“Cece, it isn’t polite to leave a guest alone. Why don’t you go back downstairs and talk to him? I’m just about ready.”
“He got a haircut, and he’s handsome. I forgot to tell you that when he took us for that ride where we jumped on the dock. Is that why you said you would go out with him?” Cece jumped on the bed and bounced several times before settling near the pillows.
“I’m going out with him because he asked me.” Her mother turned to get her coat out of the closet.
“He has nice eyes—blue, like mine.”
“Yes, he does.”
“Does he look like my dad?”
“Cece. Will you please go downstairs so I can get ready?” Her mother changed her earrings again as Cecelia bounced on the bed.
“Well, does he?”
“Does he what?”
“Look like my dad.”
“You look like your dad, Cece.”
“You know what I mean, Mom.”
“I’ll talk with you about that later.” Her mother motioned for her to go back downstairs.
“My mom is almost ready,” she announced from the landing before walking sedately into the living room. “Do you have kids?”
The nice man shook his head.
“Are you married?”
“No. Are you?” He smiled.
“You’re being silly. I’m too young for that. I’m just a kid.” She grinned back at him.
“I’m almost done with being a kid myself. What do you like to do—as a kid—besides read? I know you like to do that.” He looked around at the many book titles on the makeshift shelves to one side of the couch.“Are any of these yours?”
“Uh-huh. My favorite writer is Marguerite Henry. Do you know what she wrote?” Cecelia held up Misty of Chincoteague, trying to hide the title with her hands.
The man knelt down to her level. “Let me see. When I was a kid I read about a magic mouse named Henry. I think she wrote about mice, since her last name is Henry, too.”
Cecelia giggled, enjoying their game. “No. Guess again.”
“Fish! She wrote about fish in the sea, like when we visited the boats.”
“No. But she does write about the ocean. Try again. I’ll give you a hint. What’s an animal that can swim?”
“A seahorse.” He grinned back at her.
“Almost. Do you give up?”
The man shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I do.”
“She writes about horses, a pony, actually. See?” She removed her hand so that he could see the front of her book.
“You’re right.I read another one of her books. I should have thought of that. Do you know about Sea Star?”
“No. What’s that?”
“You’ll have to go to the library and check it out. Then you can tell me what you think about that story.”
Her mother came down the stairs, in a dress that swished when she walked.
“Cece. We’re going to leave now. You remember what we agreed to?” Her mother looked at her, her eyes sparkling as she glanced over at the man.
“I remember.” She reached up to kiss her mother’s cheek. “I have to tell you something.”
“Okay. Tell me.”
“In private.” She pulled her mother into the kitchen. “You look pretty.”
“Thank you. Now what is it you have to tell me? I don’t want to be late for the movie.” Her mother looked back over her shoulder at Professor Dunbar. “It’ll be just a minute.”
“Take your time,” he called out.
“Lean down, please.” Cece pulled on her mother’s arm. Into her ear in a stage whisper, she said, “Don’t forget. No kissing on the first date.”
Her mother nodded and whispered back. “I remember.”
Together, they walked to the door. Professor Dunbar helped her mother on with her coat.
“Lock the door, Cece. And, remember our other rules. Don’t forget to be nice to Janet when she comes over.”
“I will. Bye, Professor Dunbar. Bye, Mom.”
After they left, Cecelia smiled to herself. It was nice to see her mother so happy.
“Your daughter is a delight.” Marcus reached for Amanda’s hand as they walked up the block to his car. “She’s right, you know.”
“About what?” She glimpsed him out of the corner of her eye. He was smiling.
“You look pretty. Actually, I have to amend that statement. You are beautiful—and that black dress. It fits you”—he cleared his throat—“well.”
“Thank you.” Her pulse picked up. Cecelia’s right about another thing, too. He is handsome, she thought. His blond hair looked bleached by the sun and his blue eyes did match Cecelia’s. How does he stay so fit? She decided to ask. “What do people around here do for exercise, when they need to get away from studying or preparing for class?”