The Maine Events, Rodney Riesel [best books to read in your 20s TXT] 📗

girl,” she said with a wink. “If things don't work out, fella, swing bymy room.”

“Oh, behave, Martha,” said Teddy.

Allen walked over to the banquet table that had been set upin front of the windows. Mya returned to the dining room toting several roundcardboard ice cream containers. Allen turned toward the windows and put hishands in his pockets. The setting sun behind a thin scattering of cloudscreated a tie-dyed wonder of pinks, purples, and reds. The leaves were juststarting to change. Allen could only guess at the riot of autumn colors instore for leaf-lookers toward the end of October. Might be worth a returntrip, he mused. A guy could settle down here and be pretty hap—

“Grab three more of these out of the freezer in there,” Myasaid. “One strawberry and two vanilla.”

Allen snapped out of his nature-induced trance. “Rogerthat,” he said. On his way past Mya he leaned in and whispered, “I think thatlady sitting with Grammy just sexually harassed me.”

“Lucky you,” said Mya.

Allen left the room and walked to a stand-up, three-doorfreezer and yanked on the large chrome handle. Wow, that's a lot of icecream, he thought.

When he returned to the room, he placed the containers onthe table next to the ones Mya had brought in. “Okay, how we doing this?” heasked.

Mya pointed to a stack of small bowls to Allen's left. “Theones that can will walk up and form a line there, grab a bowl, and walkthrough.”

“How do we know which flavor of ice cream they want?”

“They'll stomp once for vanilla, and twice for chocolate,”Mya deadpanned.

“Ask a stupid question …”

“They'll tell you what they want. It's not that difficult.”

“What about the ones who don't come up?”

“We'll serve them at their tables.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Allen picked up an ice cream scoop andreadied himself. “How do they know to start coming up?”

“Ring that bell.”

Allen searched the table for a bell. “I don't see one.”

“Because there isn't one.” Mya looked out over the seatedresidents. “We're ready when you are!” she yelled.

Allen glared at her. “One more wise-ass remark, and I'mtelling Grammy.”

*****

After the ice cream had been served, and most of the tableshad been cleared, Teddy got up from her table.

“I'm going back to my room, Mya,” said Teddy.

“Okay, Grammy, I'll stop in before I leave,” Mya replied.

“I'll walk you down,” Allen said.

“Kiss ass,” Mya whispered just loud enough for Allen tohear.

Allen shot her that same megawatt smile he'd flashedearlier. He walked over to Teddy and gave her his arm. She took it with obviouspleasure.

As the two walked back down the hallway toward Teddy's room,Allen asked, “What do you know about Betty Strong?”

“Betty Strong?” Teddy inquired. “Oh, I don't know. She'slived in York for ten or twelve years, I guess. Moved up here with her sonsfrom what I understand.”

“Have you ever met either one of her sons?”

“No, but according to Jim, they're a couple of real-hellraisers.”

“Jim?”

“Jim Tucker.”

“The cop?”

“Yes.”

“Does he have a relative here at the facility?”

“No, but he used to come here with Mya.”

“Why?”

“They dated for quite a while.”

“Oh, I didn't know that.”

“Oh, yes. They dated for a while in high school, and thenreconnected a few years back when he returned from Boston.”

“What was he doing in Boston?”

“That's where he went to the police academy.”

“So, he was a cop in Boston?”

“For a few years, and then he moved back here to his hometown.”

“I see.”

“Why did you want to know about Betty?”

“It's just an idea for a book I'm working on.”

“I hope there's a chapter about dishing out ice cream with abeautiful young woman to a roomful of doddering old fossils.”

“I would never put you in that category, Teddy. And if I dowork this evening into my book, I'll make you bell of the ball.”

“You're sweet to say that to an old lady with one foot inthe grave.”

“Teddy,” Allen said, patting her hand, “I wish I had halfyour get-up-and-go.”

Teddy smiled up at him. “You know, you ain't half badlooking. I wish I were thirty years younger—I'd give Mya a run for her money.Well, maybe forty. Hell, make it sixty.” Allen laughed appreciatively.

When they arrived at Teddy's door, she said, “Here we are.Thanks for the company.”

“The pleasure was all mine, Teddy. I'll stop back in withMya before we leave.”

“Mya's a good girl, Allen.”

“That's the feeling I get.”

“Treat her well.”

“I will.” Allen turned around, paused, and turned back. “Whydid Mya and Jim Tucker break up?”

“He didn't treat her well.”

“Did he hurt her?”

“Not physically. You run along.”

Allen nodded and walked back into the hall. When he got backto the dining room, Mya was coming out.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey.”

“Dining room's all cleaned up.”

“I was hoping.”

“I want to tell Grammy goodnight, then we can go.”

“Sounds good,” Allen said, and spun around.

“What took you so long?” Mya asked.

“I was questioning Grammy.”

“About what?”

“That's between me and Grammy.”

They entered Teddy's room. She was sitting on the couch witha blanket across her lap. Jeopardy was on the television.

“What is onomatopoeia?” said Teddy confidently.

“What is palindrome?” said the contestant.

“Dumb-ass,” Teddy grumbled.

“We're taking off, Grammy,” said Mya.

“Oh, I didn't hear you come in. You kids take care and havefun on your date tomorrow night.”

Mya side-eyed Allen. “Uh … we will,” she said.

As the couple walked past the receptionist's desk, Allenasked, “Told Grammy about our date?”

“I guess I did.”

“Goodnight, Mya,” said the receptionist.

“Goodnight,” Mya said. “See ya Sunday.”

“And you told Grammy all about me,” said Allen.

“Okay, that's enough.”

Chapter Twelve

Mya pulled her Volt into a parking space at Allen's moteland put it in park. She left the engine running. Allen took it as a sign thatshe didn't want to come up. This made him wonder whether or not he should leanin for a kiss.

“So,” Allen said, “If the writing fizzles out, I guess I canalways work at an ice cream shop.” He put his hand on the door lever.

“There's always that,” Mya replied. “Thanks for coming withme and helping out.”

“So … I'll, uh, see you tomorrow night. Six o'clock, right?”Allen scanned the parking lot and the front of the motel.

“Yup. Six o'clock.”

Allen pulled the lever and cracked the