Almost Home
Page 20
After dinner, while Caitlyn kept herself busy playing in the bedroom, Jenn sat on the sofa with her yearbooks and scanned each picture to see if anyone resembled her new boss. His name hadn’t sounded familiar, but he’d said he’d attended Fairbrook High.
She hoped she wasn’t wasting her time. After all, Geek’s letter to Diana followed by Marc’s invitation to dinner and the theater was probably just a coincidence, but she couldn’t seem to let it go.
As she studied each high-school photograph, she found a girl named Monica Alvarado who’d been a sophomore when Jenn was a senior. Could Monica have been Marc’s sister? Or maybe a cousin?
Jenn continued to turn pages, to peruse each student until she reached the senior pictures and found Marcos “The Brain” Taylor, a small, wimpy guy with glasses. His dark hair, short and wavy like Marc’s, wasn’t unusual, so she couldn’t consider that a telltale sign.
She wondered what Marcos would look like if he’d worn contact lenses.
Did Marc wear contacts?
She carried the yearbook closer to the lamp so she could study the photo in better lighting. For the longest time, she looked at the image and wondered if Marcos could have made that big of a change in his appearance. She tried to imagine him filled out and grown up. Marcos definitely had some similarities to Marc—enough that they could be brothers. And Marcos certainly had been smart enough to graduate from college and be a successful businessman now.
But why the name change?
That part didn’t make sense.
She thought back to the day in the library, when “The Brain” had tutored her. He’d been so sweet and helpful. And he’d taken all the time in the world to help her understand a concept that had been foggy. Never once had he made her feel stupid.
Relieved that algebra had begun to make sense, she’d given him an appreciative hug, felt the tender strength of his embrace, caught the whiff of his woodsy aftershave.
For a moment, she’d actually been drawn to his embrace, flattered by it, warmed by it. But when he’d sensed her reaction and asked her out, she’d balked.
Ten years ago, she hadn’t been physically attracted to Marcos, even though she’d found him likable as a person. But she was older now, wiser.
And so was he.
The physical attraction that had been missing before soared whenever she looked at him now, whenever he spoke. And that kind and generous nature she’d noticed before had blossomed, making him an awesome man.
That is, if Marcos truly was Marc.
Two hours later, she hadn’t been any closer to a decision, and at a quarter to eleven, she’d finally turned in for the night. But sleep had been a long time coming, as she’d tossed and turned and dreamed of her boss, a man who sometimes wore a pair of geeky glasses in her nocturnal imagination and sometimes didn’t. A man who alternately asked her out for burgers and fries one minute, then dinner and the theater the next.
At three-thirty, she climbed out of bed and fixed herself a glass of warm milk, which helped a bit, but she still wasn’t any closer to having an answer.
What was she supposed to do? Go up to her boss and ask him if he’d once been a geek named Marcos and if he’d once had a crush on her?
No, she couldn’t do that.
The next morning, after fussing with her hair and makeup longer than usual, pulling several different outfits from the closet and trying them on, she selected a pair of brown slacks and an off-white knit top. Then she drove to the office, hoping Marc would own up to being Marcos. That he’d do something romantic to tip his hand.
She had to know for sure who he really was.
Once she stepped through the glass doors and into the office, she spotted Elena at her desk, where a small bouquet of daisies sat next to the telephone.
The older woman looked up from her work and smiled. “Good morning, Jennifer.”
“Good morning.” Jenn pointed to the vase on her desk. “Those are pretty flowers. I’ve always been partial to daisies.”
“They are, aren’t they? Marc brought them in this morning.”
“That was nice of him. They really brighten up the room.” Jenn scanned the immediate area. “Where is he? In his office?”
“No, he came and went already. The Fairbrook Kiwanis Club is hosting a charity breakfast this morning, and he volunteered to make the pancakes. He should be back in an hour or so. Did you need to talk to him?”
No, she just wanted to see him. If she looked a little more closely, would she spot any similarities to Marcos Taylor?
But for the same reason she hadn’t wanted to come right out and ask Marc, she wouldn’t discuss her suspicion with Elena. Instead, she said, “I had a question about the brochure I’m working on for Alvarado Technologies, but it can wait until he gets back.”
As Jenn strode down the hall, she entered her office, where another bouquet of daisies sat, this one larger and fuller than the one on Elena’s desk.
Do something romantic, she’d suggested in her last e-mail. And flowers definitely counted.
But not if Elena got them, too.
Jenn took a seat, but instead of diving into her work, she pulled a petal from a daisy that dangled over the edge of the vase. “He loves me,” she whispered. Then she plucked another. “He loves me not.”
Did it matter if Geek and Marcos and Marc were one and the same?
Would it make her any more enthusiastic about dating her boss?
For some crazy reason, the answer was yes.
Disregarding the work she had to do, she signed into her Diana e-mail account, which had several new messages in the in-box. Yet only one set her heart strumming—the one sent by Geek.
Dear Diana,
You’re right about me being shy. My Beauty turned me down years ago, and it was a tough blow. And while I appreciate you reconsidering your advice and suggesting I do something romantic, I’m afraid it’s too late. I asked Beauty to go out with me yesterday, and she declined.
Geek
Jenn’s heart dropped to the bottom of her chest. Marc had asked her out yesterday, but other than that, there was no information in the letter that would suggest that Geek was actually Marc. Besides, Jenn hadn’t really declined; she’d asked for a rain check.
Unable to help herself, she typed in a response.
Dear Geek,
I’m sorry that Beauty refused to go out with you. Does she know who you are?
Diana
She hit Send, then returned to her e-mail. She’d no more than read the first one, when a click sounded, alerting her to a new letter in her in-box. She knew it couldn’t possibly be from Geek, yet when she checked, she was both surprised and shocked to see that it was.
How could Marc have sent that so soon? He was at breakfast, which meant there was a flaw in her assumption already.
Feeling more than a little disappointed, she read his words.
Dear Diana,
I don’t think she recognizes me, but it’s hard to say. I’ve changed a lot in the past ten years. I’m also going by a different name than the one I used when I was in high school.
Geek
Marcos Taylor? Marc Alvarado?
Again, the assumption didn’t seem to be that big of a stretch, although she couldn’t understand how Marc could be flipping hotcakes and sending e-mails at the same time.
Did he have an iPhone or a BlackBerry?
She supposed it was possible.
Her senses reeled, and excitement pulsed through her veins.
But if she was wrong, if Geek was another guy, she couldn’t encourage him to chase after a woman who clearly wasn’t interested in him.
Still, what if he was Marc? What if Jenn was the beauty he’d pinned his heart on…?
Would it change things?
Would that cause her insecurities to worsen?
What a mess she’d stumbled into. But she couldn’t let it go on any longer.
Dear Geek,
I might be jumping to a faulty conclus
ion, but someone asked me out yesterday. And I was so touched, so nervous, so scared, that I stumbled over a decision. I asked for a rain check, hoping it would give me time to think it over. Because, believe it or not, a lot of people aren’t nearly as self-confident as they seem. Sometimes they find themselves in situations in which they become shy and insecure.
After I suggested that you do something romantic, I received a bouquet of flowers. But I wasn’t the only one in the office who did.
So…
Okay. To be honest, my thoughts are scampering here. But if you placed those flowers on my desk, thank you. It was sweet and thoughtful, since I love daisies. But unfortunately, that wasn’t a big enough clue for me. You need to declare yourself in person. And you might be surprised at what a heart-to-heart talk might do.
Diana
Jenn read over the letter one last time, then hit Send and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
But Geek never replied.
Chapter Twelve
Geek still hadn’t responded to Jenn’s last e-mail, and Marc never returned to the office, which left Jenn feeling uneasy.
The longer she went without hearing from either of them, the more she thought it was best if she gave Marc her two-week’s notice.
The job at Alvarado Technologies had only been temporary and would be ending soon, so there was no need for her or Marc to feel uncomfortable around each other any longer than necessary.
Now, as she sat with her mom and Caitlyn in the park, munching on a turkey sandwich, she couldn’t help thinking that her whole life had fallen apart.
Of course, her mother and father appeared to have gotten their acts together. And as long as they were both happy and seriously considering a reconciliation, then she was okay with it, too.
She turned to her mom, who was eating an apple slice. “Do you and Dad have plans for the weekend?”
“We’re going to dinner on Friday night, and we’re driving to Julian for breakfast on Saturday morning. Why do you ask?”
“I just wondered. How are things working out for you? I mean, will he be moving home?”
“We still have a few things to talk through, so I’m not in any hurry for him to move back into the house, especially if that means our relationship would revert back to the way it was. But so far, it’s going well. And believe it or not, he even suggested we go to church on Sunday.”
“Dad?” Not that he’d been a hellion or a complete nonbeliever, but her father had always been selfish with his weekends and preferred to watch ball games on television or tinker around in the garage rather than socialize with friends or family. “Now that’s a surprise.”
“I know. That’s what made me realize he’s serious about changing the dynamics of our relationship. I think he’s even read some books and articles on the subject, too. Weird, huh? The old Brad wouldn’t have even considered reading a novel, let alone a self-help book.”
“I know. So what’s behind the big change?”
“He mentioned something about having an epiphany after talking to some homeless guy who was on his way to the soup kitchen at Parkside Community Church.” Her mother chuckled. “I didn’t even know your dad could spell ‘epiphany,’ let alone have one or use it in everyday dialogue. Of course, he’s been using a lot of new words lately, like boundaries and communication and even romance.”
Jenn had to admit that her dad had been pretty closed-lipped during the past few years, and that her mom hadn’t been that talkative, either.
“Well, would you look at that?” Her mother pointed toward the street, where a shiny, black limousine had parked along the curb.
The driver, wearing a dark suit, got out, walked around to the side of the car, and opened the door for the passengers—or rather one passenger, a man carrying a bouquet of red roses, a gold-foil box, and a white teddy bear.
Jenn looked to her right and left, wondering what was going on at the park, but as far as she could see, it was just the usual lunch and playground crowd.
As the man began walking toward her and her mother, she thought that, in the distance, he bore a striking resemblance to Marc. He wore glasses, though—like…Marcos?
A very grown-up Marcos.
He continued his approach, and her heart took off like a runaway freight train. She lifted her hand and pressed it against her chest as though she could keep it from breaking free.
Do something romantic, she’d told Geek yesterday.
Again, she scanned the grounds, trying to determine whether Marc—or Marcos?—had come to visit someone else, but realizing he was clearly headed straight for her.
The daisies weren’t a big enough clue, she’d told him earlier this morning.
Declare yourself in person. And you might be surprised at what a heart-to-heart talk might do.
Her pulse rate continued to race, and the blood swooshed through her veins in a heady rush.
“Oh, my goodness,” her mother said. “It’s Mr. Alvarado. And he’s coming to see you.”
Jenn didn’t know what to say—to her mom or to Marc. She’d made a big mistake earlier by freezing up when he’d asked her out, and while she was still struggling to wrap her mind around the fact that he was the self-proclaimed geek who’d written to Diana and was coming to lay his heart on the line, she didn’t want to screw things up again. So she got to her feet and began walking toward him.
“I…uh…” She took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I can’t seem to talk around you.”
“I know what that’s like. Maybe it’s best if you let me do the talking.”
“I…yes. Okay.” She smiled. Their gazes locked, and her peripheral vision shut down, leaving only the two of them standing in the entire park.
He handed her the flowers—blood-red, long-stemmed, and de-thorned. She took them, unable to avoid taking a long, drawn-out whiff. So fragrant. “They’re beautiful, Marc.”
And so was he.
She’d asked for something bold and romantic, and he’d given it to her.
“I brought something for Caitlyn and your mom, too.” He lifted the stuffed animal, a little white bear with a pink ribbon around its neck, and a gold box of Ghirardelli chocolates.
As if on cue, Caitlyn ran up to Jenn and tugged at the sleeve of her sweater. “Is it your birthday, Mommy?”
“No, it isn’t.” But it was certainly turning into a very special day.
“Then why is he bringing you flowers and a teddy bear and a present?”
Marc stooped to one knee and smiled at the child. “Your mom suggested a romantic move and thought my daisies were too subtle.” He handed Caitlyn the teddy bear. “This is for you.”
“For me?” Caitlyn looked at Jenn. “Is it okay? He’s not a real stranger ’cause you know him, right?”
“Actually…” Jenn turned to her boss and studied him carefully for signs of Marcos, finding glimpses of the boy who’d shared himself and his knowledge, glimpses of the generous man who’d created a scholarship foundation so kids at risk could pursue higher education and make something of their lives. The depth of the man he’d become was almost staggering. “This is Marcos, Caitlyn. He’s an old friend of mine. We haven’t seen each other in years, but we’re going to…renew our friendship. So, yes, honey. You can keep the teddy bear.”
The little girl took the stuffed animal and cuddled it in her arms. “Thank you. I have another teddy at home, a brown one. But now he has a friend.”
“Friends are special,” Marc said.
That was true, and something told Jenn she’d just found one who was more special than the rest.
“I’m going to show my new bear to Grandma,” Caitlyn said as she dashed off to the bench where her grandmother continued to sit, a smile bursting across her face.
“Do you think your mom would mind watching Caitlyn while we talk?”
“I’m sure she’d be happy to.”
Marc nodded toward Jenn’s mother. “Then let me give her the c
hocolate.”
Jenn followed him to where Susan sat, her eyes glimmering.
“Mrs. Kramer, I brought you some chocolate.”
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to do that.”
Marc grinned. “It’s a bit of a bribe. I was hoping you’d keep an eye on Caitlyn while Jenn and I talk.”
“Of course. Take all the time you need.”
Marc looked at Jenn. “Should we go for a walk or take a drive?”
She glanced at the limo, where the driver stood next to the door like a Buckingham Palace guard. It was all very sweet, very romantic, but she wanted to talk to Marc alone. “Let’s walk.”
“Okay.” She handed the roses to her mother for safekeeping. “We’ll be back.”
“No rush,” her mom said.
As they made their way across the lawn toward the jogging path that ran along the perimeter of the park, she said, “I’d wondered where you were this morning. And yesterday, too. You haven’t spent much time at the office, and I thought…well, I thought maybe you were avoiding me.”
“You were right. I was.”
Her steps slowed, and she turned to her right, checking out his expression.
He smiled, and those eyes, beautiful brown eyes she could clearly see through the lenses of his glasses, glistened. “I’m glad we’re having this talk, Jenn. I couldn’t continue to work from home and make up meetings that didn’t exist.”
“I ran you out of the office?”
“I’m afraid that was the old Marcos reacting. I’ve come a long way from those high-school days, but I’ve always had a thing for you. I thought I’d outgrown it, or rather you. But when I saw you again, those feelings came flooding back, and so did my adolescent insecurities.”
They continued to walk, the sun warming them, the birds chirping in the treetops.
New life, new hope.
“I’ve changed, too,” Jenn admitted. “I’ve got a lot of baggage now. And the insecurities I seemed to have bypassed in school have come home to roost lately.”
“You don’t have anything to feel insecure about. You’re a beautiful woman, a loving mother.”