Autumn Dreams Read Free Page B

shook her head. “We never met.”
    “Oh.” Mom stood, befuddled. “How sad. Elsie is a lovely person. When we were young, people always said she was the brainy one and I was the pretty one. It took Lew to figure out that I was both pretty and bright.” She simpered, like a child might. It both broke Cass’s heart and grated across her nerves.
    Mom took her teacup and drained it in one great swallow. She carefully set it on its saucer, picked up her napkin, and carefully blotted her lips. Unfortunately, the action missed most of the sugar on her chin.
    Cass took her mother’s arm and gently led her outside. Her eyes met Mrs. Martin’s, and she nodded her thanks to the woman.Mrs. Martin, her eyes sad, nodded back.
    Reminder: Never let Mrs. Martin move from Scallop Street
.
    “You’ve got some sugar on your chin, Mom.” Cass pointed as they walked to the street.
    “Oh, dear.” Mom brushed at the offending powder. “Is it gone? I don’t want Lew to see me looking sloppy. He always says I’m the best looking girl in Seaside.”
    Cass nodded, knowing her father often made that very comment. How she wished someone would say wonderful things like that about her.
    Mom stopped at the curb. “Oh, Cassandra Marie, look!” She clapped her hands like a girl. “There’s Elsie’s car, right in front of our house.” She giggled. “Imagine. You were right.”
    Cass glanced at the only car sitting at the curb in front of her parents’ home. “That’s my c—” she began.
    She got no further. Mom pulled free and dashed into the street, waving her arms. “Elsie, dear, here I come.”
    “Mom! Watch out for the car!”

Two
    E VEN IF HE hadn’t had his car windows lowered to enjoy the crisp, salt-tanged air, and even if he hadn’t heard the shout of the woman in the red sweater, Dan Harmon would have been aware of the old lady charging into the street. How could he miss her?
    Her halo of white curls shone in the sunlight and her navy blouse fluttered as she gave her geriatric impression of a sprinter. Her gait might be a bit creaky, but she made surprisingly good time for someone who barely lifted her low-heeled shoes when she ran.
    Dan pumped his brakes and slowed to a stop.
    The old lady stopped too, right in the middle of the street. She threw her arms wide. “Elsie, dear!” she called in an impressive roar for someone her age. “Here I am. Where are you?” A great smile curved her lips. “I knew you’d come.”
    Dan blinked. The old lady didn’t know he was here, a mere five feet from her. Even if she was hard of hearing and couldn’t perceive his engine idling, shouldn’t she feel the heat that poured from it through the hood?
    The woman in the red sweater and jeans rushed from the curb where she’d been frozen. “Mom!” He could see strain in her face. Well, if his mother went around dashing into the street screaming for Elsie, he’d probably feel stressed too.
    The woman took the old lady firmly by the arm. “Come on, Mom. Out of the middle of the street.” She gestured toward Dan. “We’re holding up traffic.”
    The old lady glanced at Dan, looking thoroughly surprised to see him. Then she grinned broadly and wiggled her fingers in a coy wave.
    He nodded and smiled back. When she was young, she must have been one of those cute women that young men flock to, the ones who seem helpless and make all males want to protect them. Even now she was a cute old lady. Not too smart apparently, but cute.
    “He’s handsome, Cassandra Marie,” she said loudly enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. “Ask him his name.”
    While Dan grinned at the outrageous comment, Cassandra Marie turned as scarlet as her sweater and shook her head. He hoped she wasn’t disagreeing with her mother’s assessment of his looks but rather with the order to ask his name. He glanced in the rearview mirror to assure himself that he hadn’t sprouted a second head since he left New York City early this morning.
    His dark