Love, English Style (Chapter Two) Caroline Woodson
CHAPTER TWO
With the help of her cousins it hadn’t taken Hannah long to go through their grandparents things and box up what was going to be donated to a local charity, so Hannah had some free time before she started her new job as physical therapist at the Houston County Rehabilitation Center.
It was a beautiful day and Hannah drove into Crockett to purchase flowers to plant in the big clay pots that sat on the porch of her house. Her Granny had always kept them full of marigolds but Hannah was thinking that maybe a change was in order. She’d just put her flowers in her shopping cart. when Mrs. Pierman, an old family friend spoke to her.
“Hello Hannah, are you all settled into your new home yet?” When Hannah assured her that things were going smoothly Mrs. Pierman replied, “Well if you do have any trouble I’m sure that nice Jared English wouldn’t mind giving you a hand, him bein’ your neighbor and all.”
Hannah’s heart leapt into her throat. Jared! Jared was her handsome, sexy new neighbor? When had that happened? The last she’d heard was that Jared had moved to New York shortly after he graduated from college when his first book of poetry and short stories had been published. What in the hell was he doing back in Crockett, Texas! Absently she said goodbye to Mrs. Pierman and hurriedly paid for her purchases.
Hannah’s palms were sweaty on the steering wheel as she drove home. That’s why Jared had been at the funeral, because at some point he’d become her grandparent’s neighbor. She turned the air conditioner to high and wondered why her cousins hadn’t mentioned that little fact. Oh God, why did it have to be Jared? Hannah shook her head in disgust. Why should she be self-conscious? Ok, so she’d had a huge, embarrassing crush on Jared the summer she was sixteen and he was nineteen. All her female cousins had a crush on him at one time or another but nothing had ever come of them and they’d made sure Hannah was aware of his wham, bam, thank you ma’am reputation. Besides she wasn’t the same naïve girl she was then, so there was no reason why just the thought of Jared as a neighbor should make her so nervous. Her heart beating wildly in her
chest, Hannah remembered why Jared could make her go all quivery inside. It was the kiss. She missed the turn into her driveway and cursing under her breath, turned the car around.
Finally, Hannah reached home, unloaded her purchases, then she took a glass of sweet tea to her favorite spot on the porch. As the swing swayed slowly back and forth in the cool breeze, Hannah shivered with the memory of Jared’s kiss and her young, unbridled response. She gazed out at the tall pecan trees that dotted her front yard and her thoughts went back to that night six years ago. It was the last night of a month long stay with her grandparents and Hannah had been roped into working a booth at the community fair to raise funds for the local volunteer fire department. Her cousins had shamed her into it saying it would be uncharitable of her if she didn’t. Hannah had agreed but then was horrified to learn that the booth they’d conned her into working was a kissing booth. What’s more, her aunt Lucy who ran the local Dairy Queen was sponsoring it!
Indignantly Hannah had told them there was no way she was going to stand there and kiss strangers all night. She was more than a little hurt when her cousins had burst out laughing and said, “No Hannah, we’ll take care of the kissing part. We just want you to take the money for us.” Hannah stood with hands on her hips and said angrily, “Will yall please stop treating me like a kid. I’m not that much younger than any of yall, and I don’t need your permission to do anything.” Her cousins stared at her in surprise before Darlene spoke.
“Hannah, we’re not treating you like a child, but you do have to be at least eighteen to work the booth. The kissing part anyway. That’s the rule.”
Tricia smiled and added, “Besides Hannah, I’m not all that crazy about some old guy slobberin’ all over me just ‘cause he shows up with a dollar in his hand. Maybe we can get one of the old ladies from church to kiss the old guys so we won’t have to.”
Darlene laughed but shook her head, “That won’t work ‘cause they get to choose who they want to kiss for their dollar.”
“Wait a minute, yall are lookin’ at this all wrong,” Sarah said. “There probably won’t be that many older guys there. Or they’ll be with their wives and kids and I doubt their wives will want
them coming to the kissing booth.”
“Besides, Tarah cut in, “just think of all those hunky, young firemen that will be there.”
She licked her lips, “I can’t wait!” Hannah laughed with the others and talking all at once they descended the stairs.
READER'S REVIEWS (2) DISCLAIMER: STORYMANIA DOES NOT PROVIDE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWS. ALL REVIEWS ARE PROVIDED BY NON-ASSOCIATED VISITORS, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY THEY CALL THEMSELVES.
" Still enjoying the story. I lived in east Texas for a while and it's nice to read something set in that area. I loved living there. Keep going." -- ST, Texas, USA.
" Where in east Texas did you live?" -- CW.
TO DELETE UNWANTED REVIEWS CLICK HERE! (SELECT "MANAGE TITLE REVIEWS" ACTION)
Submit Your Review for Love, English Style (Chapter Two)
Required fields are marked with (*). Your e-mail address will not be displayed.
Submit Your Rating for Love, English Style (Chapter Two)