by Tonya Kappes
She should’ve wished for her business to continue to do well, so she and Hayes would have a place to live, but she didn’t. She’d changed her wish.
She swallowed hard.
Without even thinking about it, she had wished that she’d see Cole again.
Tramp was starving by the time they got back home. Liz opened a can of his favorite soft food, so he wouldn’t bother her while she ate Mamie’s good home cooking.
Tramp bounced around while she worked her way around the country kitchen. He was a good dog. The more she thought about it, Cole made a lot of sense. She must be firmer with Tramp—show him who’s boss.
She sat on the floor next to Tramp with her steaming Styrofoam cup of beans.
“I know. Sad.” Tramp licked her face. “I’m having a dinner date with my dog.”
The house was silent as they ate. The silence was something Liz tried to do without. She was usually either at the office or home with the radio on. That was the hardest part about being divorced, but she’d rather have silence than be in a three-person marriage.
Tramp ran off after he was finished.
“Sure, go on. I can’t even keep my own dog company.” Liz laughed as she stood up.
She walked back to change out of her favorite pair of jeans and wipe away the evidence of her disastrous morning.
“Damn.” She rarely said a negative word, much less a cuss word. She picked her jeans up off the floor after she peeled them off. A pair of $200 Seven jeans—ruined.
After inspecting the hole, she knew there was no way she could salvage them. People put cool patches on jeans all the time, just not Seven jeans. Hearing Tramp scratching at the door, she put the jeans aside, she put on a pair of shorts and let him out.
“Come on, buddy. It’s way too cold to go for a walk, besides see my knee?” Liz pointed to her knee and Tramp sniffed it. “Yeah, you know what you did. Thanks to Cole.”
He turned and eagerly scratched at the door again. He was ready to go outside, the colder the better.
The snow was still falling heavily. She was sure they already had more than the three inches the weather man had called for. Granted, he was the weather man from Lexington, but it was close enough that they have the same weather.
Tramp darted out the door before she could look at the gate. She couldn’t remember if she’d locked it or not.
She slipped on her UGGS that were next to the door and pulled the kitchen door closed behind her.
“Tramp, stop all the barking.” She said in a hushed whisper.
The last thing she needed was a neighbor calling the police about a dog disturbance.
“Very good. Good watchdog.” Cole peered over the gate as he dropped a dog treat. “Watching after his momma I see.”
His voice startled her and she jumped. His arm was already over and unlocking the latch. Tramp jumped up on Cole, excited to see him. He wasn’t the only one. Liz wanted to run up and jump on him too, but she held back.
“Did you follow me home?” Liz anticipated his answer. She wanted him to say yes and that he just wanted to get to know her better.
“No. I got your address off of your registration form.” He held the same papers up, and then put his hand out. “Truce?”
“Truce,” she said, shaking his hand.
She pulled her hand back quickly. She wasn’t able to control herself in front of him and she didn’t like it.
She walked back toward the door and felt him following close behind. She recognized his Abercrombie cologne from earlier in the day.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms.
She felt stupid standing there, shivering, in a t-shirt, shorts, and UGGS, but liked the way his eyes scanned her body and finished at her lips.
She tried not to stare. For some reason, his plaid flannel shirt and jeans sent her into a tailspin. She’d always been attracted to the businessman type, but that hadn’t gotten her anywhere.
“Change,” she whispered, thinking about his appearance. “Change is good.”
“What?” Cole squatted down to pat Tramp, resting his forearms on his thighs, his big brown eyes staring up at her.
She didn’t mean to say it out loud, but she wasn’t used to having someone around when she was thinking out loud to herself.
“Coffee? I was asking if you wanted a cup of coffee.” She let him hold the door for her.
She moved around her kitchen, trying to look busy by getting a filter, the coffee, and a couple of mugs. He took a seat on the bench she’d installed. It was the first major project she’d done when she bought the house.
When she moved in, the kitchen had been less than desirable, but with her knack for design, she was able to strip the faux oak and create an antique white to go with the cottage-style feel she was going for. The butcher-block island came from Grandberry Falls Antiques and matched perfectly. The chandelier was also a perfect addition and had been a great deal from the Busy Bee Yarn shop.
Clarice, the owner of the yarn shop where Liz has all of her tassels made, was throwing it out. All Liz had to do was ask for it, and Clarice was more than happy to give it to her.
“You’re what?” Clarice had asked her.
“Putting it in my kitchen.” Liz was becoming well known for her unusual ideas and sense of style. But it was good for Grandberry Falls. Bringing new ideas, while incorporating the cozy small town charm, was quickly becoming her forte.
She completed the look with a wrap-around bench and an old farm table. Grandberry Falls Chronicle had featured her kitchen in the spring edition when it featured her new business. and it had led to more clients. It was a much-needed boost in income since she’d spent most of her savings on the remodel.
“Yes, black with sugar. I like it sweet.” He raised himself up on his elbows, resting them on the granite table. “I like what you did with the place.”
She slowly poured the coffee. She wanted this to last as long as she could. She was comfortable around him, he made her feel safe in a strange way. And with Hayes away at his dad’s, Cole was welcome company.
“Thanks. I really loved it, but it needed a lot of work.” She sat the cups on the table, the steam swirling.
“I grew up in this house,” he said. “My parents owned this place.”
“Oh really?” She had no clue about the history of the home. It was in foreclosure when she bought it. It had been a steal with a lot of potential.
He picked up the spoon and stirred the sugar in. “I’ve been out of town for a couple years and the guy I sold it to skipped town.”
“You didn’t try to save it?” Liz wasn’t surprised.
Everyone in Grandberry Falls had owned something she had in the house, or so she’d been told.
“I couldn’t make it back to negotiate.” His low tone was a little awkward.
Cole sat up a little taller, his face became stern, and she decided not to question him any further.
They sat in what some people would say might be uncomfortable silence, except, the silence didn’t seem uncomfortable.
He leaned forward and lowered his voice, “Thank you, Liz, for not kicking me out, and for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome. My southern hospitality doesn’t allow me to be uncivilized. It’s the golden rule.” She watched his eyes. It’s as though she could see right into his soul. There was something about him that intrigued her, and it wasn’t just his looks.
“What is the golden rule, Ms. Day?” He asked softly, mockingly.
Obviously she was entertaining him. She looked deeper, trying figure out if he was making fun of her or not.
“Do unto others Mr. …” She realized she had no clue what his last name was.
“Michaels. Cole Michaels.” He took another drink while staring at her
His compelling eyes riveted her to the spot.
“Well Mr. Michaels, do unto others as you would have done unto you. I tell Hayes that every day.” She watched his eye
s bounce from her eyes to her shoulders and then back up to her lips. “Maybe you could learn a lesson or two from that.”
Cole got up and refilled his mug. He moved easily around her kitchen, and she liked how at home he seemed there. Maybe he was just comfortable being in his childhood home.
He walked over to the refrigerator, a storyboard of Liz’s life, removed a magnet and inspected a picture of Hayes.
“Is this Hayes?” He held up the picture.
This was unchartered territory for her. No man, not even her ex-husband, had ever stepped into the privacy of her new home, and anyone who knew Hayes, knew him from being with his mom around town.
“It is.” It brought a smile to her face. Hayes was standing in front of the waterfall, and his expression showed how happy he was. He thought it was the coolest thing.
“Where’s his dad?” The magnet snapped back onto the refrigerator.
That’s a little bold, she thought. She didn’t tell too many people about her personal life, especially not strangers. Well, he was practically a stranger.
“You’re not married—right?” Cole sat back down on the bench, this time much closer to her than before.
She enjoyed the look in his eyes. There was a sense of eagerness. Him, wanting to know more about her made her giddy.
She wiggled her ring finger in the air.
“Divorced. Hayes spends every other weekend with his father back in Cincinnati.”
She still wasn’t used to hearing herself say the “d” word, even though she was glad it was over.
His body melted back into the bench. She liked the way he softened when he heard that Hayes’ father was not in the picture.
She walked over to the refrigerator and pointed out the people in her life. For some reason she wanted him to know there was no other man in her life.
“That’s my sister, nephew…” She trailed off when she noticed Cole stand up, rip off a paper towel and wet it under the faucet.
Without a word, he took her by the hand and sat her down in the chair.
She shivered.
Taking the paper towel, he carefully blotted the scrape on the palm of her hand.
She hadn’t notice the dried blood from her fall earlier. She took a couple of deep breaths, trying to stop the dizzying current racing through her.
“Listen Liz, I came here to talk to you about Tramp.” He said matter-of-factly.
He seemed to be peering at her intently.
She had a hard time concentrating on his words. Her eyes trailed from his lips to his biceps. She never knew peeling a band aid could be so sexy.
“I see a lot of potential in Tramp. With some time and effort, I think he could be a real candidate for some dog shows. He has great skills that just need to be refined. Plus, it will help your situation with him not listening to your commands. It just needs to be refined.” He pulled away from her.
“I don’t know.” Her cheeks flushed. Somehow she’d misread his body language. He was obviously here for Tramp, not to get to know her. “I have to think about this. I just want to be able to walk down the street with my family.”
There was no way she was going to look at him. She held the paper towel to her palm pretending to blot some more.
“Fine. I am going to leave you with some literature about dog shows. Do me a favor and look through them. Give it careful consideration.” He stood up. “I will need you and Hayes to help.”
He looked at her intently, and then strolled to the front door.
She followed him in silence.
“I love the wood burning stove you added.” Cole walked over to the fireplace.
Some people see hearths as country, but Liz thought it added charm and a homey feel.
A feel she needed to provide to Hayes.
“I’ve always wanted one and I thought it would go well with the cottage.” She turned the damper up to blow a little more heat into the room, causing the room to instantly fill with the smell of the live Christmas tree standing next to it.
“My mom used to put the tree there too.”
Liz liked the way Cole’s eyes lit up like a little boy’s. She wondered if he was thinking about when he was a little boy, standing in this very spot.
Fate. She sighed.
“Please let me know if I can do anything for you.” He lounged causally against the doorframe. “And think about Tramp.”
“I will.” She would definitely keep him in mind if she needed anything or nothing.
She shut the door behind Cole and parted the linen drapes she’d made to cover the large windows. Her reflection in the glass caught her eye. She pulled back and looked in the mirror hanging next to the door.
“Shit.” She sighed and ran her fingers through her long hair. Her bangs were disheveled and her mascara smudged down her face. She would have never let Cole see her this way. No wonder he didn’t seem interested. Who would with her looking like she just crawled out of hibernation?
“Hello?” Liz melted into the overstuffed leather chair next to the door as she answered the phone. She parted the curtains one last time to see Cole’s truck disappear down the street.
“Where have you been?” Liz’s sister, Kristen, asked with relief in her voice “I want you to know that I called mom when I couldn’t reach you. I know that Hayes is with his dad. I saw them at the game last night. When you are alone, I just never know what will crawl out of those woods and take you.”
Liz loved her sister, but she hated the mothering that came along with being the younger of the two. Since Liz moved to Grandberry Falls, Kristen called every day. She acted like it was across the country and not just two hours away.
“How did Hayes seem?” Liz wasn’t going to answer any more silly questions. She was an adult, and this was her life.
“Fine. Now, where have you been?” Kristen wasn’t going to let it go—yet.
“He was very excited about going to the Bengals game.” She knew if she continued to ignore her sister, that Kristen would drop it.
“Mom is going to call and ask where you’ve been.” She threatened, as though Liz was going to cave.
“Great. I’d love to hear from her.” Liz loved toying with her. “So, how did you say Hayes was?”
Liz wanted to get back to more important issues. Not that Cole wasn’t an important issue, he was, and on so many levels.
First she had to figure out how he knew Jenna and why they refused to talk about each other, and secondly, the feelings he stirred inside of her were uncharted territory.
“They were at the concession stand. I told him about Mike’s birthday party and told him I’d get with you about it.”
Liz laughed at the thought of her poor nephew’s birthday party. Kristen was always planning these elaborate events. When Mike turned one, she had a big bouncy house and slide. What one year old can jump in a bouncy house? He was the first grandchild/nephew to come along, so there were no other children attending. People talked for years about how Liz jumped around the big plastic house.
“When is the party and what are we doing? Going on a cruise?” Liz always made funny remarks about Mike being spoiled and getting outlandish parties.
“Funny, Liz. Mike just wants to have a party here. Low key with friends and a movie. I’m planning on having it on your weekend so you can come home. Where you belong.”
Liz hadn’t been able to get home much over the past year. Starting a new business and trying to lay some roots down for Hayes had taken up any free time they had. Plus, Hayes had made some really great friends, and in his spare time, he was usually playing with them.
It was only two hours away, why hadn’t they come see her, she wanted to argue, but didn’t. It was much easier to keep the peace.
“I’ll drop Hayes off for the weekend and let him stay on his own. He doesn’t really want mommy around for a sleepover, even if it is with family.” Good excuse, she smiled. She loved how she made an excuse at her son’s expense to see Cole again—alone. “I put
Tramp in obedience classes and they’re on Saturdays.”
A few grunts and groans later, the plans were made and Liz finally hung up.
Guilt…guilt had become Liz’s constant companion. Guilt was the Yin to her Yang. When her Yang was flying high, guilt reared its ugly head to remind her. Just like today with Cole. It was a happy time for her, and then the phone call from Kristen reminded her of the guilt.
“Okay Tramp, I am going to be really lazy and let you run around the back.” Tramp jumped up from the woven rug in front of the wood burning stove when she said his name.
Knowing she’d regret it later, she let him out the kitchen door to run around in the back yard. Her leg was hurting too much to walk him, but she felt energized enough to get some work done. As a matter of fact, she hadn’t ever felt this energized when Hayes was away. She spent those weekends in bed watching old Doris Day movies and eating popcorn. Anything to fill the empty void left in Hayes’ absence.
“Hurry up. It’s cold.” She yelled out into the bitter cold.
She watched Tramp take his sweet time, and had a strong urge to hit The Busy Bee before Clarice closed it. There were never any set hours. Like most shops in Grandberry Falls, they closed when the owner wanted to go home for the day.
For a moment, she thought about Cole, and how glad she was that he had stopped by. She put her fingertips up to her mouth. No one had made her smile like that in a long time. She did deserve to have fun. She did deserve to be happy. This might be her time.
FOUR
“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.”
~Harlan Miller
The twinkling lights in all the shop windows were so inviting. She really did want The Mole Hole to survive, even if the eminent domain was successful, and that was a big if. She wasn’t sure if Hazel Greenlee was going to let that happen or not.
Jenna had been begging for Hazel to contact Maggie, but Hazel didn’t want to bother her.
“She has enough on her plate,” was Hazel’s reaction, according to Jenna.
But Liz sure could use some reassurance that everything was going to be okay.