“Do you see them much?”
“I try to get up there a few weekends a year. They live in Asheville, it’s about four hours away.”
“I know. Dad has a cabin north of Weaverville. Spent a lot of vacations there.”
She glanced over at me, a smirk on her face. “Never really pegged you for a woodsy, mountain girl.”
“I have layers, not that anyone cares.” I shook myself. Stop belittling yourself, stupid. Damn. Okay, change subjects before she scolds you. “Mom would have much rather had a beach house. A lot more prestigious than a cabin in the woods. Mom really cares about that stuff.”
“Did she come from the upper crust?”
“Actually just on the outside. My dad did, old money. Not as much now as there was, but Mom, she went to a fancy prep school on a scholarship, always watching the kids with better lives, in her opinion anyway.”
“So your mom literally married your dad for his money? Please tell me that’s not true.”
I laughed. “Maybe a little. But Dad, he’s absolutely enamored with her, always has been. But he doesn’t let her walk on him. At least, not much. And Mom, she’s fiercely protective of him and the family. I mean, he’s given her everything she’s ever wanted. Social standing and consequence, Mom’s on all the committees. She’s in a book club with the governor’s wife, for crying out loud. Her opinion matters, which it didn’t when she was young. Social mountaineering.”
“Gotcha. So what was your role in all that growing up?”
“Head cheerleader, homecoming court, then Duke. Had to join Delta Alpha Chi, the sorority mom couldn’t get into when she went to school. Majored in English.”
Sandy laughed and shook her head. “Is that code for ‘Mrs.’?
“Basically. But the joke was on her, I really love English and literature, and my sorority was great.”
We pulled up to the front of the restaurant, and I grinned and blushed. “I’ve just been talking about me the whole way, haven’t I? I’m sorry.”
Sandy looked at me with a little half smile that made my heart flip in my chest. “You think I mind? Come on, let’s go see if our table is ready.” She climbed out of her Cherokee and as she walked around the Jeep I took a moment to check my makeup in the visor mirror. For some reason I never once thought she wasn’t coming to open my door, which she did.
I put my hand in hers as I climbed down, feeling that zing as I touched her. As we walked in I could feel her presence next to me, and I kept having to stop myself from glancing over at her. Whenever I did, she met my gaze with a happy, kind smile that made my insides go gooey.
There were a number of people waiting, but Sandy made her way confidently up to the hostess. “Dalton, reservation for two?” The petite brunette behind the counter looked down at her book.
“Yes, ma’am, let me go see if your table is ready.” She disappeared for a moment before returning with a smile. “Follow me.”
She led us to the back of the dining room and up a short flight of stairs to a rooftop terrace. The tables scattered about had blue tops and white chairs, with a vine covered pergola overhead lit by soft orange lights.
The supporting pillars were wrapped with more shining bulbs, and the whole area seemed to me like a fairyland.
“Wow.” My mouth hung slightly open as I looked around, taking in the scene.
“Nice, isn’t it? This is one of my favorite spots in the city.”
I felt almost giggly, like a schoolgirl on her first real date. “I love it. It’s very romantic.”
Sandra’s grin widened, making me blush. “It is. I’m glad you like it. Wait ’till you try the food.” We sat right next to the railing, overlooking the street below. Our server arrived only a moment later, tall and clean cut with a winning smile. He flashed it at both of us before asking us what we’d be drinking.
“Do you know what you want?”
I shook my head. “An actual wine list? Real cocktails? I’m overwhelmed. I have no idea.”
“Do you mind then?” She nodded her head towards our waiter.
“I’m in your hands.” Ooh, it gave me a little thrill to say that.
She looked up at him. “We’d like an order of Dolmades and two Greek Mules.”
“Right away.”
I chuckled nervously. “Do I want to know what a Greek Mule is?”
“Just a cocktail, vodka, lemon, lime, ginger beer, I love it. It’s my favorite drink here.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, I’m only going to be able to have one of them. I still have to drive.” She leaned forward, eyes glinting with mischief. “You can have as many as you want.”
I grinned and shook my head, taking a sip of my water. “No way. Three drink max for me.” I made myself look her in the eye, feeling the heat that always came with that. “Why, you trying to get me drunk?”
Her face didn’t deny it, and she sat back. “I’d just like to see you relaxed, enjoying yourself.”
“I am.”
Sandy’s smile widened, softening her strong features. God, she was stunning. I was only able to pull my eyes away when our waiter dropped off our drinks. They came in little metal jugs, with a sprig of thyme, filled with ice and a translucent liquid.
“Okay, so try this.”
It was amazing, the spicy ginger playing against the fig vodka and the lemon lime and baklava syrup. I guess, anyway. I mean, I couldn’t have told you what baklava tasted like, anyway. It was yummy though, a perfect compliment to a warm, autumn North Carolina evening.
I made myself look at the menu, everything looking amazing. “Any recommendations?”
“Actually, if you want we can do the Grecian Grill for two, try a bunch of different things. It’s what I ordered the first time my friend Jeanine brought me here.”
I found it on the menu, and it did look amazing, a variety of meats with vegetables, potatoes, salad and bread.
“Mmm.” I nodded my assent. “That sounds perfect.”
“Alright.” Sandy signaled our waiter and put in our order. As soon as he withdrew she looked back across the table, that confident, sassy smile spread across her features. “So you’re a carnivore like me, then?”
I blushed. “Guilty as charged. There aren’t a whole lot of foods I don’t like, as you can probably tell.” I almost managed to not say it, and I knew I was going to get that look. “Sorry.”
“Who’s in your head when you do that?”
“What?”
“When you put yourself down about your weight. Whose voice are you hearing?”
A ton of thoughts raced through my head. I could lie and say it was mine, I could deny that it was anyone at all, but I decided on the truth. My eyes went down, shame burning in my heart. “My mother. It’s always my mother.”
Sandy nodded. “I know what you mean.”
I gave her a bemused look. I couldn’t believe she’d ever struggled with her weight.
“No, I’m serious. Have I ever shown you a picture of my sister?”
I shook my head. “Huh-uh.”
She pulled out her phone and tapped on it for a second before handing it to me. On the screen was a shot of Sandy standing next to a slightly shorter blonde. I had no problem believing they were related, they had the same general facial structure, and the same lovely green eyes, but where Sandy’s face was longer and angled, her sister’s was softer and more rounded. The same was true of her figure, which was much closer to an hourglass than Sandy’s much straighter frame.
“Is she older or younger?” I handed the phone back.
“Older. Three years. Everyone always expected me to be like her, but I wasn’t. She was always so elegant, pretty dresses, prettier manners. I was all knees and elbows, rough around the edges.. But I wanted to be like her, so much.”
“Was she an athlete?”
“Yeah, but she preferred gymnastics and dance. She was a cheerleader like you. She was on the homecoming court when I was a Freshman. My mom took me with when we went to buy her dress.” She looked down at her phone. “She looked so beautiful. I was never like her.”
The longing and regret in her voice made my heart break, and I couldn’t help reaching out and taking her hand. “I think you’re beautiful.”
Her fingers tightened in mine as a shy smile crept across her striking features. “No, you don’t, but thanks for saying it.”
Before I could protest my sincerity our appetizer arrived, and Sandy’s eyes brightened as the dolmades were set on our table. “Okay, here, try this.” She picked one up, dipped it in the sauce and held it out. My heart was suddenly in my throat as I leaned forward and bit into the grape leaf wrap she was holding. The filling was a creamy, savory rice concoction, and it was delicious.
I put my hand up to my mouth, sighing in pleasure as the flavor washed over me. When I opened my eyes Sandy was grinning at me. “Good, huh?”
“Oh, yeah! It’s amazing.” I leaned forward for another bite, and Sandy gave it to me. Something about the look in her eyes made me blush. “What?”
“Nothing. I just love seeing you smile.”
I shook my head. “Now you’re the one that’s fibbing.”
Sandy laughed. “So you admit you were lying!”
“Huh-uh, that’s not what I meant.” I wagged a finger at her, making her giggle. She shook her head at me and popped the rest of the dolmades into her mouth, and I made myself look away. Eventually I turned my face back towards hers, and her soft smile made my heart race, but also put me at ease, which was the oddest feeling. I returned her smile, and her eyes brightened instantly. Maybe it was true.