Will love win out?
Chapter One
The Date
Oakville
“Want to go watch the soccer game with me on Friday after school?” asked Jeanne Bartell, the guidance counselor at Oak Grove, Oakville’s Middle School. “My cousin’s playing and I promised him I’d go.”
“No, thanks,” said Daisy. Her lustrous brown curls bounced as the girls walked the trail in beautiful Riverside Park after school.”
“Are you sure? Watching Oakville’s best-looking guys beat the crap out of each other on the soccer field is a great release after a long week at work.”
“I’m sure it’s very cathartic, but no thanks.”
“Got other plans? Got a date maybe?”
“No, Bailey hates being left alone on Friday evenings. There’s nothing for him to watch on Animal Planet. Saturday and Sunday dog TV is much better. Honestly, Jeannie,” continued Daisy, “only date I’ve had since I’ve been back in Oakville was with my grandmother’s insurance agent.”
“I don’t think that counts.”
“Well, I think it might,” Daisy said with a hint of excitement in her big blue eyes. “Matt picked me up at my house, and he paid for dinner.”
“Matt? Matt Corcoran? Corky? Really?” Jeanne eyed her friend with a silly grin. “He’s a hunk.”
“We went to Manzano’s Italian Restaurant. We sat in the lounge near the fireplace under those big, beautiful paintings of the Italian countryside. Yes, he bought me dinner, we talked and laughed a lot, and had a good time. But no, it wasn’t romantic. It was financial.”
“I’ve known him since kindergarten and I’ve never known Corky to do that,” Jeanne said. “He usually conducts business meetings in his office. Wow, Daisy! I think it might have been a romantic overture.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “But I told him straight up I wasn’t interested in anything more than my job, my house, and my dog right now, and he was very understanding. We did have a few meetings in his big, beautiful office first to deal with Gram’s life insurance and to work out all the details of my homeowner’s insurance policy. Then we went to dinner to get everything signed and sealed. Homeownership is a big responsibility. ”
“Tell me about it.” Jeanne laughed.
“It seems my grandmother knew Corky pretty well. She mentioned how much she liked him. She said he was ‘an honest, caring, good-hearted young man.’ He’s a really nice guy. He’s knowledgeable and very professional―and kind of sweet, maybe.”
“I think it was a real date, and you sound interested. I thought you weren’t ready yet.”
“I’m not―interested or ready.”
“But Matt Corcoran is such a terrific guy! He’s smart, good looking, and athletic. He’s got a great sense of humor and runs a successful business here in town. All those muscles and great blond hair. And he’s so cute.”
“If you like him so much, then you go out with him. I’ll put in a good word for you,” Daisy said.
“Believe me, I’ve tried, along with half the town.” Jeanne sighed. “Tall, plain, and skinny just isn’t his type. He likes them pretty and perky and bosomy. Hint, hint. But if you’re not ready to move on from whatever happened in Chicago, you’re not ready. I get it. What was his name?”
“Cooper. How did you know?”
“Everybody in town knows something happened to you in Chicago and you’ve sworn off dating.”
“I may never be ready to move on,” Daisy said. “And that’s okay. I’ve been on my own for a while and I’m fine by myself. I have a great job, a beautiful home with wonderful family memories, and I have Bailey, my wonderful shelter dog. And it’s good to be back in Oakville.
“But what I am ready for is book club, Monday Night Murder Club, the Monday Mysterians, the ‘Monday is Murder in More Ways than One’ Group,” she said, on a dramatic roll.
“The Monday Mystery Society,” Jeanne pronounced it distinctly.
“That sounds so chic. I’ve never belonged to a book club like this one in my life, with so many members and such a diverse makeup. In Chicago, three or four people showed up, all women, all lonely women, looking for love and cookies. This book club is entertaining before you even open the book. I can’t wait for Monday!”
“Are you ever going to tell me what happened in Chicago?” Jeanne asked as they walked back to the car. “With Cooper, I mean. Daisy, if you’ve been attacked…”
“No, no, nothing like that. He was always the perfect gentleman. He…he misrepresented himself to me.” Daisy sighed, her usual upbeat demeanor vanishing. “He made me believe he was something he wasn’t.”
“Nobody’s perfect. Of all the rotten things men do these days, that’s not so bad. Maybe he just wanted to make a good impression on you.”
“Yes, that is bad.”
“But, Daisy, did you love him?”
“Love him?” Daisy whispered. “I don’t want to talk about it right now, okay counselor? Let’s go home.”
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