She saw the disappointment on his face. He hid it by concentrating on filling their glasses. “Feelings can deepen, you know,” he said in an attempt to keep hope alive.
“Yes, they can,” she agreed, then felt compelled to add, “Martin, you must know how much I appreciate you.” Offering a thirsty a man a thimble of water.
“I’m not sexy. I get it.”
He wasn’t. He was sweet and fun and a good friend. But Martin had never done anything to make her heart beat any faster. Being with him was like having an emotional pacemaker—heremotions stayed steady, boringly steady, and never spiked. She appreciated his friendship, enjoyed doing things with him. That was as far as it went.
She’d hate to lose what they had. “Martin, you are a wonderful man. Are you okay if we stay as we are? I don’t want to lose your friendship.”
“You know you’ll never lose that,” he said. He returned the pitcher to the refrigerator. “Of course, a lovely woman like you isn’t going to settle. You’ll want a Sam Elliott or a Kevin Costner.”
That was hard to deny, but she had no intention of hurting his feelings. “I don’t think you have to worry because neither of them has called. And last I heard neither one has a twin. Come on, let’s play gin.”
He nodded, managed a smile, and they got busy with their cards.
IT WAS KARAOKEtime at the Mariposa Bar and Grill in Covina, and Zona and Gracie sat eating chips and salsa and drinking Millionaire Martinis. (“Thinking positive about the future,” Gracie had said when she’d ordered them.)
“You have to be insane to get up there and make a fool of yourself,” Zona said as a woman sang an off-key version of “I Will Always Love You.”
“Or drunk. Either way, it’s always entertaining. Bradley and I love coming here,” said Gracie.
“Is he feeling left out?”
“A little.” Gracie smiled, took a sip of her drink. “He knows he’ll get rewarded later.”
Zona experienced a twinge of jealousy. She wouldn’t mind enjoying some rewards herself.
Have another chip.
“Hey, things are bound to get better,” Gracie said, sensing her discontent.
“No way to go but up,” Zona said, and took a slurp of her drink.
“Your mom’s doing good.”
“Yep, she is.” There was always something to be grateful for. “And Gilda’s working out. She and Mom do a great job of feeding each other’s appetite for murder and mayhem.”
“Aunt Gilda does have the stories to tell.”
“And Mom eats them up.” Zona gave her glass a thoughtful twirl. “I guess that’s okay. It keeps her from being bored. I just wish she’d quit focusing on our neighbor.”
“Things have calmed down now, right?”
“Yes, thank God. Hopefully, they’ll stay that way.” The less they had to do with the neighbor the better.
THREE GAMES ANDa little more chocolate later Louise was wide awake and ready to play another round of cards, but Martin was yawning.
“You should have had more chocolate,” she told him.
“I guess I should have.” He reached for the cards.
She pulled them away. “You need to go home and get some sleep.”
“I’m fine,” he said.
“Martin, I’m all right on my own. Truly.”
He looked dubious.
