Shoe Strings

and walked around to the driver’s side.   Tonight was the start of something good,
he just knew it.

 

 
    Chapter 11
    Lita was smiling as she left the Pizza Den and her smile
grew brighter as she retrieved the ringing cell from her bag.   It was Sophie and she couldn’t wait to
thank her for helping with the shoes.  
    “I’m so glad you called,” she said into the phone.   “I just delivered the shoes and they
were perfect.   You’re an angel.”
    “Lita,” Sophie said on a sigh.   Lita stopped herself from putting the
car into gear and sat back in her seat.   From the sound of Sophie’s voice, she knew something was wrong.   “Your father keeps calling the
shop.   He’s threatened to do a
sit-in if you don’t call him back or show up at his house or office.   I’m a little bit afraid.”
    “Damn it.” Lita knew things were going too well.   For a day or two, she’d forgotten all
the problems she’d left behind.   “What did you tell him?”
    “I’m running out of excuses and you know what a bad liar I
am.   I think he knows you’re
avoiding him.”
    Of course he knew she was avoiding him.   She’d spent her whole life hiding in his
shadow and trying to stay out of his way.   “I’ll call him today.”   Her
gut twisted as the reality of it sank in.   “I’m sorry I asked you to put him off for me.”
    “I’m sorry I didn’t do such a great job of it.   Lita, I wasn’t kidding when I said he
scared me.”
    “You can’t perform miracles, Sophie.”   And unfortunately, neither could
she.   “I’ll get him off your back, I
promise.”   She heard Sophie sigh in
relief.   “Anything else going on I
should know about?”
    “Everything here’s great.   With prom season coming things have
really picked up and the buzz around the summer line is unbelievable.   Oh my gosh!” she screamed into the
phone.   “With all my worry about
your father, I almost forgot to tell you.   Steve and I were at the gym the other night and I was on the exercise
bicycle.   You know I hate to ride
those things without something to read.   I’d forgotten my book and they had the new Southern
Shopper magazine.   We were
mentioned in an article about Midtown shopping!   They said, and I quote, ‘For
one-of-a-kind, fabulous shoes, don’t miss Angelita Feet.   From formal affairs to backyard
barbeques, the custom-made sandals and footwear are a must buy on every girl’s
list.’   Isn’t that awesome!   And it was just a fluke I saw it.”
    “Wow.   I didn’t
know we were even on Southern Shopper’s radar.”   No wonder her father was so
hot to talk to her.   “It probably
wouldn’t be a bad idea to Google us every now and again to see if we’re getting
publicity we don’t know about.”
    “I never thought of that,” Sophie said with wonder.   “Oh, I’ll do it right now.”
    “Let me know if you find anything.”
    “Lita?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Any idea when you’re coming back?   I’m not trying to pressure you, things
really are fine here, but…I miss you.”
    “I miss you too, Sophie.   But I’m also enjoying myself here like I
never have before.   I’ve made
friends and…there’s this guy.   I’m
not saying I’ll never come home, but I’m not ready to commit to a date just
yet.”
    “I knew there had to be more to it than fresh air and nature
walks.   Tell me everything.”
    Lita laughed and opened her mouth to speak when she realized
she wasn’t ready to share her feelings for Jesse with anyone.   That was a first for her, as Sophie had
always been her sounding board in past relationships.   She’d have to think about her reasons
for not sharing another time.   “I
will when I have a better idea what’s going on.   For now, let’s just say I’m enjoying
getting to know someone new.”
    “You’re not going to tell me about him?   You’ve got to be kidding.   What does he look like?   What does he do for a living?   Tell me anything, just one little scrap
of information.”
    “He’s mouthwateringly handsome and he owns his own rafting
business.   Now, you have to let me
go so I can work up the courage to call my father back.”
    ***
    It wasn’t the sound of his name when the secretary answered,
“Davi Barros’s office” that had the hair on the back of her neck standing at
attention.   It wasn’t even the fact
that she’d caught him at work at a quarter to six on a Thursday evening.   It was his voice, the