Midlife Love Story

“Is it weird how excited I am about being here for Movies in the Park?” Pippa’s blue eyes were bright, and so excited they were almost shiny. “Getting out of the house and putting on a nice dress feels good, and I haven’t been to one of these in forever.”

I looked up at her from my spot on the blanket covering the grass and smiled. “Well you look great. Peach is definitely your color.” Sexy waves brushed against her shoulders where a few freckles appeared. “I don’t usually get to attend because this is prime wedding weather. I guess I just got lucky this year.

“Thanks. Can you tell Ryanna and I have been spending a lot of time in the backyard?”

I nodded. “The tan is a dead giveaway, unless you’ve been on a tropical vacation without me.”

She rolled her eyes and placed Ryanna in my arms. “I wish.”

“I love her outfit, her eyes look an unreal shade of blue with this denim jumper.”

“Right? So adorable.” Pippa settled herself and two big bags on the blanket with a sigh. “Let’s get a photo of Aunt Carlotta and Ryanna.” She snapped a few photos of us, smiling at each one before snapping another.

Holding the baby in my arms was just what I needed. She was so tiny and so soft, her baby babble soothed my frazzled nerves. After my disastrous final date with Chase, I needed something to relax me and distract me from thinking about it.

“What’s in the basket,” Pippa asked, a smile in her tone.

Her question pulled me from my wayward thoughts, thoughts that I’d promised myself I was done thinking about. “Look and find out.” I spent the morning putting together a picnic basket for us to enjoy today. It was another distraction to keep my mind off Chase and that ridiculous attempt at a date.

Pippa squealed as she peeked inside the picnic basket. “You made bacon wrapped dates? Oh my god, and prosciutto wrapped melon? You are a goddess,” she enthused.

I couldn’t help but smile at her excitement. “I figured you were in need of grown up talk and grown up food for your big day out.”

“I really appreciate it,” she said as she laid out the picnic items. “I’ll be excited when Ryan is back home. I love my sweet baby girl, but I could use a day off.”

I laughed. “Anyone in town would be happy to babysit,” I told her. “If only some stubborn mama would ask.”

“I know, but I’d miss her or feel like a bad mom, or something. I’ve been taking her with me to the restaurant because it hurts to be without her.” She bit her bottom lip and then let out a nervous huff of laughter. “Enough about me and my issues, tell me about you. What’s going on?”

“Not much really, just busy working. There is always a wedding or party to plan.” Business was good, which was crucial when you worked for yourself.

“That’s good, really. Awesome. But you know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

I nodded because I did know what she was getting at, but I didn’t want to talk about it, even if I knew there was no getting out of this conversation.

“So,” her blue eyes were wide with an expectant look on her face. “Tell me about your date. It’s all anyone in town can talk about.”

Which only served to prove Chase’s point. “It was a disaster,” I told her bluntly.

“What? No! How can that be?”

I sucked in a deep breath and took in Ryanna’s serene expression as she stared up at the blue sky and the clouds passing by, letting it out slowly as I wished for an ounce of her serenity. “It was just a show Pip.”

Her brows dipped in confusion, because while she knew her brother well, she did not know him as a man. As a brother, and a mayor sure, but not the man I saw at dinner a few nights ago.

“Explain please.”

I did exactly that. I told her all about curious residents who stopped by our table to say perfectly nice things about him or me, or both of us. “With every person who stopped by, his expression grew tense. Words of surprise or excitement or encouragement only made it worse. By the time we finished our meal, his lips were pulled into a tight white line and he was totally stressed out.”

She nodded knowingly, but her eyes held nothing but sympathy. “So how was it just a show?”

I recounted our previous argument. “He did this as a concession according to him, but the truth was he just wanted to prove his point, to show me why his way, keeping us a secret, is the right way. I disagreed so I left.”

Pippa gasped. “You just left him sitting there on his own?”

“I absolutely did! It was the only thing left to do.” The expression on his face had been filled with discomfort and accusation, as if I’d done something to him. “It was the only way to get him to stop looking at me as if I was the one asking for the white dress and gold ring.”

Pippa nodded while she thought, her gaze fixed on a spot just over my shoulder. “What did he say afterwards?”