that’s how much I love you. And don’t say no because…you’ll hurt her feelings. She’s been divorced for over a year now and hasn’t gone out on a single date because she’s been traumatized. If you stand her up then she’ll probably go over the edge. Think about your Hippocratic Oath to do good and all that. Don’t you want to help this poor girl out?”
“I prefer the more modern oath of First Do No Harm.” He stilled. “Who is this girl? Do I know her?”
“Here’s the sweet part. You went to high school with her! She used to be Lauren Handy, but now she’s Lauren—”
Nate began to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You set me up on a date with Lauren Donalan? Are you on drugs?” He pulled out his pen light and did a quick inspection of her pupils. Huh . Both were equal and reactive to light. He placed his palm against her forehead. Her skin felt warm and dry. “Okay, so most likely, no to the drugs.”
Lanie frowned. “What’s wrong with her? Does she have an extra leg or something?”
“Did she actually say she’d go out with me?”
“Well…her mother set it up through Paula Zimmerman. Paula did a big fundraiser for the shelter last month and she’s friends with the mom, Maureen Handy. She’s kind of a blast from the past, old school-debutante and all that, but she’s a nice lady. And I don’t mind telling you that Maureen is loaded and made a very substantial contribution to the shelter, so yeah, can you please come through for me on this?”
Nate knew there was no way Lauren Donalan would ever agree to this date. And as for Lanie’s little fairytale that Lauren hadn’t gone out since her divorce, well, Nate could tell her a few things about that. He wondered what his sister would say if he told her that poor traumatized Lauren had been at The Harbor House the night he’d proposed to Jessica.
“I’ll tell you what. If Lauren Donalan agrees to the date, then I’ll show up. How about that?”
“Perfect! Now, when should I bring Hector by your house?”
“When pigs fly.”
F riday afternoons were Lauren’s favorite. Not for the usual TGIF kind of reasons, but because the shop always seemed to garner some action. A stroll along the shore and a cup of coffee or a pastry at The Bistro by the Beach seemed like an idyllic way to begin the weekend. So did a little window shopping at Can Buy Me Love. At least a dozen customers had come by in the last hour. She’d only sold one item—a nineteen-sixties era dress that Lauren had found at a garage sale last year. The dress had been torn on one side, but Lauren had used her sewing skills to fix it so that it was impossible to see the tear. The dress had been cleaned and pressed to Jackie Kennedy precision and the new owner was thrilled.
It was a balmy sixty-four degrees outside and Diana Ross and the Supremes were telling anyone within hearing distance to stop in the name of love. Dhara was assisting a teenage customer and her mother. The girl was doing a history project on the sixties and looking for “inspiration.” Lauren was happy to help, but it would be nice if that inspiration came in the way of buying something, as well.
It was after five. Tom usually picked up Henry at school¸ then they’d go hang out for a while until Lauren closed the shop. She was almost positive that Henry had soccer practice this evening. Thank God Tom helped keep track of all that. She couldn’t remember if she defrosted anything for tonight’s dinner, which usually meant that she hadn’t. Maybe Henry could be talked into going by Tiny’s Pizza tonight. Although, Lauren wouldn’t have to talk very much. Like most eleven year-old boys, Henry loved pizza. Especially Tiny’s.
She left the shop in Dhara’s capable hands and went back to her office to make a call. She’d tried to contact the leasing office at Waterbury Real Estate a couple of times this past week but she hadn’t been able to connect with a live person, and they hadn’t
“I prefer the more modern oath of First Do No Harm.” He stilled. “Who is this girl? Do I know her?”
“Here’s the sweet part. You went to high school with her! She used to be Lauren Handy, but now she’s Lauren—”
Nate began to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You set me up on a date with Lauren Donalan? Are you on drugs?” He pulled out his pen light and did a quick inspection of her pupils. Huh . Both were equal and reactive to light. He placed his palm against her forehead. Her skin felt warm and dry. “Okay, so most likely, no to the drugs.”
Lanie frowned. “What’s wrong with her? Does she have an extra leg or something?”
“Did she actually say she’d go out with me?”
“Well…her mother set it up through Paula Zimmerman. Paula did a big fundraiser for the shelter last month and she’s friends with the mom, Maureen Handy. She’s kind of a blast from the past, old school-debutante and all that, but she’s a nice lady. And I don’t mind telling you that Maureen is loaded and made a very substantial contribution to the shelter, so yeah, can you please come through for me on this?”
Nate knew there was no way Lauren Donalan would ever agree to this date. And as for Lanie’s little fairytale that Lauren hadn’t gone out since her divorce, well, Nate could tell her a few things about that. He wondered what his sister would say if he told her that poor traumatized Lauren had been at The Harbor House the night he’d proposed to Jessica.
“I’ll tell you what. If Lauren Donalan agrees to the date, then I’ll show up. How about that?”
“Perfect! Now, when should I bring Hector by your house?”
“When pigs fly.”
F riday afternoons were Lauren’s favorite. Not for the usual TGIF kind of reasons, but because the shop always seemed to garner some action. A stroll along the shore and a cup of coffee or a pastry at The Bistro by the Beach seemed like an idyllic way to begin the weekend. So did a little window shopping at Can Buy Me Love. At least a dozen customers had come by in the last hour. She’d only sold one item—a nineteen-sixties era dress that Lauren had found at a garage sale last year. The dress had been torn on one side, but Lauren had used her sewing skills to fix it so that it was impossible to see the tear. The dress had been cleaned and pressed to Jackie Kennedy precision and the new owner was thrilled.
It was a balmy sixty-four degrees outside and Diana Ross and the Supremes were telling anyone within hearing distance to stop in the name of love. Dhara was assisting a teenage customer and her mother. The girl was doing a history project on the sixties and looking for “inspiration.” Lauren was happy to help, but it would be nice if that inspiration came in the way of buying something, as well.
It was after five. Tom usually picked up Henry at school¸ then they’d go hang out for a while until Lauren closed the shop. She was almost positive that Henry had soccer practice this evening. Thank God Tom helped keep track of all that. She couldn’t remember if she defrosted anything for tonight’s dinner, which usually meant that she hadn’t. Maybe Henry could be talked into going by Tiny’s Pizza tonight. Although, Lauren wouldn’t have to talk very much. Like most eleven year-old boys, Henry loved pizza. Especially Tiny’s.
She left the shop in Dhara’s capable hands and went back to her office to make a call. She’d tried to contact the leasing office at Waterbury Real Estate a couple of times this past week but she hadn’t been able to connect with a live person, and they hadn’t
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