Under a Bear Moon by Carrie S. Masek Page B

part.”
    Greg waited until Ellen had run over to Matt's table, then pulled out Lynda's chair. After she was settled, he sat back down.
    Lynda was struck again by Greg's size. He dwarfed the table. Sitting there unwrapping his sandwich, he looked like the fathers she'd seen squeezed around kindergarten activity centers during open house. She felt delicate, almost tiny sitting next to him. Lynda liked the feeling.
    He took a bite of his sandwich. “What did Ellen think about your part?”
    Putting down her yogurt, Lynda shook her head. “It's weird. Ellen seemed happy for me, then she said I shouldn't do it.”
    “Do what?”
    “Accept the part. She said I shouldn't play opposite Richard. I asked her why, but she wouldn't say.”
    “Think she's jealous?”
    Lynda laughed. “Of my playing opposite Richard? No way! She had the pleasure last year and hated it. No, she sounded like she was worried about me.”
    Greg unwrapped a Twinkie and took half of it in one bite. Chewing, he muttered something to himself that sounded like, “Doesn't smell right.”
    “What?”
    “Nothing,” he said. “I just didn't like the way he looked at you this morning, that's all.”
    “Really?” Lynda asked, pleased. “You don't need to worry. Richard tends to look at me like you look at a window pane, right through.”
    “Then he's blind as well as rude.”
    Greg smiled and started on his second Twinkie. When Lynda stood to throw away her bag, Greg reached out and took her hand. “You know I'm grounded, but—” He swallowed and tried again. “Would you come to brunch with me and my folks at the Medici this Saturday?”
    “I'd love to,” she said and basked in one of Greg's 100 watt smiles.
    Halfway to pre-calc, Lynda remembered that she'd promised to help at the animal shelter Saturday morning. She'd traded shifts with another volunteer who was going out of town. Sighing, Lynda took her seat. She hated to disappoint Dr. Lopez, but no way was she missing that brunch.
* * * *
    THE FRAGRANCE of melting chocolate teased Lynda's stomach, while she waited with Greg and his mother outside the restaurant. Mr. Ursek had left them to weave his way through the weekend crush to the hostess.
    Mrs. Ursek turned to her and smiled. “I'm glad you could come with us this morning.”
    Dressed in a suit that emphasized her excess pounds without taking advantage of her height, Mrs. Ursek looked nothing like Lynda's sleek and fashionable mother. With graying blond hair and a colorless complexion, Greg's mother blended into the background. Lynda wondered if a little make-up might bring out her faded eyes and non-existent cheekbones. But then she smiled, and Lynda realized make-up would be superfluous. Her face lit like a Chinese lantern.
    Lynda smiled back. “Thank you. I'm glad to be here.”
    The restaurant door swung open and Mr. Ursek stuck out his head. “Our table is ready.”
    They sat at a large booth in the back. A sign reading “Reserved for parties of five or more” hung on the wall behind it. Lynda looked at Greg's dad and figured the hostess must have decided he counted for two.
    Mr. Ursek smiled when a copper-haired waitress set a large platter of croissants and four plates in the center of the table. “Thank you, Sandy.”
    Lynda stared at the food. When she came with her parents, they had to order before anything came.
    The waitress winked at Lynda and handed her a menu. “I put in the Ursek's regular order as soon as I saw them, but I wasn't sure what you wanted. I don't suppose you have an appetite like these two?”
    Even though Greg and his father had each taken one, there was still a mound of the chocolate-filled pastries left on the plate. Lynda handed the menu back to the server. “I'll take a single order of the Eggs Benedict and a cup of coffee, please.”
    Sandy jotted a note on her pad and smiled. “Back in a sec.”
    “Do you come here often?” Lynda asked, turning to Greg.
    Greg answered around a mouthful of