by Gail Sattler
Erin’s feet skidded to a halt. “Cindy. Monty. We didn’t know you’d be here.”
Cindy drew in a deep, composing breath. “We didn’t know you’d be here, either, so we’re even.”
Troy showed up behind Erin, then he also stopped dead in his tracks. He looked down at Monty leaning on the cane but said nothing. Cindy narrowed her eyes and glared at him as a warning to behave more civilly to Monty than the last time their paths crossed. “We were about to order pizza for dinner. Care to join us?”
Troy smiled. “Sure, we haven’t eaten yet either. Sounds like a good idea.”
She walked into the living room with Monty close behind. “I hope you don’t mind,” she whispered over her shoulder.
“No, I don’t mind,” he said, but he sighed like he did.
She knew she was stalling, but since he had gotten her so rattled, she needed more time to explain herself. She hadn’t exactly done a good job on her first attempt.
Troy and Erin got comfy on the love seat, but when Cindy sat on the large couch, instead of sitting on the other end, Monty sat beside her, then grasped her hand. She felt the heat rise on her face, but rather than make a scene in front of Erin and Troy, she didn’t protest.
“Norburn owes you a big one, Cindy,” Troy said, thankfully breaking the awkward silence. “You really saved his bacon today.”
“I guess.”
“Sorry to do that to you with no warning, but I didn’t have any other option.”
“I know.”
Monty gave her hand another gentle squeeze. “You drove that forklift like an expert. I was impressed.”
The heat in her face rose again. “Thank you, but it’s been awhile since I’ve done it, obviously. So, what kind of pizza does everyone want?”
After the pizza was ordered, the conversation turned to general conversation and more of Erin’s bad jokes, giving Cindy a chance to regroup her thoughts. Monty insisted on paying when it arrived, which prompted Troy to say that next time was his turn. Although unexpected, Cindy enjoyed the new, more pleasant interaction between the two of them.
Like typical men, their conversation drifted to work, and when Monty mentioned that his latest computer game was selling well, Troy’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Games? You make computer games? What kind of games? Got any on you?”
She felt Monty flinch. He didn’t let go of her hand, but patted his breast pocket with the other. “Well, I do, but it’s a beta version. I have a few more tests and trials to run and a few more revisions to do before I can market it.”
“I can test it for you on Erin’s computer.”
Erin poked Troy in the ribs, but Troy ignored her. Monty turned to Cindy as if asking permission. Cindy shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea if Monty could fixate on a game like she knew Troy could, but if nothing else, she was relieved to see the two men getting along for a change. Not that it mattered. Soon the only time she would see Monty would be when he came to see Robert.
Monty pulled a pile of disks out of his pocket. “It’s called ‘Prince’s Perils.’ I guess I can install it for you.”
Cindy knotted her brows as she tried to think. She didn’t know anything about computer games, but she remembered hearing that name before.
Troy bolted into the den while Monty made his way more slowly. He installed the game for Troy while explaining the general theme. The Prince had to win many battles against the Evil Overlord, each level becoming more difficult, in order to save the Princess, who was being kept prisoner. After setting the options menu, he returned his glasses to his pocket and pushed himself up to trade places with Troy.
All Troy’s attention focused intently on the game as he started to play. Cindy took the opportunity to lean forward and get a closer look at the characters. The dark-haired handsome prince was considerably shorter than the tall blond evil villain, and she imagined it to be somewhat like a medieval David and Goliath. She watched the back of Troy’s blond head, then glanced beside her to Monty’s nearly black hair. Standing next to Monty, at eye level, she calculated the height difference between Monty and Troy.
Then it came to her. On the day she used his phone when he wasn’t in his office, he had a pile of disks sitting on his desk. The words “Trashing Troy” had been crossed out, and the new title, “Prince’s Perils” had been neatly printed beneath.
“Monty!” she whispered in his ear as she watched Troy blow himself up onscreen. “What have you done!?”
“I couldn’t help myself,” he whispered back as he again grasped her hand. “It came to me in a stroke of genius.”
Troy once more did battle with himself. This level of the contest saw the evil villain eaten by a fire-breathing monster. Troy bit the big one, again.
“I kinda like it,” Monty whispered. “You must admit, it gets you right here.” He raised his free hand to press his loosely closed fist against his heart. “Wait till you see the Princess.” He quirked one eyebrow.
Cindy wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “How long does this go on?”
Monty checked his watch. “That depends. He seems pretty good at these games, although he’s got the trial version, and I set it to the lowest degree of difficulty.”
“Don’t I get a turn?” Erin whined. “It’s my computer.”
In changing places, they missed a window of opportunity, making “Prince Monty” lose a little ground, which Cindy thought rather poetic justice.
Cindy didn’t want to watch Erin take a turn at blowing up the onscreen Troy. “I’m going back to the living room. Anyone care to join me?” Both Troy and Erin shook their heads, then squealed with glee as the onscreen Evil Troy disappeared over the edge of a cliff, accompanied by an echoing thud. Cindy gave Monty’s hand a gentle tug to pointedly encourage him to leave the room.
As they sat side by side on the couch, Monty attempted to grasp both her hands in his. She yanked her hands away and shuffled a few inches away from him. “Don’t touch me. We have to talk.”
He sighed loudly and dragged one palm down his face, then pushed his hair back and off his forehead. “Look, if it’s about the game, I know my attitude when I started it wasn’t exactly the best, but I’ve already planned to donate all the profits to the church. I guess I got carried away.”
“That’s not what I meant. We have to talk.” She sighed, then stiffened her back. “About us.”
“Oh.”
“We’re not suited, you and I, Monty.”
“I think we are, and you know it.”
“Monty, look at you,” she mumbled. “You’re upwardly mobile, a businessman on the road to success.”
“Yeah. So?”
“Before this I was a forklift operator. I just lucked into this job.” Cindy clasped her hands together and folded them in her lap. “As if it wasn’t bad enough that I’ve heard Robert’s been bragging about me, now when everyone finds out that Robert’s super secretary is really a forklift operator, he’ll be so embarrassed, he’ll make things unbearable for me until I’ll want to quit.”
She flinched when Monty’s hands covered her own, then closed with a gentle squeeze. “No, the opposite will happen. Everyone will be so impressed that you went above and beyond the call of duty, you’ll be even more valuable than you already are.”
She raised her eyes, meeting his gaze. “No, Monty, you don’t understand those people. Troy knows what they’re like. When I first started the job, he warned me not to let Robert find out what I did. At first I didn’t believe it, but the more I saw and heard, the more I knew he was right. I could be looking for another job very soon. I planned on going back to school at night in September, but if I’m without a job, I won’t be able to do that, either.”
He shook his head and squeezed her hands again. “No. This time Troy is wrong. You heard him. He said you saved their biggest account. Robert was really impressed. I was standing beside him. You’ll see.”
Cindy shook her head, but said nothing.
&
nbsp; “Now I’d like to hear what’s really bothering you. I can’t sleep at night, worrying that I’ve done something to hurt you, because if I have, I’ll never forgive myself.”
In an unexpected move, he released her hands, reached in his pocket and put his glasses on, then resumed his position. “There. I want to see you properly.”
At first, she blinked, but then steeled her nerve. She would have preferred if he couldn’t see her quite so clearly. Cindy sucked in a deep breath. “How do you feel about me?”
Monty moved his head slightly and knotted his brows, as if he couldn’t believe what she was asking. He waited a little too long before he finally replied. “Well, I think you know that I like you very much.”
“Monty, I like you, too, but I’m not sure what we’re feeling is the same thing.” He started to open his mouth, but she shook her head. “Please, this is difficult. Let me finish.” She pulled her hands away from him, unable to touch him as she poured out her heart. “I’m worried that even though you think you like me, what you feel is because of what happened. You know, about your accident. What you’re feeling is perfectly natural, but I think you’ve lifted me up on a pedestal far above where I belong. I’m not an angel, and I’m not a hero. I’m just an ordinary person who was in the right place at the right time by God’s design and timing.”
The time he took to think about her words seemed like an eternity.
“I know that, Cindy. Is it so impossible to believe I like you just for who you are?”
She didn’t know whether to believe him or not. Before she could think of an adequate response, he spoke again.
“I did a lot of praying and a lot of soul-searching in the hospital and the time immediately following. I truly believe God Himself spared my life. You helped, as part of His plan, there’s no doubt about that, but I believe that God planned both for you to be there at the right time and then for us to meet again. You’ve got to believe me.”
She wanted to believe him. She’d never wanted so much to believe anything in her life.
“Is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”
The backs of her eyes burned, but she held it back. “No,” she croaked out in a voice barely above a whisper. She wanted to believe that he was telling the truth and that all her worries and fears were for nothing, but she didn’t know yet if she could.
“Good. Now, let’s see what’s on television.”
With shaking hands, Cindy lifted the remote and found a ridiculous show featuring people’s home videos. She couldn’t handle anything that required her to think or follow a story line. In the background, they could hear Troy’s and Erin’s giggles and groans as they played Monty’s game.
Gently, Monty raised his left leg to rest on the coffee table, grimaced in apology, then tucked her beside him and laid his arm behind her on the back of the couch. She didn’t snuggle in and he didn’t push it, much to her relief. She still needed time to think, but not when they were together. Troy’s voice echoed from the den. “I did it! I did it! I won!”
Erin squealed with glee and applauded.
Cindy frowned, remembering the premise of the game. Troy had now succeeded in wiping himself off the face of cyber-earth. Monty grinned ear to ear, then gave her shoulder a gentle nudge. “Hurry, and you’ll get to see the beautiful princess.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but curiosity got the better of her. Without waiting for Monty, she ran to the den where Erin and Troy were still glued to the computer screen. A prison cage lowered over the blond Evil Overlord, and the dark-haired Handsome Prince entered the castle with a key obtained earlier in the game. He unlocked the door to the prison tower, and to the electronic version of a popular love ballad, out came a beautiful brown-haired princess in a long flowing gown. Cindy couldn’t help but notice the princess was exactly equal in height to the prince. A fanfare of music sounded as they kissed, a curtain came down, and the words “And they lived happily ever after” floated across the screen. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Monty hobble in.
Erin and Troy applauded. Monty’s cheeks reddened, but he said nothing.
“Wow!” exclaimed Troy. “Great game! Got any others?”
Cindy couldn’t stand it anymore. “Troy, tell me, do you think any of those characters looked a teensy-weensy bit familiar?”
“What do you mean?”
Cindy could almost see the gears in his head whirring as Troy looked at Monty’s face, tilted his head slightly, narrowed one eye, then grinned. “Well, that prince might have looked a little familiar, eh, Monty?” He winked. Monty blushed.
“Anybody else?” Cindy asked.
“Cindy, there were only two characters in the game until the end. There was only the Prince and the bad guy. . . .” His voice trailed off. He ran his fingers through his shaggy blond hair. “Wait a minute!” He glanced to the screen, which only showed the words “Prince’s Perils” prominently against a forest background. He crossed his arms on his chest, and the corners of his mouth tipped up in a dawning grin. “Was that bad guy who I think he was?”
Monty started to snicker. “Maybe there might have been a slight resemblance.”
Troy burst out laughing. “I’d ask what I did to deserve that, but I think I know the answer.” He paused to wipe his eyes as the two men shared a good laugh. “I probably owe you an apology, but I think you got your revenge.” Troy laughed again.
The corners of Monty’s mouth twitched. “I guess you’re not such a bad guy after all.”
Troy twirled an imaginary mustache. “Watch it, or I’ll send my mighty dragon after your wretched hide.”
“Beware, vile knave, or I shall pierce your heart with my powerful sword!”
Troy slapped both hands over his heart. “You wound me, Sir! In the upgrade I shall return to avenge my honor!”
Cindy groaned. “Enough!”
Troy grinned. “So, got any more?”
Fourteen
Monty stood next to his car with Cindy at his side as he prepared to go home. While the evening hadn’t gone quite the way he had hoped, he now knew what was bothering her.
He’d never experienced such a rush of emotion or a loss of control as when Cindy returned his embrace and his kiss. If it hadn’t been for Erin and Troy’s untimely arrival, he would have poured out his heart and told Cindy how much he loved her. Knowing now what he didn’t know then, he felt it was best that hadn’t happened.
To his delight she’d told him, without prompting, that she at least liked him. Her concern in trying to protect him from his own possible misconceptions, despite the fact that she worried needlessly, made him love her even more.
He remained standing alongside his car and brushed Cindy’s cheek with his fingertips. At his touch, her eyes drifted shut. If they hadn’t been standing in the middle of the street for the whole neighborhood to see, he would have kissed her again. “Will I see you tomorrow?” he asked in a voice almost too husky to be his own.
“Sure. Tomorrow’s Saturday. I don’t have any plans. What do you have in mind?”
“Can I make you supper? I’m really quite a good cook.”
Her eyes opened and she smiled at him, magnifying his desire to kiss her. “I’d like that. But only if you’re up to it.”
He would have run a marathon for her at that moment. “I’m only going to be in my own kitchen. It’s been a week. I’ll be okay. I want to do something special for you.”
Her smile warmed him all the way to his soul.
“See you tomorrow, Monty.”
He couldn’t stop himself. He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss that was over far too quickly. “Good night, Cindy.”
❧
Monty bit back a smile when Cindy walked into his kitchen. First she scanned the clean counter, then she studied the drain board as if she couldn’t believe that he’d actually cooked the meal himself. He’d almost managed to dry and put away the utensils he’d used because he didn’t want her volunteering to help
wash and dry dishes, but she had arrived a bit early.
Otherwise, he was prepared. Soft music played in the background, and for a special touch, he’d set the dining room table, complete with place mats, candles, and a vase containing three roses, one yellow, one white, and one red, which he would insist she take home.
“Hi.” He couldn’t suppress his grin as she finished her scrutiny of the kitchen and guiltily returned eye contact. “Dinner will be ready in another half an hour.”
“Something smells delicious. Am I allowed to ask what you’ve made?”
“Chicken cordon-bleu, au gratin potatoes, asparagus, and a green salad.”
“You made that? You’re not just reheating it?”
“I told you, I’m a good cook. Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Juice?”
“Coffee would be nice.”
Monty flipped the switch on the coffee machine, then escorted her into the living room.
“Where’s your cane? Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
“I’m trying my best not to use it tonight. I’m going to be slow and careful.” He forced himself to smile. “And lean on the walls a lot.”
As they sat together on the couch, Monty had a closer look at Cindy. “Are you okay? You look a little pale. You’re not coming down with something, are you?”
Immediately, her cheeks darkened. “No,” she mumbled, “I’m fine. It must be the light.”
He didn’t think so, because unless it was his imagination, she also had dark circles under her eyes, but he let the subject drop.
When the coffee was ready, she followed him back to the kitchen, but instead of going back to the living room, she lingered. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do? I’ve never had a man cook dinner for me, and I feel kind of strange about it.”
Monty smiled. He wanted tonight to be special, and now he knew it would be, in more ways than one. “Everything’s almost ready, don’t worry.”
It didn’t take him long to serve dinner. Cindy stared at the plate before her in undisguised disbelief as he pushed her chair in for her. “Are you sure none of this came out of a box?”