If At First

Part 10 - Chapter 9

Tobie opened the half-door of the cart and waited patiently while my grandmother unhurriedly made herself comfortable and invited me to join her. "I know you dislike the walk to the dining room ma'am, so I ordered this to be brought around for you." Tobie said. "I hope it is okay."

"It's just fine, Tobie, thank you." Nana said without inflection.

Tobie then took her place in the driver's seat and sped away around the edge of the courtyard and through a shallow arched tunnel. To the left was the immaculate golf course that was visible from the front drive. We followed the path, passing row upon endless row of grapevines and several sites that were obviously related in some way to the original building. She stopped at a different entrance to the "Lodge", one that had a better view of the vineyard. Tobie pulled up to the comparatively modest yet still massive side entrance and walked gracefully around to open Nana's door once more. Nana took her time getting out of the cart and walked past her.

"Thank you, Tobie" I said. Being unimpressed was one thing; common courtesy was quite another.

"I hope you have a pleasant evening." She smiled sweetly, and departed the way we came.

Nana and I were greeted by a stout older man with a steel-wool-grey moustache and a suit to match.

"Good Evening. Mrs. Casey and Mr. Haven Casey, have been expecting you. This way, please." He turned with a stiff back and marched toward a window-enclosed room overlooking a particularly scenic view of the vineyard. The room was cavernous and impeccably dressed. I wondered if they were expecting a lot more people for dinner.

"Rose! Oh, you made it!" Darling called, crossing the large space with her arms open. She had a way of making the room feel cozy as she moved in an aura of sweet perfume.

"Darling, I'm so sorry we're late. I promise you it couldn't be helped."

They both stopped to look at me.

"It's nice to see you again." I smiled and mentally bolted my heels to the floor to keep from running home at full speed.

"You look like a picture Tabitha, just lovely! Your mother used to wear her hair that way. Didn't she Rose?" She smiled at the memory. "-And I believe you know my son?" Darling said, noticing Haven entered the room. "Isn't he handsome? I'm not sure I like his hair quite like that, but I suppose that's what they're doing these days,"

"Haven," Nana threw me a quick glance as he approached. "It's been, what, probably five years I suppose! My, you have grown up." She gave him a kiss on the cheek when he bent to shake her hand.

"And of course you know Tabitha," Darling waved carelessly between Haven and me.

"Of course," He said cordially, "Hello Tabitha."

I couldn't refuse the smile that asserted itself. Seeing Haven, head-turning under normal circumstances, standing there in a perfectly tailored suit, unshaven, it was everything I could do to keep my jaw from dropping. And to top it off, his attention was focused on me, and no one acted like it was weird. The butterflies dancing in my stomach were each having heart attacks one by one.

It made no sense why he should have been attached to most of my thoughts for the past few weeks, but watching his smile, wondering exactly what he was thinking right now, definitely gave me a small clue.

Darling tempted Nana toward a server holding hors d'oeuvres, leaving Haven and I to fall behind.

Haven glanced at me in silence, which I hated, so I spoke first. "We meet again so soon," My voice cracked a little at my pathetic attempt to disguise my gaping ineptitude. I told myself he didn't notice, but he seemed to notice everything.