“Okay!” Noah said brightly. He skipped back to the woman, happy that she changed her mind.
“Wheel me around,” she ordered curtly.
Noah grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and pushed her slowly down the walkway.
Noah was careful not to talk. He figured she probably was tired of him asking questions. They walked on for a while in silence, with Kelly trailing behind them.
“Where did you come from, young man?” the woman asked.
“I used to live an hour from here, in a big house. But my Mommy couldn’t take care of me,” Noah said looking at the woman with serious brown eyes. “So I came to live here when I was three. They’ve taken care of me ever since I was little.”
“So you like living here?” the woman asked, enjoying the sound of his voice.
“Yes. They give me ice cream, and we eat hot dogs. They are nice to me here. Especially Kelly.” Noah said happily.
“That’s good,” the woman said smiling. “I like hot dogs.”
“I think we can be friends,” the woman said after they had walked on for a little while in silence. “But don’t ask me a lot of questions. I don’t know anything about myself.”
“Nothing?” Noah asked, curious.
“Not much,” the woman said, a trace of sadness in her voice.
“Why not?” Noah was hesitant, but he wanted to know why his new friend couldn’t remember anything.
“I got hurt a long time ago, somehow. It hurt my brain, I think. And now I get headaches, and I can’t sleep, and I can’t remember anything.”
“How did you get hurt?” Noah remembered the last time he got a boo-boo and he shuddered. He hated getting hurt.
“I don’t know. I just know that my head got hurt. I think it shook my brain,” the older woman laughed. “At least I know that I have one.”
Noah smiled. “I have a brain, but it doesn’t work good.”
“What do you mean?” the woman asked puzzled.
“I’m not too smart.” Noah said sadly. “Not like other boys my age.”
“You seem smart to me,” the woman said smiling at him for the first time. “You seem very smart.”
Noah thought the woman was pretty when she smiled.
“Thank you,” Noah said smiling back. Nobody had ever called him smart before. Especially not a new friend. “That’s why my Mommy didn’t want to take care of me. She didn’t want a stupid kid.”
“I’m sure that’s not true at all,” the woman said, patting his hand gently. She was enjoying their walk more than she thought she would.
Noah had a thought.
“What is your name? I know all of my friend’s names. Andy, Steven, Kelly, Susan, Bob, Carol, Brian, Joe, Charlie…”
“My name is Carly,” the woman said smiling at his long list. “Just call me Carly.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Handsome Stranger
BRYNN WAS ON A MISSION to try to work a lot. Jane kept trying to send her home, but Brynn needed to do something.
“I haven’t spent much time here, with the pregnancy and all, so it’s time that I get caught up,” she told Jane stubbornly.
“Yes, but that’s why you pay me, and that’s why you pay Lucia. We take care of all of these things for you.” Jane was beside herself. After running the restaurant by herself for so long, Brynn was interrupting the flow.
“I know. But I have to do something.” Brynn said, understanding what Jane was trying to say. “This is different than the first time that Adam left. I know he’s not coming back. I know that I can’t just lie in bed and lose myself as I did before. I have to work.”
Brynn felt like she was going crazy. She couldn’t stand to be home, staring at the empty rooms. She had cleaned most of them as the realtor came in and out with perspective buyers. The nursery was the first room to be boxed up with everything put away. The only livable rooms were the bedroom, the kitchen, and the sitting room. Otherwise, everything was in boxes, neatly lining the walls of the garage.
Maxie was beside himself locked in the back sunroom, but Brynn couldn’t let him roam like he usually did. Brynn kept telling herself that it was temporary, and that it wouldn’t last forever. I have to get rid of the house. Every corner, every room reminds of him. Smells like him. I have to get out of this house!
“You’ve been through a traumatic experience Brynn, both physically and emotionally. You need to make sure that you understand that and don’t push it.” Jane was concerned for her friend. At least this time, Brynn remained upright and functional every day. Jane was thankful for that.
“I know,” Brynn said with a half-hearted smile. “That’s why I’m here, to distract myself.”
“Well, maybe you should stick to cooking or something else. You’re driving Luis a little crazy,” Jane said, smiling. Luis was the head prep cook, and he set the specials for the day. He was complaining to Jane about Brynn stepping on his toes, and it had only been a week.
Brynn was annoyed. If it weren’t for her, Luis wouldn’t even have a job. But part of her understood. She hadn’t been hands-on in the kitchen for well over a year now, and Luis had been doing a very good job.
Brynn tried to smile. “I just need to do something.”
“I know you do,” Jane said hugging her friend. They had seen each other through a lot, and Jane wondered when Brynn was ever going to catch a break. “Why don’t you come in tomorrow, get back into some of the book keeping, and work through breakfast?”
Brynn smiled gratefully. The restaurant and Maxie were all that she had now. Brynn had repeatedly tried calling Ellie, but she didn’t return her calls. She knew that she shouldn’t be disappointed, but she had been looking forward to possibly meeting her brother, after all.
After another sleepless night, Brynn came in the next morning at three a.m., and set to work. She was happy to let Jane have the day off to spend with the girls. The restaurant opened at six for breakfast and Brynn was surprised at how quickly the morning flew by. Lucia still worked a few mornings a week when she wasn’t taking morning classes and was happy to see Brynn so early.
“How are you?” Lucia asked her beautiful cocoa brown eyes full of concern. Lucia knew what it was like to lose a child, only she had given hers up for adoption. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t miss her and say a prayer for her baby.
“I’m okay,” Brynn said attempting to put on a brave face. It had been a year since she lost Sophie and she still grieved, but losing Adam was still very fresh in her mind. “I miss them,” she whispered.
“I know,” Lucia said sympathetically. “I miss my baby, too.”
They hugged each other and held each other for a long moment. Brynn pulled back first and wiped her eyes. She didn’t want the employees to see her cry.
“I guess we should help the girls clean this mess up, huh?” she said, all business.
Lucia nodded her head, and they set to work getting ready for the lunch crowd.
The restaurant had cleared out after the breakfast rush, but there were still a few people coming and going throughout the morning. Most of the faces Brynn knew, but she was happy to see that there were many new ones.
As the door opened, Brynn looked up and felt her breath catch for a second. She turned away quickly, embarrassed.
It had been a long time since anyone had caught her off guard like that, nobody since Adam. Nobody ever, not since Adam. The man sat down at the small wooden breakfast counter and opened a menu.
Brynn was nervous. She looked around for Lucia or Gertie, but nobody was around. Crap. I’m going to have to go up to him. She paused for a moment, but nobody appeared to rescue her.
You’re an idiot. It’s just a man. No big deal. You talk to men every day. You can do this, Brynn. Brynn didn’t know why this man made her so nervous. He was tall, with chestnut colored hair. And when he walked, Brynn could tell that he was sure of himself.
He probably knows how good looking he is, too. Brynn decided sh
e didn’t like him. He’s probably arrogant.
He was looking around for someone to help him.
Crap, where are Lucia and Gertie?! Dammit!
Brynn walked over to him slowly. “Hi, would you like some coffee?”
He looked at her, his hazel eyes lighting up as he smiled. “Sure. Thank you.”
He’s nice. Dammit!
“Would you like to order?” Brynn asked using her most professional tone.
“Sure,” he said looking down at the menu.
Brynn stood and waited as he read down through each page. Why does the menu have to be four pages?
“Okay. Got it,” he said enthusiastically as he looked up at her. “Three eggs, over easy, wheat toast, hash browns, two sides of sausage, two sides of bacon, two buttermilk pancakes, and some corned beef hash.”
“Wow!” Brynn said, in spite of herself.
The man laughed. “I know. I just flew in at two a.m., and there was nothing open, so I’m starving!”
“Well, I’ll get that in for you right away, then,” Brynn said, amused. He was built like he was athletic, but she hadn’t expected him to order that much food.
Brynn rang in the order and a few seconds later, Lucia came out of the kitchen. “Is your guest count right on this, Brynn? Is this really for one person?”
Brynn looked over at the man sitting at the counter drinking his coffee.
“Oh my,” Lucia whispered, following Brynn’s gaze. “He’s… he’s….”
“I know,” Brynn said quietly, trying not to stare.
Lucia smiled. She couldn’t remember a time when Brynn ever looked at a man. Even though everyone knew that she loved Adam, Lucia also knew they had their problems. She wanted Brynn to be happy. Brynn was like a sister to her, and she couldn’t remember ever seeing her completely happy. It was nice to see her mooning over a stranger.
“You should talk to him,” Lucia said casually.
“No way!” Brynn said, her cheeks turning red. She had been working all morning after not getting any sleep, and wasn’t feeling very attractive at the moment. “I look horrible.”
“You look beautiful, like you always do,” Lucia scolded her. “Turn around, he’s calling for you.”
Brynn turned around, and the handsome man was gesturing for her to come over. She smoothed her hair and tried to compose herself, feeling a strange nervousness in her belly.
“Did you need more coffee?” she asked politely.
“Yes. I mean no. I just wanted to know what there is to do in this city? I’m going to be here for a month or so for business, and I want to get my bearings. I’m assuming that you live here?” he smiled again, and Brynn felt a little out of sorts. “I’m Nicholas… Nick, by the way.”
She sat and chatted with him and was surprised at how easy it was to talk to him. She tried to leave when his food came, but he insisted that she keep talking. Brynn forgot her nervousness and chatted away about all of the touristy things in the city that there were to do, until suddenly she realized that the lunch crowd had come in full force, and the restaurant was hopping.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I have to help out,” she said jumping up and apologizing. She hadn’t ever been that caught up in conversation that she didn’t know what was going on around her. The hazel and gold in his eyes kept distracting her, as well as his laugh. She immediately felt guilty.
“I’m sorry,” he said looking worried. “Will your boss be mad?”
Brynn laughed. “I’m the boss.”
Nick was stunned and then he smiled a teasing smile. “So you mean, this whole time I was sitting here talking to the boss, and I didn’t know it? Wow. Your employees must think you’re pretty lazy.”
“Yes. They hate me.” Brynn smiled back. She couldn’t remember having this much fun talking to someone in a long time.
“What are you doing tonight?” Nick asked, suddenly serious.
Brynn stood up. “Um, hanging out with my dog, watching Lifetime movies. He’s a big fan.”
“Why don’t you hang out with me? I don’t watch Lifetime movies, but I am fun to spend time with.”
Brynn hesitated. Why would he want to hang out with me? Who does he think that I am?
“Don’t say no. I’m going to the restroom, and I expect you to be here when I get back telling me what time to pick you up.” As Nick stood up, Brynn realized that he was taller than she originally thought—at least six foot two. Brynn felt her breath catch again. He was casual in jeans and a t-shirt, but she liked the easy way that his body moved. Adam was the only man she had ever been interested in, and Nick definitely unnerved her.
I can’t do this. I can’t spend time with him. I don’t know who he thinks I am, but I’m not someone who just hangs out.
Nick walked into the bathroom and washed his hands. He stared at himself in the mirror and tried to smile. Damn, I’ve aged. I look terrible.
He thought about Brynn and smiled. She intrigued him. She was the first woman to catch his eye in a long time. She’s funny, but so tentative. She can turn it on and off in a blink.
Nick thought about the past couple of years and how he needed to spend some time with someone who could make him laugh. He had spent time with a lot of women, but none he saw more than once. This one, I would come back to see. This Brynn could be worth it.
But when Nick got back from the bathroom, Brynn was nowhere to be found.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jessie’s Love
JESSIE WAS IN LOVE with Adam. She knew it would happen even though she fought it. He was a mess, but she found herself in love with him anyway.
She knew he still loved Brynn, but she ignored it and pretended as though he were in love with her instead. Even when he cried Brynn’s name out in the middle of the night, or called her “Brynn” when he was so drunk that he couldn’t remember the next day, Jessie forgave him. He’s been through a lot.
When he was sober, he was good to her, but he couldn’t remain sober very long.
“Oh baby, I’m sorry,” he said his blue eyes filling with tears.
“It’s okay,” Jessie said kissing his cheek. “I know you didn’t mean to forget my birthday. You’ve been going through a lot.”
“It’s no excuse. We’ve been together for seven months, and I shouldn’t have forgotten.” Adam was angry with himself. He had never forgotten Brynn’s birthday, and Jessie was so sweet to him. She was so good, and he had completely forgotten. He had gone to the bar right after work for Friday happy hour, and he didn’t even know how he had gotten home.
Jessie was trying hard not to care.
“You shouldn’t have forgotten. But you can make it up to me,” she smiled that toothy smile at him.
“How? How can I make it up to you?” Adam was miserable. He was failing in every way, and he hated himself.
“You can take me out tonight,” Jessie said brightly.
“I would love to. But I can’t. My parents are in town.” Adam was dreading dinner with his parents. They hadn’t been close for a very long time, and he had been avoiding them for as long as he could.
Jessie moved a little closer to him. “Well… I could go with you,” she said hesitantly. “That is, if you think it would be a good idea.”
Adam stepped away. “Oh no. I don’t think that would be a good idea at all. You wouldn’t have fun. You would hate it!”
Jessie frowned. “Am I not good enough to meet your parents?”
“Of course, you are,” Adam said quickly wishing he had a shot. “It’s just them. They loved Brynn, and honestly, I just don’t think that anyone will ever measure up for them. I don’t think that they’re ready.”
Jessie was getting angry now. “All you do is talk about Brynn. But you left her, twice! And now, you have me, and you don’t even care that you have me.”
Shit! Adam was frustrated. I wasn’t ready for a relationship, and this is why. What am I doing? “Baby, it’s not about Brynn, or about you. It’s about my parents being frustra
ted with me. Me! Please stop doing this.”
“Stop doing what? Expecting, demanding, needing?” Jessie’s arms were crossed and Adam thought she looked adorable.
“You look so hot when you’re mad,” he said grabbing her and kissing her neck. He felt her body loosen up a little, and Adam knew that she wasn’t going to stay mad at him for long.
“Stop it,” she said half-heartedly pushing him away.
“I can’t,” Adam mumbled grabbing her and pulling her toward him. “You just make me want you when you look like that.”
Jessie tried to fight him off, but she knew that it just made things more exciting. She didn’t really want him to go away, but she did want to meet his parents. “You just want me when you want sex.”
“That’s not true. But I do want you for sex. I want you for other things, too. Just don’t push me baby.” Adam was too busy with straps and pulling off clothes to continue arguing with her.
Jessie felt her body give into him as it usually did.
She loved him, and there was nothing that either of them could do about it.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Clarity
BRYNN KNELT at the tiny gravestone. The fall air was cool at dusk and Brynn had forgotten her jacket. But she didn’t care.
She tried to make it to visit Sophie as often as she could. She couldn’t bear the thought of her being all alone, and Brynn needed to talk to her to help clear her head. She knew it was silly, but the shrink said that if it made her feel better, she should do it.
“I don’t know why I just ran, but I couldn’t help it.” Brynn said, reflecting back on the day’s events. “I haven’t ever been with anyone since your daddy, and I just didn’t know what to do.”
She thought about Nick, the guy from the restaurant, who had looked at her in such a way that her insides felt like jelly. She hadn’t felt like that since she was fifteen, and Adam was passing her notes in class. Even then, it had been different. Young, innocent. She had never had a stranger make her feel that way before.
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