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everything in place when Charlene called out, “They’ll be here in five minutes!”
    Aimee washed her hands and double-checked her reflection in the powder room beside the living room. She arranged herself on the leather sofa near the entrance way, and when the bell rang, she waited for Charlene to open the door before she joined her in welcoming their guests.
    “Good evening, Charlene, Aimee,” Edwina smiled warmly. “These two gentlemen have been anxious to see you. Enjoy your evening. I’ll return at eleven sharp.”
    As soon as she vanished, Josiah offered Charlene a bouquet of daisies and carnations. “For you.” He sniffed the air. “Something smells delicious. When do we eat?”
    Frank elbowed him. “Use some manners. Thank you for inviting us into your home, Charlene. It’s beautiful. When do we eat?”
    Charlene laughed. “Right away. Come on, Josiah. I’ll put these flowers in water, and you can help me start serving.”
    They vanished into the kitchen, and Aimee was left with Frank. He was dressed in black trousers and a gray and white striped shirt with a blue silk tie, and he held a box of candy that he didn’t offer to her. Instead, he was staring, from her chic updo to the tips of her silver stiletto heels. He didn’t say anything, and Aimee waited, enjoying the feeling of being appreciated.
    Finally he spoke. “You look different.”
    “Thank you.” His reaction was even stronger than Aimee had expected, worth every penny she’d spent at the pricy salon. She took his arm. “Follow me.”
    It was going to be a good evening.

Chapter 4
    Frank and Josiah both ate second helpings of the pasta and complimented Aimee on the meal. Josiah and Charlene insisted on cleaning up, so Aimee led Frank into the living room to the elegant striped couch near a window with a view of the Mississippi River.
    “Would you like a coffee?” Aimee offered. “Charlene has a wonderful coffee maker. I could get you a cappuccino or an espresso.”
    “No, thanks.”
    “Are you sure? Just a coffee, maybe? She has a Vienna roast that’s perfect with a touch of hazelnut cream.”
    “No, thanks.”
    “Or a latte? I could make a mocha latte?”
    “No, thank you.”
    “Do you not like coffee?”
    “Sometimes. In the winter, when it’s cold.”
    “How do you drink it?”
    Frank looked at her blankly. He sat with his hands clasped loosely in his lap, a safe distance away from her. Aimee smiled at his confusion.
    “I mean, do you take cream? Sugar?”
    “A little cream, usually.” He seemed to grasp why she was asking and shook his head. “But I don’t want any now, truly. Although if you want some...?”
    “No, I’m fine.”
    Aimee settled back against the seat. Frank appeared ill at ease, unlike at the barn dance. He kept glancing around him, as if he were nervous. Aimee liked the idea of making someone nervous. She’d always been the one who had to try to impress Tom, to keep up with him. Let Frank see how sophisticated she was and worry whether he could keep up with her .
    “What’s your favorite type of food?” she asked. “As you probably saw, I’m quite fond of Italian cuisine, although I do try to lighten the heavier dishes. Everyone’s so health-conscious these days.”
    “My favorite food? Most anything, I’d say.” When she just waited, he added, “My mother makes really good biscuits and gravy.”
    Biscuits and gravy? Was he still playing the turn-of-the-century farm boy about to go fight in the big, bad war? But they were on her turf now. Okay, Charlene’s, technically, but she saw no reason to keep catering to the time travel fantasy.
    “Comfort food,” she smiled at him. “Who cares about the carbs, right?”
    “Um, right.”
    “If you don’t have a particular type of food you like, what about movies? What’s your favorite genre?”
    He continued to look blank. “Genre?”
    “You know, sci-fi, drama, horror, Westerns?”
    “Josiah and I watched a movie about a horse. It was