tonight goes,” Esme said. “What are you going to wear?”
I hadn’t thought about it. “A dress, I guess.”
“Wear that blue one you wore to that party we went to last year,” Lila said. “You look amazing in that dress.”
It took me a moment to remember which dress she referred to but then it came to me. It was a light blue sheath dress that came up to my mid thigh. “You don’t think it’s too much?”
“If I had your legs, I’d be showing them off,” Esme said. “So, no.”
“When do we get to meet him?” Delphine asked.
“Tyler has a game the day after tomorrow,” Seraphina said. “I suggest we all go. Check out this Alex character.”
“I’m in,” Delphine said. “But I hope he knows how protective we are of our own. He messes with you, and it won’t be pretty.”
“Delphine, you sound like we’re part of the mob or something,” Esme said, laughing.
“Not the mob, but certainly a gang.” Delphine crossed her arms over her chest and raised one eyebrow. “God help him.”
My doorbell rang right at 7:30. Grace, who had been sitting on my bed advising me about what jewelry and sandals to wear with the blue sheath dress, leapt up to go downstairs to answer the door. Socks and Clementine, our cats, bolted under the bed at the sound of the door opening and Alex greeting Grace.
I took a last look in the full-length mirror, hoping my black sandals wouldn’t hurt my feet. I’d followed Esme’s request to wear the sheath, even though I worried it was too formal. Grace had assured me that it was perfect for such a fancy restaurant. Even I could see that the dress looked nice on me and I’d taken extra care with my makeup. However, I wasn’t happy with my hair. My curls never behaved, especially not in sea air. But there was nothing to be done. I didn’t want to keep Alex waiting.
