A Taste of Spring

Chapter 40

He didn't ask her to return to his place since that first night. She thought for sure he'd ask tonight, especially since she was going out of town this week. But he didn't.

Spring tossed her purse on her bed, placed her glass of tea on her nightstand, then went to her closet to get her suitcase. She placed the suitcase on the bench at the foot of her bed and opened it.

"I don't know why you're so worried. It's not like he's the one." Summer leaned on the panel of Spring's bedroom doorway. She sipped her tea as she watched Spring pack.

Spring didn't respond. She knew that she should have but she didn't, and that meant she was going to have to pay for her silence. Summer walked into the room.

"He isn't the ONE...is he?"

All their life their grandma preached about the ONE. The one man who will have you willing to turn your world upside down but will encourage you to keep it right-side up. The one who loves everything you are just the way you are. The one who, when he looks at you, your very soul smiles.

"It takes a special man to claim the heart of a Lafayette woman," Grams would often say. "But the one who can and does will forever burn in your heart."

Spring carefully placed her garment in the suitcase then faced her sister who sat on the bed. "I don't know...I just...it's kind of too early to know. I just don't want to lose him before I find out, that's all." Spring went back to packing, hoping Summer dropped the subject.

She didn't know how to explain how she felt to her sister. Summer wasn't the "soulmate" type. Telling her that she was virtually in love with a man she only knew for such a short time and was intimate with only once, was like telling her sister that she was actually the Flying Nun.

Though, Summer might just believe the Nun thing. When their Grams watched the old show, Summer used to tease Spring about how she would be a perfect fit for Nun-hood.

"Where did you get these?"

Spring looked over at her sister. Summer sat beside the purse Spring haphazardly tossed on her bed moments ago. Some of the contents were spilled out onto the bed. Among the items were clear wrapped blue candies which stood out against the white and yellow comforter. Summer held up the one she held in her hand.

"I don't know, why?"

"These are the same kind..." Summer's voice trailed off.

Spring walked over and took the candy from Summer. She turned the wrapped confection in her fingers. The wrapper was basic but the princess cut candy was remarkably made. "I could have picked it up anywhere, I guess." She tossed it on the bed. "He'd be stupid to use a little-known treat. Those would be easier to trace."

Summer watched her for several heartbeats then said, "Yeah, just be careful out there in California. You and Brandi stick together at all times."

"Don't worry so much. This guy hasn't struck in California."

Summer stood. As she walked out of the bedroom, she said, "They don't know all the places the freak has struck yet. He has them running around like idiots."

Spring looked at her bed and the candies that lay on it. She really had no idea where they came from. When she swapped out purses earlier in the evening, it was empty, and she didn't recall transferring the candy from her other purse. She would have remembered.

(Wouldn't I?)

Just then, her cell phone rang. Spring looked at the screen. It was Troy. Spring smiled. He was so worried about her and she'd been too busy to actually talk. Until now.

"Hello, Troy," she said.

She swiped the candy and the rest of the contents that spilled out of the purse back inside it, then hung the purse on her door knob. The candy became a distant memory.

"Springy," Troy said. His smile could be heard through the phone.

"Come on Troy," Spring said as she flopped down on the bed. "Don't call me that. What have you been up to?"

"Same old stuff at the plant. I think Reggie is going to ask Mary to marry him. Being his younger brother, I know I am a shoo-in for best man. Me and Grams are finishing up on the bird house we started when you left." Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

"You know, you don't have to go over Gram's house so much. She isn't as lonely as you think. And tell the happy couple I said congrats. I want an invite."

"Only if you will be my date."

Spring smiled but it faded slowly as she thought of his words. "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way. We can go together as friends, Troy."

"Springy..."

Spring forced a laugh. "You know I hate it when you all call me Springy, Troy."

"Right," Troy said with his usual good nature, "you're a big-time model now. Do you prefer Ms. Lafayette?"

Spring giggled, feeling more upbeat. "Yes...I actually do."

"So, Ms. Lafayette. Tell me that it sucks there. That you miss home and us. That you are flying back immediately."

"I love it here, Troy. It is amazing!"

Troy groaned. "Well," he sighed, "I tried. So," he said with a bit more enthusiasm, "tell me all about it."

"Well..." Spring started but stopped as her eyes fell on a surprising development that stood in her doorway. "Uh," she said to Troy, "can I call you back? Something just popped up."

"I guess," Troy sighed. "Don't forget me, Springy."