Page 31 of Takes Two to Tango

"Sure. Let's grab an ice cream at the Dairy Barn," Brent said, digging in his pocket for his truck keys. “I’ve had a hankering for something sweet.”

"Yes!" Henry abandoned the bag to give a fist pump. "I want a chocolate shake."

Rayne watched as her son scurried toward the front porch, dumped his backpack, and leaped into Brent's truck. She blinked. Then looked at Brent. "Where does he get all that energy?"

“I think they put something in their milk at school.”

Rayne shook her head. “More sugar is the solution, right?”

***

Brent veered offthe square and looked for a parking place in front of the Dairy Barn. No spaces out front so he grabbed one in front of the bank and killed the engine.

“I want a chocolate shake. Or maybe strawberry. What about you, Mom?” Henry hadn’t stopped talking since they’d climbed into the truck. Rayne had shared that Henry had crippling anxiety, but so far Brent couldn’t tell anything remotely anxious about the kid.

“I’m probably going to pass on the shake,” Rayne said, climbing out of the truck. She wore a pretty skirt that swirled and thong sandals that looked hand-crafted. Her shirt was some poofy thing that reminded him of the clothes women wore in the sixties. Woodstock sort of stuff. The thin material draped gently across her breasts but gathered at her trim waist. Her curly copper hair looped around her shoulders, soft tendrils highlighting her collarbones. He’d never seen a more naturally beautiful woman.

“Aw, come on, Mom. You never eat the good stuff.” Henry leaned down to tie his shoe into a knot that Brent knew wouldn’t hold for ten paces. He needed to teach the boy his trick for tying laces so they didn’t drag the ground and stayed tied.

“I beg to differ. Everything I eat is good. And good for me.”

Henry looked up with a grimace and crossed eyes, making Brent laugh. Funny guy.

They strolled down the street, and Brent held the diner door as Rayne and Henry entered. The place wasn't too busy. Charlie Mac, the ancient owner, stood behind the counter wearing a white apron and paper cook hat. He pulled a pencil from behind his ear. "What can I get you, Brent?"

Brent looked up at the board. "Hank here wants a-" he looked at the boy "-chocolate shake?"

Henry nodded. ''A large one."

"Rayne?"

"Um, a bottled water," she said.

Charlie Mac made a face. "We ain't got no bottled water, but I can get you some outta the soda foundation."

Rayne shook her head."Nothing for me, thanks."

Brent shrugged. He thought she took healthy eating a bit too far. Didn't she know water was water? "I'll take a banana split with chocolate sauce, butterscotch, and caramel. Oh, and a cheeseburger, all the way, hold the onions. And a root beer."

"Can I have fries?" Henry peered over the counter at Charlie Mac.

"I got curly fries," the older man said, scratching on his order pad. Henry nodded with the same enthusiasm Apple showed when it came time to eat her kibble. Concentrated hunger.

Rayne opened her mouth, looked at Henry's face, then pressed her lips together. She crossed her arms and tried to seem vaguely disgusted, but the twinkle in her eye when she glanced at her son gave her away.

Brent took out a credit card, pressing Rayne's hand back as she tried to hand him a twenty-dollar bill. "I got this, Rayne."

Charlie Mac swiped the card and stared hard at the woman standing slightly behind him."I do declare. Rayne Rose, ain't it? Ain’t seen you since you was a girl."

"Hi, Mr. Charlie," Rayne said. Brent turned to look at her. She wiggled her toes and twirled one curl around her index finger. "It's nice to see you again."

Charlie Mac grunted. That was the end of the conversation.

Brent took the plastic number set on the counter and scanned the place for a good table. He grabbed the soda and Henry's shoulder and steered toward a nice booth by the window where the sun tumbled in to warm the zealously air-conditioned diner.

Henry hopped onto the faded red faux leather and Rayne slid in next to him, pinning him against the squeaky-clean glass of the front window. Brent sat opposite and took a swig of his soda.

"Been a while since you've sat here and looked out at the park, huh?"

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