Page 14 of One Sultry Summer

“That’s a good idea.”

We continued our way to the inn and walked directly into the dining area. Since we arrived later than most guests, the seating is fairlyempty. We take a plate and examine the choices of food at the buffet. The selections for someone who is a vegetarian are slim. As my mom would say, beggars can’t be choosers, so I fill my plate up with salad and grab two rolls and some butter. We find a table in the corner and make ourselves comfortable. A few minutes later, a young girl comes over; she can’t be more than four or five.

“Hello.” Her blue eyes scoured the table.

“Hi, can I help you?”

“My Nana asked me to check if anyone was in the dining room.”

“Oh, are you Abby’s granddaughter?”

“Yes, ma’am. My name is Emily.”

“Emily, pleased to meet you. Can you tell her the dinner is lovely?”

She scrunches up her face. “Are you sure? You don’t have anything on your plate except salad.”

Devin nearly chokes on his meal. “Well, that’s because I’m a vegetarian, and I don’t eat meat.”

“A veg-what-ian?”

“Oh my God. I love her!”

“Emily?” A male voice calls from the kitchen.

“I gotta go, Daddy’s calling me. I’ll tell Nana what you said.”

“Oh, please don’t.” She ran off quickly before hearing my response. “Damn, now Abby’s probably going to think I don’t like her food, and I’ll offend her on our first day.” A few minutes, later the door to the kitchen slammed open. A man standing about six feet, strides out of the kitchen and to our table. His furious chocolate eyes match the color of his wavy brown hair. If I had to guess, I’d say he was in his late twenties, possibly in his early thirties. “Excuse me, is there something wrong with your dinner?”

He had a commanding presence that caught me off guard, and to my surprise, I found myself rambling nervously. “No, sir. I was explaining to the young lady that I am a vegetarian, which is why I was only eating a salad….”

“Wait, what?” He stared into my eyes. I knewthey caught him off guard. I get that quite often with my heterochromia eyes.

“I’m a vegetarian.”

“Your eyes….”

“I know, they’re distracting. I get that a lot. I even had an ex-boyfriend ask me to wear a colored contact lens so they would be the same.”Why am I telling a perfect stranger about my business?

“Did you know there are more than 200,000 cases per year?”

I shake my head. “I didn’t know that.”

“Your eyes are fascinating. Don’t listen to what anyone says, don’t change them.” The corners of his mouth curved into a subtle smile.

“Do you like to study random facts?”

“You can say that.” He paused. “Sorry about me barging out here. I misunderstood what my daughter said. Enjoy your dinner and my mother will find something suitable for you.” He stepped back into the kitchen, but I couldn’t tear my eyesaway from him until he finally vanished from sight.

“Earth to Valerie.” There was the sound of snapping fingers near my head.

“What?”

“Girl, you’ve got it bad. It reminded me of when Lois Lane fell in love with Superman.”

“You’re being ridiculous. I’m not in love.”

“In lust then?”

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