Her Lifelong Dream Read online

She barely listened as he spoke, his voice almost a tickle in her ear. She just nodded at him and fought the tears back that threatened to fall at any second. "This isn't to say that we won't consider your application at another time," he was saying.

  "I understand," Leedy said and stood up again. Her disappointment was tremendous and she knew that if she didn't leave right away, she was going to burst into tears. "Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Foster. The other banks just sent a letter."

  "Bernard & Simmons is not like the other banks," Terry Foster said. "And ..."

  "I'm sorry," she said, forcing herself to smile. "But I have to go."

  With that, Leedy turned and fled. The idea of falling apart right in front of a good-looking loan officer was too embarrassing an option to consider. Instead, she dashed from the room, leaving Terry Foster still sitting at his desk, looking bewildered. She almost made it to the elevator before she heard him call out to her. "We'll talk again when you have more time," he said and she nodded.

  Thankfully, the elevator doors glided open and she stepped into the box. She rode the crowded elevator down without incident, but it was all she could do to keep from sobbing. Once the doors slid open again, she strode quickly through the lobby until, finally, she pushed open the gleaming glass door that let her out of Bernard & Simmons Savings and Loan. Not even the feel of the warm autumn sunshine on her face made her feel better.

  Leedy didn't allow herself to cry until she was finally sheltered in the privacy of her car. Then she couldn't hold back any longer. The tears spilled down her cheeks as she cried. Five minutes later, she was able to wipe her eyes with a crumpled tissue and put her keys in the ignition. She couldn't very well sit in her car and cry all day, but, somehow, she didn't know what else to do with herself. She had arrived there with such high hopes.

  Finally, she put her car into gear and headed out of the bank's parking lot. There was nothing else to do but go home. Go home with the knowledge that her dream of owning her own restaurant was just as far away as it always had been.

  Leedy went home and allowed herself a good, long cry. Then she remembered Terry Foster's good-looking face and the sound of his sexy voice and cried some more. She trembled with embarrassment every time she thought of the way she had dashed out of his office, almost in tears. He must have thought she was crazy.

  When she finished crying, she put on her well-worn running clothes and headed out to the nearby park to run around Lake Benjamin. It was a beautiful day, and the park was full of pleasant people enjoying the sunny autumn morning.

  Leedy ran around and around the perimeter of the small lake. Once, twice, three times around. She liked the sound her feet made as they slapped the asphalt pathway and the feel of the sunshine against her cheeks. Four, five, six times around. The back of her shirt was wet from her sweat. Seven, eight, nine, ten times around. Leedy checked her breathing and pressed on. She ran and ran until she lost count of the number of laps. She ran until she thought her lungs would burst. Finally, she slowed and walked the final lap around the lake while her breathing returned to normal. She was tired, but it was a good tired. But not even physical exhaustion could take away the bitter disappointment of that morning.

  The image of Terry Foster kept floating back to her, filling her with an ache that left her shaking with frustration. A few more tears spilled down Leedy's cheeks as she finished up the final trip around the lake. She brushed them away impatiently and slowly headed back to her apartment, breathing in the crisp, clean air in an effort to soothe her bruised spirit.

  She knew she had to somehow pull herself together before she reported to Mr. Hobo's that afternoon. Friday nights were always the busiest night of the week at the restaurant, especially since classes at the University of Wisconsin had begun again. Her evening would be a busy one, and she had to be on her toes.

  Back in her apartment, Leedy took a long bubble bath. She sank into the hot, sweet-smelling water and closed her eyes, trying to forget about her miserable day. But it did no good. Her heart was broken. Her frustration was too profound, her discouragement too great. All she could do was lay in the tub and let her disappointment wash over her.

  Leedy finally gave a heavy sigh and pulled out the stopper from the drain with her big toe. The water drained out of the tub slowly ... much the same way all hope had been drained from her dreams. Leedy contemplated such melodramatic thoughts as she looked up at the ceiling while the water drained. Only when the water was gone did she slowly climb out of the tub and begin to dress for work.

  She looked through the steam in the mirror over the sink and examined herself intently. She still looked like the same person she had been that morning, despite her flushed face from the hot bath and the crying binge. She still had the same long, glossy brown hair and the same big chestnut-colored eyes. She applied her make-up carefully, then blew her hair dry. Yes, it was her all right. Same heartshaped face, same high cheekbones, same dimple on one cheek only (the left).

  The restaurant-issued black tuxedo Mr. Hobo's required her to wear fit her tall, athletic build perfectly. In fact, except for the pink cheeks, no one would know to look at her that she had had such a disappointing morning. The image of the loan officer popped into her mind and she felt embarrassed all over again.

  Leedy stuck her tongue out at the mirror, found her car keys and purse, and then bounded out the door, angry with herself for thinking of Terry Foster and his stupid blue eyes.

  By the time she arrived at Mr. Hobo's fifteen minutes later, she was beginning to feel like her old self again. She was already thinking about the loan application she would submit to another bank. If it had caught the attention of Bernard & Simmons Savings and Loan, maybe it would catch the eye of someone else. She just had to keep trying.

  The parking lot was packed, so she knew before she walked in the door that Mr. Hobo's would be in full swing. "What's with the mob scene, Brittany?" Leedy asked the pretty blond waitress who dashed past her.

  "There must be something going on at the University," Brittany said with her usual pixie-like smile. "We've been this busy since eleven o'clock and there's no end in sight. How did your meeting at the bank go?"

  "Not good," Leedy said. "I'll tell you about it later." She had confided in Brittany about her hopes of opening her own restaurant. It was unusual for her to be so forthright when it came to her dream restaurant. It was an aspiration that was too precious to share, especially with an employee. But there was something about Brittany's sweet personality that told Leedy she could trust her.

  They'd hit it off from the moment they first met. As a matter of fact, although they hadn't known each other long, Leedy thought of Brittany as one of her best friends. "Didn't you have something you had to do tonight?" Leedy asked.

  "Mark and I are supposed to pick out our china and silver patterns," Brittany said. "My mother wants to tag along, of course. Mark will be here any minute ... But if you need me to stay and help, I will. I don't mind and I'm sure Mark will understand."

  "No way," Leedy said. "You've already put in a long day, Brit. You and Mark have a great time shopping. We can hold down the fort without you."

  Brittany was getting married to her long-time boyfriend, Mark Ellis, in less than three months, and she was busy tending to the last-minute details. Pre-wedding stress aside, it was obvious to anyone who met the attractive young couple that there was something special between them.

  Leedy was thrilled for Brittany and enjoyed talking with her about every detail of her wedding plans, especially the reception. But there were also times when she envied Brittany too. Her cheeks would redden with shame whenever she had these feelings. She loved Brittany and Mark and was thrilled for their happiness. Yet ... yet there were times when she saw the way Mark looked into Brittany's eyes and she couldn't help but feel a deep longing in the pit of her stomach. Sometimes Leedy wished she had someone in her life who looked at her the way Mark looked at Brittany. Someone she could confide in. Someone she could tell all of her dream
s to. Someone who would hold her in his strong arms, kiss her, and tell her that everything would be all right.

  Leedy reassured Brittany that Mr. Hobo's would survive without her and sent her on her way. "Thanks," Brittany said, giving her a goodbye hug.

  Just then, Leedy noticed Mark standing at the entrance waiting for his future bride. Brittany gathered up her belongings and waved one last time before she exited. Leedy watched her pinch Mark's rear and smiled. It was impossible for her to be jealous of Brittany for too long. She was just too darn cute to resent.

  Leedy contemplated her own love life while she put her purse and jacket in her locker. It had been almost eight months since Brian had broken off their two-year relationship. "We've grown apart," he had told her, and she knew it was true. She cared for Brian and she knew he cared for her, but the last six months they were together it felt as if their romance was based more on habit than on any kind of genuine passion between them. They never seemed to have much to say to one another anymore. Worse still, when he took her in his arms and kissed her she felt ... she felt ...

  Leedy couldn't describe the way she felt when Brian kissed her. His kisses still tasted sweet, but there was something missing. Something that she ached for, but couldn't define. When Brian kissed her, it felt more like she was kissing an old friend than a lover. The passion that she told herself had once been there was now long gone, and both of them knew it.

  It was only after the breakup that she learned that Brian had met another woman. Her name was Angela, and they had been seeing each other for almost a year, an overlap in timing that left Leedy feeling emotionally raw. Oddly, she had never been particularly angry about Brian's unfaithfulness, even if she had not known about it at the time. She now realized that she had sensed the distance between them long before Brian had met Angela. She had recently heard through the grapevine that Brian and Angela were getting married next spring.

  Leedy took a deep breath and slammed the locker door shut. There was no point dwelling on ancient history, especially today. She braced herself and headed for the kitchen, suddenly grateful that her evening would be a busy one.

  She checked on the kitchen crew, then headed for the dining room to be sure everything was running smoothly there. She replenished the coffee stations, ran the sweeper over some crumb-covered carpeting, and checked to be sure the waiters and waitresses had everything they needed for the dinner rush. After that, she headed back to the kitchen where she prepared several Chocolate Ecstasy Cakes. The recipe was one she had created herself and it had quickly become the most popular dessert item on Mr. Hobo's menu.

  Brittany had been right. Judging from the tables filled with college-aged young people and beaming adults, there was surely something going on at the University tonight. In fact, she had never seen Mr. Hobo's so busy. It was well into the dinner hour before she finally found time to schmooze with the customers in the dining room. "How was your meal tonight, sir?" Leedy asked a man in a black turtleneck shirt.

  "My soup was cold," he complained.

  "Oh, I'm sorry, sir," she said. "May I get you another bowl?"

  'No.

  "How about a dessert? It's on the house."

  "All right," the man in the turtleneck said with a triumphant expression on his face. Leedy motioned for the waiter and one quickly appeared at the table pushing the dessert cart.

  "The Chocolate Ecstasy Cake is the house specialty," the waiter said, smiling luminously.

  Leedy made her way around the room, charming the clientele as she went. She was in her element, smiling and making jokes with the customers as she made her way through the busy dining room, leaving a trail of happiness behind her.

  "And you, young lady?" Leedy asked a pretty, blonde coed in a blue sweater sitting by herself at a table. "How was your dinner?"

  "Wonderful," the girl said, with a sweet smile. "I had the shrimp scampi and it was absolutely delicious."

  "Thank you," Leedy said. There was something about this lovely girl that made her forget about the hordes of other customers. Something sweet and precious, as if the girl was a single red rose in a thicket of weeds. "I'm so glad you enjoyed your meal," Leedy smiled. "May I offer you a dessert?"

  "Maybe ..." she said. "It's Parents' Night at the Uni versity. I'm waiting for my uncle to come back from the restroom."

  "Ah," Leedy said. "Parents' Night. That explains the madhouse here this evening."

  "There he is now," the young woman said excitedly. "Uncle Terry, would you like a dessert?"

  Leedy turned around smiling up at the figure approaching her from behind.

  "Hello again," said a low, warm voice that sounded uncomfortably familiar. "Leedy, isn't it?"

  "Oh ... um ... hi," Leedy stammered, thunderstruck because, there, standing right in front of her, was Terry Foster-the last person in the world she wanted to see. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Foster," she mumbled.

  "Call me Terry," he said. Leedy noticed that he was still as gorgeous as he had been earlier that day-a fact that didn't make her feel any better. "I see you've met my niece, Deanna."

  "Yes," Leedy said, turning her attention back to the girl. "It is wonderful to meet you."

  "It's nice to meet you too," Deanna said, shaking Leedy's hand and smiling from ear to ear. "May I call you Leedy?"

  "Of course."

  "Deanna took me on a tour of the University," he said. "But it has changed so much since I was a student there a century or so ago ..."

  "Oh, Uncle Terry," Deanna scolded. "You're only thirty."

  "And you're eighteen," he said, pretending to choke. "I have socks older than you."

  Deanna rolled her eyes and wrinkled her adorable nose. "Stop teasing," she warned, giving him a playful poke. Leedy sensed a strong affection between them.

  Deanna looked at Leedy, as though sizing her up, and then glanced at her uncle. "Please excuse me, Uncle Terry ... Leedy," she said sweetly. "I need to powder my nose."

  Leedy watched her walk off toward the restrooms. She noticed that Deanna had the same tall, lean build and the same confident gait as her uncle.

  "Are Deanna's parents here too?" she asked Terry after Deanna turned the corner.

  "No," he said, his voice dropping. "Deanna's parents were killed in a car accident about six years ago. Ever since then it's just been the two of us."

  "I'm sorry," Leedy said softly, taken aback.

  "Thank you," Terry said. "Deanna and I miss them both very much."

  "She's a lovely young woman," she added, feeling shaken. "You have obviously done a good job with her. You must be very proud."

  "I am," he said. "But I can't take all the credit. Deanna is a great kid. A teenager isn't always as much trouble as people seem to think. She eats her vegetables, doesn't smoke or drink, and makes good grades in school. And she's quite bright."

  "Yes. I can tell."

  "She's in her first year at the University. She wants to be teacher."

  Terry Foster's face beamed when he spoke of Deanna. Indisputably, he had been a good guardian to the girl. Leedy was embarrassed. She remembered tearfully dashing out of his office earlier that day and felt suddenly ashamed of herself.

  "Excuse me," said the man in the black turtleneck who was sitting at the table behind them. "Whom do I have to kill to get a cup of hot coffee around here?"

  "I'll be happy to get you some coffee, sir," Leedy said. Terry gave the man an annoyed glare. "Have a nice evening, Mr. Foster," she added to Terry, not knowing what else to say. But for some reason, she hesitated to leave his table. She shook his hand and smiled. She didn't want to leave him, but duty called.

  By the time she had gone through the dining room with the coffee pot, Terry and Deanna were getting ready to leave. "No dessert?" she asked, trying to hide her disappointment. She had developed an instant fondness for Deanna, and the new-found knowledge that she was an orphan only made her feel even more of an attachment to the girl.

  "No thanks, Leedy," Deanna said. "We had bette
r not. My uncle and I are running in a 10k race tomorrow."

  "Oh?" she asked. "Is it the one at Baker Park?"

  "Yes."

  "I'm running in that race, too."

  "Are you really?" Deanna gushed, delighted.

  "Yes. I usually only run in the 5K races. I'm not a very good distance runner. This is my first 1OK race."

  "It doesn't matter if you're not a distance runner," Deanna said. "It's all for fun, isn't it? We're in the Cheese City Runners Club. We run in all the 1OK races. You should join too."

  "I've thought about joining them," Leedy confessed. "But my schedule is so erratic. I just run in the races when I can."

  "I hope we see you there," Deanna said happily. "In fact, why don't you meet us there?"

  "Well ... I could ... I guess ..."

  "It would be fun!" she pressed. "We always warm up by the starting line. You could meet us there right before the race."

  Without realizing it, Leedy was nodding. "Okay," she said, not daring to look at Terry Foster. But she could feel him watching her with those brilliant blue eyes of his.

  "We'll see you there," he said. Leedy looked up and saw he was looking at her with a lingering look that she couldn't quite read. He smiled at her and then helped Deanna on with her jacket before they headed for the door.

  "It was nice to meet you," Deanna called as they left the restaurant. "We'll see you at the race tomorrow."

  Leedy crouched beneath a large maple tree by the starting line and stretched her hamstring muscles. She tried to look nonchalant as she scanned the faces in the crowd. "I'm just looking for Deanna," she told herself. "I don't care if Uncle What's-His-Name shows up or not." But she was nervous. What if she didn't find them? What if she never saw Uncle What's-His-Name again?

  Finally, she thought she saw a tall, slender girl in the crowd. Yes, that was Deanna all right. And Terry Foster was standing next to her. They were warming up together on a patch of grass near the starting line. They wore matching black nylon running shorts and yellow t-shirts emblazoned with the words `CHEESE CITY RUNNER'S CLUB, BAKER PARK 2002 1OK RUN" Leedy immediately noticed how Terry looked just as good in his running clothes as he did in the charcoal gray banker's suit. In fact, the sight of his long, muscular legs and well-formed biceps made her heart skip a beat.