1973

Lucy showered and put on a simple blue cotton dress and dabbed cologne behind her ears. She was expecting Nick at any moment and they were going to Skippers for dinner to celebrate the anniversary of their first date. She wanted to look her best. As much as she tried, she found this crazy good natured guy irresistible, despite the difference in their ages. Try as she might she was never completely comfortable with the fact although it didn’t seem to bother Nick in the least. He was always like a breath of fresh air whenever he was around. If he had any personal problems no one would ever guess from his demeanor.

The growth of his business had been nothing short of phenomenal. The homes he and his partners built were in the Mediterranean style, combining stucco and natural wood with bright red tile roofs. They were now able to sub contract some of the work but they always kept close tabs on every detail to be sure it measured up to their standards. They demanded top quality and it had paid off handsomely so that they now enjoyed a very good reputation in the community. They had put the profits back into the business and were recently able to purchase a large tract of land west of town for future development.

Skippers was crowded but they managed to get a table overlooking the water on the back screened in terrace. They reminisced about all that had happened during the past year. Lucy told Nick that he had a good attitude and he was bound to succeed. “This is a sleepy little town,” she told him, “but I’ll bet in ten years it will be three times the size it is now.”

They laughed about their first date when Nick asked Lucy out and she first refused. He had asked her if she like to dance and she was too embarrassed to admit she didn’t really know how. “I love to watch other people dance,” she had said, but I never had the opportunity to learn how.

“Well, I guess we’ll have to do something about that in a hurry he had answered. I’m no expert but it’s pretty much like walking to music. First one foot and then the other. I like the slow music myself. I guess I’m a little old fashioned. With a little luck we can fake it.”

Lucy had to smile as she remembered her first faltering steps but Nick’s patience was rewarded and now they enjoyed dancing several times a month. Lucy had never been so comfortable with another human being. They could be light hearted or serious. Nick loved to joke but he was very serious about the things that really mattered. Their moods seemed to compliment one another. Often, they would stroll silently along the beach without saying a word while other times they talked for hours and spent as much time together as his business would allow.

“I’m really excited tonight.” Nick said as they started back toward town. “When we get to your place I want to show you something.”

“Oh.”

Nick cleared a few things off the kitchen table and spread out some blueprints and anchored the corners with salt shakers and a sugar bowl so it would stay put.

“Remember about 6 months ago I told you I bought five acres out on Mulberry Road? Well this is the house I plan to build there. I drew up these plans myself because I knew exactly what I wanted. I learned over the years and there are certain little things that are really important. First he said pointing to a window, this is the breakfast room. I wanted a big window here to get the morning sun. I even changed my mind about the property and bought on the opposite side of the road just so the house would be facing east. He pointed out the bedrooms, the huge living room with fireplace and the small den on the opposite side of the kitchen. And I think I’ll put a pool in right here...”

“My goodness,” Lucy said, positively amazed. You certainly are ambitious. I don’t know much about blue prints, but this looks like a pretty large house.”

“It is big, but not too big. And right here I put a porch that faces west and we can sit here and watch the sunset. We can put your rocking chair right here.” Nick said with a grin.

Lucy suddenly froze, “Excuse me!” she knew he was just joking but it still touched a nerve. Their age difference was always just under the surface.

“Sorry about that.’ He realized by the painful look on Lucy’s face that he had stepped over the boundary. He gave her a hug and a really sincere apology. I’m sorry, hon, I just forgot myself. That was a stupid thing to say. My mouth was working but my brain was out of gear. Won’t happen again.”

“Actually,” Lucy said, “I have been thinking about buying a small house myself and fixing it up, but there’s no way in the world I can afford a place like this.”

There’s a catch,” Nick added with his usual grin. I go along with the house. Of course that means you would be stuck with me for a lifetime”

Lucy was positively speechless but when she recovered she realized he was really serious. “Lifetimes can be pretty long, you know, but if you are really sure, well it’s the best offer I’ve had today. You’re really sure you want to do this?”

“Absolutely... I was hoping you would say yes. I’ve already hired someone to start on the foundation. “

“You’re a good man, Charley Brown.”