2 Chapter 2
“Oh, let me put those on my tab.”
Adam blinked with surprise. “Please, that’s not necessary.”
“I think it’s the least I can do.” She shuffled toward the front of the store and threw over her shoulder, “Especially since I’m imposing so much on your time.”
“You’re not imposing…”
“I’m going to need some help carrying this melon home, of course.”
Adam set his burden down on the counter. “Get it home. You mean, none of those cars are yours?”
“Oh, of course not. I can’t drive anymore, you know. But I don’t live far. Just up the road.”
Before Adam could respond, the old man’s phlegmy voice broke into the conversation. “That’ll be two dollars and sixty-eight cents.”
Ida nodded. “Just put it on my tab, will you, Rosco?”
“Sure.”
Adam held up his hand. “Wait, Rosco. That’s not necessary. I’ve got three dollars.”
“No, no, no,” Ida said, twisted hands fluttering at him. “I told you, it’s the least I can do. Just put it on my tab.”
“Have a good day, Ida.”
Ida moved toward the door before Adam voiced another protest, and he had no choice but to gather up the apples and the watermelon and follow her into the relentless sun. Her hair was almost white outside the dim light of the store, and her skin looked blue. Despite her arthritis and aged appearance, she walked with surprising swiftness and grace. And she didn’t seem to have any compunctions about leading him to her home.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Emerson?”
“Ida.”
“What?”
“Don’t call me Mrs. Emerson, or ma’am, or any other such thing. My name is Ida.”
“Ida, I could give you a lift. My car is just right here.”
“I need my daily walk.”
Adam looked up the road, trying to gauge how far away her house was. Except, he couldn’t see a house. “Where do you live?”
She gestured ahead of her vaguely. “A few miles up the road. It’s not far.”
“A few miles?” Adam was a fit guy, but he didn’t think he could handle a few miles in this heat. Especially not carrying a watermelon. Plus, he didn’t want to leave his car. “How will I get back?”
“My son can bring you back to the store, if you like. He’s a good boy. Now, are you going to lollygag all afternoon? I’ve got a dinner to cook, you know.”
“A dinner?” Adam looked over his shoulder to his car. What would she have done if she hadn’t run into him? Carry the watermelon herself? Lurk in the produce section until she could trick another sap into carrying produce a few milesto her house?
“Do you like ribs?”
“Sure.”
“You’ll love my ribs. I can’t tell you just what my recipe is—it’s a family secret—but you’ll never find another barbecue like it. Not anywhere. My ribs are pretty much famous in this region.”
Adam tried to blink the sweat out of his eyes. “They sound very good.”
“You’re going to stay, of course, and try some.”
“Oh…I couldn’t.”
“I’ll make you a mint julep, too. It’ll cool you down in this heat. Can you believe it? I think it’s the hottest summer we’ve had in years. But mint julep before dinner and nice, iced watermelon after dinner is just the thing, don’t you think?”
Adam nodded, then realized she wasn’t looking at him. “I think that’s exactly right.”
“Where are you from? New York?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“Well, you aren’t from around here, are you?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then there you are. Now, Colette is going to be at dinner tonight, or else I’d cut a big hole right in that melon and dump a bottle of vodka into it. That’ll certainly take the summer edge off. But that’s okay.”
“Colette?”
“My granddaughter. Now, do you need to stop and rest? You’re looking a little peaked.”
He felt a little peaked, but Ida looked fine. Better than fine, in fact. He suspected if he refused to take another step, she’d take her fruit from him and continue on her way without a single faltering step.
“So where were you going?”
“Florida.”
Ida grimaced. “What do you want to do in Florida?”
“I…don’t really know. I thought I might keep driving if I didn’t like it.”
“I’ve been to Florida once.”
“Oh, really?”
“Didn’t like it.”
“Why not?”
Ida shrugged. “My son took me to that Disney World. Too crowded. Too hot. Too smelly. What would anybody want to do with all those people, I have no idea.”
“I thought about visiting Disney World while I was there.”
“Don’t waste your time.”
Ida kept up a constant stream of conversation there, detailing all of the reasons she didn’t enjoy Florida, and all the reasons why she would never go back. Adam became more accustomed to her company, and soon he almost forgot the heat. Almost. But she made him laugh. More than he had laughed in a very, very long time.
