Page 81 of Just One Fake Date

“Good plan,” she said, averting her gaze as if he’d hit a nerve. Ty wondered what it was. “I can catch my train near the club, too.” She hefted the suitcase again with a grimace.

Ty swung his briefcase into his other hand and took the suitcase from her, involuntarily giving a little grunt at its unexpected weight. Shannyn laughed.

“Whatisthis?” He set a quick pace but she kept up, taking three steps for every two of his. She made it look like dancing and he was glad that she was happy. Just like on Saturday, her attitude made him want to smile.

“A Bernina Record.” Her satisfaction was undisguised. “Pristine, too.”

Ty eyed her warily. “Should I know what that is?”

“A sewing machine. A portable one.”

“If you use the term loosely.” It was only reasonable to be pleased when she laughed at his joke. “Was it abandoned at the curb?”

“No, of course not. Do you know how great the thrift shops are on East 23rd? Someone didn’t know what they were doing. It was only twenty bucks, perfect working order and all the accessories.”

She could have been speaking Greek for all that Ty understood of that. He did recognize that she was thrilled, though, and helping her with her prize made him feel good. Again. “How do you know it’s working perfectly?”

“Oh, they let you test the electrical stuff. My mom has been wanting another one of these, so I said I’d watch for one. They go for over a thousand bucks on eBay.”

Ty was startled. “For an old sewing machine?”

“It’s a good one. I don’t think anyone ever used it. Like maybe it was a wedding gift, stashed away in a closet, until after the funeral when it was chucked out.”

“A wedding gift?”

“It was really common in the fifties. Every wife needed one, according to popular logic, but some women never used them.”

“But they couldn’t chuck them out because they were wedding gifts.” Ty nodded. “My mom has cut crystal bowls that she never uses but will have forever.”

“And in the end, the perfect sewing machines nestle up beside the cut crystal bowls, still in their boxes, all in a line at the thrift store.”

“To your delight.”

“I don’t want the crystal bowls, but someone must.”

“But doesn’t your mom live north of Boston?”

“You remembered!”

Her expectations from male company were pretty low, Ty thought. “How does this boat anchor get from here to there?”

“Aidan’ll take it to her or maybe me, whenever I take the train home. The important thing is that I have it.”

“I’m beginning to see the appeal of a large vehicle.”

Shannyn laughed. “But you don’t have to drive me home. That’s not why I came looking for you.”

“You’re going to take this on the subway?”

“Well, duh.”

“It weighs a ton.”

“I don’t have to hold it in my lap. I’ll put it down once I’m on the train.”

“That’s a lot of trouble for a sewing machine.”

“I’d walk through fire for my mom,” Shannyn said with a fervor that took him by surprise. “Taking a sewing machine home on the train is nothing.” She flicked a glance his way that was filled with resolve. “Nothing at all.”

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