Flight to Love Read online

  “It’s sort of a mixture of my furniture and what Gram had,” she explained, surveying the crowded living room critically. “I may get rid of some more stuff later, but for now, this will do.”

  “Do you think the piano would fit in the other room?”

  “I suppose so. But, no, I think I’ll have to leave it in the living room, because I still have all those boxes of books I want to put in the family room. I think it will be cozy to have them handy in there along with these soft chairs and the sofa in front of the fireplace.”

  Trace looked around, ready to start moving heavy boxes of books and unpacking them. “I’m a book lover myself,” he said. “I can’t wait to discover what your tastes are in reading material. Where are the bookcases?”

  Lisa rubbed the tired muscles in her neck and said, “Well, actually, I haven’t bought any yet. The bookcases at my house in St. Cloud were all built in, so of course, they had to stay. But we can at least move the chairs and sofa in there and see how they fit, and then I’ll measure the remaining wall space to see what size bookcases to buy.”

  When they’d arranged those in the family room to her satisfaction, they returned to the living room and moved things around in there until both were pleased with the results. This room was decorated in tones of gold and browns, and definitely had a more formal atmosphere.

  “Satisfied?” Trace asked, dropping into a chair with a sigh.

  Lisa perched on the side of another stuffed chair and looked at him. “You’re being very down to earth and practical, Trace. I thought professors were supposed to be flighty and absent-minded.”

  He lifted his chin in surprise. “Who said so?”

  “I don’t know. Isn’t it a rule or something?”

  “You’ve got me. If it is, I must be the exception that proves the rule. Sandra always said I was as dull and predictable as the mathematical formulas I teach. She was the flighty, absent-minded one.”

  He sighed, embarrassed. “Sorry. I certainly don’t want to talk about Sandra tonight. Are you hungry? Let’s go get something to eat.”

  “I made beef stew in the crock pot this morning. It should be done by now. Would you like some of that?”

  “Sure. Sounds great!”

  He followed her to the kitchen, and set the table while she put some brown-and-serve rolls in the oven and made a pot of coffee. They sat at her kitchen table and finished off the food in short order.

  “Delicious,” he approved, buttering another roll. “So now I know you can cook, too. What other new tricks have you learned over the years? Do you play that piano?” He tipped his head towards the living room.

  “Some, nothing fancy.” Lisa got up and refilled their coffee cups, and sat down again.

  “What else?”

  She shrugged. “Mostly, I’ve been a housewife. Bill was an executive, so I was expected to do lots of socializing and charity work. You know, fund raising, luncheons, and so on.”

  “I thought all women were into earning their own salaries nowadays.”

  “Oh, I did that, too, the last few years,” she evaded.

  “Aha,” he nodded with a satisfied smile. “I thought I’d detected a businesswoman’s confident attitude. What did you do?”

  “I’ve done a bit of this and that. Office work, typing, filing. You know the usual stuff. I managed an office for the last few years before Bill’s heart attack.”

  “Will you try for a similar job here?”

  “Why are you asking all these questions?” she asked, frowning at him.

  “No reason. I’m just making conversation.”

  “I haven’t really decided what I’ll do, yet. I want some time off.”

  He eyed her and sighed. “Sorry, Lisa. I didn’t mean to pry.”

  She shrugged. “I just need a break from work and responsibility. I may even take a few courses at the college. I only need a few more credits to get my BA degree.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You never graduated?”

  “No,” she said shortly. “Life intervened.”

  Damn. Trace flushed. I’ve stuck my foot in it again. How could I be so dumb? Will I never learn?

  He’d gone to a prestigious eastern college and his parents had footed the bills. But he knew she’d stayed in Mankato where she could save room and board by living with her grandparents. While she went to the local college and worked part-time, struggling to pay for her tuition and books, he’d spent his free time on sports and partying. The economical difference between them had seemed insurmountable, then. Now, he knew money wasn’t everything. Sandra had taught him that very well.

  But back then, Lisa had resented his good fortune. He’d felt it as a wall between them every time they were together before he’d left. So, after his parents sold their house, he’d given up coming back here, feeling their friendship was hopelessly broken. Later he’d heard she’d married and moved away. He’d lost track of her until she’d just showed up next door a few weeks ago.

  Was his idea of a second chance for them a hopeless fantasy? He swallowed, aware he’d lost the thread of their conversation. What had she asked about? Oh, yes. A college course.

  “I should have a catalog in my office. I’ll be glad to look for it and drop it off tomorrow, if you’re serious.”

  “That would be nice, Trace.”

  Her voice sounded stiff and formal. Trace rose. “Speaking of my office, I’ve got a couple of hours of work to do there before my morning class.”

  She smiled up at him. “Thanks again for your help.”

  Taking advantage of her upturned face, he kissed her quickly. Her response was only lukewarm. Was she just tired, or was she pulling away emotionally?

  They said goodnight at her door and he stepped out into the warm spring night. She was definitely hiding something, he told himself, striding back to his own house. A dog barked in the distance, and something almost tripped him as he opened his door and stepped over the threshold.

  He swore, realizing it was only Baby, slipping back indoors. She meowed at him hungrily.

  He opened a can of cat food and gave it to her, but his mind was still next door with Lisa. He was a fool to get involved with someone who had problems. He’d had enough of his own over the years, and was relieved to be rid of the hassle. Wasn’t he just getting used to being free of entanglements? Where were his brains?

  “Stop thinking with your hormones, and stay in your own yard, Marsley,” he ordered himself.

  Chapter 7

  For the next week, Lisa avoided Trace altogether. She spent her days shopping for paint, new bookcases, carpets, and draperies, and putting her house in order.

  The painters and carpet layers arrived, moved the furniture out of their way, and made quick work of painting the ceilings and walls, and replacing the carpets in her living room, family room and bedroom. Soon everything had a fresh look. Once the carpet in her office was replaced, she set up the bookcases and began unpacking and arranging her books.

  Thus, her days were full of activity and she always managed to be gone before it was time for Trace to come home in the evening.

  She wasn’t avoiding him, only being sensible, she assured herself. He’d seemed to disapprove of her redecorating, and she had no intention of letting him run her life. Besides, there was no place in her life for new entanglements, or reviving old ones, however attractive.

  She had finally succeeded in reaching her friend, Susie, and was out to dinner with her when he dropped off the college catalog.

  Lisa found it with his friendly note in the black metal mailbox beside her door. She pushed away the guilt she felt at the disappointed tone of Trace’s note. She was doing the right thing for her own life. She mustn’t allow consideration for his feelings to make her forget her own needs. It was definitely time to put herself first for a change. She had lived for everyone else long enough.

  The next evening she and Susie went to a movie, and the following night they went swimming.

  Since Lisa
had always told Susie everything, she found herself quickly falling back into her old habit of sharing confidences with her friend. She told Susie about Trace as they sat in a restaurant having a hot cup of cocoa after swimming.

  Susie couldn’t believe Lisa’s good luck in meeting him again after all these years, and wondered out loud what was stopping Lisa from pursuing him.

  Lisa shrugged. “He’s changed, for one thing. He’s not the same as he was in high school.”

  “Well, of course he’s changed. He’s older, been through college, married and has a daughter. He’s not a kid anymore. But then, neither are you. You’ve changed, too, you know.”

  “Oh, I know, but...” Lisa’s voice trailed off. How could she explain? He’d broken her heart once, why should she give him the chance a second time? But even Susie hadn’t known the extent of her feelings back then. She’d been too embarrassed to tell her.

  “You’re afraid to get involved again, aren’t you?” Susie accused her as they sipped their hot drinks.

  “He might be divorced, but I don’t think he’s free, Susie,” Lisa said wryly. “His ex, Sandra, still has him under control.”

  “What makes you think so?”

  “There’s a picture of her and his daughter, Renee, on the wall in his office, and another of the three of them in the living room over the fireplace.”

  “Aha! Then he’s invited you into his house already.”

  Lisa blushed, and admitted, “Well, yes. I spent the first night there, but only because it was cold and my utilities hadn’t been turned on yet.”

  Susie’s blue eyes grew large with surprised pleasure. “Umm hmm. Tell me more.”

  “It wasn’t like that, at all. It was really all Baby’s fault.”

  Susie looked skeptical. “What baby?”

  “His daughter’s cat. She sort of adopted me that first night several weeks ago, when I arrived. It was raining, and she was locked out.”

  Susie grinned knowingly, and tucked a strand of blonde hair back into the braided crown on top of her head.

  “She was drenched, and it was cold,” Lisa explained defensively.

  “You always were an old softy. Even a stray cat walks all over you.”

  “I could see it wasn’t a stray,” Lisa retorted, and went on to tell her the whole story about how Trace had come over to retrieve the cat, and how helpful he had been since she’d come back. “He’s just being a good neighbor. After all, he’s known Gram and Gramps for years,” she insisted.

  Susie laughed derisively. “I know a lot of neighbors who don’t even say ‘hello’ across the fence when they work in their yards at the same time.” Sipping her cocoa, she regarded Lisa from wide blue eyes. “I think it means he likes you.”

  Lisa shrugged and picked up the bill for their cocoas. “Even if it does mean that, it’s not going anywhere. Because I’m not getting involved again. I just succeeded in getting my freedom, and I’m not giving it up for anybody,” she said. Well, that was the truth, anyway, if not the whole truth. She paid their bill and strode to the door.

  “Not even Trace?” Susie asked, following her outside to their cars.

  “Not even Trace,” Lisa said. The cool night breeze blew her long hair across her face and she pushed it back. “Goodnight, Susie.”

  “Night, Lisa.” Susie grinned knowingly. “’Methinks thou dost protest too much,’” she quoted.

  Lisa frowned, her hand on her open car door. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  Susie laughed. “It means I’ve known you for a long time, Lisa. Who do you think you’re kidding?”

  ***

  The next morning, Carol called to say her friend in Mankato would be calling to invite Lisa to the local country club charity dance. “You don’t mind, I hope?” Carol asked. “We real estate people have to stick together, you know. It’s for a good cause. The tickets are their annual fundraiser for charity.”

  “Carol, I haven’t been on a blind date since college.”

  “So? I’m sure you haven’t forgotten how to act. His name is George and he’s really very nice. I think it’s high time you got acquainted with more people there in Mankato. You need to get out more, and this is the perfect opportunity. So, promise me you’ll go?”

  Lisa laughed. “How can I refuse, when you put it that way?”

  “Good. I gave him your phone number. Get your hair done and wear something romantic, okay?”

  “Yes, mama.”

  Carol laughed. “Well, you need a bit of mothering. Have fun.”

  So, when a man named George called, saying he was Carol Salzer’s friend and wanted her to go to that dance with him, Lisa said yes. She took Carol’s advice and made a hair appointment for the occasion, too.

  Susie called the next day to tell her about the same dinner and dance, suggesting she ask Trace.

  “I’ve already promised to go with George, my real estate agent’s friend here in town,” Lisa said, relieved to have an excuse.

  “George? Do I know him?”

  “No. I haven’t met him yet either.”

  “A blind date? You?” Susie hooted. “This I have to see.”

  “I haven’t forgotten how to date. And it’s not funny,” Lisa said with a little groan. “I couldn’t hurt Carol’s feelings. She’s been a very good friend for years, when I felt all alone, going through all that with Bill....” Her voice cracked.

  “I’m sorry,” Susie apologized. “I didn’t mean to ridicule the idea. I guess I think of blind dates as belonging to teens. Since you’re not asking Trace, do you mind if I do? I know he usually goes to these fundraisers.”

  “Of course not,” Lisa lied. She pushed aside the twinge of jealousy.

  ***

  Lisa found dinner with George the next evening a quiet and elegant affair. The country club was very nice. But she got the definite impression he was staking his claim on her and showing her off to the other eligible men there, which both amused and irritated her.

  They were still on their drinks and appetizers when Susie walked in, on Trace’s arm. Susie spotted them, waved and they came over to join Lisa and George at their table.

  Lisa felt an unreasoning jealousy at seeing Susie with Trace. He was looking very handsome and seemed very interested in what she was wearing as well.

  “I like your hair done like that, Lisa,” Trace remarked, sitting down next to her. His leg brushed hers and sent a warm rush of awareness running along her veins.

  “Thanks,” Lisa said, swallowing and hoping the heat she was feeling wasn’t showing up as a flush on her cheeks.

  “I hope you don’t mind my bringing Trace,” Susie said breezily giving him a wide smile.

  “Of course not. Why should I mind?” Lisa said. She did, of course, but she wasn’t going to admit it to Susie or Trace.

  Just then, one of Gram’s friends, Mrs. Lentstrom, elegantly dressed and coifed, approached their table to say ‘Hello.’ Mrs. Lentstrom was a wealthy matron who considered herself the head of local society. Gram had always thought her pretentious.

  “I heard you’d moved back to your grandparent’s house, Lisa. But I hadn’t seen you yet. George tells me you sold a large home in St. Cloud before coming here. How nice for you! You must come to lunch and bridge at our little club, Lisa dear,” she gushed. “We always need more new members.”

  “Thank you, but I’m still very busy with remodeling,” Lisa hedged, thinking that lunch meetings with women like Mrs. Lentstrom were the last thing she wanted to spend her time on. “And I may do a bit of traveling. I need a vacation,” she said, reaching for excuses out of the blue.

  George frowned and opened his mouth to object. “That’s right, Carol said your husband was ill for a long time and you’d taken care of him. But...” He looked at Lisa and stopped, then rubbed the bald spot on the back of his head, looking decidedly uncomfortable with the idea of Lisa leaving town.

  Apparently, Mrs. Lentstrom didn’t notice. Patting her bright red hair, she said loudl
y, “Oh, a vacation! Well, I don’t blame you. You do look peaked. The past couple of years have been hard on you, haven’t they? A nice trip to a warm resort will do you a world of good. If you need any ideas, just call me. Harry and I have been absolutely everywhere, that is anywhere.”

  I’ll bet you haven’t been where I’d like to send you, Lisa thought. However, she smiled and did her best not to let her annoyance show, as she replied, “Thanks, but I really haven’t decided what I want to do, yet.”

  “Oh, and Lisa,” Mrs. Lentstrom went on airily, “Can I put your name down to chair the next fund drive for the Children’s Hospital? You remember your grandmother always did that so well, and I’m sure you will, too. It starts the first of the month.”

  Lisa could feel the muscles in her scalp tighten with tension. She was being smothered and swamped again with responsibilities, and the needs of everyone except herself. Yes, she and Bill had always worked on fund drives like this one, but she just couldn’t handle this right now. She had a right to some time for herself, didn’t she?

  She closed her eyes and counted to ten, then opened them and looked Mrs. Lentstrom in the eye.

  “I’ll be happy to send a check to your charity, Mrs. Lentstrom, but I won’t be able to accept your nomination as chairperson. I am sorry.” Lisa kept her voice firm and definite, while trying to look properly contrite.

  Mrs. Lentstrom pursed her wrinkled lips in disapproval, murmured her disappointment, and moved on to her next victim.

  Trace was staring at her. “It’s really for a good cause, Lisa,” he objected. “And you do have a lot of free time these days.”

  “No. I can’t.” Stubbornly, she refused to explain further. Her hand shook as she picked up her coffee. It spilled, and she set it back down, grabbing her napkin to wipe up the mess.

  “Come, let’s dance,” George put in.

  Needing to escape, Lisa immediately turned to accept.

  But that was a mistake. George wasn’t a very good dancer. He was overweight and awkward as well, and Lisa was relieved when he suggested returning to their table after the first number.