The Perfect Husband Page 5

  I stopped before entering the back door and turned around. ‘I had no idea you had such a green thumb.’

  Eric laughed. ‘There’s a lot about me you don’t know – yet!’

  I followed him inside and he gave me the grand tour.

  I looked around, drinking in every detail. ‘I love the high ceilings, built-ins and molding.’

  ‘Thanks. Most of the molding is original.’

  We walked into the dining room, tiled in classic black and white marble. ‘Is this floor original?’ I asked. ‘It’s absolutely gorgeous!’

  Eric smiled. ‘Yes. Original floor and original fireplace.’

  I turned around in a circle. ‘Your dining room could be featured in a home decorating magazine. It’s gorgeous.’ I ran my hand over the cherry table and sideboard. ‘Are these pieces you bought?’

  ‘Yes. I like antiques, as you can see. The whole house is full of them.’

  As I toured the house, I noticed that nothing was out of place. Even the books on the coffee table were neatly stacked, largest to smallest, each one placed exactly in the middle of the one beneath it.

  My vocabulary was nothing but ooohs and aaahs. The upstairs was equally impressive, from the leaded stained-glass windows to the mirrored tiles in the bathroom.

  ‘Here’s the guest bedroom.’ Eric opened the door and I walked into the buttercup yellow bedroom.

  I turned in a circle, my eyes jumping from the brass bed to the antique wooden armoire to the oak washstand with its harp style towel bar. ‘Everything is so beautiful.’

  ‘Please make yourself at home,’ Eric said. ‘My home is your home.’

  Chapter 8

  I sat across from Eric eating the Cobb salad he’d made for lunch. ‘Not only are you a skilled decorator, but you’re also a whiz in the kitchen. This is delicious. Thanks!’

  ‘Glad you like it. Whenever I eat a Cobb I think about the Brown Derby in Hollywood.’

  I nodded. ‘Ah, yes. The purported birthplace of the Cobb salad.’ I laughed.

  ‘What’s so funny?’

  ‘I was just thinking about that scene from I Love Lucy. They’re eating at the Brown Derby and Lucy inadvertently causes a waiter to hit William Holden in the face with a pie.’

  ‘My grandmother loved that show,’ Eric said. ‘You’re way too young for that!’

  I smiled. ‘I’m an old soul, I suppose. I love old black-and-white movies and TV shows. I’m forever watching the channel that broadcasts all the oldies but goodies.’

  Eric sliced a dinner roll in half and buttered each side. ‘Maybe we can watch that channel later. First, I’d like to show you around town. There’s a lot of cool stores you might like. I have to run by the university anyway to check on one of my properties.’

  ‘You own properties?’

  ‘Just a few. I rent them to college students. It’s proven to be a nice investment and a great side income.’

  That explained the bush of keys he carried around. Maybe that’s why he wondered if I’d ever move here. He probably liked living near his properties in case there was an emergency, like a broken water pipe.

  I finished my salad and stood to take my plate over to the sink.

  ‘Sit!’ Eric shouted. His eyes and mouth were wide open as if my behavior had shocked him.

  I jumped and almost dropped my plate. I’m certain he noticed the horrified look on my face. What just happened? I felt like a child being scolded by a parent.

  He held up his hand. ‘Sorry. So sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.’ He jumped up and rushed over to me, rubbing my arm. ‘I didn’t mean to scare you, but I want to take care of you. You’re my guest. Please sit. Relax.’

  ‘I’m not used to being pampered.’ I sat back down. ‘I spent most of my life taking care of myself.’

  ‘Well, I want to take care of you. I want this weekend to be perfect for you.’

  ‘It’s off to a great start.’ I sipped my wine.

  Eric smiled.

  I finished my wine while he cleaned up. He was very thorough, wiping off the salad dressing bottle and butter container before putting them in the refrigerator. He straightened the set of canisters sitting beside the stove and wiped all the counters, even the ones he hadn’t used.

  ‘Is there anything you can’t do?’ I asked. ‘You cook, you clean, you build, you decorate.’

  Eric smiled and took my empty wine glass and placed it in the dishwasher before turning it on. ‘Are you ready to go downtown?’

  I followed Eric out to his car and he opened my door and I got in.

  ‘I’ll be right back,’ he said. ‘I forgot something.’

  When Eric returned, he was carrying his leather satchel. He threw it on the back seat and it slid off. I reached to pick it up and put it back on the seat.

  ‘No!’ he shouted.

  I shook. It was the second time in less than an hour that he’d made me jump out of my seat.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I did it again, didn’t I? I didn’t mean to startle you. Please forgive me. I’m just fussy about my satchel. It’s sort of like a pocketbook to me.’

  ‘I wasn’t going to open it or anything,’ I explained. ‘I was just going to put it back up on the seat.’

  ‘I know,’ Eric said. ‘I feel like such a jerk for making a big deal about it, but it’s very personal to me.’

  I nodded. ‘No problem. I understand. I have things that I’m particular about, too.’

  His reaction to the satchel had startled me, but after seeing how neat his home was and how everything was just so perfect, I wasn’t surprised. I was curious about what it held, though, especially since he was so protective of it.

  Eric drove down the main street in the city towards the campus on the outskirts of town. ‘Do you want to see the campus?’

  ‘Sure. I’d love to. I haven’t been on a college campus in years. Actually, since I graduated.’

  Eric glanced over at me. ‘You’ve never gone back to visit?’

  I looked out the window, surveying the surroundings. ‘No, but I might this year. My sorority is having a reunion.’

  ‘I didn’t know you were in a sorority,’ Eric said.

  I looked at him and smiled. ‘There’s probably a lot about me you don’t know.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Uh, I don’t know. Little things.’

  ‘For example?’

  ‘I hate odd numbers and cameo jewelry and any show containing the word “reality”.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes. And I hate clicking on a twenty-second video and having to watch a forty-five second commercial first.’

  Eric nodded. ‘I’m with you on the commercial pre-rolls. They drive me crazy, too.’

  ‘What bugs you? Besides visitors helping to clean up after dinner or touching your satchel,’ I joked.

  He looked at me and smiled. ‘It’s going to take me a long time to live those things down, isn’t it?’

  ‘We’ll see,’ I teased. ‘It depends on how good you are the rest of the visit.’

  ‘Oh, I’ll be on my best behavior,’ he assured me. ‘You can count on that!’

  ‘Good. Now, tell me what bugs you.’

  Eric looked at his sleeve. ‘I hate putting a coat on over a long-sleeve shirt and having the shirt’s sleeves roll up to my elbow.’

  ‘Good one.’

  ‘And I hate reading online dating profiles in which the woman states she likes to have fun – as opposed to what, hating fun and being miserable?’

  I laughed. ‘Yeah, I’ve read some doozy online profiles, too.’

  Eric reached over and touched my arm. ‘Thank God my days of reading online profiles are over. I found my match.’

  My face warmed and tingles erupted inside. He’s so sweet. Kind and gentle. And thoughtful. Very thoughtful.

  We left the campus and turned right, driving about three blocks before pulling in front of a two-story house with gray siding and black shutters. Eric turned off the ca
r. ‘I’ll be right back. I just have to check on something.’

  Not that I wanted to go with him, but Eric didn’t ask, which seemed strange given how polite he was.

  Eric grabbed his satchel and hopped out of the car. I watched as he ran around to the back of the house. I passed the time looking at photos on my phone. I had a ton of images of Izzy. Then there were lots of photos of houses I’d sold and a fair number of Jackie and me, mostly selfies taken at Tony’s.

  About twenty minutes later, Eric returned. He laid the satchel on the back seat. This time it didn’t slide off. ‘Sorry, that took a little longer than I anticipated.’

  I wondered what he had to do but figured if he wanted me to know, he’d say.

  We drove downtown and parked in a garage near the shopping district. The streets were lined with boutiques and quaint shops selling everything from specialty teas to hand-crafted soaps.

  We checked out all the stores and I found myself walking out of most of them with a shopping bag. ‘If I see something I like I can buy it myself,’ I told Eric.

  ‘I know,’ he said. ‘But I want to buy it for you. You deserve to be pampered, remember?’

  Eric pointed to a jewelry store about twenty feet away. ‘Let’s see what they have.’

  I followed him into the small store. A glass display case on the right caught my eye. I walked over and leaned down to get a better look. ‘These pieces are gorgeous.’

  The clerk heard me and walked over. ‘I agree. This entire section is jewelry that came from estate sales.’

  Eric, who was leaning over the case next to me, asked: ‘Is there anything you’d like to try on?’

  ‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly afford anything in this case.’

  Eric rubbed my back and leaned in so his mouth was inches from my ear. ‘You don’t have to buy it. Try on something for fun.’

  I pointed to the brilliant oval blue topaz cocktail ring.

  The clerk removed the ring from the case. ‘This is one of my favorites. It’s 14-carat white gold and the topaz is surrounded by twenty-four tiny diamonds.’

  She handed me the ring, and I slid it onto my finger. ‘It fits perfectly.’

  The clerk smiled. ‘It just came in from an estate sale last week. When I first saw it, I thought it looked like it hadn’t been worn.’

  ‘Do you like it?’ Eric asked.

  I straightened my arm and flipped up my wrist. ‘It’s absolutely beautiful, but I’m afraid it’s not in my budget.’ The price tag on the ring said $1,895.

  ‘We’ll take it,’ Eric said.

  My hand flew to my heart. ‘No. I can’t allow you to buy me something so expensive.’

  ‘You don’t have a choice.’ He turned to the clerk. ‘Please clean the ring and wrap it.’

  I playfully slapped Eric’s arm. ‘You have to stop buying me things.’

  Eric smiled. ‘I enjoy making you happy. Besides, it’s only money.’

  I shook my head. ‘You’re impossible! But thank you. I’ve never been with a man who treated me so well.’

  ‘Even your ex-husband?’ Eric asked.

  ‘Even him.’

  Eric wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in tight. ‘I’m glad you like it. You deserve all the happiness life has to offer.’

  The clerk returned and handed me a small white bag. She smiled at Eric and then at me. ‘You’re one lucky woman.’

  I nodded. ‘I know.’

  After leaving the store, I stood on the sidewalk and turned to Eric. ‘You’re not buying me another thing today. That’s it! We’re done.’

  He pointed to an ice-cream store. ‘Not even an ice-cream cone?’

  ‘Not even an ice-cream cone. I’ll buy.’

  Ten minutes later we left the ice-cream store – Eric holding a waffle cone of chocolate and me a small cone of vanilla.

  ‘Have you ever done those personality quizzes?’ I asked Eric.

  ‘Not sure I know what they are.’

  ‘You know. The kind where you answer a bunch of questions and based on your answers it delivers a result. Like What Kind Of Ice-Cream Flavor Are You?’

  ‘No, but I’m guessing you have.’

  I laughed. ‘I’m vanilla. No surprise there. The quiz said I was an idealist and gullible, loving and supportive. Those quizzes are so silly.’

  ‘Wonder what chocolate means?’

  ‘I know because Jackie was chocolate. It said she was aggressive, competitive and decisive.’

  ‘Is she?’

  ‘Pretty much so. Let’s put it this way, when she gets mad you don’t want to be anywhere near her. She will slay you!’

  Eric laughed. ‘Thanks for the warning. I’ll definitely stay in her good graces.’

  Chapter 9

  Four hours after we left Eric’s house, we returned loaded down with bags. After getting ice cream, we shopped at this Taj Mahal of a grocery store. It was incredible. There must have been a dozen buffets serving everything from sushi and subs to pizza and pasta. There was even a bar to make your own trail mix.

  We ended up buying several things to munch on later – cheese, olives, and some Italian meats. Eric also bought two steaks to grill, but after all I’d eaten I couldn’t imagine being hungry enough to eat a steak.

  I checked my phone and saw several texts from Jackie and a voicemail.

  How’s it going?

  Everything alright?

  Text so I know you’re good.

  Call me.

  I held up my phone. ‘Do you mind if I call Jackie?’

  Eric shook his head, and I walked to the backyard and sat on the green Adirondack chair nestled in a cozy corner and surrounded by black-eyed Susans. It was early evening and the pale glow of the moon was beginning to show.

  ‘It’s about time you called,’ Jackie said. ‘I was worried about you!’

  I recounted my day to the sound of several gasps from the other end.

  ‘What? He bought you a $2,000 ring?’ Jackie asked.

  ‘Yes. I obviously didn’t want him to, but he insisted. He said he enjoys pampering me.’

  ‘Maybe he should give Bruce lessons,’ Jackie said. ‘His idea of pampering me is holding the door open when I’m unloading groceries. Anyway, you’re good, right? I don’t have to worry.’

  ‘No, I’m good. I’m going to spend the night. In the guest bedroom, of course.’

  ‘Of course,’ Jackie said in a voice that didn’t sound convincing.

  I shifted in the chair. ‘What? You don’t think I will?’

  ‘I don’t know. Maybe. Don’t you think he might be expecting something? I mean, he just spent a boatload of money on you.’

  ‘No, he’s not like that.’

  ‘Well, okay. Good. What’s up for the rest of the night?’

  ‘We talked about playing some basketball but I think we’re both a little tired so we might just watch a movie. I told him how I love black-and-white movies and he suggested watching one together.’

  ‘Okay. Call me when you get home tomorrow. And have fun!’

  A ladybug landed on my thigh. In many cultures, ladybugs are signs of good luck. I picked it off and gently placed it on the grass.

  When I walked inside, I found Eric sprawled out on his leather recliner. ‘Everything okay with Jackie?’

  ‘Yep, she’s great.’

  ‘You two are really close, aren’t you?’

  I nodded and sat down on the sofa. ‘How about you? Do you have any close friends?’

  ‘Not really. I mean, I have friends, but nothing like you and Jackie.’

  I yawned.

  ‘Are you tired?’

  I leaned back on the couch. ‘I definitely don’t think I’m up for creaming you at basketball.’

  Eric laughed. ‘Been practicing, huh?’

  I smiled. ‘Dang right. I hate losing.’

  Eric got up from his easy chair and walked over and sat beside me. ‘I’m tired, too. Let’s watch a movie instead.’

  Eric turned
on the TV. ‘What’s that channel with all of the old black-and-white movies you like?’

  I told him and he found the channel.

  ‘My absolute favorite,’ I shouted. ‘Casablanca.’

  Eric laid down the remote. ‘Casablanca it is. Here’s looking at you, kid.’

  I laughed. ‘Of all the gin joints, why’d she have to walk into mine?’

  ‘We’ll always have Paris,’ Eric said, flipping up the footrest and leaning back.

  ‘I’ve always wanted to go to Paris,’ I said.

  ‘I’ll take you there. And maybe we can visit the beaches of Normandy. That’s one place I’ve never been.’

  I snuggled next to him, resting my head on his shoulder, and he slid his arm around me.

  I don’t remember dozing off, but two hours later I woke up to see the film credits rolling on the TV screen and Eric asleep. I didn’t want to wake him, but I had to go to the bathroom. I managed to slip away without him waking.

  I washed my hands and looked in the bathroom mirror. The person staring back at me was someone I’d forgotten. She was happy. For the first time in a long time she was enjoying life and having fun. All because of Eric.

  I heard Eric call my name, and I walked out of the bathroom and nearly bumped into him in the hallway.

  ‘Sorry I fell asleep,’ Eric said.

  ‘No worries. I fell asleep, too. I woke up when the movie was over.’

  ‘Can I get you something to drink?’

  ‘A beer would be great.’

  I followed Eric to the kitchen and we grabbed two beers and the cheese and crackers and other finger foods we’d purchased earlier. We carried them into the living room and spread them on the coffee table.

  ‘Growing up,’ Eric said, ‘I was never allowed to eat in the living room. My parents didn’t allow me to eat food anywhere but the kitchen or dining room.’

  ‘Really?’ I picked up a piece of cheese and plopped it in my mouth.

  Eric stabbed an olive with a toothpick. ‘How about you?’

  ‘My mom didn’t care. As long as she had her booze I could do just about anything. When I was little, I loved building tents in the living room. I’d drape a blanket or sheet over the furniture and use pillows to keep it in place. Mom would let me eat in my tent.’