Leo (A Sign of Love Novel)(37)

But Mr. Cooper is still smiling, watching me closely. "Why, Evelyn, I do believe you're in love."

"Oh! No, it hasn't been long at all. I practically just met him."

"Knew the first time I laid eyes on my Mary that she was the one for me. Didn't doubt it for even one second for the next forty three years."

I look at him sadly. I know that the loss of his late wife is still a tender subject for him, even though it's been many years since he lost her.

"Does he know what he has in you, Evelyn?"

I'm not sure what he means exactly but I answer, "He seems to really like me, too. He makes me feel… special." I blush again. It's kinda weird to talk about my love life with someone whom I consider a grandfather figure.

"Good. You are special. I knew it the first time I saw you out in that yard, playing so patiently with those two little demons." He laughs. "Then later, sitting alone on the porch, looking so sad, but always holding your head high. I knew you were hurting, but that you were brave."

I look down, remembering those days. "I was never brave, Mr. Cooper. I was scared all the time as a kid, and then as a teenager, too."

"I know that, Evelyn. But it didn't keep you from showing kindness to everyone I ever saw you with, including me. It didn't keep you from sitting with an old man on his porch just to chat for a minute or two because you saw that I could use a smiling face. It didn't keep you from bringing out a glass of water when you saw me mowing my lawn in the summertime. Even now, you think I don't know that it's hard for you to come near that house," he gestures to my old foster home, "or how long it takes you to bring me a plate of cookies?"

I look up at him, "I love bringing you cookies, Mr. Cooper. I get to visit with you."

"See what I mean?" he smiles.

I look down again, studying my nails, embarrassed. He continues, "You know why I call you Evelyn, instead of Evie like everyone else does?" he asks.

I nod no. I just thought he liked it because he's from a more formal generation and liked using my full name, rather than a casual nickname.

He's quiet for a second, obviously gathering his thoughts, "I don't want to bring anything too personal up, Evelyn, because we've never talked about the circumstances that brought you to that foster home next door all those years ago. But I know that I can't say much for your mama, leaving you there, never coming back. I reckon you probably don't have a lot to say for her either."

I remain quiet. He's right about that.

"But your mama, she did at least two things right. She gave you life, and she gave you a name fit for a lady. And that, Evelyn, is exactly what you are. You make sure that gentleman friend realizes that." He smiles then and I blink back tears.

I tilt my head to the side and say, "Since we're on the subject of compliments, Mr. Cooper, I have something I'd like to share with you, too." I smile.

"Okay,” he smiles.

I pause for a minute as I grow serious and say, "I never had a whole lot of love in my life. Many times, I had a whole lot of just the opposite. But everywhere I went, I seemed to find at least one person who gave me kindness and made me feel special. When I lived here," I gesture to the house next door, "that person was you. You gave that to me and you have no idea what it meant. Thank you."

Mr. Cooper wipes at a tear in his eye, saying, "Gettin' soft in my old age, huh?" but he laughs and smiles at me with that same kindness he's always shown me.

"So!" he says, obviously changing the subject. "Guess who was running around the yard in her unmentionables a couple days ago after her dog snatched her wig and took off out the door?"

I almost choke on a bite of cookie as I laugh out, "What?"

I know exactly who he's talking about. My ex-foster mother, Carol, always wore a wig and swore no one could tell, even though it always looked like she had a dead beaver on her head and I used to wonder what horror lay beneath if she thought that looked better than what she was hiding.

Years ago, my ex-foster father had moved out with their boys. Apparently he'd had enough of his bitch of a wife and I couldn't say I blamed him. I got the hell out of there the minute I was able to, too. What took him so long, I didn't know.

"Yeah, me, the mailman and half the block stood around laughing our butts off, not lifting a finger to help her and not feeling badly about it." I wasn't surprised. She'd been nasty to everyone who crossed her path for years.

"That mangy mutt thought it was a game and just ran faster. Not that it was probably very hard to dodge her. She's gained about 200 pounds since you moved out, and she had about that much to lose when you lived here."

I can't help it, I'm laughing so hard I have to clutch my stomach even though I know it's mean. "What was under there?" I finally ask, eyes wide.

"Oh, Evie, darlin', wouldn't burden you with the description. I'm still rinsing my eyes out with acid nightly to try to burn the image from my retinas." Now we're both laughing.

We visit for a while longer and when it's time for me to go, Mr. Cooper takes my hand and kisses it. "Lady Evelyn," he says, smiling. "Until next time. You be safe."

I give him another big hug and walk down his steps, smiling as I walk away.