Free Switched, Bothered and Bewildered by Suzanne Macpherson Page B

bounced onto the ground after the big speech. Who knew this gem was hiding in a suburban one-dog stinker of a house?
    He opened up the truck door and climbed in. "Ready?" he asked.
    "Ready. I'm sorry I was . . . stupid."
    "You're just assertive.   Nothing wrong with
    that." He started up the truck and moved toward the edge of the driveway.
    "I didn't used to be. I've changed."
    "I see that."
    "You knew me before?" she asked.
    He thought that was an odd question, but she was a little odd anyhow. "You've probably forgotten I came out and installed a new kitchen faucet for you once."
    "I had forgotten."
    "You were still pretty messed up from your husband's passing away." He regretted saying that right away, but facts were facts.
    He heard a whole lot of silence on her side of the truck.
    He better make small talk, although he was pretty bad at it. "Your spa visit must have helped. You look great."
    "Yes, it was very refreshing." Jillian felt like a first-class heel lying to Dean. She'd blundered in like her usual self and forgotten how hard it would be to be her sister. She herself had a great deal of pain over Bill's death, but Jana Lee's entire life had been derailed. All the more reason she should make a better effort to play her sister and get something going with Dean.
    Already she figured she should have thought twice before asking him on this date. Too close for
    comfort. She should have played it cooler. Her sister sure would have. Then again, her sister hadn't had a date in a long, long time, so there you go. She was stuck in a corner.
    Jillian looked out the window at the green, beautiful trees as they drove out on the main road. Fir trees dipping graceful bows down toward the road, alders all decked in summer leaves. "Pretty country around here." Oh, brother, this was so much harder than she'd thought. Jana Lee had been here for years.
    "Yes, we forget how beautiful this area is," Dean commented.
    "Being away and all, I notice it more now," she stumbled around.
    "Have you ever been to Manor Farm Inn?"
    "Can't say I have." Boy, was that true. She had no idea where Jana Lee had been or not been. "Is that our destination?"
    "Yes. The owner is a friend of mine. She's a patron of the arts, so to speak. Her husband is the chef. I know you said a drink, but have you had dinner?"
    "Well, actually, no."
    "Then in the interest of not ending up loopy, they've offered to make a little dinner for us. I hope you don't mind meeting people."
    "Why would I mind? Bring it on." Jillian couldn't stand herself anymore. She was wonder-
    ing if Jana Lee had ever met this lady at Manor Farm. For all she knew, it could be one of the rug-rat parents. "Do they have kids?"
    "Two older boys in college. They come back summers and work the farm with them. It's a few miles down this road."
    "Great." Jillian shut up. She'd have to find a way to converse with this guy more like her sister would. What had she been thinking? She wasn't as good at this as she'd thought she would be. She bit her nail. A big chip of her red polish came off. Damn, being a biter she didn't have much in the way of nails anyhow. Dating was probably not on the list of things to do when you were trying to de-stress. She felt like she was going to implode.
    Dean must have noticed. "Don't worry, we'll have a great time. Relax. I know first dates are weird. It's been a long time for me, too."

"It has?" Ah ha, she thought. She could just make him talk about himself! "How long?" she asked.
    "I didn't want to get right into it, but I had a long-term relationship with a woman. She died of cancer."
    "I'm so sorry."
    "So, I guess we have something in common."
    Jillian felt like the lowliest worm imaginable. If she got out of this date without slinking into snake form, it would be a miracle. God would get her for this. She better be careful in lightning storms.
    *      *      *
    The Manor Farm Inn was charming. The hostess and owner, Fran, was a gracious older woman, and the