hadn’t much time to engage in conversation. “Well, I am sure you will have a wonderful time on your travels.”
“Yeah.” He gazed down at his cheese-covered fingers. “Well, how’s your summer going?”
“Pleasant as expected, though not without its trials and tribulations.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I forgot you like talking like those people in old books.”
I cringed. His manners and upbringing had not improved since school let out. “It was … nice to see you, but now, I really must be going.”
“Well, um … do you maybe … would you … um, yeah, hope I see you around.”
I nodded and set off once again to Lucy Penny, attempting to herd my thoughts away from cheese-filled braces and back to the luscious pastures of romance.
I strode over to the lovely Miss Penny and offered my bouquet of fragrant posies.
“Pardon me, I do not mean to interrupt your meditations on this beautiful day, but a gentleman, the father of that beautiful motherless girl, asked me to deliver this to you, Miss … Miss …”
“Miss Penny, but … you can call me Lucy.” She smiled at me and gestured graciously toward the seat across from her own, as I thought she might.
This I politely refused. “Oh, thank you, Miss Penny, you are much too kind, but really I must be going. My task was merely to deliver these flowers to you.”
She brought the bouquet to her face, and I waspleased to see that I had chosen the flowers well. “Yes, they are beautiful. Lily of the valley is my favorite. Who did you say sent them?”
“A Mr. George Fisk. Isn’t that a handsome name? He is a very distinguished gentleman who has the highest regard for you. And his daughter handmade that beautiful bracelet just for you.”
“Oh, it’s lovely.” She looked around the deli. “Is Mr. Fisk here?”
“No, Miss, unfortunately he is not. Being of a shy nature, he wanted your first encounter with him to be based solely on his admiration for your beauty and demeanor. In my opinion, it would be so mysterious and romantic to have an admirer like him. But do not fear, he has assured me that if you receive his gesture with favor, he will make further arrangements to meet you.”
She smiled. “Well, that is very mysterious and … I have to say, romantic too.” She giggled. “You can tell him that—how did you say it? His gesture was met with favor.”
I allowed myself a small smile, though I tried to contain my elation within propriety. “I will tell him, Miss Penny. And his happiness will be beyond words. Good day.”
“You too,” she called after me.
I dashed up to my dear Fran, narrowly missing a great bear of a man who stalked through the deli.
“My dearest Fran! She accepts your father’s gift with favor and is anxious to make his acquaintance.”
Fran’s lips spread into a wide smile. “Wow, really?”
“But of course. So, what say you to this situation?”
She locked her arm in mine and we strolled from the deli to the cobbled street. “Well, I think … I think it’s great, Polly. I can’t wait to meet her. But what do you think we should tell my dad?”
“Do not fear, I have thought on this as well, though I must ponder but a little longer. Be assured, however, that by the end of the week, you, my beloved friend, will have secured for yourself a most wonderful stepmother.”
chapter twelve
In Which Mr. Nightquist Is
Burdened by an Unappetizing
Tuna Fish Casserole
T he sun beat down upon our shoulders as we strolled along the sidewalk. Delicious happiness seeped from my skin like lavender perfume over such a wonderful meeting with Miss Lucy Penny. Love was indeed invigorating to the spirit, mind, and body. Right then, I sought to further refresh myself and my dearest friend. “Fran, wouldn’t you adore an afternoon at the beach together? Shall we go and bask in the success of your father’s future wife, and relish how lovely she is?”
Fran smiled and nodded. “All right! That does sound good.
“Yeah.” He gazed down at his cheese-covered fingers. “Well, how’s your summer going?”
“Pleasant as expected, though not without its trials and tribulations.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I forgot you like talking like those people in old books.”
I cringed. His manners and upbringing had not improved since school let out. “It was … nice to see you, but now, I really must be going.”
“Well, um … do you maybe … would you … um, yeah, hope I see you around.”
I nodded and set off once again to Lucy Penny, attempting to herd my thoughts away from cheese-filled braces and back to the luscious pastures of romance.
I strode over to the lovely Miss Penny and offered my bouquet of fragrant posies.
“Pardon me, I do not mean to interrupt your meditations on this beautiful day, but a gentleman, the father of that beautiful motherless girl, asked me to deliver this to you, Miss … Miss …”
“Miss Penny, but … you can call me Lucy.” She smiled at me and gestured graciously toward the seat across from her own, as I thought she might.
This I politely refused. “Oh, thank you, Miss Penny, you are much too kind, but really I must be going. My task was merely to deliver these flowers to you.”
She brought the bouquet to her face, and I waspleased to see that I had chosen the flowers well. “Yes, they are beautiful. Lily of the valley is my favorite. Who did you say sent them?”
“A Mr. George Fisk. Isn’t that a handsome name? He is a very distinguished gentleman who has the highest regard for you. And his daughter handmade that beautiful bracelet just for you.”
“Oh, it’s lovely.” She looked around the deli. “Is Mr. Fisk here?”
“No, Miss, unfortunately he is not. Being of a shy nature, he wanted your first encounter with him to be based solely on his admiration for your beauty and demeanor. In my opinion, it would be so mysterious and romantic to have an admirer like him. But do not fear, he has assured me that if you receive his gesture with favor, he will make further arrangements to meet you.”
She smiled. “Well, that is very mysterious and … I have to say, romantic too.” She giggled. “You can tell him that—how did you say it? His gesture was met with favor.”
I allowed myself a small smile, though I tried to contain my elation within propriety. “I will tell him, Miss Penny. And his happiness will be beyond words. Good day.”
“You too,” she called after me.
I dashed up to my dear Fran, narrowly missing a great bear of a man who stalked through the deli.
“My dearest Fran! She accepts your father’s gift with favor and is anxious to make his acquaintance.”
Fran’s lips spread into a wide smile. “Wow, really?”
“But of course. So, what say you to this situation?”
She locked her arm in mine and we strolled from the deli to the cobbled street. “Well, I think … I think it’s great, Polly. I can’t wait to meet her. But what do you think we should tell my dad?”
“Do not fear, I have thought on this as well, though I must ponder but a little longer. Be assured, however, that by the end of the week, you, my beloved friend, will have secured for yourself a most wonderful stepmother.”
chapter twelve
In Which Mr. Nightquist Is
Burdened by an Unappetizing
Tuna Fish Casserole
T he sun beat down upon our shoulders as we strolled along the sidewalk. Delicious happiness seeped from my skin like lavender perfume over such a wonderful meeting with Miss Lucy Penny. Love was indeed invigorating to the spirit, mind, and body. Right then, I sought to further refresh myself and my dearest friend. “Fran, wouldn’t you adore an afternoon at the beach together? Shall we go and bask in the success of your father’s future wife, and relish how lovely she is?”
Fran smiled and nodded. “All right! That does sound good.
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