Second Chances in Lavender Bay (The Lavender Bay Chronicles #3)

24. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

D iana studied her reflection in the mirror above her bureau. She brushed her hair again, loving the way it shone in the light. She’d washed it the previous night, and the faint scent of the shampoo she’d used filled the air. She pulled a brand-new dress on over her head, adjusting it over her slip. She’d made the dress herself. It was a lot cheaper to sew your own clothes rather than buy them from the dress shops. And she loved sewing. She could replicate all the new styles. She twirled around, trying to see as much of it as possible in the mirror. The red-and-white striped fabric suited her coloring, and she’d found the perfect shade of lipstick to match. In front of the mirror, she puckered up and applied it from a small gold tube, smacking her lips together and then double-checking to make sure there was none on her teeth. Satisfied, she slipped on a pair of shoes, grabbed her handbag, and headed out of her bedroom.

“Mother, I’m going out for a bit.”

Once spring arrived and the weather warmed up, Diana had begun going out every day to investigate the town. And she liked what she saw. The charming tree-lined streets and the Victorian houses. The long stretch of sandy beach and the lake. And Main Street, with all the different shops and boutiques.

Her mother popped her head out from the kitchen. She was in the midst of drying a plate with a dishtowel. When she saw her daughter, she frowned. “You’re all dressed up. Who are you going to lunch with, Eleanor Roosevelt?”

“Oh, Mother, you’re so droll.”

“Diana, be careful, you don’t want to be seen as vain,” her mother advised.

“I’m no such thing,” Diana said, and she flounced out the front door.

She walked to the end of her narrow gravel driveway, careful with her heels among the stones.

As she continued along the sidewalk, she took everything in, not least the lovely single-family houses with their neat little lawns and wide porches. Lavender Bay was a wonderful place. The only thing missing was men. In the last few months, a lot of them had joined up and marched off. Her mother was probably right; it was useless to prance around town all dolled up when there was no one of the masculine persuasion to appreciate it. She hesitated, briefly contemplating returning home, but was distracted by a wolf whistle. It came from the other side of the street. She shielded her eyes with her hand, and in lifting her arm, slightly raised the hem of her dress to her knee. Across the street, a man her age dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and trousers smiled broadly and saluted her.

She laughed at the attention and turned on her heel. Apparently, not every male had run off to the war.

She heard him call out behind her, but she kept walking. She wasn’t that type of girl. Although flattered by his appreciative whistle, to be seen talking to a strange man in the middle of the street simply because he whistled at you just wouldn’t do. She walked over to Main Street and browsed the shop windows, especially the dress shops, not in the mind to purchase anything but to see what was on display and get ideas. She was deep in thought, studying necklines, sleeves, hems, and the cuts of these dresses, making mental notes, when a masculine voice said behind her, “Hey, beautiful, didn’t you hear me calling you?”

Without turning her body, she glanced over her shoulder and recognized the whistler from earlier. He was tall, with sandy brown hair and deep brown eyes.

“So, if you whistle, I’m supposed to come running like I’m some kind of dog?” she asked, managing to keep a straight face.

The guy looked horrified, his mouth opening slightly before closing without any sounds coming out. Then it opened again, and his words came tumbling out over one another. “Gosh, miss, no, I didn’t mean that at all.” He lowered his voice. “I thought you hadn’t heard me. Or maybe you were . . . ignoring me?”

She flashed him a brilliant smile. “Maybe.” She pulled at her bottom lip with her top teeth. His gaze fixed on her lips.

Suddenly, breaking the spell, she thrust out her hand and said, “Diana Quinn.”

“Oh, yeah. Preston McGee,” he said, and shook her hand heartily like she was one of the guys.

“As in Fibber?” she asked.

He frowned. “Huh?”

“Never mind.” Where had he come from? Still, she was amused.

They spoke for a few more moments and then she said, “I really must be going.”

She turned to walk away, but he sidestepped her and stood in front of her. “Wait, wait a moment.”

She stopped and looked up at him.

“Look, can I take you out dancing?” he asked. She hesitated, and before she could say anything, he went on. “I’ve joined the Navy, and I’m heading out next week.”

“Oh.” She was genuinely sorry about that. It made the flirting seem superficial. Because behind all of it, the men were gone so that they could fight a terrible enemy on the other side of the world. The thought was sobering.

“How about tomorrow night?” he pressed.

“All right,” she said, thinking she’d like to go dancing. She knew there were dances in town at the Pavilion, but she hadn’t made any friends yet, and she certainly wouldn’t go to a dance by herself. Besides, the neighbor had told her mother that the few men that attended were outnumbered by the women, three to one.

“Gee, that’s swell, Diana. May I call you Diana?” he asked.

“Well, you wouldn’t call me Janet, would you?” she teased.

He laughed. “You sure are a hoot. Can you give me your number?”

“No, but I’ll give you my address.” Then, changing her tone to stern, she said, “You’ll have to meet my mother first if you want to take me dancing, Preston.”

“Oh yes, of course,” he said hurriedly. He repeated her address three times, committing it to memory.

“Now, I must go,” she said with a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow night at seven at my house.”

“I’ll be there,” he said eagerly.

Smiling, she turned and walked away, thinking the trip to town hadn’t been a waste at all.

“Oh, Ma, you should have seen him,” Diana recounted later over their supper with a laugh. “He was falling all over himself.”

“Diana,” her mother said in a mock scold. “You shouldn’t tease people like that.” Beneath the admonition, her mother was smiling, amused.

“Aw, it was just a good laugh,” Diana said, spooning up the broth her mother had put in front of her. “Anyway, he’s taking me dancing tomorrow night.”

Her mother frowned, her soup spoon halfway to her mouth. “Is that a good idea? You only met him today.”

“There’ll be other people there for sure. I saw the notice for the dance in The Lavender Bay Chronicles .

“If you think it’s all right.”

“He’s coming here to the house. I insisted he meet you first.”

“That’s better,” her mother said, the anxiety easing from her face.

“He’s joined the Navy and heads off next week.”

“That poor boy,” Millie said with a shake of her head. It’s what she said about all the men serving.