Against the Odds A Love Story

Chapter 5

Sometimes friendship is found where least expected and when it is needed most.

Five

You have got to be kidding me,” I mused out loud as we toured the International UFO Museum.

Hayden chuckled. “I know, I know,” he drawled. “Our biggest claim to fame is also the most ridiculous thing ever heard of.”

“Oh, I don't know. Caroline told me some of the hired hands look like these little guys after a weekend of partying,” I joked, looking at a replica of one of the little green men. I took in the large, colorful mural behind it, depicting a flying saucer crashing to the earth.

“She's got that right.” He grinned slyly. “When I was younger, my skin took on that color a time or two.”

“But you're older and wiser now, right?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Daddy didn't take too kindly to my drinking, so I gave it up. Haven't had a drop since I was nineteen.”

“Good for you,” I said, enjoying hearing something about him that wasn't related to the ranch. It was nice to hear him opening up a little more.

Hayden told me his drinking had most likely stemmed from losing his mother. He was only twelve when his mother died from cancer. It was hard for him and David. But since David was already grown and out on his own, David had been able to handle their mother's death a little better. Their father had raised Hayden alone. Hayden told me how much he loved his father and that he was a good man. I told him his father would be very proud of him for what he had accomplished and for the kind of man he had become. He thanked me for the compliment. Then I shared with him how much I missed having a father in my life when I was younger. I knew my mother had done the best she could to raise me properly, and she always made sure I never went without. Still, it would have been nice to have a father figure. Of course, in my neck of the woods, having an absent father was standard. We probably could have started a club.

Entering another room of the museum, I snorted derisively as we viewed a model of the notorious alien autopsy. “Oh, now this is priceless.”

“Ain't it though? Now you can't get more authentic than that.”

“No, I don't think you can,” I said with a laugh.

After walking around for a little while longer, he asked, “Are you hungry?”

“A little,” I answered, looking up at him. I had to tip my head back to look at his face. Five-feet-ten is pretty tall for a woman, and I had been around my share of tall men, but Hayden had to be close to seven feet.

“You like seafood?”

“I love it.”

“Well, I know it will be hard, but do you think you can tear yourself away from this fascinating medical procedure to go and get a bite?”

I grinned. “If I really have to.”

~ ~ ~

We settled into a booth at Red Lobster and quickly ordered our meals. I had eaten at the restaurant quite a bit in Atlanta, and despite Jerome's aversion to what he considered too low a class of dining for his taste, it was one of my favorite places to eat. It was also Mama's favorite. You would think that dining there in Roswell without her would make me a little homesick, but it didn't. Of course, the company I was keeping at the moment helped.

Soon the waitress delivered our food and refilled our water glasses, lingering over Hayden as she did. I choked back a snort as I watched our loose goose in action. Now that was something universal; you zero in on the target and work the so-called assets to the best of your ability, and believe me, she was working them. I shook my head slightly. It was the same everywhere. After the slow refilling of our glasses, she finally left us to our meals.

As we ate and talked, I couldn't help glancing around at the people in the dining area. They were all so different, yet they seemed so down to earth, so laid back. No one was in a hurry. And I could count the designer dresses and three-piece suits on one hand. The little city seemed to move at its own pace. After living such a rushed life for so long, this was a nice change.

After a while, I finally became so full I pushed my plate away. I leaned back and sighed. “I swear, if I eat another bite, my jeans will split at the seams.”

“I doubt that,” Hayden said with a grin, leaning back. “I don't think a person can get any littler than you are.”

I turned in my seat and leaned back against the wall, stretching my legs across the booth seat and arched an eyebrow. “I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult.”

“It was a compliment.” One corner of his full mouth twitched slightly. “Just don't get any smaller or you might disappear all together.”

When he grinned, I took a piece of ice from my cup and threw it at him. As expected, he dodged and I missed.

“You're dangerous, darlin',” he said with a laugh. “I'll have to be careful what I say around you from now on.”

“Yes, you will,” I said, grinning back. Then I heaved a sobering sigh. “When it comes to the subject of my weight, I throw myself a pity-party from time to time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, truthfully, I've never been on a diet or had to watch what I eat like most models I know. Sometimes it's a blessing, sometimes a curse.” I paused, becoming thoughtful. “When I was younger, my mother took me to the doctor and had me checked out because she couldn't seem to get me fattened up, no matter what she fed me. I don't know why it bothered her so much, but it did. I guess since I was her only child she was more protective.” I shook my head slightly. “I was a scrawny kid and a scrawny teenager.” I smiled. “Busty but scrawny.”

Hayden smiled back but didn't comment. “So, what did the doctor say?”

“He told her there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. My metabolism had always run through the roof. It still does. But sometimes I do feel like it would be nice to put on a few pounds. I guess the grass is always greener elsewhere, huh?”

Hayden leaned forward and again smiled, his eyes intently looking into mine. “I think you're fine just the way you are.”

“Thank you.” I was warmed by his compliment.

“So,” he said, leaning back, “you want another tour of the museum before we go? Or would you rather go looking for signs of alien visitation?”

I laughed. “I think I've had all the extraterrestrial enlightenment I can handle right now.”

“Awww,” he drawled, feigning disappointment. “I was looking forward to driving you out to the desert and finding some of them little footprints. I brought aluminum foil for our heads and everything.”

I snorted, then laughed. “You, in aluminum foil? Now I would definitely pay to see that.”

He chuckled. “You and the rest of the hands at the ranch.”

“Now that would be priceless.”

“Darlin', even a mental picture of it is more than I can take.”

We looked at each other silently for a moment and broke up laughing all over again.

“I think we'd best get out of here before they throw us out.”

“I think you're right,” I agreed, still chuckling.

We talked for another few minutes and stood to leave. I thanked Hayden again for taking me out. He said he was happy to do it.

And judging by the look of amusement still lingering in his eyes, I knew the day had been just as fun for him as it had been for me.