“That doesn’t sound too promising,” Momma said. “What do you think he wants to talk about?”
“I think he might be dumping me,” I said, shocking myself even more than Momma. Why in the world was I still talking?
“He knows better than to throw you back,” Momma said dismissively. “You are a jewel of a woman, and he’d be lucky to have you.”
“But what if he doesn’t want me anymore?” I asked. I was on the edge of tears, but I fought them with everything I had. I knew that if I started crying, Momma would not be far behind, and then we’d both be a mess. If my worst fears were realized, there would be plenty of time for tears later.
“Have you considered the other possibility?” she asked.
“What’s that?”
“What if he’s about to propose?” she asked. “You said he sounded serious. It might be something good instead of bad.”
“I don’t think so,” I said.
“But you don’t know, do you?”
“No, but I’ve got a pretty good idea,” I said.
“Well, there’s nothing you can do until he gets here. I’ll make myself scarce even if I have to walk over to the Boxcar. That way, I’ll be close by if you need me.”
“You don’t have to leave the cottage on my account,” I said, though it was my most fervent wish at the moment.
“You are my daughter, and I love you,” she said simply as she stood and kissed my forehead. “I know you love your shower, but why don’t you take some time for yourself and have a nice long soak in the tub, instead? It will do wonders for you; I guarantee it.”
“Maybe I will,” I said. I kissed her cheek and hugged her. “Thanks for being here for me.”
“There’s nowhere else that I’d rather be,” she said. “You smell just like donuts; you know that, don’t you?”
“It’s hard not to after making them and then serving them all morning,” I said as I started to pull away.
She wouldn’t let me, though. “I wasn’t complaining,” she said. “It’s really rather quite nice. They should make a fragrance of it.”
“Grace’s cosmetics company tried that,” I said. “We both got nice little checks for the idea, but nothing ever came of it.”
“It’s just as well,” Momma said as she released me. “The men would never leave you alone.”
“I have a feeling that they’d find a way,” I said. “I’m going to go take that bath now, if you don’t mind.”
“You do that, and I’ll walk over to the diner.”
“You don’t have to leave right now,” I said as I glanced at the clock. “You’ve got at least an hour still.”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry,” she said. “Good luck, and call me after he leaves, no matter what.”
“I will,” I said. “I promise.”
After Momma was gone, I drew a bath, something I rarely did these days. As the tub filled, I turned the ringer off my cellphone, put it in my bedroom to charge, and then I shut the door. I wouldn’t be able to hear the house landline phone from in there, either.
All I needed at the moment was a little quiet time just for me.
Chapter 5
I don’t know how it happened, but I must have dozed off in the tub, because when I woke up with a start, I realized that it was past my allotted hour to soak. The water was cold, and I had a stiff neck; so much for my relaxing bath. Any good that it had done was long gone. I drained the water, showered off quickly, and then dried off, put on my robe, and walked into my bedroom.
My cellphone had a message stored on it. Had Jake called me while I’d been asleep? I entered my code and listened to my message. Sure enough, his voice came on the line. “Hey, it’s me. I’ve been called back to the office for an important meeting with my boss. It looks as though I won’t be able to make it tonight after all. Don’t try to call; I’m turning my ringer off. It’s pointless anyway, as this sounds as though it’s going to be a late night, and don’t forget, you have to get up early tomorrow morning. We’ll talk as soon as we can, but I can’t say right now when exactly that will be. Sorry about the drama and confusion. I’ll explain it all the next time we talk. Bye. Oh, love ya. Bye again.”
The love he’d sent my way had been cooler than the bathwater when I’d climbed out of the tub. It meant either one of two things; he was already preoccupied with another case, or his feelings for me were beginning to cool as well. I didn’t know which one it might be, and I had no way of finding out now, either.