by Tessa Gray
Adam decided to keep his opinions about Meredith Chapman to himself. Maybe Jake was right—maybe separating from her husband was taking a toll on her. Although, as he watched how self-confident she looked as she chatted with several of the bar patrons, he seriously doubted it.
He continued watching her interact with several men, throwing back her head as she laughed at whatever they said. If she was upset about her marriage being on the skids, she hid it well. Despite the fact her marriage was ending, she’d probably land on her feet. Women that good-looking generally did.
Shrugging, he wondered why he was wasting his time thinking about her. She wouldn’t last a week. News traveled fast in a town this small. According to Jake, her daughter had gotten kicked out of school for drinking. That wouldn’t fly here. Maybe in Dallas it did, but not here.
Jake strode over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Adam cringed, knowing that whenever Jake poured himself coffee, they were about to have a serious talk.
“Think you’ll head back to Boston this summer?” Jake stared at him intently, waiting for an answer.
He bristled at the question. The guy asked him the same damn thing every year. Hadn’t he figured out the answer would always be the same? “When I decide to go home, you’ll be the first to know.”
Adam slid several beer mugs across the counter toward the shelf they belonged on, and as Jake abruptly shifted the focus back to Meredith Chapman he grabbed the mugs and stacked them neatly. “That friend of Rachel’s is mighty pretty. I imagine you’ll be running into her at college from time to time.”
“I’ll make a point not to.”
“Come on, Adam, you’ve barely said two words to the lady, and already you’ve written her off.”
“I’m a pretty fair judge of character, Jake. And in my book, she’s nothing but a superficial, shallow city slicker.” After he made the comment, Jake frowned.
“It’s not like you to be this judgmental. Maybe underneath that blond hair lurks a very nice woman. You never know.”
Jake’s remark made Adam bristle. He wasn’t normally this judgmental, particularly regarding someone he barely knew, but there was something about Meredith Chapman that got under his skin. And if Jake and Rachel were scheming to get him to ask Meredith out, they were wasting their time.
“I prefer my women smart and down to earth. That one smacks of high maintenance.”
Adam watched as Meredith slipped off the bar stool and headed over to where several men sat. As frustrated as he was with her off-putting ways, he hoped she wouldn’t screw her life up any more than it already was.
~ ~ ~
Meredith had been in Alpine for nearly two weeks and was well into her classes at the college. She stood outside, glancing about the grounds of Sul Ross University, marveling at the dark hills in the distance. The view was spectacular and almost made her forget all the tumult in her life.
She crouched down, massaging her ankles with her thumb and forefinger. Wearing heels probably hadn’t been the brightest idea, but it made her feel confident, as though she was a college professor rather than a student. Given her age, that would make perfect sense.
Several young men dressed in cowboy hats and jeans strutted past her, but not before giving her the eye. The skirt she’d picked was on the short side, but it was the only thing she had clean. Clearly, she was out of place. Still, she had good legs. She knew that. Blake always told her so.
She felt a deep sense of gratitude to Rachel for guiding her in this direction. Going back to college had been a smart move. The credits from SMU had all transferred to Sul Ross. Within a year, she’d be teaching high school English, provided she could land a job. Not here, of course. She’d never live in a town this small. But back in Dallas where her kids could go to decent schools. She almost chastised herself for being so judgmental because, so far, the schools in Alpine were perfectly fine.
She stared down at her cell phone as it vibrated. That would be her mother again. Katrina had been on the warpath ever since Meredith packed her bags and left with the kids. She’d phoned her at least half a dozen times a day, demanding Meredith come to her senses and return home.
When her stomach rumbled, she realized she hadn’t yet eaten today. She’d intended to have lunch with Rachel, but since two of her morning classes were back to back, there really wasn’t time. Thank God for Rachel guiding her in this direction. Without her support, Meredith didn’t know how she’d have made it through the past few months.
The one huge draw of Alpine was the built-in support system she had with Rachel and Kelsey, the absolute best friends she could have. As difficult as it was for Meredith to make and keep friends, these two women had been there for her for more years than she could remember.
She smiled, thinking how drastically Kelsey’s life had changed since the day she’d met Nathan Wainwright at the Alpine Angel’s Cemetery, of all places. The two had married within a year’s time and were fostering two children Nathan had taken in, in addition to raising their twin babies.
Checking her watch, she decided to grab a yogurt at the Student Union. She made her way inside the building and glanced about, making sure Adam Lightfoot wasn’t anywhere in sight. It frustrated her that Rachel and Jake seemed intent on getting the two of them together. A relationship was the last thing she needed.
She leaned over the counter to retrieve the yogurt, hoping her skirt wouldn’t ride up.
“A Greek yogurt, please.”
“Sure, honey.” The cafeteria worker smiled at her and handed her a plastic spoon to go with it. That was the one thing she did love about Alpine, the friendliness of the locals. Everyone seemed so relaxed here. The pace was definitely more laid back.
“Thank you.” Meredith headed to a nearby table when she stopped dead in her tracks.
Shit.
Adam Lightfoot. It took several seconds for him to make eye contact. Judging by the angle of those big, brown eyes of his, his focus was directed on her legs. When his face reddened, she caught herself smirking. There were worse things in the world than having a guy stare at your legs.
“Afternoon.” He jumped to his feet, dipped his head, and quickly sat down again. He looked every bit the college professor with his neatly creased blue jeans, white turtle neck sweater, and brown corduroy blazer. The wire-rimmed glasses he was wearing slid down his nose when he greeted her. He quickly reached up, shoving them back in place as he sank back down in his chair.
When he didn’t invite her to join him, she flopped down in a chair at the next table. It frustrated her at how aloof he was. Odds were the two would run into one another from time to time; given the fact she was a student now, and he was one of Sul Ross’s professors. And, of course, he and Jake were best friends.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him looking at her. She crossed her legs, making sure she exposed just enough skin to make him take notice. And then she asked the question. “May I join you?”
He bent his head, a shock of dark hair falling across his finely chiseled features. “Maybe another time. I’ve got an appointment with one of my students.” Without another word, he jumped to his feet and walked away.
Meredith remained glued to the chair, suddenly feeling very much alone.
“Mind if I sit down?” A young girl looking to be around nineteen was smiling at her, waiting for an answer.
“Not at all.” Meredith stared at the young woman’s flawless complexion and braces. So, this is how it would be. She’d be forced to sit through classes with girls young enough to be her daughter.
“I’m Courtney Welsh, freshman!” The student grimaced and rolled her eyes. “I am seriously counting the days until I’m a sophomore.”
Meredith laughed aloud, remembering her own college days. “Meredith Chapman. So nice to meet you, Courtney.”
The young lady began unwrapping her plastic silver and meticulously arranged the lettuce on her burger.
“I saw you talking to Professor Lightfoot. Don’t you just love him?” Courtney squinted as she waited for Meredith’s response.
“I don’t really know him.”
The girl’s eyes widened at the remark, and she continued singing the praises of Adam Lightfoot.
“He’s the nicest professor I’ve ever had. He tutors for free. Can you imagine that? The going rate is $50 an hour, but he won’t let anyone pay for it. Says it’s part of his duty to mankind to help others. Crazy, huh?”
“That’s very honorable.” Meredith opened her yogurt.
“Dr. Lightfoot says that instead of us giving him money, he wants us to do something nice for the next person. He doesn’t think a person should make a big deal out of it, but do it quietly, just for the sake of doing it.”
“That makes sense.” Meredith couldn’t think of anything else to say. It was awkward sitting here like this, listening to someone rave about a guy who had just snubbed her.
She stared out the window as she absent-mindedly stirred the yogurt with a spoon.
But Adam’s enlightening concept about helping those in need without expecting kudos for it resonated with her.
Earlier in their marriage, Blake had expressed great admiration for an elderly man who’d attended Baylor University. Rumor was that whenever the gentleman dined out, he always looked for students who seemed down on their luck. They were easy to spot because they often had young children with them and sometimes weren’t well-dressed.
The man would speak privately to the waitress and secretly pay the bill for those students. Word had spread about this generous professor, and by the end of his life, this was a large part of his legacy.
Blake had tried to emulate that habit, but with little result. Of course, Blake’s idea of being discrete was to announce to every waitress at the restaurant his intentions, stand beside them combing the restaurant for potential prospects. They often lavished a great deal of attention his way, telling Blake what a great guy he was to foot the bill for these people.
By the time the bill was paid, Meredith slithered away, frustrated that Blake’s motivation in helping others seemed completely self-serving.
When her cell phone went off again, she stared into her purse, checking out the number. It was her mom. Again.
“Courtney, it was nice meeting you. Please excuse me, I need to take this call.”
“Sure.” The young girl waved to Meredith as she left the dining area.
Meredith strode briskly over to a chocolate colored sofa near a secluded nook. She could hear her mother’s voice on the other end of the line but couldn’t quite make out what she was saying.
“Mom, slow down. I can’t understand a word you’re saying. What’s going on?”
“Carly’s phoned me six times since you left. She says the place you’re renting is a dump. I will not have my grandchildren living in filth. I’m driving out next weekend.”
Chapter 4
Three days later Meredith drove over to Penny’s Diner to look for work. She hadn’t waited tables since college, but the pickings were slim in a town this small. With her mother’s visit just days away, she was desperate to find work, to prove to her mother she was perfectly capable of supporting herself.
She was having second thoughts about the amount of money she’d asked Blake for. Under ordinary circumstance, it would have been adequate, but given the fact they often grabbed fast food because of her busy schedule, the cost of meals was quickly mounting. Getting a part-time job would provide them with a little extra. Besides, she welcomed the opportunity to interact with the town’s residents. Getting to know them better couldn’t hurt.
Against her mother’s suggestion, she decided not to drag things out, and as a result, refrained from arguing settlement details. Blake was just as eager to get their marriage behind him as she was. Better to live on less and be happy than end up frustrated and miserable.
As she pulled into the parking lot of the diner, she smiled at how quaint it looked. The small, silver metal building was reminiscent of the diners she’d eaten at as a child. She walked inside and her eyes were immediately drawn to the silver ceiling, adorned with leaf-like borders meticulously interspersed throughout. A wave of nostalgia swept over her as she inhaled the sweet smell of bacon frying on the grill.
She saw the mirrored image of a woman about her age cooking and suspected it was the manager, Sheila. They’d spoken on the phone briefly, and Meredith instantly felt a rapport with her.
The woman spotted her reflected and whirled around. “Hi, you must Meredith.”
“Sheila, I presume?” She waited for the woman to remove her plastic gloves before extending her hand.
“No, Sheila’s out running some errands. I’m Stephanie.”
“Hi, Stephanie.” Meredith shook hands, disappointed Sheila hadn’t returned from her errands in time for the interview.
“I’ll be interviewing you, Meredith.” The woman had her hair tied back in a ponytail, and immediately pointed to the orders posted next to the grill. “Get busy, guys. We’re getting backed up. Get a move on.”
The woman flew over to a nearby table, motioning Meredith to join her. “You brought along references, right? We’ll need a list of people you’ve worked with you over the years.”
“Well, it’s . . . umm . . . it’s been quite a while since I’ve waitressed.” Meredith detested herself for apologizing, but the only references she had were Rachel’s and Kelsey’s. They were friends, not coworkers. “Here’s a list. I can get you more, of course. If you need them.” As she handed the list to Stephanie, her upbeat mood plummeted.
She might have to pull those references out of her ass, but come hell or high water, she’d get them.
Stephanie poured over the paperwork for a few seconds, and if the pensive expression on her face was any indication of what she was thinking, Meredith wasn’t going to get the job.
When the diner door opened and Adam Lightfoot strode in, Meredith decided that this was just about the worst day of her life.
He walked toward the red, circular barstools in front of the counter. As he sat down, he glanced into the mirror, and his face clouded. Their gazes locked briefly, and then he grabbed a menu and began studying it.
“Get the professor the usual, black coffee.” Stephanie smiled at him as she barked out the order, and he whirled around to greet her.
“Morning Stephanie.” Within seconds, he spun the chair back around and continued staring down at the menu.
It occurred to Meredith he might be making a point of not looking at the mirror over the grill, trying to pretend he hadn’t even seen her.
She leaned over and lowered her voice. “Stephanie, I really need this job. I haven’t waitressed in a while, I’ll admit that. But I can do this. I just need a chance. That’s all. One chance.”
“We have a couple of other people coming by for interviews. How about if I have Sheila give you a call you after we’ve met with the others?”
They were already writing her off. She wouldn’t be getting the job.
“Of course. I’ll see myself out.” Meredith bolted from the chair and raced outside.
~ ~ ~
Adam breathed a sigh of relief after Meredith Chapman left. In his wildest dreams, he couldn’t imagine someone as high maintenance as her working in a place like this. He recalled how rude she’d been to him when he’d offered her the free drink at Jake’s bar. With an attitude like that, she wouldn’t last a day at Penny’s Diner. They had a long-standing reputation of treating their customers like royalty, and although he didn’t know Meredith that well, he was fairly certain her blustery ways would turn people off.
When Stephanie walked ove
r to where he sat and refilled his coffee, he asked her about the waitress position.
“I didn’t know you were hiring. No one’s leaving, are they?”
Stephanie finished refilling his coffee cup before replying. “No, no one’s leaving. Some of the students need to cut back their hours. We’re hiring a floater. It’ll just be for a few hours a day.”
Adam tried to wrap his brain around why someone like Meredith would settle for a job at a diner. She didn’t impress him as the type who liked waiting on people.
But when he reflected back to the worried expression on Meredith’s face during the interview, it occurred to him she might be desperate for a job.
He thought back to the few times he’d seen her on campus. She always looked out of place, a misfit. Sul Ross was a fairly easy place to fit in with their laid-back faculty members and down-to-earth students. But Meredith didn’t seem the laid-back type.
Picking up the coffee, he took a huge gulp, aware he had spent way too much time analyzing a woman he barely knew. He had just set the cup back down on the counter when Meredith came charging back into the diner.
“Stephanie, can I talk to you for a minute?” She stood awkwardly, as if attempting to block anyone from overhearing their conversation.
When Stephanie left the grill and walked over to where Meredith stood, she looked puzzled.
Adam promised himself not to eavesdrop, but when he saw Meredith biting her lower lip, he realized something was wrong.
“I know I didn’t get the job, Stephanie.”
“I never said that.”
“I don’t have other references to give you. I haven’t worked since my first child was born. But I know I can do this. All I need is a chance to prove myself. That’s all I’m asking for. I’ll work hard, Stephanie. I’ll clean toilets if that’s what you need me to do.” Meredith clenched her fists as she spoke, and Adam realized how humiliating this must be.