The Romance Report (13 page)

Quinn typed back. “Ugh. Okay. I’ll do it. When?”

“Friday night.”

“Fine. I have Grandma’s birthday that weekend so I
can beg out early if I need too.”

“Okay. Will call you tomorrow to confirm.”

Anne harrumphed quietly across from Quinn. “Sorry,
Mom. It was Indie. She needed me to help her out with something.”

“How is Indigo? I haven’t seen her in months.”

“She’s great. She has a new boyfriend, Marty, who
works at an insurance company. She wants me to meet him next weekend.”

“If Indie can find a man with a normal job, surely
you can, Quinn,” Anne said. “Indie and Sean are on the invitation list for next
week. They should have received their invitations. Please make sure to remind
them to RSVP so I can confirm numbers with your uncle for the food.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Quinn mumbled. She took a bite of
her sandwich to keep from saying anything else.

“So remind me what your date does for a living? I
couldn’t remember what you told me.”

“Doug’s a middle school teacher, Mother. I went to
college with him. We were friends. Actually, more like acquaintances, but he’s
a nice guy.”

“A middle school teacher.” Anne nodded
thoughtfully. “It’s a respectable profession. Tough working with middle school
children. I have to admire his courage. Plus, a number of teachers eventually
move into administration. He could become principal of a school one day or even
superintendent if he plans well.”

“It’s fairly early in his career for him to plan
on taking over the school board,” Quinn said dryly.

“It’s never too early to plan for your future,
particularly when it comes to you career. I knew what I wanted when I was in
high school. I had a full life plan when I graduated including career, marriage
and children. I haven’t veered from that plan and look at my successes,” Anne
said. She pointed her fork at Quinn and said, “You need to get your life plan
together. No more flitting from job to job or man to man. Pick a path and stick
with it and you will be successful.”

“I don’t flit from job to job. I’ve had two jobs,
not counting the one with Uncle Pat. I’ve had three serious boyfriends. I’m
figuring it out, Mother. Give me a break,” Quinn said.

She pushed her plate away from her. She had lost
her appetite. Her mother was never happy with her men, her job, her clothes or
well, pretty much anything she did. Quinn didn’t know why she kept on trying to
please her mother. If Quinn’s plans didn’t fit into Anne Daniel’s “life plan”
then they didn’t qualify as important. She checked the time.

“I need to go if I’m going to meet Doug. It’s only
a block away. Finish your lunch and I’ll walk over there.”

“Don’t be silly. Call Doug and tell him you’ll be
a few minutes late. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“It’s okay,” Quinn said. She flagged down their
waiter and handed him her credit card to pay the bill. “Lunch is on me,
Mother.”

“I planned on paying for lunch, dear. I know
you’ve probably been strapped for cash working for my brother. I’m surprised
you have money for food.”

“It’s fine. I’m fine. My food situation is fine,”
Quinn said. She signed her name to the credit card slip with an angry flourish
and stood up to leave. “I’ll see you at Grandma’s party next week. Bye.”

“Okay,” Anne said, confused by Quinn’s sudden
coldness. “See you later.”

Quinn strode away and left the restaurant before
she lost her temper. Breathe, Quinn. It will be okay. You’ve dealt with your
mother’s bossiness for years. Why is it getting to you now?

“Quinn?”

She looked up and was startled to see Doug
standing in front of her. “Oh, hi.”

“You okay? You walked right past me. I had to jog
to get in front of you.”

“I’m sorry. My mother has a tendency to spin me up
and make me out of sorts,” Quinn said. She smiled at Doug, “but I’m sure
spending time with you and watching the movie will put me in a better mood.”

“
Chains of Gory
is an odd film to put you
into a better mood, but okay,” Doug said. “I’m not an aficionado of bad horror
flicks so I bow to your better judgment.”

“B-rated horror films are the best. You get the
thrill without the chill because you’re generally laughing too hard at the bad
acting.”

Doug paid for their tickets, and they grabbed a
small tub of popcorn and two sodas. As they settled into their seats, Doug
said, “If you ever need to vent about anything, I’m happy to listen. After
middle school girl drama all day, I’m sure yours is mild in comparison. I don’t
scare easily, and I’m a good listener.”

“Ah, that’s sweet. I’m okay though. My mother
never fails to disappoint with her constant barrage of criticism. She means
well, and I usually ignore it,” Quinn said.

The lights dimmed, and the advertisements and
previews began. Soon the theater was filled with the sounds of squeals and
giggles as a masked man inflicted terror on a remote private school in the
mountains. At one point in the movie, Quinn jumped and Doug put his arm around
her shoulders. Quinn moved closer and smiled. Their hands brushed in the
popcorn tub and lingered for a moment. Two scream-laden hours later, they left
the theater holding hands.

Doug drove Quinn back to her brownstone. Quinn
knew he expected to be asked up, but for some reason, she didn’t feel ready. He
walked her to the front step and as she said her farewell, he pulled her to him
and kissed her.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Doug said and gave her a
gentle chuck under her chin.

“Bye,” Quinn said softly. She walked slowly
inside. Nothing. He kissed her, and she felt absolutely nothing. No tingle. No
spark. Zip. She climbed her stairs and as she passed Zach’s apartment, she
lingered for a minute. She went to knock on his door but stopped. She walked up
the third flight of stairs and into her apartment.

When she unlocked the door, she had to stop and
make sure she was in the right location. Zach had painted her bathroom and
somehow had managed to paint her small kitchen an amazing shade of blue. She
looked around her apartment. Wait a minute. There were some framed photographs
on her living room wall that weren’t there when she left. She dropped her purse
on the floor and wandered inside to look.

“Do you like it?”

Quinn let out a small scream and jumped. She
turned around and saw Zach, Sean and Indie standing in her doorway.

“What’s going on here?” Quinn asked.

“We did your apartment while you were gone. Zach
came and grabbed me as soon as you left. I called Indie and sent her on a mission
for paint. I told her Indigo Sky Blue. Get it?” Sean waited for Quinn’s
response.

“I’m overwhelmed. I…” Quinn stuttered. She looked
at the living room walls closer and realized they were painted a pale shade of
blue that complemented the dark blue of the kitchen. She peered at the framed
photographs hanging on the wall. They were a series of photos showing a
butterfly emerging from a chrysalis.

“I love it!” Quinn exclaimed. “I absolutely,
positively love it.”

“Good,” Indie said as the three of them finally
felt brave enough to enter the apartment, “because I was dreading the cover-up
paint job on the kitchen. Dark blue is a bear to cover.”

“Zach, I can’t believe you pulled this off,” Quinn
said. “I’ve only been gone a few hours.”

“The minute you walked out the door I was on it. I
am a man with a plan and you have the friends to help me do it.”

“Where did you guys get the photographs?” Quinn
asked.

“My mom took those at the commune. It’s part of a
series of nature pictures she did last year. Consider them an early birthday
present,” Indie said. She led Quinn towards her couch. “Look. I sewed you some
pillows, too. Aren’t they cool?”

“You sew?” Quinn was surprised. Indie never struck
her as a crafty girl.

“This surprises you? I grew up on a commune where
they reused everything. I have dresses made from old underwear.”

“Girl, I need to get some of those for my next
act.” Sean whistled. “I’d be the hottest diva in town if I wore undie dresses.
Oh, that could a line of clothing. Picture it. Shawna’s Unhidden Undies.
Shawna’s Panty Pants. Shawna’s…”

“Alright! We get it!” Quinn protested with a
laugh.

“How did your date with Doug go?” Indie asked.

“I better get going,” Zach interrupted. “I have to
drive down to Abingdon early tomorrow morning to look at a home in the historic
district that is having some issues. Quinn, I’m glad you like it. Go check out
your bathroom.” He gave her a wink and left.

“So, how did the date go?” Sean prompted.

“It was…” Quinn hesitated, “nice.”

“Nice? That’s what I call dinner with a friend,
not a future lover,” Sean said.

“He kissed me and it was just…nice.”

“Uh oh,” Indie said. “Sean, open a bottle of wine,
stat!” She pulled Quinn down to sit on the couch.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I meet a nice
guy who has a normal job and takes me on a date and actually pays. There was no
spark. No bedazzle. Just a plain, boring kiss.” Quinn slumped dejectedly on her
new pillows. “I’m a glutton for losers. Please let me become a nun.”

“No. A. You aren’t Catholic. B. You have given up
black and white as wardrobe choices and finally, oh hell no, I didn’t do my
best work on your hair and brows for you to throw it all away!” Sean snapped
his fingers at her. “You just need a guy who has some sex appeal and a…”

“Sean!” Indie squealed.

“Oh my god. I was going to say job. You girls are
killing me. You two make me want to be a straight man,” Sean complained.

“Heaven forbid that day should ever come. Every
girl needs a gay friend with better taste in clothes than her,” Indie said.
“Where’s our wine, Diva?”

“It’s coming. Hold on to your big girl panties.”

“I don’t have to become a nun. I could work and
hang out with you two. I don’t need a man in my life to be complete,” Quinn
said and let out a little wail of distress. “I’m a three-time love loser. Wait.
Four. Creepy Fifty Shades of Yuck dude. Criminal Creeper. Ricardo the Orangutan
and now, Doug.”

“There’s hope for you yet. You’re going out with
Josh on Friday, remember?”

“Who’s Josh?” Sean asked as he handed them their
glasses of wine.

“It’s a friend of Marty’s. We’re going to a comic
book convention on Friday. Quinn’s coming along as Josh’s date.”

“A comic book festival? Why?” Sean wrinkled his
nose is distaste.

“I happen to like graphic novels and comic books,”
Indie protested. “They aren’t the same as they used to be when we were kids.
Much better story lines. Women are not just half-naked sex symbols nowadays.”

“Thank goodness. Nobody wants to see that!” Sean
exclaimed. “Give me Wolverine in a tight suit that shows off his…”

“Sean!” Quinn gasped.

“Muscles, dirty girl. I was going to say muscles.
Why do you two always assume I have sex on the brain. I am a complex person
with depths you two don’t realize.”

“Fine. You have depth. Use your deepness to figure
out why I can’t date a decent guy.”

“I’m taking you back to Angie.”

“No. I think it’s more than a cleansing can cure.
It’s something wrong with me. Not a curse.”

“You need to date Zach.” Sean informed her.

“What? No. He’s my friend and my neighbor. If it
all goes to hell in the proverbial handbasket, I would have to move and I have
this great apartment that’s all colorful and stuff.” Quinn waved her hands
around at her various new decorations and painted walls. “I like living here.”

“I don’t think it would go south. Zach’s a decent
guy. He’s hot. He’s got a job. A real job. He likes you. What’s not to love
about him?”

“He’s too busy for a relationship right now,”
Quinn protested. “He’s got his own business that keeps him on the road. He
doesn’t have time for a relationship.”

“A. He would make time. B. He has his own business
which means he’s successful and has his crap together. C. Quit being scared of
anything that might be genuine.” Sean ticked off the list on his fingers.

“Are we going to work our way through the alphabet
tonight?” Quinn grumbled and took a sip of her wine.

“No, but we are going to have a glass of wine and
a long talk about what you really want in life,” Indie said. “Sean, fill ‘er
up. It’s going to be a long night.”

Chapter twenty-seven

Quinn did not want to get up the next morning when
she turned off her alarm. It was way too early for a girl who had finished a
bottle of wine on her own. She blamed Sean. He kept refilling her glass. She
slunk her way into the bathroom and peered in the mirror.

“Holy cow. I look bad,” Quinn said to her
reflection. She looked around her bathroom. Zach had done a nice job on the
paint. She saw a small package sitting on the edge of the tub she hadn’t
noticed the night before in her wine-induced haze. She picked it up and saw it
had a small card attached. She opened it up and read the little notecard.

“Quinn, I thought you might appreciate these after
our next climbing adventure. Also, every girl should have a hot pink carabiner
to use when climbing.” Quinn smiled. Inside the package was a box of
lavender-scented Epsom salts and a pink carabiner.

She made her way to her kitchen. She really did
like the dark blue paint Indie had chosen. Fixing herself a cup of coffee, she
sat down on her couch and waited for the coffee to kick in and wake her up. She
had made a decision sometime last night while talking to Sean and Indie. She
would go to culinary school. Cooking and baking made her happy. If she could
make a living doing it, why not? If it failed, she could always fall back on
journalism, but right now, she had to take a shot.
 

She sat drinking her coffee while she considered
her decision. She would have to ask Uncle Patrick if she could still work for
him as a hostess or something. She needed to pay her rent still and allowing
him to do so was out of the question. She finished her coffee and got ready for
work.

Quinn moved slow when she first arrived at the
restaurant. Although she didn’t have a headache, she did have wine fog dulling
her senses. Soon, she was mixing ingredients for rolls and considering what
apple-based dessert she should make. Fall was in the air, and Quinn was excited
about all the things she could make with apples and pumpkin.

“So what’s my favorite niece up to this morning?”
Uncle Patrick’s voice boomed, pulling Quinn from her reverie.

“Nothing much. I’m trying to decide what to make
with all these apples. An apple crisp or apple dumplings with a vanilla ice
cream side?”

“Why not both and then a brownie for folks that
don’t care for apples?” Uncle Patrick suggested.

“Good idea. That’s what I’ll do,” Quinn said. She
hesitated and then screwing up her courage she blurted, “I’d like to go to
culinary school, but I need to keep working here at least part-time to pay my
rent.”

Uncle Patrick stepped back in surprise. “Really?”

“Yes. I love doing all this.” Quinn motioned
around the kitchen. “Is the offer for you to help still there?”

Instead of answering, Uncle Patrick pulled her
into a big bear hug. “I’m proud of you. I know this isn’t an easy decision for
you to make. I needed to talk to you about the job today anyway.”

Quinn pulled back from him. “It’s about time for
Jenny to come back. Time’s flown by and I hadn’t even realized.”

“Yes and no. Her leg is healed, but she’s
pregnant. She and her husband decided that she’s going to stay home for the
duration. Once the baby’s born, she wanted to go to part-time. How do you feel
about splitting the job with her?”

“Are you serious?” Quinn grinned. “It’s perfect. I
can start my classes and still be able to pay my rent. Thank you!”

“I’ll talk to my friend at the school. We’ll fill
out the paperwork and get the ball rolling this afternoon. In the meantime, I
see some apples waiting to be peeled.”

“Aye aye, cap’n!” Quinn saluted her uncle and
turned back to her bread dough. She was excited, but nervous about her decision
to return to school. She had to figure out a way to break the news to her
parents. On that somber thought, she started to peel apples.

The week passed quickly. Quinn submitted her
paperwork to go to culinary school. Doug had called to ask for a date for the
upcoming weekend. Quinn explained that she had plans with Indie and her
grandmother’s birthday party.

“Okay,” Doug said, disappointment filling his
voice. Well, maybe we can do something the following week. This week was bad
for me anyway. We have parent teacher conferences. It’s my least favorite part
of the job.”

“I don’t think anyone likes them. Teachers,
parents or the kids,” Quinn said. She liked Doug, but after their kiss fizzled
on Sunday, she wasn’t sure she wanted to invest in a relationship with him. She
might go on one more date to make sure there was no chemistry.

Friday arrived and Quinn realized she had no idea
what to wear to a comic book convention. Indie was going to pick her up at five
o’clock. She decided on an off-white blouse paired with black jodhpur pants and
boots. She felt like she should be riding a horse but believed it would work
for a comic festival. It made her feel a little like a superhero.

Indie texted to say she would be out front to pick
her up in five minutes. Quinn flicked her brush through her hair one last time
and headed downstairs to meet her.

Indie pulled up in Herbie. Quinn peered into the
car, but she didn’t see anyone else. “Where are our dates?”

“We’re meeting them at Marty’s place and then
switching cars to head over together. Marty had a meeting today that ran late,
so I said we would meet them. I like the outfit. Where’s your faithful steed?”

“Hardy har har har. You are so funny.”

“You look cute. You know I’m only yanking your
chain.”

Indie zipped in and out of rush hour traffic and
fifteen minutes later, they were pulling up to a small house in an older
residential area on the outskirts of the city. Quinn got out of the car and
followed Indie to the house. She knocked on the door and moments later it was
opened by a masked man.