His Unplanned Lesson

by Nickie Nalley Seidler

  “Wow, you’re an all-star!” He yelled.

  I grinned as I got up from the stands. I threw the ball back towards him and he got a slight feel for how powerful my arm was. I jumped down the stands and walked to him, while he couldn’t wipe that grin off his face.

  “Want to play?”

  “I’d love too, but I really need to get home and see what’s going on. I’d love to hit you up on that offer another time, though.” I punched his arm lightly, playing around with him.

  “Right, let’s get you home.”

  “Good game! Your team played awesome!”

  “I love teaching these kids. They’re so fun and down to Earth. They’re here because they want to play and I love it. I’m glad you came.”

  “Me too. It was nice.”

  He gathered up all the bats and put them in his bag. We walked slowly to the truck and as tempted as I was to grab his hand, it’s been too early and soon for everything else, so I wanted to take this slow too. It was very tempting, though.

  The truck sped through town and my nerves kicked in again. The music was down low and it was almost like I could hear my thoughts pounding in my head so loudly that he’d be able to hear them too. The condition of my house made me want to hurl. I knew money was going to be involved and I wasn’t sure how much or how I’d come up with it, but it had to be fixed. That was home and I had to do what it took to keep it up.

  We finally pulled down Potter Road and many people were returning to their homes. Rugs and carpets were put to the curb along with other ruined items from water damage. Once we pulled up to my house, the tears started to well up in my eyes. I could feel the tight pit in my stomach making me feel sick. I got out of his truck and headed towards the front door. Water had receded, thankfully. As I unlocked the door I didn’t see much damage other than probably a foot a water that was in there, that now left everything wet and muddy with sand. I was so happy that before I left, I had unplugged everything and put up the important stuff. My floors were covered in wet sand and just muck from the water. There was a line on the wall and that’s how I knew how high the water had gone up to. My kitchen was up a good foot from the rest of the house and thankfully it doesn’t look like water reached the kitchen area. I was seriously blessed for that because I’m not sure my stove or other appliances would have survived the water otherwise.

  “Well, it’s not that bad.” Jake walked in from the door behind me with my bag, setting it down on top of the couch. He took a moment to look around and didn’t seem to be bothered by what he saw.

  “It’s not that bad, no, but my floors are ruined. My walls need to be cleaned and re-painted. It’s a lot of work I wasn’t counting on doing with no job.” I shook my head. Pacing the house, I started to pick up whatever I could find that needed off the floor and to dry. I went to the closet and grabbed every towel I could and opened the windows to get some wind flow in the house. I had to figure out how to dry all of this.

  “I can bring in some heavy duty fans from work. I could probably get you a good deal on flooring, too.”

  “You don’t need to help or pity me.”

  “I didn’t say I’d do any of the work.”

  I looked at him and tried to figure him out. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “For fuck’s sake, sometimes asking for help is okay. I’m going to help you whether you like it or not.”

  “What if I don’t want you to?”

  He walked up closer to me and slid his hand softly down my cheek, rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip. “You will want me to.” He leaned down slowly, aiming for my lips but moved his face at the last minute and kissed my cheek softly. Just the touch of his lips on my cheek sent me those deep butterflies in the pit of my stomach. What was it with this man?

  “You got a mop?” He asked.

  I nodded and pointed towards my linen closet.

  A little while later, the floors were all mopped and as much of the sand we could get out, was out. I tried my damned hardest to get stuff dry, but there was no cross breeze. My small fan wasn’t cutting it either. Jake’s cell phone went off and it was a little after midnight. We were both exhausted and had been at this for hours. I knew I had to call it a night for both of us or this man would never stop.

  He took a call and stepped outside. I was curious who was calling him so late, but frankly it wasn’t my business. I plopped down on the sofa and propped my feet up. I was beat and definitely done for the day. I didn’t know how to thank him enough for everything he had done for me. I knew I had to do something or give him something for all his hard work and dedication to a stranger like myself. After just a minute or so he walked back in.

  “You giving up?”

  “I’m calling it a night for both of us. I’m exhausted and you’ve got to be.”

  He walked up closer to the couch and reached his hand out for mine. I took his hand in mine and stood up. “I’ll be back tomorrow after work.”

  “Seriously, Jake, you don’t have to do this. I can figure out how to do this all on my own. I’m sure you have a life to attend to.”

  “Can I hug you?” he asked.

  “You haven’t asked me what you could do to me up till this point. So why are you asking me now?”

  His arms wrapped around me and pulled me close to him. I could feel his heart beating out of his chest and the sweat all over his body from the heat this place contained. He squeezed me tight before letting me go. Looking down deep in my eyes, he kissed my forehead. Forehead? Really? Usually the forehead was like a best friend kind of kiss. This man just had me so confused. I didn’t know what to think about all of this. Hell, it was so soon there wasn’t much to think yet.

  “I like you, Sadie. I want to help because I’m able and knowledgeable. And I like you.” He brushed my hair back away from my face. “Get some rest.” He turned and walked towards the door and left my heart rushing from the thrill of his touch. The thing I couldn’t understand was, was it his touch or just the touch that I haven’t felt in so long from anybody that it could be any man making me feel this way right now? I almost didn’t want to question it. Just needed to enjoy the moment.

  “Bye, Jake.”

  “I left my cell phone number on the counter, if you need me.” He walked out the door before I could say anything else.

  I sprinted over to the kitchen counter and sure enough, there was a napkin with his number written on it. I smiled and felt giddy all over because I had Jake Dunn’s number.

  Chapter 5

  I’d been going to bed so late the last few nights, trying to get this stuff organized so I could buy the flooring and paint. Jake got caught up at work so he hasn’t been able to help me out lately. He kept saying how bad he felt, but in reality, I wasn’t upset because I could do this on my own. I was able to wash all the floors again and get the last of the sand out. Scrubbing the walls down with soap and water was getting the nasty smell out. It was coming together.

  The doorbell rang and I hurried over, hoping to see Jake standing behind it. I opened the door wide and saw Luke, to my surprise.

  “Hey, you. How’s it going over here? Get a lot of damage?” He asked, peering his eyes over my shoulder and looking around.

  “Luke! Just the flooring needs to be replaced and I want to install tile. Come on in.” I gestured, opening the door wider.

  Luke walked past me and sat on the couch, taking a look around. Luke was charming. He had the redneck look to him, but the good kind. He wore those Levis that fit snugly to his hips, wearing that red rag in his back pocket; Bruce Springsteen kind of feel. His shaggy hair poking out from underneath his white ball cap and those piercing blue eyes that matched his blue Ford shirt. He was a pure man by judgment. A carpenter look.

  “What about you, lots of damage?”

  “Nah, I have tile down already, so just a messy mop up. My painter, my brother, is coming up over the weekend to help me paint. You need any help?”

  “I’m okay.” I sat down on the couc
h next to him. Even though it was morning, these last few days have worn me out. My phone dinged in my pocket and I reached to see who it was. It was a text message from Jake.

  Jake: How’s it going?

  Sadie: It’s going. Luke just stopped by to hang out for a bit and distract me.

  Jake: Ah.

  Sadie: Will I see you today or tonight?

  Jake: I’m trying to make it out tonight. The storm left a lot of damage for my crew.

  Sadie: No worries

  Jake: How long is Luke going to be there?

  Sadie: I don’t know.

  “You want to go grab some breakfast? I’m starved and figured you needed a break as much as I did.” Luke looked over at me, while I had my phone in my lap texting Jake. It sounded perfect, actually.

  “Sounds wonderful. Let me get dressed.” I stood up and headed into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.

  I texted Jake back. Sadie: Luke just asked me to breakfast so we’re going to grab something to eat.

  Jake: Well, looks like you don’t need me…have fun.

  Was he getting jealous over a breakfast with Luke? I barely knew Jake, why would he be getting jealous? I brushed it off and got dressed, pulling my jeans up and grabbed a white tank top. I brushed my hair and tied it up in a messy bun.

  “Ready?” I opened the door, to see Luke going through an album I had set on the coffee table.

  “These your parents?”

  I nodded and smiled. “Yup.” Oh, how I missed them.

  I grabbed my purse and headed towards the door, giving him a hint that I wanted to leave. He closed the book up and followed after me. Once I locked up the door, we walked over to his place and took his car. The diner wasn’t far, but I was starving.

  “So, that friend of yours, Jake, he’s pretty nice,” I stated nonchalantly, making friendly conversation after we placed our orders.

  “He’s a nice guy. You like him?” His eyes darted to mine.

  “Maybe.” I shrugged my shoulders.

  “I didn’t figure Jake being your type,” he teased jokingly, with that goofy smirk on his face.

  “You know what Luke. After Bobby, I have no clue what my type is anymore. I’m just keeping my eyes open and my heart guarded.”

  “Good idea, keep that heart guarded, Sadie. Especially with a guy like Jake.”

  I played with the napkin on the table. I wasn’t sure what he meant but didn’t think too much into it.

  I got a few texts back and forth to Ava. She’s been so busy we haven’t had time to talk or meet up. Left me pretty lonely, but I’d survive. The only person really on my mind was Jake.

  ~*~

  I hadn’t heard from Jake the rest of the day. Either he was really busy or jealous over nothing. Luke spent most of the day with me. Really, the next step in my process would be buying the supplies and I figured I’d try and go tomorrow. My mind kept drifting to Jake, though. What was it about him? I needed to clean, that would get my mind off everything. I walked to the kitchen and opened up the cabinet under the sink to get my cleaning supplies out. I took out Pledge and a dust rag and started making my rounds. As I started cleaning over the entertainment center, I came across a home movie laying on the top shelf. I stood on my tip toes and reached to get it down and blew the dust off. It wasn’t titled, just marked a year that was five years ago. I popped the movie in and sat down on the edge of my oversized loveseat. The movie started going and my parents were first to pop on the screen. It looked like the night of homecoming because I was in the background, dressed in a navy blue dress I had picked out. I scooted back on the couch and watched my parents talk to the camera like they were so excited to send me off to this high school dance.

  Then the doorbell rang in the video, and it hit me. I knew who was at that door. Sure enough, the camera pointed to the door, towards his grand entrance. In entered Bobby, dressed so handsome in his black suit and tie. He wore a navy tie to match me and he was so excited for this dance. He rushed over to me and swooped me up in his arms and gave me a big kiss. My parents awed in the video and kept it plastered on us. I could hear my mom shed a tear because she was always so happy to see us so in love. His big, warm arms enveloped me like I had remembered. His eyes just looked mesmerized into mine.

  I couldn’t take the video much longer before the tears started pouring out of my eyes. Looking into Bobby’s eyes, that were once so full of life and love, it was so hard for me to believe that man was gone. So hard for me to believe that our love was gone. My life was so difficult ever since the day he left me. Eerily enough, I knew he was sitting right next to me, watching this video with me in spirit. I knew I wasn’t alone, but I knew I was so very alone at the same time. As much as this video hurt me to watch, I couldn’t peel my eyes from it. I was glued to that screen. I didn’t want it to stop. It was like reliving all my time with Bobby all over again. But the heartache was too much.

  A knock at the door startled me. I glanced up at the clock and noticed it was quarter to ten at night. Not a single light was on in the house and my tears wouldn’t stop. I paused the video and made my way to the door.

  Opening it up, it was Jake.

  As soon as I saw him, I closed the door. I didn’t want him to see me like this. He yelled through the door, “Open up, what’s wrong? Sadie?”

  “Just go away.” I cried out and slid down the back of the door, till my body hit the floor with a thud. I heard the knob jiggle and before I knew it Jake was pushing his way through the door while I slid over, slumped down, and crying my eyes out.

  He kneeled down before me and grabbed me up in his arms. “Sadie, what’s the matter? Why are you crying?” He whispered at me in his soothing, but gentle voice.

  “He fucking left me.” I spit out between sobs, while I lunged into Jake’s arms and buried my head into his shoulder. His fingers ran through my hair and held me.

  “Who left you, sweetie?” He pet my hair like I was a doll, comforting me in any way possible.

  After minutes of sobbing my life away into Jake’s arms, the arms I was so grateful were there for me, I looked up at him, calming myself down.

  He lifted me off the ground and wiped away the floodgates and closed them with a kiss to my cheek. “I’m here, what’s the matter?”

  I walked over to the couch with him and his eyes lingered to the TV that showed a stilled screen of the video I was watching. He took the remote gently from my hand and pressed play. Bobby flashed on the screen while my Dad held the camcorder and Mom flashed the pictures of us by the doorway before we were off to homecoming. Tears released again and he cut the TV off. He must have known what he was looking at.

  He reached his arm around me and brought me in close to him. “It’s okay. It’s okay to cry over him. It’s okay to miss them.”

  “I miss them every day. I’m sorry. The crazy is coming out.” I wiped my tears and dried my face with my arm. My blubbery mess of a self, tried to pull it together.

  “Don’t ever apologize for who you are. You’re just hurting, Sadie. It’s okay. You’re not crazy because of it.”

  “Can we just forget about this? Did you come straight from work?”

  He looked at me briefly, digging those eyes back into my soul like he didn’t want to avoid the topic. But I wanted to be like him for a change and be brief with things I didn’t want to discuss.

  “Yeah, just got off.”

  “You smell like a hooker’s perfume. This is how you look coming off your construction job?” I looked at him weary eyed and confused. The smell on him became stronger. Something was off about him, my senses told me.

  “I stopped at my Mother’s to drop something off. Must have been her perfume.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. Wasn’t sure whether or not that was believable. Then again, I didn’t know why I was doubting him other than the fact I was having a shitty night.

  “Tell me about your Momma?” I was curious. He had never talked about his family before.

 
He leaned on the edge of the couch. “Not much to know. My parents divorced and my mom remarried a douche bag husband. My dad went MIA and probably ran off with another woman and had another family. Not a happy story you’d want to hear.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

  “Don’t worry about it. Let’s watch a movie.” He reached in his jacket and pulled out a rented movie. Dirty Dancing? Wow, I had no clue he’d want to watch a chick flick with me.

  “Dirty Dancing? You’re going to watch sexy Patrick do his dancing thang with me?” I giggled.

  “Nobody leaves Sadie in the corner.” He chuckled. Then got up to pop the movie in the DVD player.

  He cuddled back against me on the couch and wrapped his warm arms around me. I still smelled that perfume smell but I didn’t let it bother me. As Patrick came on the screen, all I could do was smile. This movie was always a favorite and I’m so glad he randomly thought to bring this for a movie night. He gets super bonus points for this. I got lost in his hold while we watched the movie.

  Morning came and I was tucked nicely in my bed. I turned to the side of me and noticed that Jake wasn’t here. I must have fallen asleep last night and he must have put me to bed and went on home. I saw a piece of paper sitting on the pillow next to me and it warmed my heart. Just a small note from Jake that read,

  Good Morning sunshine,

  Have a great day, I’ll be working. Enjoyed movie night.

  Jake

  The simplest of things Jake could have done and it made my day. The biggest smile washed over my face and I knew it’d be there for the rest of the day.