“This is Lori Delaney. Lori grew up here and has recently come back to town.”
“I remember you. Your grandmother used to bring you shopping on Sundays. You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman, Lori. Your grandmother must be very happy to have you back with her.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry I don’t remember you.”
“That’s alright. I’ve gotten older, too.” Lou smiles. “Enjoy your evening.”
When Lou leaves, Lori says, “I’m glad he has good memories of me. I’m always worried people will think of me as that poor little girl who had Todd and Jenny Delaney as parents.”
“That’s all in the past now, sweetheart. Nobody is going to feel sorry for the girl that you are now. I told you. You’re perfect.”
I take her hand and hold it in her lap. As we wait for our dinner to arrive, I can't help but move my hand up her thigh, remembering the sweet taste of her.
She rests her hand on mine as I inch it further up her leg and gently stroke the crotch of her panties. Her face turns pink, and she bats her eyes at me. I don’t think I can wait much longer to be inside her.
She nearly jumps out of her skin when the waitress arrives with our entrees. I can’t help but laugh. Her innocence is absolutely endearing to me.
“She doesn’t have x-ray vision, baby girl. Nobody knows what’s happening under the table. You can relax.”
As we eat our dinner, I look around at the other diners. The young woman at the table closest to us smacks her date on the arm when she catches him staring at Lori. He catches my stare and begins fumbling with his napkin.
I look back at Lori and see that she’s completely oblivious to all of the attention she’s receiving. I lean in and tell her, “Every man in this restaurant wants you.”
She looks up from her plate and scrunches her nose. “Don’t say that. That’s not true.”
“Oh yes, it is, but they’ll have to get through me first.”
“Lori Delaney, is that you? My father said it was you,” a young man who has come out of the kitchen asks as he approaches our table.
“Yes, I’m sorry. Do I know you?”
“You probably don’t remember. I’m Michael. You and I used to play in the park together when your grandmother brought you. We went to kindergarten together, too. Lou is my dad. I work here now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t have a lot of memories of my time here, but it’s good to see you.”
My blood pressure rises as I watch the young man. This isn’t just an innocent walk down memory lane. He has an obvious longing in his eyes, and he feels comfortable enough to show it right in front of me.
This Michael person lingers at the table, staring at my girl like a hungry dog until I say, “Listen, boy. We’re trying to enjoy our meal, so if you don’t mind…”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” He clears his throat. “It was good to see you again, Lori. Sheriff, have a good evening.”
He walks back into the kitchen, and Lori asks, “Are you okay?”
Foot tapping under the table, I wipe my mouth with my napkin. “I didn’t like the way he was drooling over you.”
“He wasn’t. He just….”
“Don’t tell me. I’m a man. I know what he was doing. I should go in that kitchen and shake some sense into the little shit.”
The more I think about it, the angrier I become. Not at her. She has no control over how men react to her. As I said, she’s oblivious.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to spoil our evening, Luke.”
“This isn’t about you, little girl. Everything is fine,” I tell her but I can still feel the twitch in my left eye.
I have to calm myself down, so I suggest we take a walk along the riverfront after dinner. A little fresh air might be just what I need.
The moon hangs high in the night sky, casting its perfect reflection on the river. I hold Lori’s hand as we stroll along the rail and look out at the water.
