A moment for you

After swooning over ice- cream stand owner Rich all summer, Ellie is sure it will come to nothing… until one fateful cone changes everything

Ellie was a woman with more dimples than curves and more wrinkles from life than from laughter. She knew what it was like to have her heart filled with love and to have it broken. But despite it all, she liked herself more than she had when she was younger. Except for one tiny thing. Just like her 20-something self, she could still fall hard for a good-looking man. The heartthrob of the moment? The man who ran the ice-cream stand at the park.

He was dashing. He was friendly. His smile lit up his face, and his dark brown eyes sparkled. His hair was sprinkled with gray, and his tan proved he liked the outdoors. And the only words she’d ever said to him? “One vanilla cone, please.” Vanilla was comfort and stability— something Ellie needed in the year after her breakup.

Taking her cone from “The Crush” with a smile and a thank you, she made her way to a metal table on a patio lit with strands of white bulbs. Torches were lit to keep the last of the summer’s mosquitoes at bay.

The park was the place to be for people of all ages, especially in the transition from summer to fall. There were paddleboats for those who wanted to go out on the lake, a paved trail around it for those who preferred to stay on land and a gazebo for weddings and events. In the evening, bands would come to play old love songs.

“Mind if I join you?” The Crush’s voice interrupted. She looked up to see his radiant smile fixed on her, something that never failed to turn her mind to mush.

Ellie nodded, taking a bite of her ice cream to cool her nerves.

“I’m Rich.”

She smiled, gesturing to the milkshake in his hand. “You won’t be if you keep eating your profits.” He looked confused, then understanding dawned as he chuckled at her joke.

The sound lit a part of Ellie that had been dark for a long time.

“Funny.” He pointed at her with his shake. “I knew I liked you.” Ellie knew what she was feeling wasn’t just “like,” so she let him continue. “My name is Rich. I am not actually rich, unfortunately.” He jiggled his cup.

“She melted like ice cream at how thoughtful he was”

“Eating into those profits, as you noticed.” He stood, having stayed a couple of minutes. “You come here a lot, don’t you…?” A searching look crossed his face.

“Ellie,” she answered. He nodded as though he had already known her name.

“Well, Ellie, can you come back here Friday night? It’s my last day at the stand, and I may have some special ice cream for one lucky— and beautiful— customer.”

Ellie blushed as she nodded her assent. The week passed in a hurry and suddenly, there she was, walking toward the stand. It was busy, but to her surprise, there was no Rich in sight. Disappointment flared but then dissipated when he came around the corner, a cooler in hand and a smile on his face. Ellie’s heart jumped at the sight of it.

He led them to a table a short distance away, yet close enough that they could still hear the band in the gazebo. He opened the cooler, pulling out containers. He handed her one: two scoops of vanilla with sprinkles. “I saw you eyeing a little girl’s sprinkle cone the other day and thought you might like one. If not, I have a bowl without.”

She melted before the ice cream could, her belly doing a little shimmy at his thoughtfulness. She took a spoonful. “Mmm,” she closed her eyes for a moment, opening them to find him watching her.

Rich touched the corner of his mouth and held out a napkin. “It’s a good sign when you get it on your face.”

Ellie laughed and took another bite of ice cream, not sure how to respond. Guys liked to talk about themselves, right? And Rich did, though he asked questions in return. She learned he owned the ice-cream stand, and she told him about her clothing boutique. After a time, they sat quietly, their bowls empty as they listened to the music.

“I think we ate into your profits again,” Ellie said as the music ended.

“It was worth every penny,” Rich said. Joy settled deep inside Ellie, making her feel like they were the only ones there, like the music had been meant for them alone.

“I don’t want this night to end,” Rich admitted, his voice low in honor of the serenity around them.

Take a chance, Ellie. “Neither do I.” “Can we do this again? With something a little more substantial than ice cream?” Rich placed his palm up on the table.

“I’d like that.” Ellie put her hand in his, her ice-cream crush definitely a chance worth taking.