1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [44]
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise. So…we’re going out to dinner this evening,” she murmured.
“Yes.”
It all seemed a bit ridiculous, but she’d asked for this. “Good,” she said in response. She was able to offer him a small grateful smile.
“Are you ready to leave now?” he asked.
“Okay.” She took a quick sip of her wine, then brought both glasses back to the kitchen. Standing by the counter she closed her eyes, praying she could get through the evening without making an idiot of herself.
“I made reservations at D.D.’s on the Cove,” Chad said as he retrieved his jacket.
“Sounds good,” she said, joining him again.
Chad helped her on with her sweater. Gloria had fretted over what to wear; she didn’t want to appear too casual, nor did she want to overdress. In the end she chose white linen pants, a sleeveless white top and a pink sweater with a rose pattern.
She locked her apartment and they walked to the restaurant. “I parked my car there earlier,” he explained. “I thought after dinner we could go for a ride, if you’d like.”
“Sure. That would be nice.”
He reached for her hand and she let him take it. His hold was gentle; she could feel herself beginning to relax. If they could start over, they might actually become friends—and then they could see if friendship led to anything else.
The dinner was everything she’d hoped it would be—and feared. Once the awkwardness left her, they talked for two hours over succulent crab cakes and the same wine she’d served at the apartment. Chad told her about his experiences at the clinic and she responded with stories from her years of police work.
“I’d accepted a position in the E.R. in Tacoma,” he said at one point.
“Were they upset when you changed your mind?” If so, Gloria would have to take the blame.
“Not too much. They said if I ever wanted a job to let them know.”
She looked into her wineglass and whispered, “I’m glad you stayed in Cedar Cove.”
“I am, too.”
He added something Gloria couldn’t quite make out. It sounded like “More than ever.” But she couldn’t be sure.
They finished their meal, ending with coffee, and strolled along the waterfront for a while. Warm from the bottle of wine they’d shared and feeling more at ease than she’d thought possible, Gloria smiled over at Chad. “I’m really enjoying myself.”
“Don’t act so surprised.”
“But I am surprised. I didn’t expect it to be like this.”
Chad rested one hand lightly on her shoulder. “I always knew it would be,” he said.
Gloria decided not to respond.
They walked in silence for another ten minutes, and then Chad led her to his car, a sporty convertible. He put the top down. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I only had a glass and a half of wine.”
She nodded. “Where are we going?” she asked once they were both seated inside.
“Where would you like to go?”
The answer that came automatically to mind was “home.” She wanted her life to go back to the way it was when her parents were alive. She wanted to go home to California, where she’d been raised and everything felt familiar. But that wasn’t possible. Her life there was over. Her parents were buried, her home sold. Everything she knew and loved was gone.
“Wherever you’d like,” she said, since he was waiting for an answer.
“Okay.” He put the car in gear and they headed down Harbor Street, then around the cove toward Bremerton. Chad turned on a golden-oldies station and they sang along to classics from Elvis to the Rolling Stones. The car took the corners smoothly and soon Gloria was laughing, closing her eyes in exhilaration and letting the wind tangle her hair.
“I love the sound of your laughter,” Chad said as he pulled into a parking lot near the shipyard and shut off the engine.
Gloria smiled when he reached for her hand.
“I feel good,” she whispered. “I don’t know why, either—unless it’s the wine. And the music.”
“Well, those things help, and so does my charming company, but I know what the big reason is.”
Curious, she looked at him.
“You found