Page 128 of Banter & Blushes #1

A fter the game they drove down the Main Street in Red Bird. The red brick sidewalks lined the street, dotted with tall maple and oak trees. Store fronts ran together one after another before opening up to homes on each side of the street. “The houses are so pretty here. Old.”

“This one is gorgeous,” she complimented as they pulled up in front of a large Victorian with a wide wooden plank front porch. “Wait, is this the B&B? “

“It is,” he got out and ran around to open her door again just like at the ballpark.

Struck by the intricate details in the woodwork, she smiled at the large steps of the porch. “I’m in love.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted the choice. “I mean…” she wasn’t sure what to say after.

“I just may be, too.” He whispered as his two cousins appeared at the open door at the same moment.

Both were about ten years older than her, she’d guess.

The taller one had her gray hair freshly permed from the salon and was wearing an old-fashioned day dress.

The other had silver ringlet curls and was wearing gray slacks and a pink linen button up shirt.

“JOHNNY!” They both greeted him in unison. Then with beaming faces, they bypassed him, going straight to his friend. “Hi!” Their voices were filled with the enthusiasm of children.

“Hello,” she held out her hand. “I’m Elva and I love your home.”

“Oh,” the taller one gushed, “We know who you are. I’m Beatrice and this is my younger sister, Agnes. We are so glad you are here.” Her left arm wrapped around Elva and guided her up the stairs. “Would you like to have your lemonade on the porch or in the formal parlor? “

“The porch is fine with me, but please don’t go to any trouble.” She felt welcomed and at home instantly .

“Nonsense. You just sit down and put your feet up.” Then turning to Mitch, Beatrice smiled. “Johnny, can I show you something that needs fixed real quick… inside?” She turned her head to indicate she needed to speak to him alone.

Laughing he shook his head, “sure. Agnes be nice.” He instructed, leaving her with Elva on the front porch.

“I don’t know why he thinks I wouldn’t be nice?” She looked at Elva. “I love your dress. And your hair is so cute!”

“Oh, well, thanks. I like your hair. Are those natural curls?”

Pulling a spiral down, it instantly sprang back up. “Natural as the day I was born.” She looked around, making sure her sister and cousin weren’t back yet. “So… what do you think about dating our Johnny?”

“Excuse me?” She was so surprised by Agnes’ directness she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Come on. We know he’s sweet on you. In all our years, he’s never brought a woman to meet us. Not once.”

Her eyebrows raised in surprise. “Never?”

“Never, ever!” She said louder than she meant to.

“Never ever, what?” Mitch appeared behind her with his arms crossed in front of him, looking all the grumpy gruff his daughter alluded to.

Elva and Agnes exchanged a look and then both spoke at the same time trying to salvage the situation.

“Have I seen a porch-“

“As beautiful as Elva!” Agnes finished, not making any sense.

“Uh, huh?” His eyebrows lifted.

“Nice save, Ag” Beatrice laughed, carrying a tray of refreshments onto the porch. The wooden tray held glasses, a large pitcher of lemonade, along with cookies and finger sandwiches.

“You made cookies?” Mitch’s tough exterior melted, settling into the rocking chair next to Elva and grabbing a cookie from the tray.

“Hey,” Beatrice snapped, swatting his hand away, “those are meant for our guest.”

“I’m your guest.” He sat looking confused.

“Not really,” Agnes looked from him to Elva. “We like her better,” she teased, offering the plate of cookies to her.

Elva could help but join in the teasing. Turning her attention to Mitch she smiled as her eyes caught his. “So, tell me about Johnny as a boy.” She knew Agnes wanted to share.

His nose wrinkled at being called Johnny. It was one thing for his cousins to do it. They called him that from the time he was a toddler. But no one else ever used that name. Ever. “I think there are plenty more things we could talk about.”

“How about this beautiful house? How did you come to run it as a B&B?” She looked from one sister to the other .

“That’s a boring story,” Agnes swatted away the air. “Tell us all about you, Elva.”

About me?”

“Everything.” She leaned in closer ready to hear all her secrets.

“We don’t need to interrogate her,” Mitch picked up a sandwich, prompting Beatrice to hand him a small plate to hold underneath.

“It’s okay,” she smiled politely. “What would you like to know?”

“Why are you single?” Agnes asked instantly, making Mitch nearly choke on the bite he just took.

“Ag!”

Holding in a laugh, Elva had to admit this was amusing. “Well, I just am. Married to my work all these years, you could say.”

“Hmm, sounds like someone else we know,” Beatrice crossed her leg over the other.

Knowing they wouldn’t let up, she relented to tell them some things about herself.

“My parents were immigrants. We settled in the Landings after my father passed away. My mother insisted I go to college even though the only jobs for women aside from being a seamstress were as a secretary, teacher, or nurse. I knew I wanted to open a restaurant.”

“Strong, independent,” Beatrice counted off on her fingers, keeping track of the things she liked about her. “What about a man?”

“A man?”

“Bea, I don’t think that’s appropriate,” Mitch interjected, taking a drink of the sweet lemonade.

“I’m sorry. You don’t strike me as easily embarrassed, though, do you?” She asked Elva directly.

Elva was quick to answer, “of course not.” The very directness of these sisters was hilarious.

Looking around the porch she was impressed by the gorgeous woodwork details.

Scrolls and trim painted to match the wide plank flooring.

She changed the subject. “Everything is so well coordinated.” She glanced at the large wicker chairs and sparkly clean glass-top table now holding the tray of tea and snacks. “It’s just lovely!”

“Thank you.” Beatrice took the bait but not before trying to sell her cousin a little more. “We couldn’t do it without our Johnny. He is very handy.”

“So I’ve seen,” she smiled at Mitch. “He’s doing an amazing job at our station in North Shores.”

“Um,” Beatrice smoothed down the edges of her floral skirt before crossing her feet at her ankles. “Johnny, did you invite your lady-friend to the Harvest Dance yet?”

Gritting his teeth as he took another drink, he shook his head back and forth, “Bea, that’s still a while from now.”

“Not really,” Agnes argued, “we have rooms booking already. It will be here before you know it! ”

Rocking back and forth in her chair, she took in the late afternoon breeze. “What is the Harvest Dance?” Elva wasn’t sure she followed along.

Mitch looked from one cousin to the other and sighed. “It’s just an annual event in Red Bird. Main Street closes, lots of music, vendors, all things fall.”

“AND,” Agnes smiled at them both, “a big dance in the town square that night.” Turning to only Elva, she patted her knee, “you should come!”

“That’s very kind,” she smiled back. “It sounds like a wonderful event.” She answered without answering.

The fair and dance did sound nice, but it was obvious that these cousins were pushing the matchmaking a little too hard.

If or even when, Mitch wanted to actually ask her to go, she’d consider it.

“I’m going to leave a room open for you,” she winked at Mitch, “just in case.”

“Okay,” he stood up, clapping his hands together before intertwining his fingers together, “on that note, I think we should be heading back to the Landings.”

“Thank you so much for hosting us,” Elva’s hands cupped Bea’s. “You have a lovely home.”

“That’s so kind. Thank YOU for allowing us to crash your date.” She winked at Agnes as they followed the couple to their truck.

Mitch let out a sigh before hugging Beatrice and Agnes. “I’ll call you,” his hand gently found Elva’s back as he guided her toward the opened passenger door.

They rode in silence, driving down Main Street. After they took the exit South, he finally spoke. “Thanks for hanging out with me today and letting me show you around my little town.”

“I had the best day. I don’t think I remember the last time I took a day off from the restaurant.”

Glancing from the road to his passenger, he smiled. “Relaxing looks good on you. Though everything looks good on you, I’d guess.”

She felt her cheeks blush. “You know, I’m starting to get the feeling that people think we should be dating. How crazy is that?” She joked addressing the elephant in the truck with them.

“Really crazy. I’m very sorry for my cousins. They are normally not like that.” He pulled onto the road out of Red Bird. “It’s as if I can’t be friends with an accomplished, beautiful woman.”

“That’s awfully nice of you.” She paused, looking out the window at the vast farms they drove by. “Beautiful woman, huh?” She thought back to Agnes, telling her he never brought a woman to meet them. Hmm…

“Very beautiful.” He flashed a smile in her direction before quickly returning his eyes to the open road in front of them.

“I like that your cousins call you Johnny. It’s cute.“

“They are the only ones I’ve ever let call me that. Although,” his eyes went from the road to Elva as he flashed a smile at her, “you can call me anything you want.”