He chuckles, another sound that is as sweet as the German chocolate cake I had for dessert last night. “I think professional is pretty generous. I try to get in a run around my house after work, but I haven't been in a race in a while. Noah ran track last year and did well. He'll be the one to beat.”
The door sings again and I remember this is a store and I'm on the clock. It can't all be social time. Then I realize the customer is business mogul Kyle Swarthmore, a guy I dated back when Ben and I took a break before our true end.
Kyle sidles up next to Wayne.
“Good afternoon. Trish, I'm surprised to see you here. Rumor has it that older woman from the senior center, Shirley, intimidated you so harshly the other day that you passed out.”
Wayne's gaze on Kyle narrows.
“You shouldn't believe everything you hear, Kyle. After all, I heard you were a decent businessman.” I cross my arms and give a “so there” look.
Kyle laughs. “Very funny, Trish. I wish you'd been this entertaining when we were dating. And I give that term loosely for what happened between us.”
The feeling in my stomach now feels like a boulder trying to move to my throat.
I look to Wayne and notice he clenches his fist, but stays silent.
“Kyle, do you need something?”
He unbuttons his long, wool coat. “I have an important business meeting first thing in Albany and need a good tie to go with my power suit. Nothing is open that early in the city, so I wondered if your store might have something.”
I look to Wayne and shrug as I leave the register area and point Kyle to the ties.
“Everything is on this table. Let me know if you need anything else.” I walk back to Wayne.
Wayne keeps his eye on Kyle as he leans in closer to me.
“You, you were with that jerk?”
Chapter Four
I can’t believe I’m ready to leave the house for a race barely after sunrise. With a few minutes to spare before Wayne’s due to pick me up, it’s tempting to spend time on my hair to impress him. I can’t forget the image of him standing over me after my fainting spell. My goal is to make a wonderful memory for him about something, anything, today.
Even as a newbie runner I know to put my hair in a ponytail. He definitely isn’t going to compliment my fitness skills. By the time he pulls up in the health care clinic SUV, my confidence level for the day has gone back to bed.
He puts the vehicle in park, runs around to the passenger side, and opens the door.
“Hey, Trish. Ready for a great run for charity?” He smiles, his breath visible in the frosty air.
I climb in, realizing Noah is in the middle.
The teen offers a limp wave. “Hi. Dad gets to use the company vehicle.” Noah rolls his eyes.
Wayne switches gears and starts for Indian Lake. “Sorry about that. I’m backup for today. There are two EMTs on call, but if it’s serious, I’ll get paged.”
Noah looks to me. If the teen can read minds, then he knows I’m wondering if the medical attention will be for me.
***
An hour later, we’re registered and ready to start. The men are stretching, so I follow suit. I haven’t been to Indian Lake in years, and knowing my bratty old self, I probably kicked and screamed the whole way. Now I’m looking at store fronts, shocked by the growth of business in the area. It’s so much more than the basic gas station and post office. A quick glance reveals there’s a hardware store. Insurance office. Chamber of Commerce. Restaurant. Bakery. Gas station. And the potential to promote the stores and their space.
“Trish? You okay?” Wayne touches my shoulder, not only sending a chill up my spine, but bringing me back to reality.
Please don’t let my smile look as giddy as I feel. “What? Oh, sorry. I can’t believe how much this area has expanded. I guess it’s been awhile since I’ve been here.”
“So, you weren’t thinking about that Kyle guy?” Wayne’s eyes seem to pierce through mine, a gaze penetrating enough to leave a lump in my throat.
My reaction is about the same as if a mosquito darted into my mouth. “Swarthmore? No. That would be a nightmare.” My history with the New Jersey businessman was brief, but brutal.
Wayne lifts his hand and reaches down to tie his shoe. “Can I ask, what made you date that jerk, anyway?”
Noah folds his arms and taps his foot, as if he’s waiting for me to share, too.
I open my mouth, then close it. A few times. Finding the words isn’t easy. “I’d like to think I’m not the same person I was back then. I was selfish. Ben and I were off-again and I was angry at a lot of things. I didn’t like my job at the senior center. I felt stuck in Speculator Falls. My parents are successful, beloved people and I wasn’t. Kyle seemed like a good rebellious choice for me at the time. I was wrong.”
Noah smirks. “Yeah, you were.”
An announcer informs us that the race will begin in ten minutes,
and I’m thankful for the distraction. My coffee starts to kick in, so I look for a portable bathroom. “I’ll be back. Need a girl’s room.”
Noah glances at Wayne, and his eyes seem to expand as I make
my little announcement. What? Am I the only one that needs a bathroom after three cups of coffee?
***
Once back from the port-a-potty, everyone is lined up and waiting for the signal to start. Swarms of people with sweatbands, gadgets that look like they monitor steps and heartrates, and running shoes that appear to cost more than my car fill the starting area. They’re stretching, chatting with each other, and working on breathing exercises. These folks look like they run these events often. And then there’s me.
Wayne reaches for my elbow, and pulls me aside. His eyes close, and he prays.
“Father, I ask You to keep us strong to run this race, and healthy to run this race. Thank You that Trish is here with us. Whether we make the 5k or the 10, all thanks goes to You. Amen.”
You mean there’s a choice on how much to run? Cuz if I hit the bare minimum, it’s going to be a flat-out miracle.
With the crack of gunshot and the temptation to duck, thanks to my months in the city, the race’s start isn’t so bad. The three of us have a decent pace going. Those guys are holding back. There’s no way I should be keeping up with them.
After the first mile, I look over and see Noah has earbuds in and he’s in some kind of zone. The kid looks like a natural runner. Each of my steps is fueled by thoughts. How weird is it that I’m running next to a guy my age who has a teenaged son? How odd that the paramedic I knew in passing is now a friend. If he wants more, that’s okay with me.
And as that line of thinking ran a marathon of its own, my stomach decided to seize into a vise-like grip. The cramp was so strong that I went from a good rhythm to a complete stop.
“Oh boy.” I hold my abdomen as the two notice my absence and race back.
“What’s wrong?” Noah pulls out the earbuds.
I double over. “I’m not sure. Cramps. Ow. Wow.”
Wayne puts his hand on my back, but talks to his son. “Go on ahead. She’ll be okay. I think her coffee is punishing her.”
Noah’s voice changes like a typical teenaged boy. “Can I do the full 10k?”
Wayne’s voice is calm and steady, the complete opposite of how my stomach feels. “Sure, Noah. We’ll find you. Keep your phone on.”
Still hunched over, I hear pounding feet on pavement, an even rhythm that fades with each step. Noah’s departure leaves Wayne and me alone. With his warm touch on my back.
His soothing voice is like butter on hot pancakes. “Let’s head to the side of the road so we don’t get mowed down by the others.”
Each step produces a guttural moan I didn’t even know I could make.
His hand remains on the middle of my back and he bends down so our faces are inches apart. “Explain the pain to me, Trish.”
Thanks to heavy breathing, I sound like a prank phone caller when I speak.
“Like my intestines are twisted into a limp dishrag.”
He sighs. “Okay, listen. It sounds like your pre-race routine wasn’t very...” Wayne’s going to call me out for not being a real athlete. My stomach seizes again. “Kind to you. Usually runners drink, but not cups of coffee. More like sips. We eat a light breakfast, but not right before, and not with a drink. C’mon, we’re going to keep moving, but walk. If you feel up to it, we’ll pick up the pace later. If not, that’s okay. I’m sorry, I assumed you ran a race before.” He winks, and the smoldering gaze feels like a miracle cure. I don’t feel as stupid, and the cramps don’t feel as awful. But still, I’m busted. Wayne knows I’m not a runner.
A group of about a dozen runners pass us. “What about you? You should catch up to Noah.”
He waves me off. “Don’t worry about him. A few of his friends from school are here. I’m sure he’s grateful to be on his own so he can find them. His pace is much faster than he was letting on, he’s off and running.”
More racers breeze past. “Okay. If you say so.” And as soon as I utter the word, “so,” from the pit of my belly comes a belch so loud the group that just glided by turns around to find the culprit.
***
I’ve never been so glad to end an event, and to have a gorgeous man at my side as a bonus. My cheeks have hopefully returned to their pale color after my mortifying burp in Wayne’s face. We finish the 3.1 mile run and find the refreshment tent.
Wayne smiles and reaches for a bottle, handing it to me. “I expect Noah to show up soon. Help yourself. Water might help your stomach.”
I nod, still too petrified to speak.
Wayne seems to recognize someone as he waves and gestures them over. They are in the same type of uniform Wayne wore the day I fainted, so I suspect it’s the EMTs on duty.
“Hey, Peterson. Too tired to do the full race?” The man who looks a little younger than us but older than Noah gives Wayne a jab in the arm.
Wayne chuckles. “Something like that. Say, this is Trish Maxwell. Trish, this is Brad Wagner and Jill Bryant.”
Brad’s eyes widen as he shakes my hand and glances at Wayne. Wish I could read minds, but my reaction is the same when Jill steps out from behind Brad. She’s a petite thing who makes the uniform look so fashionable I almost want to order it for the store.
Jill extends a hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you. Trish Maxwell. The name is familiar.” She looks like she’s thinking hard, and I really want to say something sarcastic, but that’s the old Trish.
Brad snaps his fingers. “Are you a model? Cuz your legs look like they know a runway.”
Blech. Forget the runway. This guy makes me want to run away.
Jill shakes her head. “No, that’s not it. Oh, I remember! You were a patient at the health center. I saw your name in Wayne’s paperwork. Single, white female who passed out. Suspected anxiety attack.” She smiles the more she realizes she’s got it figured out.
Wayne’s demeanor seems to change. His gaze narrows and he lowers his voice. “Jill, you can’t discuss our work like that. You’re violating healthcare confidentiality.”
Jill’s smile disappears and she keeps her attention on me. “Sorry. I was talking about you, so, no harm, right, Tish?”
I clear my throat. “It’s Trish.”
.***
When Noah announces an hour and a half later that he needs to get back to his mom’s, I want to hug him. The day’s been nothing short of a disaster and I want to bury myself in Oreos and ice cream. The only thing that brings solace is thinking about the Indian Lake storefronts. So many store-decorating themes race through my mind that I wish my race had been as fruitful.
“You’re kind of quiet over there.” Wayne sneaks a peek my way before returning his eyes to the road.
“I’m thinking.”
Wayne wastes no time guessing. “About the burp? It was the cramps talking.”
My smile is tight. “No, I’d like to erase that from my mind.”
Noah takes a turn. “Was it doubling over during the race and having to stop?”
Wayne slows down as he approaches yet another curve on Route 30. “Noah, how about we let Trish explain.”
My pace picks up the more I share. “It’s kind of work related. I noticed the growth around Indian Lake since the last time I was here. I bet they get decent traffic, but the store fronts don’t showcase the merchandise. Then that reminded me of the department store. I have some ideas for the window front there, especially with the fashion show we’re doing with the senior center.”
Noah nods. “Interesting. I never would have thought about that, but it’s true. Sometimes it’s what I see in the window that makes me and my friends go inside.”
I grin. “Exactly. That’s what I want to capitalize on to help out my mom.”
Wayne shares a dazzling smile. “You have a lot of creativity, Trish. This area definitely needs your expertise.”
My smile fades. “Oh. I can help dress up the store, but that’s it. I mean, I have to work on my future and find a permanent job.”
Noah’s voice cracks again. “In Speculator Falls, right?”
Silence fills the vehicle. Returning to my hometown was a place to heal from my job rejection simply because I was the last hired and funds weren’t there to keep me. I still love what I did in New York. Events planning. Watching executives toast a glass of champagne because they have new business thanks to my hard work. The store-fronts here in the mountains? I want to help my mom and her store. Not all of the Adirondack Mountain businesses.
Wayne looks over to me. “You okay?”
My sigh speaks volumes. “Yes. No. I don’t know.”
Chapter Five
Fifteen minutes later, and a lot of hard work changing the subject to avoid the New York question, we’re pulling into the Marshall driveway. The long day drags on as I picture Carla coming out to greet us. We had a decent chat at the department store with Jenna, but how about now? Will she realize I have a crush on her son’s father? Will she care?
Although barely dusk, a porch light comes on as Wayne puts the SUV in park. The front door opens and Carla steps out.
I open the door and slide out so Noah can exit.
“Hope your stomach's better.” He's not doing well hiding his smirk.
It’s hard not to laugh. What the teen saw today had to be memorable. Cramps. Burps. “Thanks.” With my one foot in the passenger seat, Carla’s greeting stops me.
“Hi, Trish. Wayne. How was the race?”
I turn around and stand next to her, looking for sarcasm, anger, anything that would tell me to back away from Wayne and her son. “The guys did fantastic. Noah’s a natural. I think I need to hang up my running shoes.” My laughter sounds forced.
She glances at Wayne, then pats her boy on the back. “This one outruns me every time. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it, Trish.” She looks again to Wayne, and when she speaks to him, I can’t help but notice the growing lump in my throat. “Thanks for bringing him home.”
He nods, and Noah waves. “See ya Wednesday, Dad.” With that, the teen jogs into the house, his mom at his side. I can only imagine how he'll recap the day between my cramps, burps, and meeting Brad and Jill, the obnoxious paramedics.
Once I’m buckled in, Wayne doesn’t make a move to put the car in gear. “Are you in a hurry to be home?”
With Noah gone, it feels like there is a lot of room up front.
My heartrate accelerates. “Not really. Why?”
“I could eat. Want to go to Jack Frosty's?”
With the handsome paramedic? Sure thing.
.***
Thankfully, we find a booth without trouble. Wendy Simmons, the manager, locks eyes with me and waves, her blond ponytail bounces as she moves. There’s still enough time for Wayne and me to enjoy a quick bite before Jack Frosty's closes.
Wayne hands me a menu and I stifle a laugh. Growing up here, every teen who grows up here endures a rite of passage, working at
Frosty’s at least one summer. I know the menu thanks to working here all through high school. Our fingers touch as I take the laminated folder, and I’m glad to have something to hold onto.
He peruses the menu for a minute, nods, and places it on the table. His eyes meet mine, and I can barely swallow. He is so handsome, I almost miss his question. “I'm curious. You talked a little about how you used to be, and I admit, I've heard a little about you over the short time I've lived here, yet I can't say what I've heard and seen matches up.”
I’d like to use my menu as a standing wall to hide my face. “I’m not proud of who I was, and I’m ashamed it wasn’t that long ago. It’s easy to guess what you heard. Trish Maxwell, thinks she’s too important for Speculator Falls. Trish, the girl that broke Ben's heart. Then there’s the one about how I deserved dating and getting dumped by Kyle Swarthmore.” My voice rises as my cheeks burn. “Oh, I’m sure you heard I’m a selfish ice princess who left the senior center members in the cold by leaving for New York City without warning. And lastly, Trish, the brat who got what she had coming to her when the big job was a bust and she had to come back to the mountains she used to make fun of.”
Wayne lets out a whistle. “Wow. Kind of hard on yourself, don't you think?”
Wendy steps behind the counter and peeks at us before finishing up filling a drink order. This is probably the most excitement she’s seen all day.
“Be honest, Wayne, what I repeated just now is what you heard. And, the people that said those things weren’t wrong.”
He keeps his focus on me. “What made you hate it here?”
I start folding my napkin. “I think I had a grass-is-greener complex. I'd watch Big Apple based movies from JB's, and it all seemed so glamourous. I was lonely as an only child, and I didn’t have a lot of friends in school.”
With drinks on the table, he opens the straw paper and inserts a straw in my drink. “Do you think it's because you're so stunning?”
I raise my eyebrows. Is he serious? “You’re kind, but that’s the last thing on my mind. I think it's because I was mean. Even as an adult with my dream job, I kept acting spoiled thinking that was part of the corporate world. Maybe it's true. But whatever the case, I was a small fish in a gigantic ocean. Many times my co-workers mocked my ideas for being too small. When the budget needed tightening, it wasn't hard for them to let me go.” I hit the ice with the straw, not daring to look at him.
Engaged: Surrendering the Future (Surrendering Time Book 3) Page 3