Chapter 10

© Copyright 2006 by Elizabeth Delayne

Chad stretched his tired muscles, his long arms pressing up, pulling at his lower back. He sat alone in his office, a small, cluttered room at the back of his shop. His desk was littered with papers, busy work he was trying to plow his way through, cords were draped over chairs, other trade tools gathering dust on the floor.

He had enough to do without a certain sprite of a woman dogging his every thought.

He saw her smiling, welcoming him in. Laughing when the phone rang . . . then holding back the tears, wanting to be so brave.

Reaching into his top desk drawer, Chad pulled out an old frame. It had only been a year since he had been able to take the picture from his desk. Only a year since he had let himself let go even a little.

The photograph was of Bethany and their son, taken just after his one month birthday. His throat ached as he looked at them, making himself remember the moments that had haunted him for five years now. Of getting the call, going to the hospital.

Coming home to that house alone. Where they had brought their son. Where they had watched him grow, falling in love with him in every moment. And his mother. . .

Beth had been the most beautiful woman he had ever known. Her smile . . . it had been her smile that had caught his attention in high school. She had been walking down the hall, talking to someone . . . and she turned, caught his eye, and smiled. Her blond hair had been like a halo around her face, her eyes so open and loving.

She had been beautiful. She had been everything.

Chad made himself put the picture away, tried to focus on business, but it was Meredith that captured his attention. Unless he forced himself to think of Beth, there was only one person’s business he seemed to care about. And it didn’t seem to be his own.

The bells of the front door finally chimed and Chad rose from his desk wearily. It was almost closing time. He figured a nice long evening sitting in his favorite chair would make him feel much better.

Or there were other things, he thought as he saw who entered the shop.

"Hi," Chad noticed the tired circles under her eyes that had appeared since he had last seen her. He wondered how tough it was with her mother home from the hospital—tried not to let the possibilities bother him, "What can I do for you?"

"I got your message yesterday and thought about it," her eyes were sad and he knew that she had come because she had run out of options, "I think it would be a good idea if we went rewired the house. Now."

Chad only nodded. "We'd be happy to do the job."

Practical, she reminded herself. She had to be practical. "I know you would, and figured as much, but the only funds coming in are mine, and I won’t touch Britt and Kelly’s social security checks. I have more than enough for a single woman, but for all this is . . ." Turning away, Meredith tried to shrug off the tension.

For the second time since they met, Chad reached out and turned her to face him. Maybe he had no right to touch her, but he was helpless in her grief. He saw the strain and the longing. It was the longing that made him drop his hands, step back. He did not want to be the answer to such need. It was his turn to be practical.

"We have several different payment plans, so we should be able to work out something. I could go over them with you. Help you find one to fit your needs."

Meredith's unsteady eyes met his. "Now?"

It was closing time, Chad knew without looking at his watch. He could ask her to come back tomorrow and he could go home, relax, and work on keeping her out of his mind.

Or he could do something about the weariness he knew she could not hide. Give her a break from the situation that was draining her.

❊ ❊ ❊

The little restaurant across the street from Chad’s shop looked like so many of the buildings located in small Texas towns. Brick, built two stories high with plain windows and a flat roof. It appeared as old and sad as the rest of the town, but that was part of the charm.

The inside had been transformed. It was warm and decorated in pale peaches, ivory and white. Candles, individually lit on each table, were the only light in the room. Soft piano music played from the overhead speakers.

The hostess led them to a table near the back and left them to look over the menu. Chad liked the way Meredith relaxed as she took the atmosphere in. "I've never been in here before."

"You haven't?" Chad replied in surprise. The Cafe was old hat for most of Glendale. "This place has been around for nearly two years."

A soft blush appeared on Meredith's round cheeks. "I don't get home much," was all she said.

"I don't come here often."

“I didn’t picture this as your type of place.”

“No,” he agreed, and if he had of been thinking of himself, he would not be here, “but there was a time that someone taught me about the finer things in life.”

Meredith nodded, knowing he was talking about Bethany, knowing her feelings were intruding onto where Bethany’s had once been exclusive.

She lifted her menu and glanced down, forcing herself to concentrate on her own hunger. She had skipped lunch in hopes of working on some of the ads she had been assigned. The ideas were still rolling through her mind, making her fingers itch for her pencils.

If only she had the time to work.

Meredith looked over at Chad, watching him and wondering if she was the one making him so unhappy. There were moments when she saw him look at her with an intensity that caused her insides to quiver. And others times it was almost as if he was wearing a sign that told her to stay away.

If only she knew how he felt, or understood what she felt. When he touched her, both times, Meredith had felt something like electricity, as if he absorbed it when he was working and it came out of him when he touched her. She hoped he felt it too. She really had no intention of getting involved with anyone, but Chad just broke down the resolve.

Meredith had a good job, a family to take care of, a mother who needed her . . . and when things settled, a life of her own in the Metroplex.

Chad was older, owned a business and had a life of his own. From just growing up in Glendale and being just a middle school ked when Bethany was a senior and a neighbor to Bethany’s best friend, she knew what kind of woman he had been married to before.

She also knew he had a rough time after Bethany's death, knew how special Bethany had been to everyone.

They ordered and ate on separate tickets. Chad showed her the forms and explained them to her. She had been working on her mother's checkbook earlier and knew what she did not have, but she had three projects coming up that promised to bring in enough money.

"Can I think about it tonight?" Meredith asked as they walked back across the street to their separate cars. It was hard to commit to tying up her money for the next year.

"Sure. Take as long as you need."

"I'll be by in the morning."

Chad looked down at her and smiled. Pulling his wallet out of his back pocket, in a completely male gesture, he took out a business card and a pen that was really too big for the shabby leather case. He wrote on it and handed it too her. "Give me a call if you have any questions," he told her, "or need anything. At anytime.”

Meredith was on the verge of asking him why when she saw the look in his eyes. She had seen it before . . . .

Chad pulled her into his arms and held her. He did not kiss her, or make any other move toward her. She relaxed, not really sure why, listening to his steady heart beat.

"See you, Meredith," he said as he released her. "Remember, if you need anything, give me a call."

Meredith nodded, more out of shock than agreement. She climbed in her car and he waited for her to start it and pull away before he went to his van.

Only when she was half-way home did she look at the business card in her hand. "Johnson Electricity," the front read, and the back . . . .

A small smile appeared on her lips. The back said, "I mean it. Anything. Even hugs. I specialize in those." His number was written plainly, but she doubted she would ever call him. He was a man with a kind heart, but wondered if it had room enough for her, her family, her mother, their troubles.

Besides, she was a city girl now.

She needed to remember that.


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