“The sounds of what?” she asked, trying not to sound like a giddy teenage girl.
“The ‘we’ in your answer and the fact that you’re willing to stand up with me and face the world. It’s nice to hear, and the best part is, I know you’re serious. We started this relationship on some rough road but you’ve hung in there with me every step.”
Randi walked over to put the dogs on their leashes so she could take them back to the car. “I’m glad to be here for you. We might not have started out on the best footing, but we’re getting there.”
“Yes, we are. I feel closer to you than anyone I’ve ever dated, and it’s scary, but in a good way.”
Randi laughed. “I’m glad you said that last part, but I know what you’re saying. It is kind of scary to think that maybe after looking for so long, you’ve finally found the right person.”
“So, you feel it, too?”
“Oh, yes, I do.”
“I do? That has a ring to it. Are you tossing out hints, Randi Sanders?”
“No, I’m not. Where I come from, the man does all the asking, and I’m not pushing or prodding, just speaking from the heart.”
Martin didn’t speak quickly and the line was silent for a few seconds. “I like that about you, Randi. You’re a lady. If you don’t mind my saying, you’re sorta old fashioned and I’m so glad I met you.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet! I am, too, Martin, and I do love you. Before we get too mushy, and you make me cry, I’m going to run off and let you get back to your script.”
“Pick you up at six?”
“Yes. I’ll see you then.”
Chapter 38
Buggies and a Bell
Mike knew that Martin had told him if he needed anything to let him know, but he was far from destitute. He had called the house and talked with Celia’s mother. She gave him a list of things they needed. He, as a single man, was no stranger to going grocery shopping.
He shopped at several different stores, and in all of them, he normally caught the eye of at least one lady before he was out the door. He figured he looked out of place shopping, but what was he supposed to do? Pay someone to shop for him? He assumed that there were other single guys who shopped, but none of them ever seemed to be in the store when he was.
Ladies were always trying to help him. They would tell him about some new brand that was better than the one he was buying. Sometimes, they hinted that they were looking for someone to date, but he’d not taken any of them up on their hints in months.
The last time he had gone out, it ended badly. The girl had an ex who was a flake. He had come to their table in a tirade. Most women, after finding out what he did for a living, thought it was boring. Or, they wanted to know how much money he made and that was the way the date would end. And that pretty much eliminated the possibility of a second date.
This was one reason he had gone out of his way to keep Celia from knowing that he was actually the owner of his family’s business. She knew that he was a mechanic and that he liked to flip houses. Both of those things were true. One item, not yet revealed that might create a problem, was that in that family business, he owned five car dealerships.
Mike went on with his shopping. This time when a couple of pretty young ladies started in his direction, he picked out the item he wanted and hurried along. He did give one of them a quick smile as he pushed his buggy past hers. He could see she was about to speak, and rude or not, he moved on. He wasn’t looking for a date with anyone but Celia.
The thought came out of the back of his mind as he reached for a box of cereal. ‘Do I really think that something may come out of this thing with Celia?
After all the times he’d told Martin that she was wrong for him, and that she was too stuck on herself, was he actually thinking about going down the same path? Was God having a good laugh at his expense for meddling in Martin’s life?
He pushed the thoughts out of his mind as he checked out. Only time would answer that question, but he did need to think about it. Was it going to bother him that she and Martin had been an item? Out of all of the women in the world, he had to pick one who had dated and slept with his best friend.
These thoughts were still floating through his mind as he pulled into the long driveway at the mansion. At his age, most anyone he might date would probably have slept with someone. It wasn’t something he thought about often, but this situation would be looking him in the face more often than usual.
Shaking his head, he busted the image into pieces of Celia and Martin kissing at the dinner table. Most of the time when he’d been around them, they had not been ‘physical’. He only had a few times to think back on though he didn’t have to think very hard to imagine them in a more intimate situation than he really cared to think about.
When he got into the house with the first bags of groceries, his mind was back on Celia and her family. He would also have to be careful what he said to Roger. He didn’t want any of them learning that he was more than a mechanic.
He had to be crazy to even be thinking about dating someone he had to hide so much from. And, you should really trust the family of the woman you wanted to date. You shouldn’t be making mental notes on what to say and what not to say! He felt like Martin hiding things from Randi and wondered if he was being punished for being so hard on Martin.
Celia’s mother met him at the door with a smile that made him immediately wonder if he’d misjudged her. She seemed so nice, so sincere, and not once had she asked him any questions that could be considered prying. She called over her shoulder and told Roger to come help with the groceries.
When Celia wheeled out of the room off the kitchen, she asked, “Goodness sakes, did you buy the store out?”
“Almost, and always remember, never shop when you’re hungry.”
“Bad move man,” Roger said, as he came walking in. He pulled a bag of chips out of one of the bags and opened them and smiled. “But, good taste in food.”
“I’m going to cook, young man. Don’t eat too much junk.”
“I won’t.” Roger went to a cabinet and found a bowl. He shook some chips out then closed the bag. “How can we repay you for feeding us?”
Mike smiled, dug down into one of the bags, pulled out a small box and handed it to Roger. “Take care of your sister.”
When Roger opened the box and found a small brass bell, he laughed and handed the box to Celia. “I can do that, but if she rings it too often, I might have to get a real job.”
Celia laughed and tried out the bell. “I’ll do my best to not wear you down unlike someone I know from my past.”
“I think there’s a couple more bags,” Roger said, taking another bite of his chips before hurrying out the door.
“The guilty will pay,” Celia called out after him as he disappeared around the corner. “Thanks for the bell, but Roger’s right, you shouldn’t have bought so much.”
“Well, I’ll be staying here, too, and I’m not a light eater.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Celia’s mom said. “A man who likes to eat. I’ll be helping pay you for all your kindness in hot meals. If you’ll take Celia outside for some fresh air, I’ll get Roger to help me put these things away and then start supper.”
“Are you sure?” Mike asked, looking at the bags.
“I’m sure. She’s been in this house all day and the fresh air will do her good.”
“You might as well not argue with her. She always gets her way,” Celia said, pushing her way toward the front door, the little brass bell now lying in her lap.
“Then outside it is,” Mike said.
Chapter 39
A New Outlook
Celia felt Mike put his hands on the chair as he pushed her around to the pool. He moved her beside the table, sat down and gave her a smile. She felt nervous, and after looking around, spoke.
“I don’t know how to thank you for buying food. Roger has no money. I have no money. You’re feeding all three of us. I know M
om has some cash, but she can’t afford much. I guess I’ll just start by saying ‘thank you’.”
“You’re welcome, and don’t worry. I’m sure by the time your mother cooks some meals and I stop ‘eating out’ that I’ll actually save money.”
“She is a good cook so I’m sure she very well could save you money. But I warn you now, stop buying chips and junk food. Roger will eat you out of house and home.”
Mike nodded. “Point taken. What about you and pudding?”
Celia laughed. “I don’t need many of those either, so please stop buying them, too. Staying in this chair for any length of time is going to put on the weight fast.”
“You could afford to gain a few pounds.”
“No way! I’ll have to buy a new wardrobe if I gain ten pounds. I can’t afford that. I need to be figuring out ways to make money not spend more.”
“Have you been studying the information I gave you on selling vehicles?”
Celia had been reading up on the position and it sounded like something she’d be good at. For some reason, it pleased her to be able to answer him in the affirmative. “Yes, but I’ll need to have more specifics on the different features on each vehicle. Maybe in a few days you can take me down to the showroom and let me see what you have in stock.”
“Showroom? So you have been doing some reading?”
“I’m not a dumb blond like Martin more than likely said.”
“Not that I’m going to open the door on what he said or did not say, I will admit, he never said you were dumb. And, sure, when you’re ready, we can do that.”
Celia felt excited about the prospect of working. She hadn’t worked in years and thinking about it made her feel good. At the same time, it also made her feel bad that she’d not done more with her life.
For the years she’d spent with Martin and the few other men before him, all she had to show for her time was a closet full of fashionably chic clothes and several very nice pieces of jewelry. In some ways it made her feel like a prostitute, and she didn’t like that.
“Are you okay? Can I get you something?” Mike asked, leaning forward in his chair.
It had been a while since she’d had to guard herself around a man and how she reacted to the thoughts in her mind. Maybe it was some of the medicine she was on. She forced a smile and nodded. “I could use some ice water or something to drink and my evening pain pill.”
“I’ll be right back.”
She nodded, leaned back and watched him as he went in the back entrance. She couldn’t go in or out that particular entrance because of the wheelchair. Mike wouldn’t be gone very long and she let her mind wander to her current situation. She was now playing house with Martin’s best friend. They weren’t sleeping in the same bed, or anything close, but it felt strange.
As far as that went, it felt strange to be in this house, sleeping in the bed that Randi had slept in. The news her mother had dropped on her the day before would have been enough to cause her mind to start thinking all kinds of things, but all of it put together was a bit much. It was so exhausting.
She would have to be careful. Her emotions were allowing what was on her mind to show but Mike had thought she was in pain. If he could see inside her mind at this moment, he would probably want to get her more than just one pill.
In time, she would process the information and adjust to a new way of thinking about her mother and dad’s relationship. She had so many questions she didn’t know where to start. She wanted to know more about this other man her mother had given her heart to. She wanted to know how her mother planned to just fall in love with a man she had lived with for years, but hadn’t loved. Wouldn’t there be some part of her that already loved him?
How could she have spent so much time with a man she didn’t love? Her mind answered that question for her. ‘You were doing the same thing with Martin.’
How do you search your own heart for answers to questions you really don’t want to know the answers to? These questions would make her look deep into what she’d become and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know that person.
When the door opened, she forced herself to smile while pushing away any emotions that might be showing. She held out her hands as Mike placed a pill container in one hand and a glass of iced tea in the other. He also had a glass of his own that he had placed on the table as he had pulled her pill container out of his pocket.
“Mother’s iced tea. You are going to get spoiled,” Celia said, taking the pill and enjoying a long drink. She let out an audible sigh as she sat the glass down. Her grip was a bit shaky and she did not want to waste her mother’s tea or stain her clothes.
“I won’t mind getting spoiled like this.” Mike took a long drink of tea, then another and kept his glass in his hand. He began telling her about the house and some things that he had taken care of over the last few days. He mentioned that there were people interested in stopping by to look at the changes, and this made her smile.
“Do you think we could actually sell it before all the work is done?”
“It’s possible. One couple is really interested in moving to that part of town because they have family in the area. They’ll be getting married in a few weeks and I think they have money to spare or can get a loan.”
“I don’t care if they steal the money, I really need that investment to pay off. I didn’t need the jewelry I sold but I do need money to live on while I get settled in my new job. I would like to buy this house some day, or if not this one, something nice.”
“That’s understandable. If we get what I think we’ll get, you should have some extra cash to play with, but it won’t get you this place.”
“Maybe not but it’s a start in the right direction. I might not get this place soon, but it’s my dream house and I’m not giving up just yet.”
Chapter 40
Decisions
Randi was in a good mood. She thought things over while walking the pups back to the car and an idea came to her. She wasn’t sure if her idea would backfire, but if it did, she would deal with that later.
Her mother wanted to push things to the extreme. She thought she could force Randi to break up with Martin. To be honest, she had left her mother with the impression that she could do just that.
But today, while on the phone with Martin, she knew that was not going to happen. She was falling in love and she was going to see this through. There were things that scared her about a future with Martin, but she would face them, on her terms. She was not going to allow her mother to tell her what to do.
This discussion wasn’t something she was looking forward to because she loved her mother. If she could, she was going to talk with her dad first.
After a long shower, she dried her hair and dressed for her date with Martin. She was never one to wear a lot of makeup but tonight she put on a little. She picked out a nice pants suit, and after Julie came to sit with the pups, went down to talk with her dad.
He was sitting at the dining room table playing a game on his phone. She could see a little more gray at his temples and silently hoped that she wouldn’t be the cause of him wanting to pull his hair out before the night was over.
“You look nice. Are you going out?”
“Yes, but not sure where yet.” Randi waited a moment to see if he was going to complain, or take her mother’s side, or ask if she was going out with Martin. When he didn’t, she sat down at the table. “Where’s Mom?”
“She’s out helping one of the neighbors deliver some cosmetics.” He looked down at his game and spoke without looking up. “If you’re worried she’ll catch you sneaking out on a date with Martin, she won’t. At least, not unless she catches you coming in tonight.”
“Can’t slip anything past you, can I? I would really like to know what you think about us dating.”
“Well, there’s nothing to worry about there. Your mother and I don’t see eye to eye on this. I think you need to do your own picking and choosing. I’m not going to have
any part of this and I won’t argue with your mother. This is a battle that the two of you are going to have to work out.”
Randi fought the urge to reach out and take her dad’s hand but instead crossed her arms on the table. Though she felt close to her dad, he had never been one to show his emotions or express his feelings by hugging or with physical contact as she guessed most men might.
After a soft sigh she spoke. “I understand and I don’t have a problem with that. As a matter of fact, it’s about all I’ve thought about today and I’ve made a few decisions. Hard decisions. I was hoping to talk to you about what I’ve decided.”
“Sure,” he said, laying the phone down and giving her his undivided attention.
“This is not something that I will do with ease, but I’m going to date Martin, at least for a while. I need to see if what I’m feeling is real. It seems real, it feels real.”
“Then it might be real,” he said, with a smile.
“I know, and that’s the scary part. I want it to be real. I just know that it’s not going to be an easy road. There are a lot of things we’ll have to face together and they may not be the normal things a couple faces, but they will be our things. I can see Martin being the one I spend the rest of my life with and it hurts that it’s a battle with Mom to see him.”
“I understand. So what are you going to tell your mother? Are you moving out?”
“I don’t want to. I know she seemed adamant, but I’m hoping we can come to an agreement of sorts. Maybe I’ll only see him so many times a week, or she’ll allow me to stay while I look for an apartment. I can’t afford a place on my own and I might have to move in with Martin.”
As she thought it would, this remark got his attention. “You would do that?”
“Not like you think. Martin has an apartment that he’s not using and I know he would let me stay there. It’s just something I don’t want to do, but if she pushes me to not see him, I’ll feel as if I don’t have a choice.”
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