by Debby Mayne
The next day, Amanda went to work with a heavy heart. Fortunately, she had an early rush of customers, so she didn’t have much time to think about what had happened until after lunch when it suddenly got quiet.
As she stood behind the counter, trying to concentrate on her next order, her mind drifted to the events leading up to lunch the day before. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that she could have prevented it. Finally, by the time she closed the shop, there was no doubt in her mind that the whole thing was her fault. She didn’t have Jerry’s new address, or she would have sent a written apology. So she did the next best thing. She called.
He answered abruptly, letting her know he’d checked caller ID. After she apologized, he said, “Fine. I understand,” in a very clipped tone dripping with icicles.
After they hung up, she felt worse than before she’d called. Over the next several days, she continued to fret over the incident. However, Lacy seemed to have forgotten all about it. All she was interested in was planning her wedding.
“Timmy said he’s happy to have a teacher become his mommy.” Lacy giggled. “He seems to think I have some inside information on school or something.”
“I’m glad you worked through your issues with him. He really is a sweet little boy.”
Lacy looked at her, a puzzled frown furrowing her brow. “Issues? What are you talking about, Amanda?”
“You know. You had problems with Timmy in class.”
Lacy shrugged. “It really wasn’t all that bad. He’s just an active little boy.” She gave Amanda a look of annoyance. “Why do you always dwell on the negative?”
Amanda retreated. Was she negative? She never saw herself that way.
On Sunday she went to church and found Matthew sitting near the side door. He motioned for her to join him, so she did. She was surprised when she turned around and spotted Jerry walking in with his parents. He glanced over at her, did a slight double-take, then turned all his attention on his dad. His mother smiled and waved. Amanda waved back.
After church she followed Matthew to the fellowship hall. Without making any effort to be social, Jerry ushered his parents out the church door. Her heart sank. Seeing him in church gave her some hope that perhaps he’d be willing to at least talk.
“Why so glum?” Matthew asked.
Amanda told him what had happened, and he just stood there without saying anything. When she realized he wasn’t responding, she asked his opinion.
“Do you really wanna know?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, of course, or I wouldn’t have asked.”
He closed his eyes then opened them and looked her in the eyes. “I’m glad he’s mad at you.”
“What?”
“This isn’t easy for me to say, but I might as well come out with it. I’ve wanted to have more than a platonic relationship with you since we first met, but you were so intent on just staying friends, I held back and waited for the right time to say something.”
Amanda’s mouth instantly became dry. She squeezed her eyes shut then offered him an apologetic grin. “I’m sorry, Matthew.”
He nodded with a matching smile. “Yeah, me, too.” He took her hand and held it between his as he captured her gaze. “Now for some advice about Jerry. If you really care for him as much as I think you do, don’t just stand here talking to me. Go after him.”
“You know I can’t do that, Matthew.”
“Why?” he asked. “Are you too proud?”
“Stop being so foolish, Jerry.” Rosemary was exasperated with her son. She was tired of him taking out his own frustration on Amanda. “Everything is fine.”
“This could have turned out much worse.”
“But it didn’t,” she argued. “You and Amanda have something special. I don’t want to see you let it slip away.”
“Maybe it’s not as special as you think. Did you see her sitting next to that Matthew guy in church?”
Rosemary looked up at the ceiling and silently counted to ten before leveling her gaze on her very stubborn son. “Yes, of course I saw her sitting with him, and that’s all the more reason you shouldn’t hold a grudge for so long. Amanda is a very attractive, sweet, smart young woman who isn’t going to stay single all her life.”
“Good for her.”
Rosemary wanted to shake Jerry, but it wouldn’t do any good. He’d always been stubborn, and it took him days to work things out in his own mind. She needed to get him started, though, so she decided to go for the jugular.
“Don’t forget the time he took off when you were supposed to be with him and we had to call the police.”
Jerry’s face turned a bright shade of crimson. “That was different. We didn’t know he had Alzheimer’s.”
“We knew something was wrong, or I wouldn’t have asked you to stay with him while I went to my hair appointment.”
“Yeah, well…”
“Then there was that other time when we all went to the mall together. You turned your back for less than a minute, and when you turned around, he was gone.”
He tightened his jaw and stared straight ahead. Finally, he stood up from the chair in his parents’ apartment. “I’m going home.”
Before he got to the door, he hesitated long enough for Rosemary to say one more thought. “Just don’t miss out on this chance to work things out with Amanda. No one is perfect, you know.”
All the way home, Jerry pondered everything his mother had said. As usual, she was right. Now that some time had passed, he knew this wasn’t Amanda’s fault. Sure, she was aware that his dad had Alzheimer’s, but she didn’t realize he had a tendency to wander off. Jerry knew he should have said something.
Jerry also knew that part of his reaction was based on his feelings for Amanda. He had never intended to fall in love, but he did it anyway. Every nerve in his body was sensitive when she was around. It didn’t take much to set him off.
When he saw her in church with Matthew, he almost went out of his mind. She’d told him she and the skateboarder were just friends, and he didn’t doubt her sincerity in the least. However, he saw the way Matthew looked at Amanda, and it wasn’t like he was looking at a friend. The guy was head over heels.
As all his mother’s warnings ran through his mind, he knew she’d given him good advice. If he continued being stubborn, he risked losing out on being with the only woman who’d ever given him sunshine on cloudy days merely by being in the same room with him. Her smile sent a signal to his heart that all was right in his world.
He picked up some of his clutter then pulled out the papers he’d need for work the following week. Then he sat down in front of the television and channel-surfed until he felt like he’d go out of his mind. Finally, he picked up the phone and called his mom.
“You were right.”
“Is this Jerry?”
“Yes. Did you hear what I said?”
“Of course I did. I know I was right, but I didn’t expect you to come to this conclusion so soon. You generally have to stew over things for at least a few days.”
“I feel like a class-A jerk.”
His mother laughed. “No, sweetheart, you’re not a jerk—just a lovesick man who can’t handle the emotions.”
Jerry wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he expelled the air in his lungs. “I have to do something, but I have no idea what.”
“Start by telling her how you feel.”
“I don’t want to scare her away.”
“Trust me, Jerry, you won’t scare her away. Just go see her and talk to her.”
“Let me think about it some more.” The mere thought of going into her shop, having no idea if she’d listen or kick him out, made him dizzy. What was worse, however, was the possibility of Matthew stepping in and riding off into the sunset with the girl.
“Your father wants to talk to you.”
“Put him on.” Jerry drummed his fingers on the table while he waited and listened to his parents whispering.
Finally, his dad came on. “I want to apologize for causing all this trouble.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“If there’s anything I can do, you know I will.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Well, if you don’t have anything else to say, I’ll give the phone back to your mother so she can finish talking some sense into you.”
Jerry talked to his mother for a few more seconds. She asked him to take her to the beach later in the week, and he said he would. There wasn’t anything else he could do at this hour, so he kicked back and watched more TV until bedtime.
Amanda had played through the scenario over and over in her mind. Jerry had been right. Matthew did see their relationship as being more than friends—or at least wish that they would be—and she hadn’t seen it coming. She didn’t think she’d done anything to encourage it, but obviously she had—and it bugged her.
Monday and Tuesday were normally slow days, but some schools still hadn’t gone back in session, which meant kids and their families were taking last-of-the-season vacations. Lacy was so busy with her own life, between wedding preparations and teaching, that she wasn’t around the house much. Amanda was glad to have the house to herself most evenings because she didn’t feel like making small talk.
Business finally slowed down by Thursday, so she took advantage of the lull to rearrange the stock. She’d taken a retail crash course where she learned to constantly move things around to increase sales. She’d just finished moving one of her skateboard displays to the opposite side of the showroom when she heard the bell on the door.
Chapter Eighteen
Rosemary smiled as she walked toward Amanda. “Hi there.”
Amanda smiled and clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking. The only time she’d seen Rosemary since the incident had been in church, when it was apparent that none of the Simpson family wanted anything to do with her.
“How are you, Rosemary? Did you need a bicycle?”
“Not today, dear. I just need your listening ears.” She glanced around. “Are you busy?”
Amanda shook her head. “No, it’s been pretty slow today. What’s up?”
“Jerry feels terrible about how he reacted.”
“Does he know you’re here?”
Rosemary’s nose crinkled as she smiled. “What do you think?”
Amanda leaned over and looked outside. “How did you get here, then? Did you get a car?”
“No. I had a friend drop me off. She’s coming back for me in a half hour, so I need to get this off my chest pretty quickly.”
“Okay. So why do you think Jerry feels bad?”
Rosemary told her about how they’d learned of Harold’s Alzheimer’s—after he’d pulled his disappearing act several times with both Jerry and Rosemary. “So you see, this isn’t the first time he’s taken off like that. Jerry and I should have told you that we have to keep a close watch on him.”
“Where is Harold now?”
“He and a bunch of his friends are shooting pool back at Tropical Gardens. I don’t think he even knows I left the building.”
Amanda smiled. “I’m glad he’s enjoying himself.”
“Oh, he’s having the time of his life, and part of it’s due to Timmy. I haven’t seen him this happy in years.”
“Timmy obviously adores Harold, as well. He’s a sweet little boy who just needs some attention, and now he’s getting it.”
“Jerry enjoys being around you.”
Amanda rubbed her neck. “I like him, too. How much longer do you think he’ll be in Treasure Island?”
Rosemary frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He told me he has a short-term lease. I wondered what he’d do when it was up.”
The sound of a horn honking outside caught their attention. Rosemary waved then turned back to Amanda. “My ride’s here. Just remember what I said. Nothing that happened was your fault.” She stepped up to Amanda and pulled her in for a hug. “Give my son another chance.”
Amanda smiled. “Take care, Rosemary, and tell Harold I said hi.”
“I’m not telling him I came here. He thinks I interfere too much already.”
After she left, Amanda thought about what Rosemary had said. Only now, she found herself angry with Jerry for blaming her for Harold and Timmy’s disappearance. Her emotional roller coaster over the past week, with all the highs and lows, was almost too much to handle. Her stomach churned, and she felt achy all over.
Friday and Saturday were busy days, and she went home exhausted. When she awoke on Sunday morning, her skin felt as though it had been scraped by sandpaper. Lacy came out of the bathroom, took one look at her, and took a step back.
“Whoa, you look awful.”
Amanda went into the bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror. “Where’s the thermometer?”
“In the kitchen,” Lacy replied. “I’ll go get it.”
With a temperature of 101, Amanda couldn’t very well go to church and risk exposing others to something if she was contagious. Lacy told her to go back to bed, and she’d bring her some tea and toast. Amanda did as she was told.
Lacy didn’t waste any time. Less than ten minutes later, she brought a tray into Amanda’s room. “Brad and Timmy will be here in a few minutes. We’re going out to lunch after church and then taking Timmy to a skating rink for a classmate’s birthday party.”
Amanda’s lips were parched as she sipped the tea. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Call if you need me.” Lacy hovered by the door. “I’ll check my cell phone messages after church.”
By midafternoon, Amanda knew she wasn’t going to be well enough to go to the shop the next day. Tiffany was back in school, so she wouldn’t be able to work until after two thirty or three. The only option she had to open her store was Matthew. After only a slight hesitation, she called him.
“I’ll be glad to work tomorrow,” he said. “I’m taking a break from the tour until next month when we gear up for the holiday season.”
“Thanks, Matthew. I need to go back to bed now.”
“Let me know if you need anything, Amanda. I’m sorry you’re sick.”
“I’ll be fine in a day or two,” she said.
“I can work all week if you need me.”
Jerry couldn’t get Amanda out of his mind. He’d looked for her in church, hoping to have a quick chat with her to try to make amends. But he didn’t see her. His mother seemed nervous as she glanced around, too.
After the service, he drove his parents back to Tropical Gardens Village and hung out for a little while before heading back home. He’d never felt so lonely in his life as he had since that fateful day of his dad taking off with Timmy. All he wanted was to be with Amanda, and now he wasn’t sure that was possible.
Monday morning, he got up early and did as much work as possible. The Asian market was ending their day when he began, so he had dozens of e-mails to deal with the second he signed on.
As soon as he caught up, he decided to run by Amanda’s shop to see if she had a minute to chat. The second he opened the door and saw Matthew standing behind the counter flipping through a magazine, his blood boiled.
Matthew looked up and waved. “Hey, Jerry. Need something?”
Jerry needed Amanda, but he wasn’t about to tell Matthew that. He looked around for something to buy and spotted a sports bottle. “I need one of those.”
“Is that all?” Matthew said as he rang it up. “You look like you have something on your mind. Wanna talk about it?”
“No.” Jerry couldn’t help his abruptness. “Where’s Amanda?”
“Home.” Matthew lifted a soft drink cup and sipped through the straw. “I’m filling in for her today and maybe tomorrow. Want me to give her a message?”
“I don’t think so. See ya around.” He knew his tone was terse, but it reflected his feelings.
The second Jerry left the store, he wanted to go back in and find out what Matthew was doi
ng working in Jerry’s girl’s store. But she wasn’t Jerry’s girl. She obviously had more confidence in Matthew than she did him.
He headed straight to his parents’ place. On his way there, he called his mother and asked if she could go for a ride. The concern in her voice made him feel bad, but he needed to talk to someone who understood him.
As he pulled up to the front door, his mother came right to the car and got in. “What happened?” she asked, worry lines etching her face.
Jerry told her about Matthew working at the store. “I’m afraid I might have blown any chance with Amanda by the way I acted a little while ago.”
“Maybe not,” she said. “How do you like living in Treasure Island? Do you think you’d like to stay there?”
He stopped at a light and looked at her. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I don’t want you to stay in a place you don’t like just because of your feelings for Amanda.”
“You know I love Treasure Island.” He paused and thought about making it his permanent home. “I’d love to stay.”
“And how about Amanda? Are you sure you can handle a relationship?”
He nodded. “Absolutely. In fact, that’s all I want right now.”
“Then you need to show her how you feel. I have an idea.” She pointed to a coffee shop. “Let’s go in there and talk.”
By the time Jerry took his mother home, he had a plan. Maybe it would make a difference with Amanda, and maybe it wouldn’t. But at least he was taking action to do something productive for his future.
Amanda felt better on Tuesday but still not well enough to work all day. Matthew opened the store, and she worked late morning to midafternoon, when Tiffany came in after school. It gave Amanda a chance to ease back into her normal activity.
Each day for the rest of the week she felt a little better. She was able to attend church. She sat with Suzanne, whom she hadn’t seen in several weeks.
“How was your trip to Europe?” she asked.