Nora Ray (Ray Trilogy)

chapter Seven

Jeremy and Nora met in the school cafeteria for lunch on Monday.

“You know,” Jeremy commented, “my dad is really serious about helping you become a doctor.”

“I really appreciate that. He seems like a good man.”

“Well,” Jeremy hesitated as he spoke. “He is my dad, you know.”

“That makes him really special.”

Wait a minute! Did I detect a compliment in that or did you mean something else?” he said cocking his head to the side and frowning.

“Jeremy,” Nora laughed, “You’re such a goose.”

“A goose? Me?” indignantly he replied. “I believe you are calling me names now!”

Shaking her head at his antics, she held up her hands. “I give up. I give up.”

“Thank you, my lady. That’s as it should be. Yes, Ma’am, as it should be.”

She giggled. “Jeremy, you make me laugh.”

“Ah, my mission is accomplished.”

“One more thing, my beautiful Nora, will you go to homecoming with me on Friday night?”

“I would be honored.”

“Ah, my other mission accomplished, I shall be given knighthood soon.”

Jeremy had another plan that he was almost holding his breath over. He wanted to give Nora his class ring to symbolize that they were going steady. Aah, he thought, all mine. Other boys stay away.

Fortunately the weather was nice for once for the Homecoming football game. Nora chose to wear her blue jeans, with a navy pull over sweater and matching button down cardigan sweater. She pulled her blond hair back in her favorite long braid down the back.

Jeremy came in the door to pick her up and gave a loud whistle as he looked her up and down. Her parents giggled at him and Nora turned her usual shade of red when he was around.

He placed a large white corsage on her wrist and said, “Now that I have been named a knight I will guard my queen tonight.”

“Thank you, my humble servant,” Nora replied picking up the spirit of his mood.

As they walked out the door, her parents heard him say, “Are you sure I have to be the servant?”

“It is amazing how he can pull her out of her serious mood!” Her mother commented.

Nora and Jeremy sat huddled together and held hands. When their team had a winning play they all jumped up and rooted for their team. Nora was fascinated by the coronation of the king and queen and her attendants during half time. She had never been to the Homecoming game before. Their team lost the game by two points.

They got in the car to leave. Jeremy was thinking, I hope I can get the mood right to ask her if she will wear my ring.

Nora was thinking of Danny wanting to play football. “You just wait until Danny plays football in high school. He’ll win the game!” Nora claimed with confidence.

“You go, girl. I hope we get to watch every game together when he plays.”

“I wonder,” Nora became serious while she thought out loud. “Will I be a doctor by then?”

“Nora,” Jeremy said to her as they drove out of the football parking lot, “if you want to be a doctor, you will be a doctor. Have no doubt about it.”

“There is something I have been wondering about.”

“Okay.” Jeremy questioned, “What would that be?”

Nora shook her head; we seem to be having another serious conversation. Feeling encouraged she asked, “What have you decided to study? Do you plan to go to college?”

“There is no doubt that I will go to college. My dad would have a cow if I didn’t.” He ran his hand through his hair. “That’s what my working in his law office is all about. He wants me to see all sides of being a lawyer, especially the paralegal part. He wants me to get enthused about researching old cases and finding answers to help solve cases.”

“How do you feel about doing that kind of work?”

“I don’t like being boxed up in library all day long looking through a bunch of books. After a while I feel like I can’t breathe and I want to go outside.” He shook his head, “That sounds childish, like I want to go outside and play.”

“You know,” Nora said thoughtfully, “maybe that’s just not for you, so to speak. Something inside you yearns for a job that fulfills you and makes you happy. Doing research is not your thing. What have you done that you enjoyed so much you didn’t want to stop even for lunch?”

Jeremy drove into the Dairy Mart. He ordered two hamburgers and two cherry limeades. Now, maybe, we can get a romantic mood.

“Nora,” he began with a serious frown on his face, “I have seriously given some thought to your question and I’m sure that I have the answer. You make me happy. I could spend the rest of my life holding you hand, kissing you, smelling of your hair, and adoring your beautiful face. I could make you my occupation.” He reached for her hand and gave a husky laugh.

“Jeremy, I was serious!” she exclaimed exasperated.

He brought her hand up and gave it a kiss as he continued to tease her. “Sweetheart, I feel very serious.”

Their hamburgers and cherry limeades came and they ate hungrily. When they finished, Jeremy continued. “Other than the fact that I can’t get you out of my head, and would like to have you as my occupation, the flowers at our house are there because I planted them. I enjoy working among the plants. Remember when you were at our house and my mom made reference to the flower beds?”

Nora nodded.

“The reason she mentioned me is because I designed them and did most of the work. My parents didn’t make me; I wanted to make the flower beds.”

“They are beautiful. So do you think you would like to work in your mom’s business?”

“I think so, but I can’t.”

“Why?

“My dad has a problem with it. He says that I would be working as a day laborer making pennies a day. I should go to college and make something of myself. I really don’t know what to do. I do know that I don’t want to be a lawyer, but I would break his heart and make him really mad at me.”

Nora sat and frowned. Jeremy really had a problem and she could tell that he was upset. Every son wants his father to be proud of him, but Jeremy needed to be happy, too.

“Jeremy,” Nora scooted over close to him, “I will give this some serious thought. I know we can come up with an answer that can make both of you happy.”

“Thank you, Nora, for taking my problem seriously. There has to be a way to work this out, I just haven’t thought of it yet.” Since he knew he couldn’t kiss her at the Dairy Mart he leaned over and smelled her hair. “I do have an idea that I have given considerable thought to,” he said as he started the car.

“Oh, yeah, what is that?”

He teased, “Every time I have brought you to the Dairy Mart, you have snuggled up to me. I’m going to figure out how to bring you here more often.”

She laughed and lightly punched him on the arm.

Jeremy decided the time wasn’t right to give her his ring. He thought, I’ll try another tactic.

“It is getting late and I really would like to see you tomorrow night. Do you think you could go out with me again?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“I have something in mind. I want to take you to a nice restaurant and have a nice long leisurely meal so that I can spend more time with you. How does that sound?”

“Lovely. What time?

“Would six be a good time for you?”

“I’ll be ready.”

The next morning Nora got her research books out and looked up horticulture. It seemed like the perfect field of study for Jeremy. Her dad saw her studying her books, “What’s my girl got her mind wrapped up in now?” he asked her.

“Dad, I want to talk to you about something.”

“Okay,” he said as he sat down.

“Jeremy has a problem. I hope I can help him. He has been pulled from each direction by his parents. He works for his mom on Saturdays at her flower shop and greenhouse. He works for his dad after school every day at the law office. Both of them want him to enter their occupation when he completes school, especially his dad.”

“What does Jeremy want?”

“It seems that Jeremy really loves to build flower gardens. You should see their house with all their flower beds they have all around. I have never seen so many flowers in all my life. Of course, they own the greenhouse. What I found out was that Jeremy designed all of them and they are beautiful.”

“It seems that Jeremy has a natural talent. What’s the problem?”

“The problem,” Nora responded, “is that Jeremy’s dad wants him to be a lawyer like him. Jeremy doesn’t like to do research and he doesn’t like to be stuck in a library all day.”

“I see that can be a problem. His dad doesn’t want him to work with his mother?”

“That’s not the entire problem.” Nora explained, “His dad says that if he works at the flower shop, he will be nothing but a day laborer working for pennies a day.”

“Do you think you might have a solution?” he asked.

“What do you think about Jeremy going to college to study horticulture?”

“I think it would be interesting for Jeremy but what would his father say to him about going to college to be nothing but a farmer?” He rubbed his chin and scratched his head while he thought. “You might try putting this spin on it. How about Jeremy going to college to study business administration with maybe a minor in horticulture or even a double major? That way he would be owner and contractor? He would definitely not be a day laborer working for pennies.”

“Thanks, Dad, I believe we may have the answer. He’s taking me out to a restaurant tonight at six. I will talk to him about this and see what he thinks.”

Nora was waiting for Jeremy wearing a yellow dotted Swiss dress with a full gather skirt. Her mom had helped her with her hair and piled it high on her head. She hoped she didn’t move too fast and it all would come tumbling down, but so far it still felt balanced.

Jeremy looked her up and down, whistled and said, “You are more beautiful every time I see you.” He thought, yea, tonight’s the night!

She smiled and gave him a curtsy.

He held the door for her as they went into the restaurant. They had to wait for the attendant to take them to their table; she had never been where they did that before.

As they were seated she saw all the tables covered with table cloths and cloth napkins to match. Real flowers in vases sat on each table with shiny silverware.

Jeremy watched her as she looked around with stars in her eyes.

“It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed.

“I’m glad you like it. I wanted tonight to be special.” I think I’m getting this right.

“Thank you, Jeremy. You are so kind.”

“Finally,” he teased exasperatedly, “I’ve been telling you that for a long time.”

She laughed as she teased back, “I guess I let that slip. I’ll have to watch my tongue.”

After they were seated, Nora sat forward hoping he would like the suggestion her dad made, “My dad and I talked about your little problem of college. I want to make a suggestion for you to think about, maybe it could be a solution for you.”

“I like solutions. What did you come up with?”

“If you went to college to get a degree in business administration and threw in horticulture as a minor or major with it. You would be a business owner and contractor. He couldn’t say you were nothing but a day laborer because you would have your own employees but yet you could contract and design landscaping, etc.”

Jeremy sat there thinking about what she said. “I think I like it. I definitely will give it some thought.”

The waiter brought them their food. Jeremy ordered prime rib and Nora had ordered chicken cordon blue. The food was delicious.

After the meal Jeremy stood up and reached out his hand to her. “There is a garden behind the restaurant I want you to see.” Surely I can make this romantic enough to get her to accept my class ring.

There were walkways through beautiful fragrant blooming flowers, pots full of plants, statuettes, and a water feature humming with rushing water. Near the water feature there was a bench to sit and enjoy the scene. They strolled through the garden hand in hand.

Jeremy brought her hand up to kiss the back of her hand.

She felt a melting sensation inside her. She leaned toward him to receive a kiss. He brushed a light kiss over her lips. They walked over and stood in front of the water feature for a minute, then he directed her to the bench and they sat down. He still had her hand in his. He didn’t intend to let this moment pass. He tilted her head back to kiss her again and he felt it. A sprinkle of rain fell right on the back of his neck. He opened his eyes and Nora was wiping the rain off her face and arms.

In surprise they both burst out laughing. They took off walking hurriedly for Jeremy’s car. Nice try, he thought, there goes that.

He started the car, thinking, there’s got to be a way to salvage this. I want to give her my ring. I know. I’ll take her to the greenhouse.

He drove with wipers swishing over the wind shield. He noticed Nora’s dress was a little wet and she was wiping the rain off her arms again.

He drove onto the driveway at the front of the flower shop this time and a light of recognition lit up Nora’s eyes. “Oh,” she said. This is where we bought the flowers for our flowerbeds. I guess I didn’t realize it the last time you brought me here because we came in from the alley.”

“Neat,” was all he could think to say. How can I get her in a romantic mood?

It was still lightly raining as they walked quickly to the greenhouse. He unlocked the door and ushered her in. He began rubbing his hands over her arms to wipe the rain off. Then he put his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace.

She pushed back because he was really making her wet now. “Watch it, Jeremy, you’re making me wetter.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.” Oops, messed up there. He went over and picked up a long stemmed red rose. He took it over to the counter and slipped his class ring over the stem and tied a big puffy yellow ribbon around the stem below the ring to keep it from sliding off.

This time I don’t want to mess this up even though I’m having a hard time being romantic. He walked up to her and held the red rose. Do you know that red roses symbolize love?”

She nodded.

“I am giving this red rose to you because I want you to know that I love you in spite of the rain that seemed to mess up my romantic plans,” he said as he handed her the rose.

“Jeremy, it’s beautiful! This is such a pretty bow you put on it!” She exclaimed as she inspected the rose and his workmanship. She curiously twisted the ring on it and asked, “This is an unusual ornament on it.”

Jeremy ran his hand through his damp hair. “Actually, as far as I know, you are the only one who has ever received a class ring on a red rose. Definitely not mine,” he stated.

Nora raised big blue eyes to him. “Do you want to explain what’s going on here?”

“Nora, I have been trying for two nights now to ask you to wear my class ring. I want to go steady with you. Will you be my girl?” he asked imploring with such need in his eyes.

“You have been trying for two nights?” she repeated incredulously.

“Yes,” he answered, “every time I want to be serious with you I can’t seem to think and everything goes wrong. That’s why I joke so much with you. You matter so much to me, all I want to do all the time that I’m with you is hold you and kiss you senseless and right now I’m all wet,” he said sadly hanging his head.

Nora wanted to burst out laughing he looked so pitiful. Instead she held it all in and reached up and touched his cheek, “Jeremy, I will be happy to wear your class ring.” Even if you are all wet, she snickered to herself.

Jeremy let out a big sigh and blossomed out in an ear to ear grin. “Really?”

“Really!” she laughed. She opened her arms to him and he grabbed her up and whirled her around. They were both wet anyway, she thought.