The trouble with getting a grumpy old man to dinner was that once he came, the Bellamy sisters immediately wanted him to come again. And again. And possibly every Thursday for the rest of his natural life. Arthur Caldwell, unfortunately, had no idea what he'd gotten himself into.
By Saturday morning, the sisters had already discussed his first dinner together three separate times. Vivian was convinced he had enjoyed himself. Martie was convinced he'd enjoyed the food. Lou was convinced he'd enjoyed them.
"There's a difference," Martie said, stirring her coffee. Lou was sitting at the kitchen table wearing one pink sock and one blue sock. "What's the difference?" "Men don't necessarily like women just because they eat their cooking."
Vivian looked offended. "Speak for yourself." Martie ignored her. "I'm saying he liked the meal."
Lou looked toward the window. "Then why did he stay two hours?"
"Because we wouldn't let him leave."
"We didn't stop him."
"You gave him pie."
"That's not stopping somebody."
"You wrapped another piece in foil and put it in his hand when he stood up."
Lou thought about it. "That might have slowed him down."
Vivian smiled. "He stayed because he enjoyed himself." Martie shook her head. "Don't get carried away." Vivian leaned back in her chair. "I know what I saw."
"What did you see?"
"He laughed."
"He laughed once."
"Twice."
"Once."
"Twice."
Lou raised a finger. "Three times."
Both sisters looked at her. Lou smiled. "I counted." Martie sighed. "Of course you did."
Vivian reached for her coffee. "I think we should invite him to Sunday supper." Martie nearly choked. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because we just had dinner."
"That was Friday."
"It's Saturday."
"Exactly. That's practically tomorrow."
Martie shook her head. "We're not going to overwhelm the man." Vivian looked thoughtful. "Perhaps you're right." Lou smiled. "Maybe we should let him miss us." Martie pointed at her. "Exactly." Vivian nodded. "We'll give him a day." Lou looked disappointed. "One whole day?"
"Yes."
"That's cruel."
Arthur Caldwell spent Saturday morning discovering that there was such a thing as missing people you had only known for four days.
He didn't like the discovery. He had moved to town specifically because he wanted quiet. He had wanted a small house. A small yard. A small life. Something manageable. Something that didn't require explanations.
He had not wanted three women who knew his name, his age, his preferred dessert, and apparently his schedule. Yet when noon came, he found himself looking across the street.
The Bellamy sisters were nowhere to be seen. Arthur frowned. He looked again. Nothing. He went inside. Ten minutes later, he looked again. Still nothing. He shook his head. "Ridiculous."
He went into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator. There was leftover casserole. He stared at it. Then he smiled. "Those women."
At two o'clock, Vivian came bursting into the kitchen. "I have an idea." Martie didn't look up from her sewing. "No."
"You don't even know what it is."
"I know you," frowned Martie.
Lou looked up from the crossword puzzle she was doing upside down. "I have an idea too."
Martie sighed. "Please don't tell me."
Lou smiled. "I'm going to tell you anyway."
Vivian sat down. "Arthur needs a hobby."
Martie stared at her. "Arthur has hobbies."
"What?"
"I don't know."
"Exactly."
Lou nodded. "He has a lawn mower."
"That's not a hobby."
"Maybe it is to him."
Vivian tapped her fingers on the table. "We need to find out what he likes."
Martie stopped sewing. "Why?"
"So we can find something we have in common."
"You don't have to have something in common with everybody."
"Of course you do."
"No, you don't."
"Then how do people become friends?"
"By talking."
Vivian considered this. "We talked."
"Yes."
"And?"
"He ate."
Lou smiled. "He ate a lot." Martie gave her a look. "You're not helping."
Vivian stood. "Let's go find out what he likes." Martie immediately put down her sewing. "No."
"Why?"
"Because that sounds dangerously close to spying."
Vivian frowned. "Fine."
Lou stood. "We'll just ask him." Martie looked relieved. "Good." Lou opened the front door. "Right now?" Martie closed her eyes. "Lord."
Arthur was in his driveway working on the lawn mower when the three sisters appeared. He looked up. "You again."
Vivian smiled. "Good afternoon."
Arthur looked at Lou. "Are you wearing two different socks?" Lou looked down. "Yes."
"Why?"
"They were lonely."
Arthur stared at her. Then he laughed.
Martie looked at Vivian. Vivian whispered: "Progress."
Arthur wiped his hands on a rag. "What do you need?"
Vivian smiled. "We were just wondering what you like to do."
Arthur frowned. "Do?"
"Yes." "In your spare time."
"I don't have much spare time."
Lou stepped closer. "What do you do when you aren't doing something?" Arthur looked at her. "I sit." Lou nodded. "I like sitting." Martie smiled. "She's very good at it." Arthur looked at the three women. "You came over here to ask me what I do when I'm sitting?" Vivian nodded. "Basically."
Arthur shook his head. "I read."
Martie brightened. "What do you read?"
"Books."
"What kind?"
"History."
Vivian looked at Martie. Martie looked at Lou. Lou smiled. "I've read a history book." Arthur raised an eyebrow. "What book?" Lou thought. "I don't remember."
Arthur laughed again.
"What else?"
"I fish," he said.
Lou's eyes lit up. "I love fishing!"
"You've never been fishing," laughed Martie
"I've watched people."
Arthur nodded slowly. "That's not quite the same."
"I could learn."
Arthur looked at her. Something about the completely serious expression on Lou's face made him smile. "I suppose you could."
Vivian smiled. "Do you fish often?"
"When I can."
"Where?"
"There's a lake about twenty minutes from here." Lou immediately said: "Take us."
Arthur blinked. Martie gasped. Vivian smiled.
Lou looked around. "What?"
Arthur shook his head. "You three don't waste any time, do you?"
Martie folded her arms. "She speaks before she thinks."
Lou nodded. "That's true."
Arthur looked toward the Bellamy house. Then back at them. "Maybe sometime."
Vivian smiled. "That's practically an invitation."
"It isn't."
"Of course it is."
Arthur started the lawn mower. It coughed. It sputtered. Then it died.
Lou looked at it. "Doesn't sound healthy."
Arthur stared at the machine. "No."
Martie smiled. "Bring it over."
Arthur looked at her. "Why?"
"I can fix it."
He stared at her. "You fix lawn mowers?"
Martie shrugged. "My husband taught me."
Arthur nodded. Then he smiled. "I thought you said you were just here to ask what I liked."
Martie looked at Vivian. Vivian looked at Lou. Lou smiled. "We got distracted."
Arthur shook his head. He couldn't help it. He laughed. And this time, all three sisters laughed with him.
For a few minutes, they stood together in the driveway like they'd been neighbors for years. None of them noticed how natural it felt. None of them noticed how comfortable Arthur had become. And none of them noticed that something had quietly changed.
Arthur wasn't standing apart from the Bellamy sisters anymore. He was standing with them. Then Lou pointed at the lawn mower. "So when are we going fishing?" Arthur looked at her. "I'll let you know." Lou smiled. "Tomorrow?"
"No."
"Monday?"
"No."
"Tuesday?"
"Maybe."
Lou nodded. "I'll put it on the calendar." Arthur laughed. "Don't you dare." Lou was already walking away. "I'll pencil you in!"
Arthur watched the three sisters cross the street. Vivian turned around and waved. Martie shook her head. Lou waved both arms.
Arthur stood in his driveway smiling. Then he looked at the broken lawn mower. He looked across the street. And for the first time since moving into the neighborhood, he didn't think about how much he wanted peace and quiet. Instead, he thought: Maybe this isn't so bad after all.
Then Lou's voice floated across the street. "ART!"
Arthur closed his eyes. "What?"
"Do you like fried chicken?"
He opened his eyes. "Yes!"
"We're having some tomorrow!"
Arthur looked toward heaven. And whispered: "I bet those three are cooking up more than chicken?" And this time, he was smiling when he said it.