The first night in Chicago, Devon had called Stella to keep her updated on Ryan. After that, there wasn’t much to say about Ryan since Devon rarely saw him. Still, he called every night. He liked hearing Stella’s voice; liked the way she could coax the tension from his shoulders and make him smile.
“G’day.” The dimly lit parking garage seemed to brighten at the sound of her charming, Australian-accented voice.
“Hey,” Devon said.
“You sound tired.”
“I never want to look at another business or legal document ever again. Selling a company is a lot more complex than I ever realized.”
Stella laughed, a lilting sound that infused him with energy. Devon pressed the phone closer to his ear.
“When will you officially sign?” she asked.
“Friday.” Only two more days and his company was no longer his. Two more days and he’d officially be unemployed. What then? How would Devon stay busy? Where would life take him? He didn’t know.
“Did you get the package I sent?”
“Yeah. It came yesterday. And thanks. I’ve always wanted to sign a stack of papers with a platypus pen.”
“You mock, but platypuses are good luck over here.”
“Really?”
“Sure.”
“Liar.”
“Well they should be,” Stella said. “Has Ryan eaten all of the TimTams yet? He loves those.”
“All gone. But he did share a few with me and even taught me how to make a TimTam slam, which was brilliant of him. Those cookies are awesome. I’m trying to find where I can buy them here.”
“He is brilliant,” Stella agreed. “And TimTams are the best.”
“Which leaves me to wonder why you never told me about them while I was in Sydney. I would have bought an extra suitcase and stuffed it full.”
“Now you have a reason to come back.”
“A very good reason,” he said, thinking more about Stella than the cookies. “So what random fact are you going to entertain me with today?” It had started as a joke, something to tease her about, but the tradition stuck, and Devon looked forward to hearing the crazy, random things she spouted off every night.
“Did you know that dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both duelers are registered blood donors?”
She never disappointed him. “Seriously?”
“It’s the truth.”
“Are they that desperate for blood over there or something?”
“Blood or brains, I’m not sure which.”
Devon laughed, knowing he should end the call. Beth was waiting. But there was something magnetic about Stella that made him want to keep the connection alive, at least for a little longer. She had a way of hugging him with her voice.
“You doing okay?” Stella asked.
“I’m good.”
“Okay. Tell Ryan I love him and miss him.”
“I will. He misses you too. In fact, he told me this morning that I needed to take the platypus pen to work and sign all the papers today. That way I wouldn’t have to be gone any more days and we could call you again from the computer.”
“I’m looking forward to that too.” There was a short pause before she said, “Until tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow it is.”
The parking garage lost its brilliance as Devon ended the call and headed toward the elevator. Another twenty-four hours and he could call her again. Hear her voice. Picture her smile. Wish she didn’t live in Australia.
Upstairs, Devon found Beth curled up in a recliner, reading a book. She closed it when she saw him. “How did everything go today?”
“Fine.” Not wanting to talk about it again, Devon made his way to the kitchen and opened the microwave where he found a plate of spaghetti. Beth was thoughtful like that.
“Thanks for this,” Devon said, holding up the plate. “How was your day?”
Beth came up behind him and massaged his shoulders while he ate. “It was good. We went to the indoor playland at the mall and rented a movie tonight. Ryan is such a sweetheart. I’ve really loved spending time with him.”
“He seems to like you.”
“I’m glad.” Her hands stilled and she pulled up a seat next to him. “But what about you? Do you like me too?”
Devon chewed slowly on the noodles, turning them into mush. Once he swallowed, he’d have no excuse not to answer the question, so his jaw continued to move up and down. Why hadn’t he prepared for this conversation? He’d known it would come sooner or later.
Finally Devon swallowed. “Of course I like you.” It sounded lame, but he couldn’t pretend something he didn’t feel. Not any longer. He liked Beth, yes, but more as a friend than a potential wife.
Looking away, Beth said, “Ryan told me he gets to fly on another airplane on Saturday.”
Devon should have known Ryan would say something. Why had he waited so long to tell her? “I’m sorry. I was going to talk to you tonight about that.”
“It’s just that I thought things were going pretty well with us and that you’d want to stick around for a while to see . . . We’ve hardly spent any time together. I feel like you’re leaving before you’ve really given us a chance. Or are you planning to take Ryan home and come back?”
The hope in her eyes made Devon want to grimace. Beth was right. He hadn’t given her a chance. Not really. But what chance was there when he couldn’t get Stella off his mind?
“Listen.” Devon reached for her hand. “When you first called, I hoped that things could work out between us—that we could find a way to pick up the pieces and start over.”
“There’s a ‘but’ coming, isn’t there?”
“Beth, you’re gorgeous, intelligent, kind, and you’ve been so great with Ryan . . . but things are different now—between us anyway. I really don’t think we’re a great fit anymore. Maybe I’ve changed, or maybe Ryan has changed me, but our differences seem bigger to me than they used to be.”
Beth frowned. “I don’t understand how you can say that when you’ve spent most of your time at the office. I mean, you’re basing that assumption on what? The few hours we’ve spent together? What kind of basis is that?”
Devon hated conversations like this. There was never a win-win, not when two people felt differently. Taking a breath, he tried again. “I know it seems unfair and maybe you’re right, but—”
Beth leaned over and pushed her lips against his. Her fingers circled his neck and pulled him closer, as if her passion alone could change his mind. At first Devon kissed her back, hoping to feel a spark of something—anything. But when thoughts of Stella intruded, he backed away, knowing he wasn’t being fair.
Hurt filled Beth’s eyes. “How can you not feel anything? We used to have such great chemistry.”
“There’s someone else.” Devon immediately wished the words back. Idiot. So not the right thing to say right now.
Beth’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand. If there’s someone else, why did you let me think that things could work out? Why did you bring Ryan and let me believe he could be mine one day?”
How to explain without making it worse? “Honestly, Beth, I thought there was a chance. I really did love you and I thought those feelings would come back. I wanted them to come back. Otherwise I would have left Ryan in Oregon.”
“You’re not making sense. Why would you want to feel something for me if there’s someone else?”
“Because . . .” How could he explain?
Jaw clenched, Beth turned away from him. “Who is she?”
“Someone I met in Australia.”
“You were only there two weeks!”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” Devon hadn’t been fair to her. He should be prosecuted and sentenced. But to what, exactly? Public humiliation and a good flogging? Two hundred hours of community service? What was the appropriate punishment for hurting someone you cared about?
Devon covered her hand with his. “Listen, Beth. I want to thank you. For everyth
ing. I really appreciate you watching Ryan for me. And don’t worry about tomorrow. He can come with me.”
Tears sparkled in her eyes as she shook her head. “No. I’ll watch him until you’ve signed the contract, if you’ll let me. It will give me a chance to say good-bye. He’s really grown on me, you know.”
“He has that effect on people.”
Slowly, Beth stood and picked up her purse. “I’m sorry too. I should have had more faith in you, seen what you could become. If only I’d known . . . I’d never have broken off our engagement.”
“There’s someone better for you out there, Beth. I know it. You deserve someone great.”
“Yeah, I do.” Beth smiled through tear-filled eyes. “Good-bye, Devon.”
“Good-bye, Beth.”
⇐ ⇑ ⇒
Five o’clock. Time for Stella to head to the train station and home to her small, empty flat and wild larakeets. That is, unless she left the city and headed north to Byron Bay. So, so tempting.
If only it wasn’t a ten-hour drive.
Stella sighed and shoved her cell phone into her bag. Devon had officially signed the paperwork today. His company was no longer his, and tomorrow they’d fly back to Oregon. When they’d talked, Stella hadn’t dared ask who “they” included. She hadn’t wanted to know.
But then she’d pictured Devon holding hands with Beth, kissing Beth, proposing to Beth. A small happy family flying back to Oregon together. Stella should have asked. At least then she would have known the truth and not been left to imagine the worst.
When Devon finally called the following afternoon, Stella lounged on her patio, enjoying the fresh air as she tried to concentrate on a book. “Hey,” she said.
“I know I promised you could talk to Ryan on the webcam tonight, but he fell asleep on the drive home from the airport. I didn’t want to wake him.”
“That’s all right. I’ll talk with him tomorrow.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“How did everything go?”
“Well, I’m now officially unemployed. But on the bright side, Ryan managed to charm our flight attendant into giving us extra packages of snacks, so if we ever find ourselves starving on the street somewhere, at least we’ll have some peanuts.”
Stella smiled. “So, how does it feel to be free?”
“Free. That’s nice. It sounds so much better than unemployed. And it feels strange—not to mention a little scary. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all my time now. Maybe I could take up meditating.”
“I’m sure Ryan would sit quietly by and let you.”
Devon chuckled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But we plan to start house hunting on Monday, so that should give us something to do.”
“Us?” Stella bent and unbent the corner of a page in her book.
“Uh . . . Ryan and me. Remember? Little boy? Curly hair? Any of this ringing a bell?”
So much for finding out the easy way. “What about Beth?”
“What about her?”
Honestly. Was he doing it on purpose? “Is she with you? Did you get back together? Are you engaged again?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? It didn’t work out.” Said so simply and just like that. Over and done, like Beth was never a big part of his life.
“For you or for her?”
“For me or for her what?”
For a smart guy, Devon was certainly dense. Stella slowed her words down. “It didn’t work out for you, or for her?”
“Oh.” He paused. “For me, I guess.”
And . . . ? And nothing. Of course there was no additional explanation. Did Stella really think there would be? Let it go, Stella. Just let it go.
“What happened?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Things just weren’t the same.”
“Really? That’s it?”
“What else do you want to know?”
“Is it over over, or are you still hoping things will work out eventually?”
“Why does it matter?”
Because I like you, you idiot, and it’s driving me crazy not to know. “Your future affects Ryan, so I’m curious.”
“It’s over over, okay?”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that,” Stella lied. “You doing okay?”
“I’m fine. It was actually a good thing I took Ryan with me. Without him, I might not have realized we weren’t a good fit.”
“Ryan didn’t give her a hard time, did he?” Stella pictured Ryan somehow sabotaging the relationship. If so, he deserved some more TimTams.
“Of course not. Ryan charmed her like he does everyone.”
Of course he did. Of course he charmed Beth. She’d probably fallen for him just like everyone did. Poor girl. Stella didn’t have to imagine what Beth was probably going through right now. “Is she okay?”
“For crying out loud, Stella. I’m fine, Ryan’s fine, and Beth is fine. Everyone’s fine.”
I’m not. “Okay, then.”
“Great. Are we through with the twenty questions now? Because I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Sure.” Stella waited for him to change the subject. When he didn’t, she said, “I guess I’ll talk to you later?”
“I’ll have Ryan call tomorrow night.” Then he was gone.
Ryan. He would have Ryan call. Not Devon. As much as Stella looked forward to seeing Ryan’s face light up her monitor, she also felt an achy emptiness inside—a feeling that was becoming all too familiar.
Leaving the patio behind, Stella walked inside her flat, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door. She needed to get out.
She needed to get a life.
⇐ ⇑ ⇒
Devon found his mother feeding Ryan a Vegemite sandwich in the kitchen. Yes, Vegemite. Another gift from Stella. Everywhere he went, something reminded him of her. Why did she have to live in Australia anyway? Why couldn’t she live somewhere closer? He’d even take New York or Florida right now.
Devon dropped down on a barstool next to Ryan. Maybe if he kicked a door or threw something at a wall. It always seemed to make Ryan feel better.
“What’s it going to take to get you to like peanut butter like normal American kids?” Devon asked.
“Peanut butter is yuck.” Ryan munched away on his sandwich.
“No it’s not.”
“Yes it is.”
“No. It’s not.”
“Yes it is.”
“No—”
“Boys!” Lydia shook her head at Devon. “Honestly. I thought you were an adult.”
“Ryan brings out the kid in me. So where’s my sandwich?”
Devon got the look—the one that said, “I’m not your servant, fix it yourself.” He hadn’t seen it in years, not since high school. It actually made him smile.
“But you made Ryan one.”
“Fine.” Lydia pulled the Vegemite from the cupboard. “If that’s what you want.”
“Okay, okay, you’ve made your point.” Devon went to the refrigerator and rummaged around, pulling out deli meat and cheese—the stuff normal sandwiches consist of.
Lydia wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “I need to run to the grocery store. Can I trust you two to behave while I’m gone?”
“I’ll be good,” Ryan said, and for that he got a kiss on the cheek.
“You’re not the one I’m worried about.” Lydia cast Devon a meaningful look, picked up her purse, and left.
“Thanks a lot,” Devon said. “You’ve officially ousted me as the favorite child.”
“What does ousta mean?”
“Never mind.” Devon threw cold cuts onto a slice of bread and rejoined Ryan. “So tell me, what kind of house do you want to live in?”
“A teepee in the jungle.”
Devon nodded, as though seriously considering it. “That’s a great idea. I mean, who needs a big house with a cool bed, a play set out back, or a big yard for a dog—” Wait. Did he really just say “dog”? Crap.
�
��I want to live in a house with a dog!” Ryan bounced around on his chair. “Can we get more fish too?”
Yes, fish. Fish now sounded great. Way better than a dog. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have both pets. The dog might hurt the fish. So would you rather have a lot of colorful and awesome fish or a dirty, smelly dog?”
Ryan grinned. “A dog, a dog!”
Swell, Devon. Totally brilliant. It’s no wonder you’re jobless. “We’ll need to find a house with a yard and a fence first.”
“Yay! Can we get a really big dog?”
“Sure, why not?” Devon bit into his sandwich and chewed slowly. At least he’d neutralized one problem. Ryan no longer wanted to live in a teepee in the jungle.
Chapter Seventeen
Devon lugged the last cardboard box inside and dropped it on the kitchen counter of his new home, next to the dozen other boxes he’d already brought in. There wasn’t much. He’d been too busy working to buy more than the necessities, and his apartment in Chicago had been fully furnished.
Unlike this house. It was a four bedroom, colonial rambler, peeking out from behind massive maple and pine trees. The half acre lot with a fenced backyard had been the selling point for Ryan.
“A big dog will fit here,” he had said.
But Devon liked it for another reason. The faded, crumbling paint on the front porch. The windows that struggled to open and close. The scratched and warped wooden floor. The squeaky, dysfunctional cupboard doors. Although the overall structure was solid, the surface needed a makeover—and Devon now had the time and inclination to give it one. He’d worked for a general contractor each summer during college and now looked forward to using those skills to stay busy—at least until he could figure out what he wanted to do next.
Since the house had been in foreclosure, it had taken several months of negotiations and waiting on the bank. In August, they’d finally agreed on a number, and Devon signed two weeks later. Hallelujah. Although he’d wanted to get some of the renovations done before they moved in, Ryan refused to wait any longer. He wanted his dog.
Minor Adjustments Page 13