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She flushed under the bright patches of blusher—or rouge, as she called it—on her cheeks. “I haven’t lived with anyone or anything for thirty years. I don’t want to make another mistake.”
I blinked. “A mistake?”
“That’s what my husband was,” Auntie Lou admitted cheerfully. “A rascal, that fellow. It’s a wonder that he didn’t put me in the grave with him.”
This was all news to me.
“He couldn’t keep a job or didn’t care to. Lazy as the day is long.” Her expression softened. “But so charming. He treated me like a queen, you know. Made me forget that I had to support us most of the time. Then he got sick and I nearly lost my mind tending to him and trying to keep food on the table….” Her voice drifted with her memories, into the past. “I didn’t regret a moment I spent caring for him but after he was gone, I realized that sometimes it can be just too hard to love someone who hasn’t the same ability to love back.” She eyeballed the cat. “Do you think this guy is up to it?”
My heart ached for Auntie Lou. She’d loved and lost and, even with a pet cat, was afraid to love again.
“I’m sure of it. And he’ll earn his keep. The lady at the desk said his former owner told her he was ‘an affectionate animal and a great mouser.’”
“Then why did they give him up?” Auntie Lou asked suspiciously.
I checked the card from the front of the cage that held the cat’s history. “Looks like she went into a hospice program, Auntie Lou.”
The old woman’s expression softened. “So you got left behind, too, did you?” she whispered into the cat’s soft fur. The roaring purr intensified. “I suppose we belong together then, two old rejects.”
Deal closed.
Then she looked up, her eyes twinkling. “Now don’t you go lecturing me about calling myself a reject. I couldn’t be one or you wouldn’t spend time with me, you sweet girl. Now go get me some papers to sign or swear us in or whatever it is you do in your shop. I want to get this guy home before I change my mind.”
Leaving the pair looking lovingly into each other’s eyes, I went to the shelter’s desk to tell them a pet had found its home.
“Did you see him yesterday?” Lilly accosted me in front of the Java Jockey on Tuesday morning looking wild-eyed and beautiful in a lavender chiffon top and shocking purple leggings. Her hair was piled in high curls on her head and she wore shoes that looked like instruments of torture, toes so pointy that she could have had them declared dangerous weapons. She had mini chandeliers hanging from her luscious lobes and silver chains draped around her neck. Improbable, impossible and outlandish, on Lilly it was a look to-die-for.
She plopped into one of the outside chairs and put her double espresso latte with sugar-free vanilla flavoring and a chocolate-dipped coffee bean onto a table. I joined her with my decaf with soy milk.
“Whatever happened to preppy clothing? You know, wool skirts, penny loafers….”
“Another day, Norah. Wait until you see what I’ve ordered for fall.” Then she realized that I’d distracted her from her original thought. “Well, did you?”
“Connor Trevain, I presume.”
“Isn’t he gorgeous? I can just see him at the helm, driving the boat or whatever sea captains do, squinting into the mist, not knowing what dangers may face him out on the open water….” Lilly threw her head back and gazed dreamily toward Lake Zachary.
“He’ll be on tour boats, Lilly. Unless Gilligan’s Island is somewhere in the middle of Lake Zachary, I don’t think he’ll have a problem.”
“Oh, you’re no fun!” She stamped her foot and I remembered that she could probably disembowel me with that shoe.
“I’m plenty of fun. I’m just not fantasizing over Connor Trevain.”
“Don’t you like him?”
“Lilly, I don’t even know him.”
“He’s rich and good-looking.”
“But is he a Christian?”
“He can always become that. It’s harder to become rich and good-looking.”
My shoulders sagged. “Lilly, don’t you know me at all?”
She looked contrite. “Sorry, Norah. I know how important that is to you, but does it hurt for him to be cute, too?”
“Of course not. But he’ll be much cuter to me if he’s a Christian.”
Lilly and I discuss this often. She’s right on the edge of accepting Christ but pulls back every time she thinks of something she might have to give up if she accepts Him fully. So far she’s asked me if she’d have to give up wearing pretty clothes and lipstick, dancing, playing cards, drinking wine and having fun. I keep telling her that that is between her and God. Once she accepts Him and invites the Holy Spirit into action in her life, she’ll know what pleases Him and what doesn’t. Plus, it will be so much fun to please Him that if she sees something she does need to give up, she won’t mind. She can’t get her mind around that concept yet. I understand. It’s hard to comprehend how God can fill you up so that you never feel like you’re missing a thing.
“What kinds of men do you like, Norah? I blabber about this one and that and you just take it all in, never saying a thing.”
“I’m not shopping right now, Lilly. It’s hard to conjure up a list for you.”
“You like Joe. He’s charming, great-looking, nice and tall. Those things could go on your list.”
“I’m not making a list!”
“Well, you should.”
“Why?”
“What if someone comes along and he’s perfect and you aren’t prepared? He might get away!”
Lilly’s logic defies reason. Or if it defies reason, can it be logic? Lilly’s way of thinking always dumbfounds me. It’s also part of why we’re friends. I’m never bored around Lilly.
As we sat there talking, I noticed Lilly’s antennae go up. I can see it in her eyes when there’s either an interesting fashion statement or a cute guy nearby. Her posture straightens, her eyes light up and her nose twitches just the tiniest bit. She says it doesn’t, but I know. I’m an eyewitness.
Unfortunately the object of her interest was behind me and although I could hear the clink and jangle of metal on metal, I didn’t see him until he stopped at our table.
“Good morning, ladies” he said to us. I turned around and came eye to buckle with a uniform-clad police officer. He stood with legs straddled and hands linked behind his back, just like on television. He did have the impenetrable black sunglasses but was missing the crisp blue hat which would conceal all expression on his face. And…could I believe my eyes? Was that a horse standing behind him?
Chapter Three
“Well, hello. What a hunk you are!”
“Norah…” Lilly’s shocked voice warned.
I paid no attention as my gaze made its way across the most incredible horse I’ve ever seen—a gleaming chestnut with muscled flanks, high, strong withers and dark, intelligent eyes. He was drop-dead gorgeous.
“Norah!”
I looked up and blinked. Lilly’s shaken and bewildered expression slammed me down to earth in a hurry. Leave it to Lilly to think I was talking to the man, not the horse.
Without a pause, I pushed away from the table, stood and locked eyes with the massive gelding decked out in a highly buffed, supple black leather saddle and murmured appreciatively, “I wish I had one of you in my shop.”
Then, with great intention, I turned to the stony policeman. “What an awesome horse. I didn’t realize we were getting a team of police protection.”
Lilly sagged with relief once she realized that I wasn’t addressing the man’s attractiveness—which was certainly obvious. I made a mental note to talk to her later and convince her that not every woman views the world the way she does—by noticing the men first and only later seeing the scenery.
The cop, a hunk in his own right, with square shoulders, a broad, solid body that tapered to narrow hips and an unreadable, impassive face, nodded slightly.
“Nick Haley. I’m Shoreside’s new police officer.” He didn’t offer his hand or make any effort to smile. His face—the part I could see below the low hat and mirrored sunglasses—was worth studying anyway. Very nice, if you like strong jawlines, golden tans and lips that were probably very good at everything they did, from smiling to kissing….
“That is so awesome!” Lilly blurted, trying out her ingenue persona on him.
It didn’t work. Not even a twitch of a smile.
“Mounted police, what a great idea,” I said, delighted at the thought of having another animal—a huge and beautiful one—in the neighborhood. I had to drag my attention away from the gleaming sorrel shifting in the sun, his neck and flanks shiny and new as a freshly minted copper penny. His ear twitched as an audacious fly tried to land on its tip.
“Mounted only part-time,” he corrected me. “I work with several local police departments at community events. Because Shoreside hosts so many outdoor parades and events Sarge will be rotating in and out. Your mayor and city council decided that they wanted a police presence able to move in the crowds around the lake and one that wasn’t quite so…”
“…intimidating as a police car?” I finished for him.
“Yes.” He cleared his throat and began to scratch the magnificent animal on the neck. “This is my first day on the job. I want to stop by with the horse and meet each of the business owners. This is Sergeant Thunder.”
“He’s a real sergeant in the police force?” Lilly gasped. “I didn’t know they did that. Do horses have to go to the police academy or something?”
The officer’s finely drawn lips twitched. “Sergeant Thunder is the name given to him before he was recruited by us. Purely a coincidence. I call him Sarge for short.”
“Oh.” Lilly sat back to digest that. Lilly isn’t big on animals. She doesn’t hate them, but she doesn’t pay much attention to them, either—except Winky, who gives her a lecherous wolf whistle every time she enters Norah’s Ark.
“My name is Norah Kent. I own Norah’s Ark. This is Lilly Culpepper of The Fashion Diva. Welcome to Shoreside.” His handshake was warm, firm and rough with calluses. They were a working man’s hands like those of my grandfather, a farmer. I had the sense of being protected even as Nick and I shook hands. Perfect vibe for a policeman to emanate. Still, a smile would have been nice, too.
Lilly dropped Valley Girl and went straight for Queen Elizabeth. “Charmed, I’m sure,” she murmured huskily as he took her hand. Lilly is always adopting personae other than her own. They’re like clothing for her. She tries something different for whatever mood she’s in. She slides in and out of movie star guises like other people change T-shirts. Personally I like her best when she’s being Barbara Walters or Kelly Ripa. If Lilly is wearing a tailored suit and a hat, it’s Margaret Thatcher every time.
I reached out and touched Sarge’s flank. It twitched and rippled as if my finger were an unwelcome fly but he made no other movement. Neither horse nor rider was going to let you see them sweat.
“It was a pleasure to meet both of you. Now if you’ll excuse me…” The officer made a clicking sound with his tongue and Sarge obediently backed off. They were a team, all right.
After they moved away, Lilly squirmed excitedly in her chair. “What a dream!”
“The horse is great,” I agreed.
“Not the horse, silly. The man!”
“Did you even notice the horse, Lilly? The one that was twelve hundred pounds heavier than the guy leading him?”
“What if you met a guy someday who was perfect for you but didn’t like animals?” Lilly said exasperatedly. “Then what would you do?”
“A guy who didn’t like animals couldn’t be ‘perfect’ for me. It’s like that policeman and his horse, or Bentley and me, we’re a pair, a team, and that’s all there is to it. I’m in no danger of falling for a man who won’t have anything to do with God’s furry creatures.”
“You and your animals. One of these days you’re going to have to start looking at men, Norah, or you’ll end up one of those crazy cat ladies whose house smells like a litter box and has kittens born in your bed.”
My first notion was to gross her out and tell her that it didn’t sound like such a bad life to me, but I know what she means. I don’t want to live forever with a parrot with a ribald mouth and a dog with more emotional issues than he has fleas as my only companions.
We didn’t have time to debrief the advent of the new police officer any further because at that moment Joe walked out of the Java Jockey and headed for the lake. He turned briefly to wave at us.
Lilly pointed to Joe’s broad, muscular retreating back as he sauntered down the sidewalk. “Maybe you should marry Joe. He’s handsome, successful and crazy about you.”
“There’s only one small problem, Lilly. I don’t want to get married right now.” I slapped the heel of my hand against my forehead. “Oh, yes, silly me. There are two problems. I’m also not in love with him—not that way, at least not yet.”
“But you like him, don’t you?”
“Of course, but…”
“Has he asked you out lately?”
“We’re going out for Italian food on Saturday.”
Lilly clapped her hands and leaped to her feet. “I’ve got just the dress for you.”
“Dress? Lilly, when was the last time you saw my legs?” Granted, I do wear a skirt to church on Sundays—but it isn’t my usual uniform. That’s anything with a Norah’s Ark logo on it.
“Exactly my point.” She grabbed my hand and tugged until I reluctantly followed her across the street into The Fashion Diva.
The Fashion Diva has every bit as much élan as Lilly does. My friend is an artist at putting items of clothing together in unexpected ways. Today she had a beach-party theme on her wall, a collage of summer clothing—shorts, halter tops, flowing skirts—that appeared to be worn by invisible bodies playing volleyball. She’d tacked a scrap of webbing and two sticks to the wall to indicate the net, deflated a volleyball and arranged it as if it were sailing midair.
“Cool wall,” I managed before she shoved me into a dressing room and began flinging clothes in behind me.
“Lilly, I can’t just walk out of my store and leave it untended.”
“You try these on. I’ll watch for customers. If anyone comes to buy one of those gargantuan puppies you have, I’ll call you.”
“They are mastiffs. They’re supposed to be gigantic.”
“They grow up to be Volkswagen vans. Why don’t you sell miniature poodles, the kind people can carry in their purse? Such a trendy look right now.”
“Animals are not accessories, Lilly.”
A big sigh came from outside the door. “Okay, okay. How does the skirt fit?”
“Like a collapsed canvas mainsail.”
There was a long silence outside the dressing room door, then another sigh. “Let me see.”
I trudged into the painful light of day. The skirt she’d given me was actually canvas-colored, with rivets, stitched pockets and a slit on the side which was probably supposed to show off my long, shapely leg. Instead, it made me look like one of the concrete foundation footings they were pouring for the new bank being built down the street.
“Oh, dear. Maybe we can’t do this quickly after all.”
“Exactly. To entertain yourself, put together a couple outfits that will make me look human rather than like squat, ugly buildings. I’ll try them on later just to satisfy you. No promises I’ll buy, though.”
“You are my newest crusade, Norah, even if I have to order clothes made of denim, flannel and sweatshirt fabric, I will make you a representative of Fashion Diva style.”
Terrific. Being Lilly’s pet project is always a pain because she’s relentless in whatever she sets out to do. The only one she’s ever had to admit defeat on is Auntie Lou whose style can be best described as a Civil War combined with consignment store chic.
Why, I wondered as I hurried back to feed the animals, didn’t she just advertise on the side of a bus rather than make me, a cute but admitted sow’s ear—fashionwise, that is—into a silk purse?
