"Much better. Don't want anything to mess up that pretty face."
"You think I'm pretty?" I suddenly felt shy and uncomfortable. I squirmed a little in my seat.
"Ophelia Jefferson. I think you are beautiful," Clint said softly and took my hand.
"Thanks. I think you're beautiful, too," I said softly. I turned beet red. I stammered, "I mean handsome."
Clint laughed. "I'm good with handsome. I'd better get back to work, Phee. If I don't see you before then, I'll see you at your dad's big birthday bash." He stood up, grabbed the check off the table and went to the register. I loved to watch that man walk. I leaned back contentedly. I decided to live dangerously and order a slice of Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice Apple Pie. Life's too short to pass up dessert.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!
The rest of the week passed quickly. Before I knew it, it was Sunday evening and time for my dad's party. I took my time getting ready for the night’s festivities. Mom had called earlier and advised me that quite a few more people than originally planned were coming to celebrate Dad's big 6-0. Because the weather was unseasonably warm, she had decided to have it on the patio overlooking the cove. I spent the afternoon running around town purchasing lights to hang across the back yard and citronella candles to keep the mosquitoes at bay. I dropped the cake and the lights off to Mom and hurried home to get showered and dressed.
I had purchased an emerald green silk halter dress and a beautiful ombré shawl in complementary shades. I managed to coil my long, curly hair up into a chignon secured with a silver hair comb. I added a silver cuff bracelet with a Celtic design and dainty silver hoop earrings with green jade stones. I swiped a shimmer of silvery shadow across my lids and added a hint of liner and black mascara. For a final touch, I applied a soft petal pink lip stain. Looking in my vanity mirror, I felt pleased with the result. Clint had mentioned seeing me at the party. I was determined that tonight he would see me as Ophelia Jefferson, gorgeous woman of intrigue, and not as Flea, Rick Jefferson’s little sister. I slipped my newly polished toes into a pair of green and silver sandals with a kitten heel and headed out the door.
As I drove up to my parent's house, I saw that the caterer's van was already there. I walked around the side of the house and into my parent's backyard. Mom and the caterers had done a marvelous job transforming the patio. Several long tables had been set up to accommodate the additional party-goers. The lights crisscrossed the patio and lanterns of varying shades hung from the trees. Mom had created centerpieces using fall leaves and candles floating in water in large, light green glass bowls. The caterers were busy grilling and setting out the side dishes. I spotted Mom fussing with the cake next to the gift table. I walked over to her and placed my Dad's present on the table.
"Hi, darling! What do you think?" Mom gestured to the patio.
"I think it looks magical, Mom! You have done an amazing job with everything. Dad's going to love it. Where is he, by the way?" I looked around but didn't see him.
"He’s hiding out in the den since he says I drive him crazy with all of my fussing." Mom laughed. My parents still acted like teenagers in love. They had met at the university when my dad was finishing his PhD in English and my mom was studying for her Master's degree in art history. Dad said it was love at first sight when he spotted my mom sitting in the Quad. He said she sat there quietly drawing underneath a tree and was oblivious to everyone and everything around her. He had been playing Frisbee with his friends and had "accidentally" let it land in the grass at her feet. They had been
"You think I'm pretty?" I suddenly felt shy and uncomfortable. I squirmed a little in my seat.
"Ophelia Jefferson. I think you are beautiful," Clint said softly and took my hand.
"Thanks. I think you're beautiful, too," I said softly. I turned beet red. I stammered, "I mean handsome."
Clint laughed. "I'm good with handsome. I'd better get back to work, Phee. If I don't see you before then, I'll see you at your dad's big birthday bash." He stood up, grabbed the check off the table and went to the register. I loved to watch that man walk. I leaned back contentedly. I decided to live dangerously and order a slice of Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice Apple Pie. Life's too short to pass up dessert.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!
The rest of the week passed quickly. Before I knew it, it was Sunday evening and time for my dad's party. I took my time getting ready for the night’s festivities. Mom had called earlier and advised me that quite a few more people than originally planned were coming to celebrate Dad's big 6-0. Because the weather was unseasonably warm, she had decided to have it on the patio overlooking the cove. I spent the afternoon running around town purchasing lights to hang across the back yard and citronella candles to keep the mosquitoes at bay. I dropped the cake and the lights off to Mom and hurried home to get showered and dressed.
I had purchased an emerald green silk halter dress and a beautiful ombré shawl in complementary shades. I managed to coil my long, curly hair up into a chignon secured with a silver hair comb. I added a silver cuff bracelet with a Celtic design and dainty silver hoop earrings with green jade stones. I swiped a shimmer of silvery shadow across my lids and added a hint of liner and black mascara. For a final touch, I applied a soft petal pink lip stain. Looking in my vanity mirror, I felt pleased with the result. Clint had mentioned seeing me at the party. I was determined that tonight he would see me as Ophelia Jefferson, gorgeous woman of intrigue, and not as Flea, Rick Jefferson’s little sister. I slipped my newly polished toes into a pair of green and silver sandals with a kitten heel and headed out the door.
As I drove up to my parent's house, I saw that the caterer's van was already there. I walked around the side of the house and into my parent's backyard. Mom and the caterers had done a marvelous job transforming the patio. Several long tables had been set up to accommodate the additional party-goers. The lights crisscrossed the patio and lanterns of varying shades hung from the trees. Mom had created centerpieces using fall leaves and candles floating in water in large, light green glass bowls. The caterers were busy grilling and setting out the side dishes. I spotted Mom fussing with the cake next to the gift table. I walked over to her and placed my Dad's present on the table.
"Hi, darling! What do you think?" Mom gestured to the patio.
"I think it looks magical, Mom! You have done an amazing job with everything. Dad's going to love it. Where is he, by the way?" I looked around but didn't see him.
"He’s hiding out in the den since he says I drive him crazy with all of my fussing." Mom laughed. My parents still acted like teenagers in love. They had met at the university when my dad was finishing his PhD in English and my mom was studying for her Master's degree in art history. Dad said it was love at first sight when he spotted my mom sitting in the Quad. He said she sat there quietly drawing underneath a tree and was oblivious to everyone and everything around her. He had been playing Frisbee with his friends and had "accidentally" let it land in the grass at her feet. They had been
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