“Hey, stranger.”
It’s amazing how fast a person can go from ‘responsible mom’ mode to ‘goofy teenager’ mode as I recognized Coach Dalton’s, um, I mean, Sandy’s voice. I turned around to see her smiling face, feeling the heat immediately rise in my cheeks.
“Oh, hi.” I giggled stupidly, looking to the side as I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. I waggled my phone at her. “Just checking on a party Paige was invited to. Making sure it’s legit.”
“Dani’s pool party?” I nodded, looking a little surprised she knew about it. She shrugged. “I keep my ears open.”
“I needed to know it’s being chaperoned. It’s also going to be girls only, so,” I smiled, “I guess it’s okay.”
“I have a hard time imagining Paige gives you too much trouble chasing after boys. She strikes me as being a very responsible girl.”
“She is. She’s dated some, nobody really serious. She’s just a lot more focused on her studies. And her hockey, of course.”
“Of course. So, big plans this weekend?” Her voice was just a little unsure, which was cute. Good to know she was human.
“Not really.” I nodded towards my son. “Will has a date with his girlfriend, I’m running him over when we leave. And it looks like I won’t have a car tomorrow night, so there go my wild evening activities. Probably grocery shopping tomorrow morning.”
“Very exciting.”
“Hey,” I pointed at her, “Saturday morning at Wegmans is no joke. You could lose an arm.” Sandy laughed, which made my heart go all fuzzy inside my chest.
The Coach’s eyes cast about and her voice lowered. No one was within earshot. “So if I called you tonight would you answer?”
My breath caught in my chest as she spoke, and almost on instinct I gave her my most coquettish grin. “Maybe.” She gave me a half smile and her eyes narrowed, demanding a firmer answer. “Okay, yes.”
Her eyes sparkled for a moment, and her grin widened, softening her sharp features. I loved seeing that.
“Good. Have a lovely evening, Melanie.” She reached out and touched my elbow, just below the half sleeve of my pleated top. I could feel the heat run along my arm, and I just stared up into her eyes for a moment before she turned slowly away.
I took a few deep breaths, trying to get my heart rate to return to normal.
“Hey Mom.” I almost jumped through the roof at the sound of my daughter’s voice. “What were you talking to Coach about?”
My brain whirled around for a safe answer. “You, funnily enough.”
“What’d she say?” The sudden earnestness in her voice told me she didn’t have any suspicions about the effect Sandra Dalton’s presence had been having on me. Thank god for teenage obliviousness.
I put my arm around Paige’s shoulders. “That you’re doing great, and she’s proud of you.” I kissed her on the temple, which I had to go up on tiptoes to do, since she’d gotten her height from her father instead of me.
“Does that mean we can order from Gino’s tonight?”
I laughed. “Sure sweetheart. Will! Let’s go!” He didn’t move, the white stems of his ear buds protruding from under his mop of hair. “Paige, go kick your brother.
“Yes, ma’am.”
***
I slipped into the sudsy water. Paige and Charlie were both in their rooms, I’d poked my head in and said goodnight to both. Paige had been video chatting with one of her friends from the team, and Charlie had been wearing his headset, storming some dungeon or something on his computer. Since it was Friday night, I didn’t make them go lights out until midnight. Will’s curfew was a soft eleven, so I likely wouldn’t see him for at least another hour. Perfect timing for a bath.
I had my phone on the stone surround of my tub, and I glanced at it several times, both willing it to ring and terrified that it might do just that. I’d just looked away, beginning to close my eyes when the screen brightened, and Sandra Dalton’s Team USA picture shone on the screen as my phone began to vibrate.
I picked it up and took a deep breath. “Hello.”
“Hi. It’s not too late, is it?”
I grinned, rubbing my legs together under the water. “No, your timing is perfect.”
“Yeah? What’re you doing?”
“Taking a bath.” I could feel myself blushing. Shit, why had I said that? I’d basically just told her I was naked. God, I hope that didn’t gross her out. I wouldn’t want to think about me naked, either. Suddenly my eyes stung, but Sandy’s lovely alto voice cut through my darkening mood.
“Really? That sounds relaxing. Do you have a nice tub?”
“Yeah, it was a gift from my husband when we moved in. I’ve always loved baths.”
“A woman after my own heart. That’s one thing my condo doesn’t have.”
“A nice tub?”
“Yeah. I remember how great a bath felt after a tough game or workout. When I finally buy my house it’s going to have a great tub. One big enough for two.”
“Yeah, well, I already need one big enough for two.” I winced. Why do I do that? I could almost hear the coach glowering at me through the phone. “I’m sorry.”
“Good. I hate it when people are cruel to themselves. I don’t allow it in my players, or my friends.”
“Okay, I’ll try.” Alright, say something cool. “So, what’s going on?” So what’s going on? You idiot!
“Actually, I was wondering if you were free tomorrow night.”
My whole body flushed. Was she asking me out? Like, on a date? No, that’s silly. I’d already had this conversation with myself. She wasn’t interested in me like that. No one was. But I did like being around her, though, and it had been so long since I had a friend.
“Melanie? You still there?”
“Sorry, yeah, um, I’m free, I think. What did you have in mind?”
Sandra laughed on the other end. “You sure? You sound nervous. We don’t have to, you know.”
I felt a wash of panic. I didn’t want her to change her mind. “No, I’m sure. I’d love to see you again.” Oh my god! What did I just say! That sounded way too much like this was a date. Would she be insulted? I closed my eyes and waited for her to start backpedaling.
“That’s good.” It sounded like she was smiling. I could literally hear her smiling. “I can’t wait to see you again, too.” A warm, fuzzy feeling spread through my chest, and I could feel the silly grin spreading across my face as she continued.
“So, anyway, I have reservations at Taverna Agora tomorrow night, and then a friend of mine is playing at Tuscany Wine House at eight. I promised him and his wife I’d go. You could join me for both, or just dinner, whichever you want.”
“Would you like me to come to both? I’d understand if you’d rather spend time with your friends.”
“Melanie, I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t want you to be there.”
“That’s a switch. I get invited to things all the time people don’t want me at.”
“Sounds like you need some new friends.”
“I don’t have any friends. Bill got them all in the divorce.” I tried to laugh it off, but honestly there was too much truth in it to be too whimsical.
“You aren’t really kidding, are you?” That note of anger was back, tinting her voice.
I pulled my knees up to my chest. “I’m just not the social butterfly my mother is. Or that she wanted me to be.” A tear slid down my cheek, and I wiped it away, trying to keep any trace out of my voice. “Besides, I’ve got three teenagers. They keep me plenty busy. But with their dad taking them every other weekend, I do have plenty of built-in me time.”
“You hate it when they leave, don’t you?”
I sighed. “So much. They’re the longest days.”
“Well, I think one of the answers is getting you a social life, which starts by coming out with me tomorrow.”
The playful lilt to her voice sent a warm shudder through my body. I managed to stifle the giggle, but I couldn’t do anything about the silly grin spreading across my face. “Okay.”
*****
“Mom! The eggs are burning.” Charlie pointed at the stove, where, indeed, the scrambled eggs I was making for breakfast were starting to smoke. I pulled them off before flipping the hash browns. My head was all over the place, and it had been most of the night. I was definitely going to need a nap before Sandy swung by to pick me up tonight.
My whole body felt like it was humming, the idea of spending time with Sandy making it so I could barely think straight. I both couldn’t wait and was mortally terrified at the same time. The only thing that was keeping me sane was the mantra that this was safe, that she couldn’t possibly be interested in me like that. Besides, she probably wasn’t even gay. Her Wikipedia page hadn’t had anything about her personal life, other than the names of her parents and the fact she grew up in Charlotte. (Yes, she has a Wikipedia page, and, yes, I looked it up. One of the many things I did besides sleep last night.)
“Charlie, go wake your brother and sister. Charlie!” Me shouting got him to look up from his tablet, and he took out one of his earbuds. I repeated my request, and he headed upstairs to comply. “Do NOT go into your sister’s room! Just knock on the door!”
“Okay!” I heard banging and shouting from the bedrooms, and I turned back to what I was doing, using tongs to turn the bacon. Paige came down first, she’d always been easier in the morning than her brothers, especially when she was excited about something. When she was a girl I knew she’d be in my room at two AM every December the twenty-fifth, asking if it was Christmas yet. She was still in her PJ’s, just a headband in her long, light brown hair.
She picked up a piece of bacon and bit it in half. “I can still have the car this afternoon, right?”
“I said you could, didn’t I? And don’t talk with your mouth full.” I winced, realizing how much I’d just sounded like my mother. But still, good manners were good manners. “And don’t stay out too late. We have church in the morning and we’re going to your grandparents for Sunday dinner.”
“Ooh, is Winifred cooking?”