The Girl He Left Behind

As if he knew they’d neared territory better left alone, he began to eat, and for a while, they didn’t talk at all. Then someone fed the jukebox and “Love Me Tender” began to play.

“One of my all-time favorite songs,” Adam said between bites.

“Mine, too,” Eve said. Their eyes once again met. The expression in his made her heart trip. She couldn’t believe he still had the power to make her feel this way. It was almost as if twelve years had gone up in smoke. Or had never been.

Just as Adam opened his mouth to say something, Eve sensed someone standing nearby. She looked up and saw Joe Ferguson, the mayor of Crandall Lake.

“Just thought I’d stop by and say hello,” Ferguson said. “I’ve been hoping I’d have the chance to welcome one of our most famous sons back to town.” He stuck out his hand. “Joe Ferguson, mayor of our fair city.”

Adam wiped his hand on his napkin and shook Ferguson’s. “Nice to meet you.”

“I hear you were over at the shelter tonight, entertaining the troops,” Ferguson said. His florid face looked even redder under the bright lights of the diner.

“Yes, I stopped by.”

“I was hopin’ maybe I could persuade you to come to the Rotary Club meetin’ on Tuesday, give us a little concert there.”

“Um, I’m not sure I can. I’ll have to see how my mother’s doing,” Adam hedged.

Eve couldn’t stand Joe Ferguson. He was one of those politicians who’d been in office way too long but seemed impossible to unseat. He had a vastly inflated opinion of himself and seemed oblivious to the fact a lot of people didn’t share that view.

“Sure, I understand. Well, you can let me know on Monday. And if Tuesday doesn’t work out, we can find another date.”

All this time Ferguson had acted as if Eve wasn’t there, not that she minded. But Adam noticed, for he said, “I don’t know if you’ve met Eve Cermak—”

“Eve Kelly,” Eve corrected. “And Mayor Ferguson and I know each other from church.”

“Yeah, of course,” Ferguson said. “I see you at St. Nick’s all the time.”

Now Eve noticed someone else approaching their table. She looked at Adam, telegraphing her wish to leave, and it worked, for he immediately said, “You know, we really need to get going. I’m planning on going back to the hospital tonight and it’s getting late.”

“Oh, sure. No problem,” Ferguson said. He fished in his shirt pocket and pulled out a card. “My cell number is on that. You can call me about Tuesday night either tomorrow or Monday. Try to come, okay? All the guys are wantin’ to meet you.”

“Is it just me or is he kind of obnoxious?” Adam said after they’d made their escape.

“He’s definitely obnoxious,” Eve said, laughing. “I couldn’t wait to get away from him.”

They were outside on the sidewalk now. Adam looked around. “Where’s your car?”

“I walked to the shelter.”

“Really? Where do you live?”

“Over on Maple Avenue, just off Center Street. It’s not far.”

“It’s far enough. I’ll walk you home.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Eve, it’s nine o’clock. It’s dark. I’m not letting you walk by yourself.”

“It’s perfectly safe. I walk at night all the time. You’ve been living in the big city too long, Adam. You’ve forgotten what small-town life is like.”

“I don’t care. I’m still walking you home.”

“But you said you have to go back to the hospital.”

“I lied. I just wanted to get away from your esteemed mayor.”

“He’s not my esteemed mayor. I haven’t voted for him in either of the past two elections.”

“Whatever. I don’t have to go to the hospital, and I am walking you home.”

Because it was obvious nothing she could say was going to change his mind, and she didn’t want to argue with him, Eve shrugged and said, “Okay, fine.” But down deep, she knew these weren’t the only reasons she was letting him have his way.

Whether it was wise or not, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

Chapter Four (#ulink_ad1aa51c-33e4-517b-9293-3b49bf5d9b27)

When Adam offered his arm, Eve only hesitated a moment before taking it. It felt good to walk together, especially as he matched his strides to hers. As they walked along, the years melted away, and for those few minutes, being with him felt exactly right.

The soft night air surrounded them, and everywhere there were night sounds: crickets chirping, doves cooing and, in the distance, tires humming along the nearby highway. And somewhere not far away the lilting notes of a violin drifted toward them. Eve could smell the sweet fragrance of night jasmine and roses. It was a perfect night.

It didn’t take long to reach her house. For a moment, they stood awkwardly on the sidewalk. Quickly, before she could change her mind, she said, “Would you like to stay and talk awhile?”

He smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

So they climbed the steps to the porch, and she invited him to sit on the swing. “I have some freshly made lemonade. Can I tempt you with a glass?”

“Sounds great.”

Why had she invited him to stay? she asked herself as she walked indoors. Wouldn’t it have been better to simply thank him and say good-night?

But you didn’t want to say good-night, did you?

No, she hadn’t. She’d finally relaxed enough to enjoy being in his company, and she was curious about him. There were all kinds of things she wanted to ask him, and in the privacy of her porch, with no prying eyes to watch them, she could. She might never again have this opportunity, so she’d taken it.

She put the glasses of lemonade on a small tray and added a plate of peanut-butter cookies, about the only kind she could make that actually turned out well. She’d baked them thinking the twins would be home tonight, and since they weren’t, she might as well put them to good use. Especially since, if Mayor Ferguson hadn’t interrupted them, she would have recommended the really excellent banana-cream pie at Dinah’s.

When she rejoined Adam on the porch, he smiled. “Peanut-butter cookies! I haven’t had homemade ones since I was a kid.”

“I know. They remind me of being a kid, too.” Eve sat next to him on the swing. “So I read that your band is starting a big autumn tour and your first date will be in Austin in September.”

“That’s the plan.”

“I was actually thinking of trying to get tickets.”

“Were you? I’ll give you passes if you want to come.”