“Jace, can you stick around and have dinner with us?” Ginny asked.
Oh great. This was what she hadn’t wanted to happen.
“I’d love to,” he answered Ginny, but was still looking at Renie.
“Where to?” he asked when they were in the truck.
“There’s a place on Elk Avenue called Rumors. We could go there.”
“Sounds good.” He took her hand. “Speaking of rumors, I heard one about you having a nickname.”
“My mom calls me Renie. Other people, too.”
“So you don’t like it?”
“No, I didn’t say that. My name is Irene. There are some people who call me Renie, that’s all.”
“What do you want me to call you?”
“Irene. As you always have.” In fact, she liked that he called her Irene. And that no one else did.
“I like to be different, especially when it comes to you. So if everyone else calls you Renie, I’ll stick with Irene.”
“Thanks.” She looked out the window.
“What’s up, sourface?”
“I thought you were going to call me Irene.”
“When you don’t have the sourface on. What’re you thinking about?”
“Nothing. Do you know your way to Elk Avenue?”
“Sure do. And I guess you’ll tell me whatever it is that you’ve got to tell me once we’re there.”
She barely nodded her head, but she knew he caught it. He squeezed her hand, hard, and didn’t let go.
“I like this place,” Jace said, after they’d ordered and found a place to sit. “I especially like the little bookstore next door. I’d love to wander through it later.”
“Sure, we can do that. It’s such a beautiful day, I thought we could walk through town.” Elk Avenue had wonderful little shops and restaurants scattered along the main drag. The side streets had them too. It was easy to spend several hours walking around downtown.
“I’d love that.” His elbow rested on the table and he put his chin on his fist, moving closer and looking into her eyes. “Tell me how you’ve been?”
“I’ve been fine. How’ve you been?”
He raised his head from his chin, reached over and touched her cheek. “Come on, talk to me. What’s been going on with you?”
“My mom and Ben are having a baby,” she blurted out, not meaning to.
“Wow! That’s great! Good for them.” He must’ve realized she wasn’t smiling. “Or…it’s not good for them?”
“No, it is good for them. I’m happy…for them.”
“But not happy for yourself?”
“It isn’t that, but, how would you feel if your mom and dad told you they were having another baby? Wouldn’t it be a little weird?”
“It would be very weird, but my mom and dad are so much older than your mom and Ben. Don’t get me wrong though, I hear what you’re saying. I get that it’s weird for you.” He smiled and kissed across her knuckles.