'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books by Mimi Barbour Page A
Authors: Mimi Barbour
Tags: She's Not You
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phrase spilled out. “If so I’ve never had the good fortune to meet her.”
Gruffness distorted his voice to where even he had trouble knowing who spoke. He’d perfected an accented politeness that so titillated the ladies, and a calm directness that worked with the male patrons, and always used these mannerisms around the patrons. With this little lady, all he’d done was grunt and sneeze. What the hell was wrong with him?
Chapter Five
The peevish man sounded so much like her mother that Leilani automatically switched into her calming mode. She answered his outrageous comments with a soothing directness that had always worked.
“Aye, you know that’s a silly statement, and you can’t really mean it. Why there are many women who can be trusted. Take me for instance. I’ve never purposely lied since I left my teens behind. I try and help people every day and it’s paid off with loving friends and a fairly happy life.”
He stared at her, and as if by a silent command, the lights brightened enough for them to truly see each other if they sat close. Strange! Both moved simultaneously.
“I guess you do look like a nice person.” Grudgingly, he admitted what any blind man could see. She knew only honesty shone from the eyes she’d turned to meet his.
“You do also,” Leilani offered.
“Now how can you possibly say that? You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t have to know you. Remember, you stopped and helped me with my suitcase while everyone else ignored my dilemma and ran to catch the elevator. Even though you were allergic to my flowers, you never demanded that I remove them, right? I find most people are genuinely nice and are only trying to get along in life.”
“Most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” He sneezed to emphasize his exclamation.
“Bless you. And it isn’t ridiculous at all. I have no doubt we all have some habits and character traits that aren’t very popular, but I’d say most men and women just want to make a decent life, have friends and a family who care about them, and work hard so they can look forward to a reward.”
His hand sliced through the air. “Bullsh—”
Clearing her throat cut off his swearing.
“Fine! I’ll clean up my language, but you’re still being naive. Most people are out for what they can get, and if they can screw over anyone else in their path, all well and good. I work in an industry that sees it all the time. I will admit it wasn’t always that way. When I was younger, many of our tourists were happy to see the Hawaii we grew up in. They were happy with any attention given to them and made working in the industry a good place to be. In the last while, many people who come to the islands demand better and always want more. They never seem to be satisfied.”
Because she was always a toucher, Leilani lifted his hand, placed it in hers, and patted it with her other. “Don’t concentrate on the few who ruin it. Look at the others who love your island and want to enjoy its beauty. For every rotten jerk, there are so many good folks who’ve saved their pennies to come here. You don’t notice them because they’re the quiet people.”
“They’re quiet because the loudmouth buffoons make it impossible for them to be heard.”
“Actually, the loudest are the ones who need affirmation the most. I see many of those poor people. I’m a nurse in a cancer clinic, and I’ve always found that the complainers are the sad souls who are in need of the gentlest care.” She could see that her reply shocked him so she asked, “Do you want to hear my theory?”
“Do I have a choice?”
His teasing note dimmed her delight in sharing. “Not really. If I don’t keep talking, I might start screaming. Panic, you see. Small places can do that to some people.”
“Then by all means, tell me why whiners make the saddest patients. I can’t wait to hear your reasoning.”
First, she settled back against her suitcase and crossed her leg over the
Gruffness distorted his voice to where even he had trouble knowing who spoke. He’d perfected an accented politeness that so titillated the ladies, and a calm directness that worked with the male patrons, and always used these mannerisms around the patrons. With this little lady, all he’d done was grunt and sneeze. What the hell was wrong with him?
Chapter Five
The peevish man sounded so much like her mother that Leilani automatically switched into her calming mode. She answered his outrageous comments with a soothing directness that had always worked.
“Aye, you know that’s a silly statement, and you can’t really mean it. Why there are many women who can be trusted. Take me for instance. I’ve never purposely lied since I left my teens behind. I try and help people every day and it’s paid off with loving friends and a fairly happy life.”
He stared at her, and as if by a silent command, the lights brightened enough for them to truly see each other if they sat close. Strange! Both moved simultaneously.
“I guess you do look like a nice person.” Grudgingly, he admitted what any blind man could see. She knew only honesty shone from the eyes she’d turned to meet his.
“You do also,” Leilani offered.
“Now how can you possibly say that? You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t have to know you. Remember, you stopped and helped me with my suitcase while everyone else ignored my dilemma and ran to catch the elevator. Even though you were allergic to my flowers, you never demanded that I remove them, right? I find most people are genuinely nice and are only trying to get along in life.”
“Most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” He sneezed to emphasize his exclamation.
“Bless you. And it isn’t ridiculous at all. I have no doubt we all have some habits and character traits that aren’t very popular, but I’d say most men and women just want to make a decent life, have friends and a family who care about them, and work hard so they can look forward to a reward.”
His hand sliced through the air. “Bullsh—”
Clearing her throat cut off his swearing.
“Fine! I’ll clean up my language, but you’re still being naive. Most people are out for what they can get, and if they can screw over anyone else in their path, all well and good. I work in an industry that sees it all the time. I will admit it wasn’t always that way. When I was younger, many of our tourists were happy to see the Hawaii we grew up in. They were happy with any attention given to them and made working in the industry a good place to be. In the last while, many people who come to the islands demand better and always want more. They never seem to be satisfied.”
Because she was always a toucher, Leilani lifted his hand, placed it in hers, and patted it with her other. “Don’t concentrate on the few who ruin it. Look at the others who love your island and want to enjoy its beauty. For every rotten jerk, there are so many good folks who’ve saved their pennies to come here. You don’t notice them because they’re the quiet people.”
“They’re quiet because the loudmouth buffoons make it impossible for them to be heard.”
“Actually, the loudest are the ones who need affirmation the most. I see many of those poor people. I’m a nurse in a cancer clinic, and I’ve always found that the complainers are the sad souls who are in need of the gentlest care.” She could see that her reply shocked him so she asked, “Do you want to hear my theory?”
“Do I have a choice?”
His teasing note dimmed her delight in sharing. “Not really. If I don’t keep talking, I might start screaming. Panic, you see. Small places can do that to some people.”
“Then by all means, tell me why whiners make the saddest patients. I can’t wait to hear your reasoning.”
First, she settled back against her suitcase and crossed her leg over the
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