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“Will that be all?” she asked, bending over in front of Jensen so he would notice her, um, attributes.

  “Yes,” he stated with a smile. “And miss?” he spoke in a nice tone, giving her eye contact for the first time since she’d presented herself at our elegant table for two.

  “Yes?” she asked, with hopeful eyes, like maybe he’d ask her out on a date or something. A hint of jealously formed itself in my head. I knew that wouldn’t happen. I mean, what kind of person would do that right in front of their date? I shrugged slightly realizing with my luck that could have been a possibility.

  “Unless you’d like me to report you to your supervisor I’d advise you to please pick up your blouse.”

  I couldn’t believe it. My mouth dropped open and I went wide-eyed. I wasn’t expecting that one. And neither was she. She grunted and groaned up the stairs and into the bistro.

  “Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed, hand over mouth – failing an attempt to stifle my laughter – practically falling out of my chair. “That was just…brilliant. Bravo,” I commended him, clapping my hands together for effect. Jensen laughed and took a tiny bow in his seat.

  Never in my life had I met someone as unique or as gutsy as Jensen.

  “That was for you, mademoiselle,” he said in a highly authentic French accent, his eyes glimmering against the setting sun.

  “Merci,” I responded, my French impression sounding like garbage next to his. Heat rushed up my cheeks and stayed there.

  Just then I had realized something – I was out in public, dining with a man – surrounded by men of all ages. And yet I was completely at peace. I didn’t see him anywhere. I couldn’t feel his presence. It was like last year never even happened. I smiled to myself in satisfaction.

  A few moments later our waitress came back with our drinks. I hoped she hadn’t noticed I was blushing. Without a word she placed them in front of us, anger ornamented on her pretty face.

  “Ready to order yet?” she asked, almost irritated by our presence. Well, mostly mine.

  “No,” Jensen replied. “We’d like a couple more minutes if that’s alright with you.”

  Yeah, I thought, considering we haven’t even glanced at the menu since we sat down. How can I focus on something other than Jensen? He’s too handsome to look away from.

  “Yeah. Whatever,” she said with an attitude, storming off with her long hair waving behind her.

  “Someone seems a bit cranky,” Jensen chuckled.

  “I wonder why,” I teased.

  “She’s just bitter because she sees I’m with such a gorgeous woman. And she’s certainly not you.”

  I couldn’t help it, I blushed again. That was something I used to do all the time when I was the normal Avalon. It felt great feeling the heat rise up to my cheeks once more. I was starting to feel alive again.

  “Do you normally grin this much?” he asked with a smile of his own.

  Have I really been doing that the entire time?

  Embarrassment was now on its way. “Um,” I began, “not recently. I used to though.” For a second, his face fell but regained control with a warm smile.

  “Then I hope it’s a good thing I’ve been causing you to do so.”

  It was certainly all right with me. We fixed our eyes on each other but didn’t speak. It was as if we were in our own little world – an invisible bubble of quiet. Our utopia was disturbed when a woman shrieked to the right of us.

  “Ugh! You moron! I can’t believe this! Look what you did!” she yelled at the waiter. He looked to be my age, maybe a little older. He seemed distressed. I felt sorry for him. Food carnage was sprawled across the floor in all directions. The light breeze was now blowing it around.

  “I’m sorry, miss,” the young waiter said, scrambling to wipe the food off the woman’s lap. “I’ll clean this up right away. Dessert is on the house.”

  “It’s just pastry, honey, it’ll wash out,” said the man she was dining with – most likely her husband.

  “Oh, Ralph,” she said infuriated, “shut up.” And the couple disappeared inside.

  “I try to take you out to a nice restaurant but instead end up at a circus!” Jensen exclaimed, chuckling.

  “I like the circus,” I laughed. “I’m having a really nice time.”

  “Yeah?” His face lit up.

  “Yes.”

  “Well then, I guess we better take a look at our menus. Shall we?” He opened his but I stared at my unopened one. “Huh,” he thought, “you know what you’re getting? Because I have no clue.” He paused for a second. “Avalon?”

  I looked up at him. “She’s going to spit in our food, isn’t she …” I laughed.

  He chuckled loudly. “I suppose you could be right about that one. Our waitress doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

  “More like she doesn’t like that I’m here with you.”

  “She can feel however she wants.”

  “Do you want to get out of here?” I asked, perplexed that I even mentioned it. I was surprising myself more and more with every word I spoke tonight.

  “Yes. I was going to ask you the same thing.” Jensen left three dollars on the table for the drinks.

  “I know this great little place just down the road. It’s super cheap and so good.”

  “Are we going deep-sea fishing for our meal?” he teased, glancing over at the beach.

  “The next best thing,” I said, pointing to Jack and Joe’s Fish Bowl – a little hut on the sand. “Beach bums and locals come here all the time.”

  “Sounds promising,” he teased once more.

  “Oh hush. It’ll be great.”

  He laughed fairly vociferously.

  We reached the little window of the hut and placed our orders – a flounder fish basket for me and a tuna melt with onion rings for Jensen.

  “Sorry,” I said as we dug into our food sitting on the sand, the lake water dampening our toes. The water seemed to be glowing or maybe it was just my eyes playing tricks on me.

  “Sorry for what?” he chuckled. “For suggesting such an affordable and great place to eat?” He dipped an onion ring into ketchup and took a bite.

  “No,” I sighed. “For being a piglet.” I was being serious but Jensen laughed.

  “You? A piglet? I don’t think you could ever be considered that, Avalon. Now a fox definitely.” There was a sexy gleam in his eye.

  I laughed, feeling a tad bit self conscious about my body. I certainly didn’t resemble our waitress at the restaurant in any way. But then again I don’t think he wanted to be with someone who looked like her. Otherwise he would be, right?

  I’m so insecure it’s pathetic.

  “Besides,” he added, “I like a girl who isn’t afraid to eat. Food isn’t meant to be something to be afraid of. It’s meant to be enjoyed.” After that remark I giggled to myself and continued eating.

  After we finished we took a walk along the sandy beach as we digested our meal. We listened to the seagulls fly overhead and the waves crash on the shore. It was reasonably chilly out for a summer night in Michigan. The water was nippy but the sand seemed warm in comparison. There was a full moon out – so bright – I could see my shadow on the sand.

  In Old Tily’s I’d told him I needed to talk to him. But about what? I searched for something interesting.

  “When I was little,” I began, “my family used to take trips to Michigan all the time.”

  “That must’ve been enjoyable,” he said with a grin.

  “Very.” I smiled at the memories of carnivals, the lake and cotton candy. That all seemed so long ago.

  “Why did the trips stop?”

  I sighed without saying a word.

  “Oh I-I’m sorry,” Jensen fumbled his words. “That was rude of me. You don’t have to answer.”

  “No, it’s okay. When my dad passed away my mom and I kind of stopped taking trips. I never really knew exactly why. It might have been the lack of money or the pain it would have caused her to come back here.
My guess was a little bit of both.”

  “I see,” he commented.

  “What about you? Have you traveled much?”

  “I’ve been all over the world. Spain, Israel, Arabia, Italy, Canada, Greece, Japan, Turkey, Dominican Republic, Australia and every state at least once.”

  “That’s really amazing,” I smiled.

  “Have you ever been out of the country?”

  “Ha! Not even close. Growing up with the basics was all I had. Not to say that was a bad thing or anything. I’m grateful for what I’ve had. But there’s nothing wrong with wanting a little more.”

  “I completely agree.” Jensen smiled at me and I smiled in return. “I’m guessing Tory told you about my many foster families?”

  I nodded. “I’m sorry. That must’ve been tough on you.”

  “When your parents leave you with a substantial amount of money it isn’t so bad. I traveled. Each new place I visited was a home to me.”

  “Did you ever get lonely?”

  He stopped walking and stared out at the lake. “I’ve been lonely for as long as I can remember, Avalon.”

  “Me too.”

  Jensen turned to me, his face an indescribable emotion. Without lingering too long on the conversation he asked, “Do you have any brothers or sisters? Pets?”

  “No siblings. No pets. Just my mom and I,” I explained. “Well except for Tory. She’s always been there for me. She practically is my sister.”

  “Tory’s a great girl.”

  “So…you never…”

  “I never what?”

  “You never…had…feelings for Tory?”

  Jensen laughed loudly. “Oh my goodness, no.”

  I chuckled in response. “Why not?”

  “We just…I don’t know…weren’t meant for each other.”

  “So you don’t think she’s pretty or funny or intelligent or –”

  “To be honest,” he shared, “I haven’t really noticed.” Before I could respond he added, “Now you on the other hand…you’re something special.”

  “Me? You’ve got to be joking.”

  “I’m serious.” His smile was broad. “You’re different from any woman I’ve come across.”

  “In a long time?” I wondered.

  “Ever.” His word lingered in the air as I took it in.

  Ever. I’m the only one.

  The sky was getting darker; a gray-black hue was filling the space above us. We could no longer see the seagulls overhead. The waves seemed quieter as well. I wondered why that was.

  “So you’re just here for the summer?” I asked as we hiked up a sand mountain. Someone had built an elaborate sand castle at some point. We did our best not to ruin it as we walked past.

  “Uh…yeah. Temporarily. I matriculate a lot. So I don’t really have a home. But how about you? Staying here just for the summer?”

  “Yeah. I’m sure Tory told you about our living situation.”

  “Of course she did. I was just checking to see if you wanted to stick it out in Michigan a little longer than just the summer,” he smiled.

  “No,” I sighed. “New York is my home.” He grinned widely as he stared into my eyes. “Wow,” I smiled back.

  “What?” His white teeth glimmered under the moonlight.

  “You have an incredible smile.”

  Did I just say that out loud?

  “Thank you. I could say the same about yours.”

  A warm sensation filled my chest. “Don’t take this a weird way but you remind me of the really good memories of my childhood.”

  “Hmm …” He chuckled.

  “What I mean is…you remind me of candles…light.” His eyebrow rose. “Your smile reminds me of Hanukkah candles…Shabbat candles. It’s symbolic.”

  He shook his head, smiling. “I was wondering when you’d bring that up.”

  “Bring what up?”

  “Your connection to Judaism. Tory told me that you’re Jewish. I am, too.”

  “You are?”

  “I’ve been Jewish…for a very long time. I used to help my mother prepare for Shabbat every Friday night. I still practice daily just don’t necessarily keep everything. Every person holds where they can.”

  “I can relate,” I smiled. “I used to help my mother for Shabbat as well. Tory doesn’t really get why I light candles every Friday night or why I dress the way I do.” I shrugged my shoulders, glancing down at my modesty. “My faith hasn’t necessarily dwindled it’s just a bit more difficult to want to do certain things. It’s hard for me to practice more…after what happened a little while ago.”

  Jensen sighed. “About the other day…”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I told him, recalling our heated discussion in the beach house. “Water under the bridge.”

  The wind started to blow harder, giving me goose bumps. My hair was flying all around me and my dress was being pushed up against my body. It was certainly chillier than it had been earlier in the day.

  “Maybe we should start heading back to your place,” Jensen suggested. Although I didn’t want this date to end I knew it had to. We walked back to the beach house. When we reached the top step of the wrap-around porch Jensen smiled at me.

  “I had a very nice time tonight,” he told me. “I’m glad I got to share it with you.”

  “Same.”

  “Can we do this again sometime?” Hope was in his azure eyes.

  “Of course. How about tomorrow night?” I allowed.

  “I work the late shift. But if you wouldn’t mind helping me stock some beans I’d be more than happy to have your company.” We giggled. “Most nights it’s not busy at that time anyway. My manager wouldn’t mind if you hung around, I’m sure.”

  “Tomorrow night then.” I was floating on air.

  He is everything I’ve been searching for.

  “Is ten o’clock too late?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  He smiled contently. “Goodnight, Avalon.”

  I grinned, heart fluttering; almost jack hammering against my rib cage. I couldn’t help but smile.

  Jensen turned around and headed back into the night as I shakily and happily searched for the keys to my summer home.

  FIVE.

  The next morning I found myself practically whistling as I washed my face.

  The sky seemed brighter and so did my future. In result of my date with Jensen the night before my world appeared different, happier. I walked gracefully into Tory’s kitchen to find her fidgeting with the seahorse necklace Adam had given her. It was a sight to see, poor girl. She had tears in her brown eyes that made me want to cry. I hated seeing her so upset, especially over a guy who would do something so despicable to her.

  “Hey, Tor.” I gave her a big hug and she giggled underneath my embrace. She was five-foot-six and wearing four-inch designer heels today. She towered over my five-foot-five frame. I had to look up to see her face – puffy and red.

  “I thought this would be easy – getting over him, you know? But I was wrong.”

  “It’s just going to take some time,” I informed her. “Your feelings for him won’t go away over night.”

  “But I want to get over him now,” she whined. “I’m tired of this feeling. It feels like my heart’s been ripped out of my chest by a wilder beast,” she complained.

  “Thanks for the visual, Tory,” I muttered. “Adam isn’t worth your tears.”

  Yeah, because I’m the poster child for good habits when a relationship ends unexpectedly.

  I took a napkin from the counter and gently dabbed at her damp face. She sniffled and took a deep breath.

  “I know.”

  “The first step is to get rid of that,” I said, referring to the necklace while holding out my hand. Tory held on tight staring down at the object as if it were going to speak to her. She inhaled, kissed the seahorse, reluctantly gave me the piece of jewelry and exhaled. I dumped it in the garbage, blocking it so she couldn’t lunge after it whil
e it took the final plunge.

  “That necklace was a part of me, Ava. And now it’s gone. Forever.”

  “I’ll buy you a new necklace,” I offered.

  “But it’s not the same,” she grumbled. I felt like I was dealing with a toddler. I wondered if this was how she felt about me all these months. “Adam,” she winced, “gave it to me on our one month anniversary. I told him I’d never take it off.” She sighed heavily. “Maybe if I’d given him something to remind him of me he wouldn’t have …”

  And the waterworks started once more.

  “You can’t blame yourself for what happened, Tor. It was his fault.”

  “I don’t care,” she griped. “I probably could have done something to stop this from happening. Like if I decided to go to school by him he wouldn’t have fallen in love with that boyfriend stealer.” She said the last two words with such hate I cringed. Tory was never the type to get angry or upset. She was generally a bubbly, happy-go-lucky girl. It was a shame to see her like this.

  “Tory, listen to me. Adam moved on. It wasn’t meant to be.” I knew that sounded quite blunt but what I was I supposed to tell her? That he’d come back for her some day? I’d be lying to her, especially because I didn’t know if that would ever come true.

  “I know, I know,” she grumbled, attempting to calm herself down. “I’m just so miserable. Is this how you felt after…well…you know?”

  “Something like that. But after some time it got easier.” He popped into my head – his face, his eyes. I shook it off before I let myself get too deep in my own thoughts. What I’d said to Tory was partly true. It had gotten easier . . . once I met Jensen.

  “And now you’re happier?” she asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.

  Recalling my rendezvous with Jensen brought a smile to my face. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

  She shrugged. “No offense but I hope it doesn’t take me almost a year to get over Adam like it did for you with –”

  “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen for you.”

  “I have to be brave,” she told herself out loud, sitting up straight. I could see the unsettling expression on her face. Tory wiped at her eye makeup. “I must look like a raccoon,” she giggled. And that she did. Her mascara was smudged into circles around her eyes. I dabbed a washcloth in some warm water and handed it to her so she could deal with the mess.