Fools Rush in(42)

“This is your car, right?” Joe asked, pointing to my Honda.

“Yup, that’s mine,” I said. My mind went blank as I searched for something to say. Joe walked me over to the driver’s side and leaned against my door.

“So, Millie,” he said, grinning slowly.

“So, Joe,” I answered, my mouth going dry. The pinkish lights of the lamppost cast a romantic glow. Joe took both of my hands in his. His were rough and callused, and just that touch made my nether regions melt.

“Can I see you again?” he asked softly.

Yes! My God! It was happening! A hysterical laugh wriggled around in my stomach. “Sure,” I said, trying to react normally and not as if I had just won the Powerball lotto.

“Great,” Joe smiled. He pulled me closer and slid his hands up my bare arms. Take me now! my mind cried, and I bit my lip to still the laughter.

“What?” Joe asked, not offended.

“Oh, it’s noth—”

Joe’s kiss stopped whatever I was going to babble. His lips were smooth and firm and warm and oh, God, I was going to dissolve into a puddle of lust with just one kiss. It took me a minute to notice he’d stopped kissing me. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

“Want to catch a movie tomorrow?” he whispered. His hands slid back down my arms and caught my hands again.

“Um…I, uh, I have to work tomorrow night,” I stammered, my toes curled tight in my sandals.

“How about Monday, then?” he suggested, his eyes twinkling.

“Oh, Monday. I, um, yes, that would be okay. Sure.”

“Great,” he said with another endorphin-inducing grin. “See you, Millie.” He straightened up from his pose against my car and kissed my hand. “I’ll call you Monday, okay?”

“Okay,” I answered. “Good night.”

I got into my car, ordering myself not to laugh hysterically or even smile too maniacally. Key in ignition, roger that. Seat belt, check. Turn key. Car has been activated. Put car in gear. Try not to hit Joe backing out. Put car in first. Depress gas pedal. Proceed slowly out of restaurant lot. Turn…what is it? Right? No, left! Turn left. Proceed home.

Once I was safely on Route 6, the laughter burst forth. Shrieking and cackling like a demented hyena, I pounded on the steering wheel. I did it! I did it! Joe Carpenter kissed me!

As I pulled in my driveway, I contemplated racing around the house in a victory lap, the way Digger did after our runs. Instead, I went in and rolled around on the floor with my doggy. “I had a date with Joe, puppy! He asked me out! He kissed me!” Digger, hearing kiss, one of the few words he recognized, began licking my face exuberantly. “Yes, I know! I know it!”

Finally, I got off the floor and went into the bathroom to look at the woman Joe Carpenter had finally discovered. The woman he had kissed. Whose hand he had kissed. My reflection smiled back at me. There she was. Millie Barnes, M.D.—also known as Joseph Stephen Carpenter’s girlfriend.

For the next two days, I grinned endlessly, sighed rapturously, floated around the clinic, treating the right patients, hopefully, for the right ailments. Jill and Sienna had heard about the baby and they thought that was the reason for my euphoria. I didn’t tell them about Joe. It was too wonderful to share with anyone just yet. I wanted to keep the memory of Saturday night like a secret jewel in a velvet box. Every time I remembered something, whether it was our knees bumping under the table or his pulling me in for The Big Kiss, a warm rush of happiness and lust would flow through me. Oh, I loved Joe! And soon he would love me back.

On Monday afternoon, I got home and immediately checked the answering machine. There was my light, flashing happily away.

“Hi, honey, it’s Mom.”

Shit. My heart sank. Not at my mom’s voice, of course…you understand. Why hadn’t he called? He’d said he’d call! It was four o’clock! We were supposed to go to a movie! I half heard my mom invite me over for dinner one night this week, but I wasn’t really paying attention. Calm down, Millie, I told myself. Joe is probably not even home from work yet. Settle down. He kissed you on Saturday and wanted to see you on Sunday and made a date for Monday. He will call. He. Will. Call.

Making sure the phone was properly charged, I took it out onto the deck and watched Digger poop three times. I’d have to ask the vet about those overactive bowels. On our first visit, the vet had told me Digger was just excited, and once he settled down, he’d stop going so often, but maybe it was something else. The dog seemed so sleek and healthy that I wasn’t really worried, but it should be checked.

Okay, that was good! I’d had a non-Joe thought. Well done, Doctor, I told myself. That’s the way to do it. After all, you are the deliverer of the lovely little beach baby. You and Sam.

At that memory, I thought of Sam. I wondered how Danny’s visit to New Jersey had gone…and how Sam had done without him. Had he spent the whole weekend alone? Instinctively, I reached for the phone, then mentally slapped my hand. What if Joe was trying to call? Wouldn’t want him to get a busy signal, would we?

I went back inside and got myself a glass of seltzer water, then returned to the deck and weeded my little railing boxes. Maybe I’d see if the budget could support some nice pieces of deck furniture. Right now all I had was a set of two plastic chairs and a matching table. Wicker tended to get moldy in the damp Cape air, so that was out. A little wrought iron, maybe.