Girls of Summer(36)

“Right. Last Friday. I didn’t see you there, Moxie.”

“Oh, I wasn’t…” Moxie laughed a tinkly laugh. “Someone told me you two were there. Together.”

Lisa took great care wrapping the pashmina in tissue and slipping it into a bag.

When Lisa didn’t answer, Moxie said, “He’s a lot younger than you are, isn’t he?”

Lisa hadn’t thought this kind of inquisition would happen so soon. Put on your big girl panties, she told herself, and with a sweet smile, she said, “Why, yes, he is, and so are you. In fact, you’re around the same age, right? Of course, you look so much younger, Moxie. You could be in your thirties. Your early thirties.” Lisa handed Moxie the small paper shopping bag holding the pashmina. “If you’d like to look, well, not older, but more sophisticated, I could help you build the right wardrobe.” Lisa moved around the counter toward her summer dress rack. “For example, this long-sleeved silk dress would be elegant on you. And it’s only a bit over four hundred dollars.”

   “Oh, thanks,” Moxie stuttered, heading for the door. “Maybe another time.” She fled.

Lisa grinned. If there was anything she’d learned from her ex-husband and his mother, it was how to be critical in the sweetest possible way. She felt slightly guilty, but she mentally replayed their conversation, and decided she hadn’t insulted Moxie really, she had only smothered her with compliments. And, as announcers said about sports events, Lisa had won the field.

She returned to her computer and her spreadsheets, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the brief exchange with Moxie. It had been spontaneous, and Lisa had defended herself and her relationship with Mack without thinking. What did that mean? Did she think she could have a relationship with this man who was ten years younger?

She certainly wanted it.

The phone rang.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” Rachel said.

“And good morning to you, too,” Lisa replied. “What was I supposed to tell you?”

“Lisa! I thought I was your best friend. The whole town knows you’re dating Mack Whitney! And you didn’t even call me.”

“Oh, Rachel, I’m sorry, but I don’t even know if ‘dating’ is the right word, and it’s happened so fast, and then Juliet came home with a broken heart, and just this moment Moxie came to the shop to get a dig in about the age difference between me and Mack.”

“Well, he is an entire decade younger than you.”

“Rachel! Don’t be mean.”

   “I’m not being mean. I’m being factual. I’m worried about you.”

Lisa sighed. “I’m worried about me, too. I know I’m too old for him, but he seems to like me, and we have amazing chemistry.”

“So I heard.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake. All we’ve done is have dinner at the Seagrille.”

“And…?” Rachel coaxed.

“And we talked. We got to know each other. He told me about Marla and I told him about Erich. It was a good conversation.”

“And…?”

Lisa paused to look through her shop window at the street. No one was coming toward her shop. “Okay, Rachel, but this goes no further than you, right? I don’t want to be the subject of gossip.”

“Oh, my God, Lisa! Did you go to bed with him?”

“Of course not!”

“Then what?”

Lisa felt her face flame as she talked. “So he drove me home and I invited him in for coffee, and we sat on the sofa, and he kissed me.” She closed her eyes, remembering how he had put his hand on her cheek and gently tilted her mouth to his. The kiss had lasted. She had responded, putting her arms around his neck and leaning against him.

“Lisa, are you still there?”

“Yes, Rachel. Mack kissed me, and it was wonderful, and our ages didn’t matter, all that mattered was right there between us—”

“And?”

“And,” Lisa said, bursting out with laughter, “and then Juliet came walking in the door. We jumped apart and we both made excuses for why Mack was there, which was ridiculous, and the nicest thing, Rachel, the nicest thing was the way Mack looked at me when he left, smiling with his eyes, showing me we shared a secret now.”

“He said all that with his eyes?”

   “Yes,” Lisa said dreamily.

“Oh, honey, you sound down for the count.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“Well, do you think it’s good?”

“Rachel, I hardly know what to think yet. All this is so new, and I’ve never been in this place before, where I feel attracted to a man, and terrified at the same time. I mean, I know I’m older than he is. I know I’ve had babies and gotten stretch marks and I’m not all fit and toned like younger women. But come on, I’m not decrepit! I still have all my teeth!”

“Lisa, stop. I’m sorry I got you so worked up. I’m not implying that you’re not gorgeous enough for him, because you are. I’m only worried about you. You’re not the kind of person to have affairs, or dalliances or whatever they’re called.”

“And you think that Mack and I couldn’t possibly have a serious, long-term relationship.”