Stunned from the strange evening she had spent with Ben, she hadn't noticed her aunt coming down the stairs as she entered the old farmhouse.
"Well, how did it go?" Aunt Lucy asked as she joined her in the living room.
"I think we've said our goodbyes." Savannah sat her purse on the floor and moved about the room nervously.
Aunt Lucy's forehead wrinkled, "Goodbyes? But why, I thought you were rather fond of him."
"I was, I am. But he let me know early on that he wasn't interested in marriage. And I am. It's the one thing I am sure of, Aunt Lucy. I want what my sisters have, happiness, a family."
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry." She seemed to be preoccupied with her own thinking. "Can’t you at least be friends? You and Ben?"
Savannah glanced hesitantly at her Aunt, "I don't think the way we feel, it would be a good idea. You see, I've fallen hopelessly in love him...but..."
"That's too bad dear. Ben is a wonderful man, done a very good job here in Junction. I'd like to see him settle down and have a family," Aunt Lucy was saying. Not wanting to embarrass her, she didn't look straight at her, but picked up her tattering and talked with a soothing voice. "Does he know you're in love with him?"
Savannah's eyes widened, "Oh please…he hasn't a clue. And even if he did, it wouldn't matter. He's been very honest with his feelings on the matter. I understand, it's just…"
"I’m sorry dear, really sorry. But at my age, I can tell. I'd say he's pretty close to the same feelings, too. So, what are you going to do about it?"
Savannah hadn't a clue. She supposed it was over with, before it got started. What could she do? She'd at least been honest with him about her feelings.
"I have no plans," she said quietly, not liking the sick feeling that thought gave her.
"In my day, when I wanted a young man's attention, I'd find me another, and that would get his attention real quick." Lucy chuckled.
Savannah smiled, "Really? My chances of finding another man are not very good. And I've actually tried flirting and all that got me was a night in jail."
"Oh, I don't know. There's my friend’s grandson from Corpus. He's visiting her right now and I'll bet he'd love some young company. His name is Jimmy and he's about six foot tall, brown haired and blue eyed. He's been stuck with her for a week, and he looks bored out of his mind. I could give him a call."
"I really don't think that's wise..." Savannah tried to dissuade her. She was tired of lies and cat and mouse games.
"And why not, dear? It's like falling off a horse, you just get right back on it," Lucy chuckled.
"Even if I went out with someone, how would Ben know?"
Aunt Lucy put her tattering down and took her small glasses from her nose, "Oh word has a way of getting around in these parts. Gossip is about all we have to do, you know."
Savannah laughed. "What's he like? This Jimmy!"
"He's nice enough looking, big church man, and claims he has a girl-friend back home."
"Claims, you don't believe it?"
"Well if he does, why is he wasting his time with his grandmother?" Lucy laid her tattering down.
"I don't think I need a real relationship right now. But it might be nice to go out with a friend."
Lucy chuckled again, "Now that's the spirit."
Two days later Savannah was repainting a rocking chair for her aunt when a tall figured loomed over her. She glanced up and got to her feet.
"Hi, are you painting the chair or yourself? I'm Jimmy Walker, you're aunt said you'd be home today."
"Hello, I'm Savannah. I'm not really a very good painter." She extended her hand and quickly tried to rub the paint off before grabbing his hand. It smeared on her shirt. She shrugged and grinned.
"Want some help?"
Savannah handed him the brush and sat on the porch steps as he proceeded to do a bang up job on the rocker, without getting one smudge on his handsome face. How'd he do that?
Watching him paint gave her ample opportunity to size the young man up. He was pleasant looking, with dark hair and eyes, medium build and lean. An average American Pie boy. A little like Chad.
Painting was definitely not her strong point, since the country blue paint was all over her, and very little on the rocker, she was silently grateful that this young man had so eagerly volunteered to finish what she had started.
"All done," he smiled, and joined her on the steps in less than an hour.
"So how long you staying with your aunt?" he asked, not at all shy.
She liked his easy way of talking, he seemed very friendly, and yet she noticed something in him that made her wonder.
"I'm not sure yet." She glanced at him. "How about you, I heard you were staying with your grandmother."
"Yeah," he hung his head and nodded. "I'm on vacation. I just lost my mother in a car accident and needed to get away."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Aunt Lucy didn't tell me."
"Well, she didn't know. No one around here did. My mother was a drunk driver, she hit another car, three people died. It was a little hard to get over. I'm still a little devastated by it, but at least grandmother keeps my mind off things."
"I'm sorry. How awful for you. So, are you enjoying your stay with her?"
"Well, I am now." he smiled. "I haven’t had anyone I could really talk to, except older folks. How about we take in a little dinner tonight and tomorrow we can go to church? How does that sound?"
Savannah warmed to this young man, but a little voice warned her that she should go slow. Yet something told her that Jimmy Walker might turn into a good friend. He was nice, and yet she knew instantly he didn't light any fires. That was good.
Still, he might be a wonderful distraction from someone who did. But she would set the time and place; after all, she didn't know this young man that well.
"How about you come to dinner here, tonight, and we'll see about tomorrow?"
"Sounds good. Well, I guess I am going. My grandmother is having some friends over and she'll need my help getting in and out of her wheelchair. It's nice to have met someone my own age."
Savannah laughed. "Okay, why don't you come over about seven?"
"Sounds great. See ya."
Later, when her aunt came home from her garden club meeting, she quizzed her about meeting Jimmy. "So how did you like him?"
"He seems like a nice guy. I invited him for supper if you don't mind."
Lucy smiled, "That's the spirit."
"Do you know why he's staying with his grandmother?" Savannah asked.
"No, not really. Grace didn't go into much detail the last time I talked with her, but she was certainly happy he was with her." Lucy smiled.
Savannah nodded and proceeded to tell her why Jimmy was visiting Grace.
Chapter Ten