Page 35 of Saltwater Memories
“Thank you.”
Amanda pulled out her phone and gave Will a call; he picked up quickly and she told him that she was happy to accept his invitation to the masquerade ball.
The ball wasn’t for two weeks, though, and Amanda made up her mind to avoid hanging out with Will until then, and instead try to prioritize Rupert.
She worked a few days in the Seattle office, again crashing on her friend’s couch, and went to lunch with Rupert four times. One evening, they went to dinner, too. Things were going well. Rupert was still exceptionally busy, but he was making time for her. That was important.
No, he hadn’t made things official yet. Amanda didn’t want to ask about it. It was his effort that mattered, and it meant something. She wouldn’t push it for now.
She did mention to him that she was going to a fancy party, and that she technically had a date – a friend, but a date nevertheless. He laughed, seemingly undisturbed by this. “Since when do you like going anywhere fancy?”
She ignored that comment; she knew that he was probably being rude because he couldn’t say what he was thinking.
Secretly, she’d hoped that he might decide it was time to name her his girlfriend again, but that was silly. He spent a lot of evenings and weekends hanging out with his friends – many of them ladies. He’d made a lot of friends in his short time in Seattle; Amanda couldn’t help but notice. And she couldn’t help but pine after him.
Oh, so much pining. It wasn’t healthy, the pining, but she felt powerless to stop it.
When it finally came time to go to the masquerade ball, Amanda was nervous. She wasn’t so sure that it was a good idea anymore.
Morgan loaned her a mask, which was nice of her, but kind of odd. Why did Morgan have a mask despite never having gone to a masquerade ball? Another Morgan mystery.
It was a pretty, delicate thing – white with lace and tiny jewels, and asymmetrical so that the right side of her face had a dramatic sort of flair. When she put it on, it made her feel mysterious. Maybe there was something to this masquerade stuff?
It was also a useful disguise in case she saw Lenny. Hopefully, she would look nothing like herself. Maybe she could even creep around and eavesdrop without him knowing?
That might be a stretch.
She took off the mask and slipped it into her purse before getting into her car. The plan was to meet at Will’s place in Seattle, and then leave together from there. Amanda was surprised when he sent her his address; he didn’t live downtown, but in Licton Springs.
He seemed like the kind of guy who would want to be where all the action was. She thought about that the whole way there. Maybe he’d bought a house here?
That might be it. He might be flipping a house or two; prices were skyrocketing everywhere.
Yet when her GPS told her that she’d arrived, she didn’t think she’d come to the right spot. The house was big but looked like it was falling apart; the front steps were partially caved in.
Amanda picked up her phone and sent him a text message. “I think I’m here? But maybe I went to the wrong place.”
A moment later, the front door opened and he waved at her.
Odd. This wasn’t what she expected at all. Amanda unbuckled her seat belt and got out of the car, suddenly self-conscious about how fancy this dress was.
“Welcome to my humble abode!” he said. “You’re a bit early. Would you like to step inside for a tour? Or a drink, or something?”
Shewascurious as to what it looked like on the inside. “Sure.”
She stepped inside and Will introduced her to the woman sitting on a rocking chair in a nearby room. “Mrs. Holland, this is my friend Amanda.”
“Hi there,” Amanda said with a wave.
“You’re going to have to speak up,” the woman replied. “You’re facing my bad ear.”
Raising her voice entirely too loud, Amanda repeated, “Hi there!”
The lady nodded, blinking her eyes slowly before returning to her knitting.
Will shot Amanda a smile. “This way to the kitchen.”
Once they were out of earshot – although, considering Mrs. Holland’s poor hearing, they were probably always out of earshot – Amanda asked, “So…is that your grandma or something?”
