Free Patricia Rockwell - Essie Cobb 03 - Valentined by Patricia Rockwell Page B

Esperti waving
at her to join the group of card players.  Curses and epithets! she
thought.  There goes my attempt at spying.   With a sigh, she pulled
herself out of the comfortable armchair and rolled over to the group of men and
women sitting at a small card table.  In addition to Dave, she also recognized
Hubert Darby.  She didn’t know the two female players. 
    “Get any more fancy valentines from your secret admirer?”
asked Dave.  Essie frowned.  Even though she knew that most of Happy Haven was
apparently aware of her unknown beau, she really didn’t appreciate Dave Esperti
teasing her about it. 
    “No, I didn’t, Dave,” replied Essie perfunctorily.  She
smiled briefly at the group and returned her attention to the hallway.  Several
people disappeared at the far end around the corner.  Oh, no! she
thought.  I didn’t see them.  Where did they come from?  Maybe I’ve missed
Santos.   She was annoyed that Dave and the card players had distracted her
from her task.  Now she might have missed Santos returning down the hallway. 
Was it safe to check who the resident was in the apartment in which he had gone
or not?  Essie was totally lost in thought.
    “Hey, Essie!” yelled Dave.  “Cat got your tongue?  So
smitten with your new fellow that you can’t even talk to us regular guys
here?”  Essie tore herself from her hallway watch and smiled sweetly at Dave and
the group.
    “Of course not, Dave,” she said.  “You know, just
distracted.  A senior moment.”  She knew that any fault or flaw at Happy Haven
could be easily dismissed with the ‘senior moment’ excuse.  She used it herself
quite frequently although there was usually some other reason.  Essie didn’t
have many senior moments.
    The ladies at the table laughed and Hubert Darby, who was
also one of the card players, blushed.  Or at least Essie thought she saw him
blush. 
    “Essie,” said one of the women.  “Ignore Dave.  He’s a
terrible tease.  I, for one, think your secret admirer is one of the most
romantic things I’ve heard of in ages. I’m Hazel.”  She touched Essie’s hand
warmly.  Hubert scowled and stared at his cards more intently.
    “I do too,” added the other lady card player.  “I’m
Mildred.  It’s nice to know that there’s at least one man out there who knows
how to romance a lady!”  She gave pointed looks at both Dave and Hubert.  The
two men stayed quiet.
    “Actually, Essie,” said Hazel.  “I’m jealous of you!  I
never even got any kind of romantic valentine from my husband when he was
alive.”
    “Me neither,” agreed Mildred.  “Do you have any idea who he
is?”
    “No,” said Essie.  Dave and Hubert had apparently bowed out
of this conversation.  “I wish I did, but it’s a mystery.”
    “That makes it even more romantic, don’t you think?” asked
Mildred quietly.  She gestured for Essie to come closer.  Essie hesitated.  She
wanted to be polite, but she also wanted to keep her eyes on the hallway so she
could see Santos when he returned.
    “Could we see it?” asked Hazel shyly.  Essie looked back and
forth from one woman to the other.  She really didn’t want to display her card
around Happy Haven like some wild life trophy from a safari.  Like she had
bagged an unknown man and this card was the result. 
    “Please, Essie,” pleaded Mildred. 
    “I really…” began Essie.
    “A little bird says you carry it everywhere with you,”
whispered Hazel. 
    “Hey, Hazel,” interjected Dave.  “Essie doesn’t want to show
you the card.  Leave her alone!”  He slammed a card down on the table. 
“Trump!” he declared and then slid down in his chair and crossed his arms.  The
women bristled and Hubert Darby looked up at Essie with a soulful glance.
    Essie felt uncomfortable that she now suddenly found herself
in the middle of this dispute.  The women at the table were obviously excited
about Essie’s valentine and her secret