Page 32 of Grown-Up Second Chance

“A good reason not to move back.”

“You’ve become soft.” He grinned. “With a little time, your sisters and I will get you toughened up again.”

“Right. Just what I want to be, a tough old bird ready for the soup pot.”

“Oh, you’ll never be that,” he said, his voice soft.

I gave him a sharp look.

“No fooling around back there.” Kathleen’s voice was loud and strong.

“Oh, darn it,” Joe said. “And here I was, just about to make my move.”

I squished myself as close to the door as I could.

California. Definitely going back to California. Ironically, lots of people meant more privacy. Small towns bread nosy people who were only too happy to tell you what to do.

~ ~ ~

We stood by the Old Faithful sign that predicted the next eruption. That time had come and gone, but the geyser bubbled away.

“It used to be regular,” Kathleen said.

“So did we all,” I said without thinking, then clapped my hand over my mouth.

There was a moment of silence, then the three of them chuckled.

Joe struck a pose, and I knew what we were in for.

“There once was a geyser in Yellowstone

For years she’d faithfully blown

Till the earth shook her core

And said with a roar

Old Faithful’s schedule has flown.”

“That wasn’t bad,” Liz said.

“It was kinda good,” Kathleen added.

Joe looked at me.

“Yeah,” I said. “It was okay.”

“Okay? Okay? You cut me to the quick!” He mockingly stabbed himself with dagger and staggered back.

“It should be soon, even if we can’t rely on it,” Kathleen said. “There’s a little bit of space at the end of that bench. I think we’ll fit over there.”

We squeezed into the too-small space, and once again I was crammed next to Joe.

I tried to concentrate on the geyser, but all I could think of was the feel of the man next to me and the effect he was having on my body. Tingling feelings I remember from decades ago were making their presence known. I’d thought they were gone for good and had already bade them good riddance. Overactive hormones had made me do crazy things in my twenties and thirties, one of which had ended in my marriage to Larry.

Nothing good could come of these tingles.

Down! Down!

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