Strawberry Season (June) Part 2

 "That sounds nice," Lisa smiled. Adrianna returned and Fabian ordered pizza, salads, and a small bottle of wine for both of them. Adrianna left briefly and brought back wine and two glasses, but only set one glass down before Fabian.

 "I think you'll like this," she told him, pouring a little into his glass. "And I just opened it." Fabian held it up to the light, waved it under his nose, and then took a sip. He held it in his mouth then looked at Adrianna, nodded, and gestured for her to serve Lisa. Lisa raised an eyebrow.

 "No," Adrianna said, laughing, "that was not just a show to try to impress you. He really is that much of a wine snob." She poured some wine for Lisa, then finished filling Fabian's glass.

 Lisa looked over at Fabian and noticed his hands for the first time. He had almost graceful hands for a man of his size. His fingers were long and he kept his nails neat. The backs of his hands and his fingers had a light but masculine dusting of dark hair. She didn't think she'd ever found a man's hands so beautiful before. He wore a nice gold watch on his left wrist. He saw her looking at it and extended his arm so she could get a better look.

 "Graduation present from my parents," he told her.

 "It's beautiful," she said. Her eyes wandered out the window to the carousel and he followed her gaze.

 "That carousel comes from my dad's family," he said. "They were wood carvers for a carousel company when they came over from Italy. Eventually, my grandfather had enough money to have his own carousel and start the carnival. He made most of the horses on the carousel."

 "That's wonderful!" Lisa was impressed. "Those horses are gorgeous! Not as fierce-looking as some carousels I've seen."

 "A talented wood carver can earn a lot of money at it," Fabian told her. "As a result, my dad graduated from college with degrees in both psychology and teaching. I have an uncle who is still a wood carver. Not so many carousel horses any more, but he still makes a stupendous living."

 "You have an amazing family, Fabian." She found out how amazing when the pizza arrived.

 "Fab, this is fantastic!" she said after the first bite. He smiled.

 "Glad you like it. Addie makes everything herself -- well, except the cheese. That's imported. But she makes all of her own sauces."

 "If she needs tomatoes later in the summer," Lisa said, "send her up to the farmer's market. It's just up the road from where I live. They sell gorgeous plum tomatoes starting in late July. She might also want to talk to my mother or my sister-in-law at the dairy. Mom has experimented with making all kinds of different cheeses, and Felicia is apprenticing with her."

 "Why don't you pass that along to Addie after dinner?" Fabian smiled. "I'm sure she'll appreciate being able to buy local. This town is not easy to get to!"

 "I'm not sure whether it was done on purpose," Lisa said, "but the farms need all of their fields, so it's going to stay that way. We're proud of our farms. If it takes close to an hour to get in and out of town, well, then it does. The soil here is perfect for the flax, and of all the things we do here we're proudest of our linen. Do you mind it I ...." she gestured to the pizza.

 "Lisa, we are sharing it. That means you get some and I get some. Help yourself."

 "Rides really make me hungry," she said apologetically.

 "I'm glad you're enjoying it, and Adrianna will be thrilled. Just save some room so that you don't get sick on the carousel."

It's the most fabulous carousel I've ever seen! A nice mix of wild animals and horses, equisitely carved and well painted. I don't know how they've gotten it from place to place year after year without damaging anything! -- overheard in the arcade

 She was wearing another of her cotton dresses -- she told Fabian that she found summer dresses cooler than shorts most of the time. She sat sidesaddle on Horse 14 -- one of the galloping horses on the outside.

 "Hey Fab!" said the operator, an amiable-looking African-American, "Find a horse and sit on it."

 "Hey Dave." Fabian stuck his tongue out at him, and Dave laughed, showing a 100-watt grin.

 "Lisa, this is Dave Jensen," Fabian told her. "He's a real clown. Sometimes literally -- he and his wife Robbin do a clown act here. We go way back."

 "You're holding up the ride, DiSanti," Dave complained.

 "Yeah, yeah." Fabian waved dismissively, but swung himself onto the still horse next to Lisa's. He watched her intently as she rode. Her eyes closed and she was smiling. He wondered what she was thinking and couldn't believe that just when he thought she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen she just got more beautiful. Tendrils of hair escaped her braid and fluttered in the breeze; her head dropped back as though she was drinking in the whole carnival. He knew his heart was gone. He had never felt this way about anyone before. To the town she might be "just Lisa", but to him she was the most special woman he'd ever met.

 He walked her home from the carnival, sharing the blue cotton candy she'd insisted on.

 "If I hold your hand," he said when they'd finally finished it, "we'll be stuck together." She laughed.

 "I know it's a sticky mess, but I love that stuff."

 "Me too. Oh, heck, we'll find some way to get our hands apart." He took her hand and grinned at her. She blushed.

 "Thank you so much for this evening, Fabian," she said. "I had a wonderful time."

 "So did I. You're a lot of fun and I enjoy your company. I'd like to have dinner with you again. I've heard a lot about the Tavern. Is it really that good?"

 "It's excellent," Lisa admitted, "but very pricey."

 "You're worth it."

 "Fabian...."

 "Lisa. Look at it this way. I didn't need groceries for a week because of you. Do you always give such a hard time to men who ask you on dates?"

 Lisa laughed.

 "Okay, okay. You win. You can take me to dinner at the Tavern."

 "We have reservations this Friday at six."

 "Fabian!"

I heard this place was seriously considering banning that fat guy. I know they don't have "all you can eat" specials any more. -- overheard at the diner.

 Franco had discovered a long time ago that as large as he was, people tended not to see him. He wasn't sure why that was, but used it to his advantage as often as possible. He was sitting at the diner in a back booth. His father and the mayor had the booth behind him but they hadn't noticed him. Franco had ignored them, too, at first, but eventually overheard "Lisa" and "Fabian" and strained to listen. The jukebox and other lunch-crowd noises made it difficult to hear. He sat perfectly still, listening as hard as he could.