Returning Pride (3 page)

“Come on Mama. Would you like to get out of this old house and have a real dinner?” It had taken some adjusting, but Allison had fallen into a pattern the last few weeks since she’d returned home.

The first couple of days home had been a blur. They had seen several specialists in Edgeview and they had also seen Dr. Stevens regularly. Once the news had spread throughout the small community, everyone within two counties had stopped by and delivered dish after dish of food. Some women had even come and cleaned the house for them. She felt that everything was falling into order.

The medications appeared to be working to regulate her mother’s basic health issues, and Allison was finding her own pattern with her mother’s Alzheimer’s episodes. Still, she hadn’t gotten a good night’s rest since arriving home. Her mother tended to wake at odd hours to do the strangest things like cooking or laundry. It had gotten so strange, that Allison didn’t feel comfortable falling asleep without one ear tuned in to the hallway, just in case.

She still felt tightness in her chest every time her mother called her Abby, but it didn’t shock her as much anymore.

Allison usually enjoyed getting out and decided today on a whim that they would go down to see Lacey at the Golden Oar.

Her mother, however, was not cooperating. Allison had laid out her mother’s best slacks and a green silk shirt that she knew her mother loved. It was becoming more like she was babysitting a child instead of a full-grown adult. Her mother’s moods were sporadic, and occasionally, Allison wished for help.

She walked over to the bed where her mother sat in her sweats and a large t-shirt. She sat down and pulled her mother’s hand into her own and said, “Mom?” Her mother’s eyes darted back to her face, and blinked. “Do you want to go out?”

“Yes, dear, that would be nice. Shall we get ready?”

Half an hour later as they sat in front of the Golden Oar, her mother refused to leave her truck.

“If you think I’m going in there, you’d better think twice. People will see me! I look a mess,” she said as she patted her hair, which Allison had washed and curled for her earlier that day. Allison noticed it could use a trim, but other than that, she thought her mother looked very nice. Her clothes were even pressed and tidy. She watched her mother run a hand over her slacks and wondered what she was upset about.

“Mom, we got all dressed up to have dinner. Do you want to go home instead? You look fine.” She leaned over and flipped down the sun visor and showed her mother the small mirror.

Her mother patted her hair again, and then reached down and pulled some lipstick out of her purse. She applied it with even, quick strokes, snapped the lid back on, then flipped the visor up.

“There, now I’m presentable. Well, come on, I’m starving.” Her mother smiled over at her.

Iian had been making his usual rounds in the dining hall to make sure everything was moving smoothly. He enjoyed the people of his town; for the most part he could communicate with most of them pretty well.

Currently he was sitting at a table with
Jenny and Lori. The two friends had decided to have a girls’ night out, and had gone through several margaritas each. He’d gone to school with the pair and he’d even tried dating them in the past, but communication had been an issue. Now they were just good friends. Conversations were slow-going when he had to read lips and since he didn’t like speaking, due to how unsure he was about his voice. But, he knew that it was a part of who he was now. After all, not everyone knew sign language.

Iian thought that the women were quickly on their way to becoming drunk. He had been trying to fend off Jenny’s advances, when he felt a familiar pull. He couldn’t explain it, but he knew that Allison was about to walk into the restaurant a second before she did. He glanced over at the door and waited.

The restaurant had never looked or smelled so good in her whole life. The large dining room was still beautiful, it’s tall windows overlooked the ocean and the boat docks of Pride. Looking out the large windows at the sunset over the Pacific, she thought the restaurant still had the best views in town. The cherry wood of the dining tables and the hardwood floors gleamed. However, it was the paintings that hung on each wall that had always held her full attention. Iian’s grandmother had painted every one over eighty years ago, and every single one was a masterpiece.

She’d spent a good deal of her childhood here and remembered feeling like it had always been a part of her. After all, she’d gotten her first glimpse of what she had wanted to do in life here. The creative artwork had opened a door in her mind. One of her earliest memories was sitting at the back table with her family and trying to copy the beautiful mermaid painting that hung over the fireplace. Looking up now she smiled, seeing the painting was still in place.

As they were seated, she noticed Iian sitting at a table with two women. She thought how typical it was of him to be surrounded by women, one was hanging off him and Iian actually appeared to be enjoying it. As she looked at him, he glanced over and just smiled at her with one of his sexy, lopsided grins.

When he flashed it reminded her of the dance they’d gone to in junior high. She could have sworn that there was a connection there, but he never called her back after. She’d chalked it up to him not being interested. She kind of felt broken-hearted. After that, he’d flaunted around town with almost every cheerleader at the small school, at least he had until his accident.

Trying to ignore him and his sexy smile, she took a seat next to her mother, two tables down from the group. She still thought of him as a good friend though, it’s just that she’d always hoped for something more. He’d made it very clear to her that he wasn’t interested in her that way. Oh, he didn’t say so, she could just tell from the way he treated her.

Trying to focus on the now she asked, “What are you going to have, mom?” Allison looked over the menu. “Everything looks so good.”

Her mother was studying the menu as well. “Hmm.”

“I can recommend the lemon halibut in white wine sauce, or the steak with portobello mushrooms. How are you ladies doing tonight?” The question was from Iian who stood behind her mother looking very tense.

It shocked her to hear the richness of his voice, she didn’t realize she’d missed the sound. The last words he had spoken to her had been so long ago.

When she looked up at him, her heart almost jumped out of her chest. Iian was not only tall and muscular, but he had added some muscles since the last time she’d been in town. His waist was narrow and the rest of him looked very good in dark blue jeans that were a little worn. He had on black boots and a white chef’s button-up shirt that, she noted with pleasure, strained around his biceps. His hair was a little longer, but he still had the jet black curls that she always loved. His face was strong and there was a little cleft in his chin. She really liked that little cleft. He had a cocky smile on his face as he watched her scope him out.

“We’re doing okay. Would you like to sit?” She asked gesturing towards the empty chair next to her mother. He nodded his head and took a seat and gave her a big smile that had her toes going numb.

Her mother fluffed up her hair and said, “Oh, hello Todd. How’s your father?”

Allison’s cheeks turned red a little, and she said, “No, mom, this is Iian, Todd’s brother, remember?”

Iian noticed her flush cheeks, but since he’d been looking at her mother, he wasn’t sure what had been said. He did understand what Allison had said, so he looked over at Mrs. Adams.

“Hello, Mrs. Adams. How lovely you look this evening.”

“Oh, well, you Jordan boys are all very handsome men. Don’t you think so, Allison dear?” Her mother smiled at Iian.

He watched as Allison’s flush deepened and his smile widened even further. It had been years since he allowed himself to speak in front of her. He thought it would make him feel awkward, however, it had actually had the opposite effect. Seeing her blushing face, allowed him to relax back in the chair and continue his conversation with the two women. Maybe it was the fact that he was on his turf, he didn’t know but it seemed that while he started to relax, Allison started to get on edge. He realized he enjoyed watching her blush, and especially liked it when she bit her bottom lip, which made it hard to read them instead of wanting to kiss them.

“Is Lacey working tonight?” Allison asked nervously.

“No, she keeps showing up, but I send her home.”

“Your sister has been helping us out the last couple weeks. I always did enjoy having her around,” Mrs. Adams said as the waiter delivered their dishes.

Iian stood to excuse himself so they could enjoy their food. “Yes, Lacey has always been very helpful. You will let me know if you need anything. Anything at all.”

As he stood, he met Allison’s eyes and was trapped in the richness of their blue color. “I better get back to the kitchen. Enjoy your dinner.” Reaching over he placed a small kiss on her mother’s hand.

“I’ll see you around Ally.”