“Come on, Elise. The two of you need a bed to sleep in tonight.”
The tears appeared again and Elise began to turn away from him.
“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business, but you’re hurt and you need to heal.”
She chewed her lower lip before saying, “The apartment was supposed to be furnished. There’s been some kind of terrible mistake.”
“What?”
“This isn’t how our first night in Granite Lake was supposed to be.”
“Were you robbed?” he asked.
“No. No, I don’t think so. I think there was some kind of miscommunication with the previous owner. They were supposed to leave everything. The sale of the business included the building and all furnishings. I even saw pictures before we moved here. The new owner is at a complete loss with how this happened.”
“And you were supposed to move in today?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? I have no place to sit or a bed to stretch out on. And Colton is asleep on the dirty floor. I had to hop up the stairs like an injured dog. I knew starting over would be hard, but this is a freaking joke.” Elise started to break down again.
“That’s it,” Rob said with finality. “We’ll find you a room. Everything’s going to be fine, and tomorrow you can find out about the furniture.”
Bodie returned with miscellaneous bags and personal items. He edged around Rob and Elise and headed upstairs.
“No. I’m staying here. This is my nightmare and I’ll deal with it. We’re going to be fine. I have a roof over our heads, a shower, and we’re safe. I don’t want more help from you,” she said.
Bodie returned and stood a few feet away, keeping a respectful distance from Rob and Elise, but making himself available.
“Can you go order a pizza, drinks, and whatever else from next door before they close? Make sure it’s kid friendly.”
“Yep,” Bodie said, and winked at Elise.
He disappeared again. The front door clicked closed and Rob gave Elise a gentle smile. “We’ll eat a little pizza and leave. Is that okay? Or we can just buy you some dinner and get out of your hair.”
Elise looked toward the children’s section and sighed.
“You’re really that stubborn, aren’t you?” Rob said.
“Takes one to know one,” she countered.
“Would you prefer to dine upstairs or down here?”
“I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“I’ll carry him up if you want to be in your apartment,” Rob said.
She frowned and didn’t answer.
“I’ll take your silence as another request for assistance.”
Elise shifted on the crutches to make room for Rob to pass with Colton in his arms. The boy felt like he weighed little more than a bag of groceries. He set him down in the living room. This didn’t seem right, leaving the boy on the floor, but the decision wasn’t his. Elise was in a tough position and he respected the right of a mother to choose for herself. When he moved back into the hall, he found Elise struggling up the staircase, one slow step at a time. Rob didn’t ask permission this time. He moved to her side and picked her up, set her down next to the kitchen, and went back for the crutches.
“Thanks,” she said. Elise stared at Colton and the emotion he saw on her face made him take her into his arms again.
“It’s going to be all right. You’ll see.”
He heard her sniffling and found his own eyes tearing up. Rob squeezed tighter.
“You’re not alone. I can help you until you’re walking without the crutches.”
Elise glanced up at him and wiped his tear away.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“It’s been a hell of a strange weekend.”
“Me, too. A strange year, to be honest.”
“Yeah,” he agreed.
Rob inhaled and moved away from the woman who somehow knew him without really knowing him at all. He found the blanket and the pillows and laid out a makeshift bed for Colton. Then he eased him onto the new bed.
Bodie entered the apartment with a pizza box, a large takeout bag, and something unrecognizable tucked under his arm.
He set the food on the kitchen counter. “Half pepperoni, half cheese as per the instructions to make it kid friendly. A large salad with dressing on the side, an order of lasagna, and bread sticks in case someone doesn’t like pizza. I also grabbed bottles of juice.”
Elise actually smiled at his brother and it was the first time he’d seen her smile. Sadness remained in the depths of her eyes, but if he weren’t mistaken, her mood had lightened slightly.
His brother held up a bulky package. “I had this in my emergency supply kit.”
“What is it?” Rob asked.
“A blanket for the lady. It’s nothing special, but it’ll do in a pinch.”
“Bodie’s a trained Search and Rescue commander. He’s also an expert in wilderness survival and a bunch of other things I won’t bore you with right now. He carries a lot of gear in his truck,” Rob said. “Let’s grab a slice and then leave Elise alone. She’s had a long day.”
“So have you,” Bodie said. “Not to mention that Allison needs you before the turn of the next century.”
Rob rinsed his hands at the kitchen sink and wiped them on his jeans. Bodie unpacked the takeout bag and laid out paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware as well as the food. His brother earned a few extra points tonight for being thoughtful and helpful. They ate quickly and learned that Elise was from Arizona. She was the new manager of the bookstore that was recently purchased by her best friend. They were going to add a coffee counter to the shop and do their best to make the bookstore a raving success in Granite Lake.
After insisting Elise keep the remaining pizza and other food, they said goodbye and promised to lock the door behind them so Elise wouldn’t have to manage the stairs again.
“Goodnight, Elise,” Rob said. “Let me know tomorrow if you need your car towed across the street. Otherwise, it’s fine in the brewery parking lot until the insurance adjuster comes.” He picked up her phone from the kitchen counter and added his number to her contacts.
“Thank you for your help, and for dinner. Colton will love eating leftover pizza for breakfast,” she said with a tired smile. “But I won’t be calling you tomorrow, or ever.” She closed the door and Rob heard the lock click into place behind him.
Six
IN ORDER NOT TO LOSE HER MIND, Elise embraced the new day by telling herself to make chicken soup from chicken poop. Her current circumstances weren’t ideal, but she’d work with what had befallen her. To her surprise, her knee felt better the next morning. She tested her weight on the sore side and found she could walk on it with minor discomfort. The soreness in her neck was new and her shoulder ached but a little ibuprofen took care of the pain.
Colton asked her why there was no couch, table, or beds. Elise smiled and answered in sign language and with her voice that the furniture would come soon. Until then, they were camping in their new home. He made the sign for camping and a huge smile stretched from cheek to cheek. He returned to his trucks and motorcycles, driving them over a makeshift racetrack he’d designed on his blanket.
Stuck in the apartment and bookshop, she began organizing and preparing for reopening the store. The utilities had already been switched over to the new owner: her best friend Autumn’s business account. Elise had an appointment with the sign maker on Friday. She prayed she would have her car or a rental by then, otherwise she had to find alternative transportation. She sat on the floor near Colton and the pretend speedway and opened her laptop. In her opinion, organization was one of her best traits. All the important paperwork and documents for the bookstore were categorized and filed away where she could easily retrieve everything. First things first, she needed to connect her devices to the store’s computer network.
Elise spent the next couple hours catching up on emails, checking in with her mother, and talking to Autumn. Getting in
jured was incredibly inconvenient, but the handyman Autumn hired to remodel the store and add a coffee bar would still complete his work whether Elise hobbled around on crutches or not. Likewise, her injury wouldn’t hold up the installation of the new sign, or the cleaning crew that was supposed to come and professionally clean the shop from top to bottom. Elise could manage all those tasks while limping. Other aspects like inventory and reorganizing would just have to be put on hold for a few days.
What couldn’t wait was a trip to the grocery store and finding the necessities for her and Colton to be able to stay in the apartment. Autumn apologized repeatedly and promised she would come help Elise within a week. She was held up by another engagement and couldn’t fly to California immediately, which resulted in another round of apologies.
“It’s all right, Autumn, I understand. I promise we’ll be fine. I have the number for a local volunteer group who help handicapped and disabled people with shopping and errands. They gave me a ride from the emergency room last night. If I can’t find a better alternative, I’ll call them.”
Autumn remained silent for a beat. Elise knew her friend was as unhappy about the circumstances as she was, but there wasn’t a lot either of them could do about it.
“You’re tougher than I am,” Autumn said. “I’ll be there as soon as this conference is over.”
“I’ll let you go,” Elise said. “Colton’s asking to go outside to play. I’ll call you tonight if anything changes today.”
“Stay safe and beware of the golden-eyed hottie,” Autumn said with a laugh.
“So not funny,” Elise said. She’d informed Autumn all about Rob, needing to vent to someone about how unfair the universe was. Because being run off the road by the sexiest man she’d ever met, who coincidentally was also the same person she’d been dreaming about, was what she considered unjust torment toward the right of free will.
“I’m hilarious and we both know it. Now go get some fresh air and take in the vibe. Granite Lake is a cute town with gorgeous scenery.”
Elise sighed, said goodbye, and agreed that fresh mountain air would do her and Colton a world of good.
The summer sun shone clear and bright in the flawless blue sky. Outside the backdoor, she and Colton found a small brick patio with neglected flower beds and the adjoining parking lot. There wasn’t a yard for Colton. It was a drawback to living above a shop downtown, but Autumn offered her the space rent-free and she couldn’t refuse. Colton didn’t mind a bit and went straight to the back of the lot where the pavement ended and found the patch of dirt, gravel, and weeds. She knew he’d want his trucks to play in the dirt.
He made the sign for truck.
She could have let him run back upstairs to collect them, but decided to explore her new neighborhood first. They shared the parking lot with the pizza place, but on the other side of the bookstore was an antique shop. When she was no longer a gimp, she looked forward to looking inside.
Cars rolled through the center of town, appearing to take their time as they passed the western and Victorian style store fronts. A more modern shopping center with a grocery store was located at the end of town, but it was about a mile away from the bookstore. Elise didn’t think she could get there and back on crutches with a five-year-old and the groceries.
The lake view took her breath away. Trees larger than any she’d ever seen in southern Arizona lined the shore. The lake seemed to go on forever, shimmering a deep blue and tinged with silver highlights in the shady morning light. The sun had now risen over the treetops and she wanted to see the lake up close and personal. Colton was going to go nuts with enthusiasm and joy when they reached the water’s edge, and she looked forward to his first experience in their new hometown.
She used sign language to tell him they were going across the street to the water.
“Hold onto my shirt,” she said and signed.
He understood their safety routine and grabbed the hem of her shirt since she needed her hands for the crutches. Yes, her knee had improved, but she didn’t want to make things worse by ignoring the doctor’s orders. Traffic was minimal and there was a crosswalk in front of the pizza place, which led almost directly to the bar where her car was parked. It was slow going, but they made it across the main street without getting run over.
Elise grimaced at the damages to her car. A front tire had gone flat since yesterday. If she didn’t hear from the insurance company soon, she’d have to make another call. A Toyota 4Runner sat in the lot of the soon-to-be new brewery and construction noises echoed from inside. The parking lot for Rob’s bar ended near the shoreline of Granite Lake. A trail cut between two towering pines and led to the water. When Colton noticed the trail, he glanced up at her. His smile was brighter than the sun. She nodded at him and Colton released his hold on her to run toward the lake.
Beyond the trees, the shoreline and beach stretched around the end of the lake behind Granite Lake’s business district. Colton whooped and laughed. He was generally a silent kid and hearing his happy voice warmed her from the inside out. He would speak one day, she reminded herself. And hopefully soon. There was so much to do to keep his therapy and progress on track. New school, new doctors, new therapists. She couldn’t let herself get overwhelmed.
By the time she caught up with Colton, he had his shoes off and was ready to start wading. His hands flew through the air in indiscernible gestures that could only mean one thing. Was he allowed to go in the water?
“Yes. Be careful.” She gave him a stern look as she repeated the cautionary part of her order, then smiled. They played and splashed until Colton was soaked up to his thighs. After an hour of exploring, throwing rocks into the water, and making up games, she announced it was time for lunch and they had to go back to the apartment.
“Stay with me, Colton,” she said and signed.
They headed back the way they came, through the trees and across Rob’s parking lot. Her nerves began tingling when she saw the collection of vehicles that had arrived since she’d been down by the water. With head down, she ignored everything but safely traversing the terrain and making sure Colton kept one hand on her at all times.
But life had a funny way of interrupting her best-laid intentions. As she hopped along on crutches past the side door of the brewery, Rob Everett stepped outside holding a baby. If looks could tell a story, his face proclaimed utter shock and repulsion.
He cradled the infant in his hands, but held her away from his body. “How is it possible to vomit more than you eat?”
The laugh Elise tried to hold in escaped with equal parts sympathy and empathy. With the sound of her laughter, Rob noticed her and Colton for the first time. Their eyes met and Rob’s shoulders sank with defeat.
“Having a good time, are we?” She couldn’t help herself. She had to ask.
“Hello to you, too,” he said. Rob walked past her and Colton, cradling the soiled baby to his chest to open the door of his pickup truck. “Do you know why this kid won’t stop throwing up everything I feed her?”
“She may be allergic?” Elise said. Her curiosity stalled her progress on returning to the apartment. Was Rob a father? Of a newborn? The infant was tiny, little more than a sack of flour. Is this the reason why Bodie told Rob last night that he had to return to Allison? She caught the remark about the mysterious Allison and it clung to her brain matter.
Rob laid out a receiving blanket on the truck seat, then gently placed the baby on her back. “Allergic to what, exactly?” he asked as he worked on removing the soiled layers of blanket and clothing.
Elise couldn’t help but notice how tall and stunning Rob looked after a night of rest and a change of clothes. His shirt stretched tight across broad shoulders and the short sleeves hugged well defined muscular arms. Sunshine glistened on the light brown and blonde hair covering his forearms. His ribcage tapered in to meet a slim waist and narrow hips. Long legs met a rounded and firm backside and she had to stop looking or she was going to start drooling. Why had
this man crossed her path? Repeatedly. His sex appeal should be illegal. She decided right there that she would treat him like a gay friend. That idea would never stick. Yeah, right. Just ignore the incredible scent of his aftershave and his piercing peridot green eyes. Like it’s easy to turn off animal attraction. Stupid pheromones.
Elise looked at Colton. “Stay next to the truck. Don’t wonder off,” she signed. Then she moved in closer and peered at the beautiful newborn. The baby’s blue eyes were the most captivating thing she’d seen on an infant in a long time. She had her dad’s stare even though the color was different. “Dairy is a common allergy for infants. Is she nursing or on formula?”
“Formula, I guess.” Rob’s hands were clunky and forceful. Elise tried not to cringe at the way he handled her.
He stopped yanking at the onesie. “I have no clue what I’m doing. I think she’ll have to wear that mess until I can...”
“You’re doing fine. It just takes practice. Can I show you?”
“Please,” Rob said. He kept one hand on the baby and made room for Elise to squeeze in next to him. She leaned her crutches against the truck and made sure Colton was where she needed him to be. Elise made short order of removing the soiled onesie, then folded it so the mess was contained inside.
Rob’s shoulder brushed hers. The smell of him permeated the air and a wave of pleasure percolated through her blood. He smelled clean and masculine. The hint of newborn baby mingled with his scent and created a bubble of sensory intoxication.
“What if I drop her or break one of her tiny bones? Look at my hands. I’m like a caveman when it comes to this stuff. You made changing her look easy. Any chance you need a job as a nanny?”
Elise laughed. “Not at this point in my life. I have enough responsibilities with Colton and the bookstore.”
“Too bad.” Rob’s disappointment appeared sincere.
“Do you have another onesie or pajamas? I think she needs a diaper change, too.” Elise backed up so Rob could find the necessary supplies.
“Of course she needs changed again. And no, I don’t. I already used the spare pair of everything I brought except diapers. I guess she’s going to have to wear the blanket until I go home.” He searched inside a backpack and pulled out a diaper and wipes. When he finished, he picked her up and the diaper slipped down to the infant’s ankles.
Divining Elise Page 5