“Sure. Do whatever you need to. I’m at your mercy for the rest of the day.”
“I like the sound of that,” Nikki said with a grin.
An orderly entered the room carrying, what I assumed was pudding, in a small parfait glass with a spoon.
“Here’s your dish, Mrs. Wagner. Straight from the kitchen, just like you like it.” The young man smiled and served the dish toward her with a flourish, as if he were the best waiter in a fancy restaurant.
Mrs. Wagner gave her same half smile back to him.
Nikki took the dessert and sat on the edge of the bed and began to carefully feed her grandma. She had to pause every now and then to take a napkin and wipe the woman’s face, but eventually she managed to patiently serve her every bite.
“Did you enjoy that?” Nikki asked her and she nodded. “Good. Would you like me to read to you a little before I go?”
Mrs. Wagner shook her head and pointed at me.
“You want Chase to read to you?” She giggled.
Her grandma denied her again and smiled even wider, loosely gesturing toward the door.
“Oh. You want me to leave with him, don’t you?”
Her grandma nodded and dropped her hand back into her lap.
“Well, I guess we’ve been kicked out, Chase. Let’s go.” Nikki picked her bag up off the nightstand before bending to kiss her grandma on the cheek. “Love you. I’ll tell you all about it later, okay?”
“It was nice to meet you,” I said again, reaching out to pat the woman’s hand, and she turned hers so she could clasp mine once more. She released me quickly this time, and I smiled at her before I followed Nikki through the door.
“She likes you,” Nikki said with a grin.
“I think I might like her too. Of course, I don’t really know her, but she seemed as though she’s a nice enough lady.”
“She’s wonderful. She also happens to be an incurable romantic. That’s why she was so eager to rush us out of there.”
“Really? Does that mean I should be expecting romance on this date you’ve planned?” I teased.
“You haven’t qualified for that kind of attention yet, but you’re getting closer,” she replied.
“I haven’t qualified? What is this, some sort of test or something?”
“Yep, and you’re passing so far, so just chill and roll with it.” She elbowed me in the ribs.
“It’s a good thing I like you.”
“Why’s that?” she asked sincerely.
“Because I’ve never worked this hard to get a date before,” I answered honestly.
She sidled up close to me and placed her hand on my chest. “Well, you know what they say. The best things come to those who wait.” She bit her bottom lip and traced down with her finger.
My heart rate notched up just a bit at that slight touch. “Is that what they say?”
“It is.” She nodded.
“Well, then I guess I’ll have to keep waiting.”
She laughed, moving away from me, and I was sorry to see her go.
“So, where are we going now?” I asked.
“To the theater.”
“Cool. What are we watching?” I could do a movie easily enough.
“Today is the Silver Screen Sunday Classic. We’re going to watch Gone with the Wind. It’s four hours of complete heaven.”
I actually had to clench my teeth to keep the groan from escaping my mouth. “Sounds awesome,” I said tightly, and she giggled even harder.
“There you go, breaking that whole lying promise again.”
“I’m not lying—you and me, practically alone in a dark theater? That’s right up my alley, I’d say.”
She halted in the middle of the hallway. “Oh. I didn’t think about that.”
“I bet you didn’t.” I grinned, brushing past her. “But this was your idea so you can’t back out now.”
We stepped outside into the bright sunshine.
“Where’s your car?” I asked, looking around for the little red convertible VW bug she drove.
“I don’t have it. My mom dropped me off today so I could ride with you later.”
“Good thinking.” I walked over to the passenger side of my truck and opened the door for her.
“Thanks,” she replied softly, suddenly seeming kind of shy.
“You’re welcome,” I answered, closing it once she was settled in.
She didn’t speak while I drove, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable, so I didn’t try to break the silence. We soon had our tickets and were seated in the middle of the empty theater.
“Wow. I was kidding when I said it would be mostly empty.” I handed her the popcorn.
“Sometimes I’m the only one here, but there are days when several others show up. I guess it just depends on what mood people are in.”