Free Small Town Girl by Linda Cunningham Page A

the situation and said, “What time is it, anyway?”
    Caleb answered, “Oh, it’s not too late. A little after ten, I think. I’m usually sleeping by now.”
    “Really? At ten at night?”
    “Well, I’m at the shop by six-thirty in the morning, so, yeah, I go to bed early.”
    “Sometimes we don’t go out until ten!” Lauren laughed.
    They were quiet again, and then Caleb asked, “You live with your boyfriend?”
    “Well,” said Lauren, “I guess not really.”
    “That’s a weird answer. Either you do or you don’t.”
    “I stay overnight a lot. Actually, most of the time. It’s better than sleeping alone.”
    Caleb snorted. “Is that like saying it’s better than a poke in the eye?”
    “Hey, what are you saying?” She didn’t particularly relish getting into the same type of discussion again that they’d had at the pub.
    “Nothing. Just teasing you.” He laughed quietly, looking at the road. She looked at his profile. It was an honest, almost noble face, strong of chin with a straight, large nose that flared slightly as he laughed. She decided he meant no harm and laughed with him.
    “So, you got a big wedding planned?”
    “Oh, yes,” said Lauren, relaxing. “It’s going to be the biggest New York has seen in a long time! Lots of famous people coming.”
    “Oh, yeah? Like who? Impress me with who’s coming. I won’t tell anyone.”
    Lauren laughed. “Well, both New York senators, for one thing. And Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones. And Michael Jordan. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Others, too, but I forget. I know some of them, but most of the people coming are Charles’s friends.”
    “I see. Your father going to give you away?”
    “Oh, no, please , no. I’m not being given away by or to anybody. My mother and father will be there. They’re not like me, though, so I’m not sure they’ll enjoy themselves.”
    “What do you mean?” He looked at her then, puzzled.
    Lauren struggled to explain. “Well, they’re…they’re hippies. Like naturalists and stuff. Tree huggers.”
    “What’s wrong with that?”
    “Nothing, I guess. It’s just that I want more out of life.”
    “What’s more to one person is less to another,” Caleb said quietly. “Weddings are family affairs. I hope your mother and father enjoy themselves after all.”
    They were approaching the house. Caleb slowed the truck and swung into the driveway.
    “Here you are,” he said.
    Lauren turned toward him, truly grateful. “Thank you so much,” she said honestly.
    “It was nice to run into you at the pub tonight. Sorry if I took liberties with the conversation. Tomorrow, you call Rick at Rick’s Garage. They’re pretty clever. They work on my vehicles all the time. They’ll have you up and running in no time.”
    “That’s good because I’ve got to get headed back to the city.”
    “Hey,” said Caleb, suddenly. “Look what I’ve got!” He reached his long arm over the back of the seat and brought up a paper grocery bag. He sat it on his lap, reached in, and brought out a six-pack of Long Trail Ale. “How about a beer?”
    Lauren laughed in spite of herself and put up her hands in mock protestation. “No, no, really, I can’t. I already had two at the pub. Besides, I’ve got to — ”
    “Got to what? You said it’s sometimes ten o’clock before you go out. Well, it’s after ten now. You’re late.” He smiled at her. “Come on, have a beer with me. We’ll sit right out here on the front steps of the porch. It’s a beautiful night. You should enjoy it before you go back to that dirty city and breathe in all those exhaust fumes.”
    Smiling back, Lauren looked down at her hands. “Okay,” she said somewhat shyly. “You talked me into it.”
    “Great!” exclaimed Caleb with almost boyish enthusiasm. They climbed out of the truck, Caleb carrying the six-pack of beer. They strolled across the lawn and sat on the top stair of the porch steps. Lauren could smell the spicy