Love in Greener Pastures

by Bretz, Amanda

  Gabby was still peering at herself when she heard the rumble of the diesel truck pull up outside of the small newspaper office. To spare herself further recommendations from anyone else that Jake was a catch, she quickly headed outside before her coworkers could see who her lunch date was. Slipping her shades over her eyes, she smiled and waved at Jake as she walked toward his truck. He quickly jumped out of the large vehicle and sprinted to the passenger side door as she was walking up beside it.

  “After you, madam,” he said as he held the door open with one hand and helped her into the tall truck with the other.

  Gabby felt herself blush from the touch of his hand. She jumped up into the large vehicle, careful not to lose one of her flip-flop sandals, and held tight to her large shoulder bag. Jake shut the heavy door behind her once she was settled into the rumbling seat. He folded his long body into the vehicle and threw the truck into gear.

  “When was the last time you had a Big Henry from Smokey’s?” Jake asked her, referring to the barbeque restaurant’s signature sandwich.

  “Gosh, I don’t even remember. Probably on one of my spring or winter breaks from college. I don’t know if I could even eat something like that these days. I’m not running track anymore,” Gabby felt her stomach rumble at the thought of the delicious, pork sandwich complete with fries, baked beans and coleslaw. “Well, on second thought, maybe I can still eat a Big Henry,” she said with a smile.

  “I thought it sounded great, too. I was so busy this morning I didn’t have time for breakfast so I’m starved.”

  The two of them rode the short distance to the café in companionable silence and were seated promptly in a booth, after Jake was greeted by most of the patrons in the eatery. A waitress asked for their drink orders, Jake asked for an iced tea while Gabby took water.

  “So what stories are you working on right now?” Jake asked.

  “I’m trying to get something together about a recycling program here in Clear Lake. I can’t believe there are no options at all in town to recycle. I’ll go by the school and some of the city offices to see if I can get support and also maybe interview some people on the street. Like in front of Charlie’s Market and the library.

  “I’m also supposed to interview the Anderson family about the house fire. I know the story about the fire has been covered. The facts have been told, but I want the community to know the family’s story,” Gabby said as she fiddled with the paper wrapper her straw had come in.

  “I want to share how they’re doing after the fire. They’re trying to go on and rebuild their lives. I want to give the town a snapshot of the Anderson’s life now.”

  The waitress brought their food and Gabby was a little embarrassed that she had prattled on for so long without even asking him anything about his day. She took a large bite out of her enormous sandwich and swallowed before asking him anything.

  “So, you said you had a busy day at the shop today?”

  “Yeah, I’ve had a busted radiator, broken A/C and a flat tire. That’s pretty busy for the first four hours.”

  Gabby nodded as she took another huge bite out of her sandwich. She noticed Jake was staring at her. Embarrassed that she was eating like a field hand in front of Jake, she wiped her mouth and took a sip of water.

  “Sorry, do I have something on my face?” Gabby asked him earnestly.

  Jake merely chuckled and shook his head.

  “Then what’s wrong? Why are you staring and how come you’re not eating?”

  “I love how you’re always so subtle,” Jake said with a laugh. “I was just wondering why you don’t like Clear Lake. What is it about this place that you claim bothers you so much? I say claim because from the way you’re chowing down on that sandwich, and the sparkle I saw in your eyes when you talked about your stories, you seem pretty happy to me. I think you’re determined not to like this town, for some reason, but it’s not working.”

  Gabby felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach and she put the half-eaten gargantuan sandwich on her plate. Despite the fact that she didn’t like where Jake was going with the conversation, she felt he deserved some kind of answer. She didn’t know if she wanted to tell him the truth. It was so personal. She lifted her gaze from her Big Henry up into his concerned blue eyes.

  “There are a lot of things about Clear Lake I’d rather forget. When I look around, I don’t see anything but a lot of bad memories and things I wish had never happened. I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense to you, but it’s the truth,” she said as she threw her napkin down next to her plate.

  “So you don’t have to worry about bad memories in Chicago? To you, it’s safe, in that respect, that’s why you’re so determined to run back there the first chance you get,” he said matter-of-factly.

  Gabby was shocked at how rude he was being. She opened her mouth to speak, but didn’t know what to say to him. Jake could never understand what it felt like to lose a parent, to watch them suffer and waste away and know there was nothing you could do to help them or stop it from happening.

  She felt tears springing up in her eyes, and at the risk of having Jake see her cry, she bolted for the restroom, while muttering an ‘excuse me’ over her shoulder. She nearly bumped into their waitress in her hurry to reach the bathroom.

  Gabby leaned over the sink and took several deep breaths, determined not to cry. She wanted to get angry at Jake, she wanted to march straight out to their table and give him a piece of her mind. She wanted to tell him what an ignorant comment he’d made and that their date on Saturday was off.

  However, she didn’t want to make a scene in the dining area and be the talk of the town for weeks. If not months, she thought sardonically. She decided the silent treatment would be better and probably a lot more effective.

  When she went back out to the booth, Jake was throwing some cash down on the table to pay their tab. Gabby headed for the door and was waiting inside the hot truck for him when he got outside and cranked the engine to life.

  “I’m sorry if what I said upset you,” he said kindly to the back of her head.

  Gabby sat staring out the passenger window, feeling all her resolve to tell Jake off fade away. “It’s not just what you said Jake. It’s okay. I don’t expect you to know what it feels like to lose a parent. You probably can’t even imagine the pain of driving by the hospital where your mom spent weeks lying in a bed under fluorescent lighting when she should have been at home, gardening, cooking dinner and living her life.

  “I don’t expect you to understand how everywhere I go and everything I see is overtaken by memories. I don’t expect you to know what it’s like to not only be haunted by what has happened, but also what could have been,” she wiped a tear that had rolled down her cheek and faced Jake. “So, you’re right in one respect, Jake. Chicago is safe, there are not bad memories, there are not good memories. It’s just a place. It’s some place I can just be Gabby, not poor Gabby who lost her mom to cancer, not a sob story, I’m just me. Like I said, you probably can’t get that.”

  Jake let out a long sigh and Gabby thought to herself, I sure told him.

  “It’s funny you say that I wouldn’t understand Gabby, when I understand perfectly. I lost my mom too. Not to cancer, a car accident. I don’t know what’s worse, watching your parent slip away, little by little, or to have her suddenly taken away, like my mom was.

  “I know exactly what you’re saying about the memories, Gabby. I felt the same way after my mom died and I had to pass by the stretch of road where she was hit. It was like a knife in my stomach every time I saw that spot. Then my grandpa died and when I found out my dad didn’t want to take over the business and move here, I jumped at the chance.

  “I left my hometown for the same reasons you’re trying to leave yours, Gabby and I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I have. Sooner or later the pain resurfaces, I may not have to see the spot where my mom died every day, but it doesn’t change the fact that she’s not around anymore. Maybe you can
find a way to still be connected to your mom. I started running as a way to connect with mine, when I’m running, it’s like…I can feel her presence.”

  He reached for her hand and pulled her toward him across the bench seat.

  “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, I was only trying to help,” he said as he stared deep into her hazel eyes.

  “It’s not your fault, Jake,” she said in a husky voice.

  She was so close to him she could smell the shop fluids on his uniform, and feel the heat radiating from his body. She felt Jake remove his hand from hers and she experienced a pang of disappointment. When he placed his hand on the back of Gabby’s bare neck, her heart raced. Jake angled his head toward hers and she parted her lips in anticipation of his kiss.

  Gabby grasped his shoulders and felt Jake’s surprisingly soft lips meet hers. She let out a contented sigh and was about to wind her fingers through his hair when someone honked their horn. Startled, she and Jake broke apart.

  “Way to go, Jake,” a man called from a vehicle nearby. He continued to grin goofily at the couple as he walked into the barbeque joint. Gabby felt her cheeks flame in response to their audience. So much for keeping her dates with Jake a secret and not being the talk of the town.

  Jake looked at Gabby sorrowfully and reluctantly put his truck in reverse. Neither of them said much on the short ride back to the newspaper office. As Gabby reached for the door handle, Jake was already out of the vehicle and on his way over. She bit her lip to keep from smiling. He was so chivalrous, so cute. He clasped her hand and helped her slide to the ground. Once her feet were firmly planted in front of him, Jake held fast to her hand and bore his eyes into hers.

  “I’ll come by your place tonight, on my way home from work,” he added. She nodded her agreement and returned his smoldering gaze. Jake swooped down and kissed her quickly. “Have a good rest of the day, bye Gabby.”

  “Goodbye, Jake,” she said a little breathlessly.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  After lunch Gabby floated into the newspaper office and breezed through the rest of her day. She found that her thoughts returned to her two kisses she shared with Jake. Both kisses were amazing, each in their own way. Gabby was also surprised she and Jake shared such a unique bond. The fact that they had both lost a parent was something she had been amazed to learn, but hearing that Jake shared the same feelings as she did validated so many things for her. No one else had ever been able to truly understand her when she’d talked about her painful memories, or talked about missing her mom.

  All she’d heard from her dad, her college roommates and countless others who’d attended her mother’s wake was that time would heal her wounds. In Gabby’s experience time hadn’t healed her wounds, but it had made them significantly less painful. She wasn’t completely sure she agreed with Jake’s assessment that she was trying to use Chicago as a safe place to hide from her past. It may have been that for her in the beginning, but she didn’t think that’s what she was doing at present. Now, it was about her profession. She would still go back to Chicago for the betterment of her writing career. In Clear Lake, she’d never get further than the Lake Breeze, in Chicago, she could write for the Tribune, or any number of major magazines.

  Yes, it was definitely about her career. Her writing was the most important thing in the world to her, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have a little fun with Jake right now. As she unlocked her computer and got settled into her desk, she realized she was looking forward to Jake’s visit tonight.

  ***

  As he wiped his hands off on a rag, Jake couldn’t help but think about the kisses he shared with Gabby at lunch. He threw the grease-laden rag onto a pile with the rest of them and shut the bay doors to the garage area. It was quitting time and he was looking forward to his evening. He was leaving the garage and heading home for a quick shower and change of clothes. Then he’d stop by Gabby’s after dinner and see if she wanted to go out for ice cream.

  “Hey Sam, I thought you’d already left,” he said.

  “No, I’m still waiting on Tim to pick me up. He said he may be late tonight. He had to go to Oak Valley today and he didn’t know what time he’d be heading into town.

  “I’ve tried calling him, but he hasn’t answered. He went there for a meeting with a potential client, so they still may be hashing out ideas and talking prices,” Sam said of her husband who owned his own home renovation company.

  “Let me give you a ride home Sam, there’s no point in you staying here alone,” Jake said.

  “Thanks, Jake. So, I heard you and Gabby made quite a scene up at Smokey’s today,” Sam said as she hopped into the passenger side of Jake’s truck.

  “Wow, it took this long to circulate back to you? I think the grapevine is getting longer. I’m losing my faith in the town gossips,” he said sarcastically.

  “Oh come on, Jake, what did you expect kissing in your Harrison’s Garage truck right outside one of the busiest lunch spots in town? I’m happy for you, but are you sure Gabby’s the kind of girl you want to date?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? What kind of girl is Gabby?”

  “I didn’t mean anything by it, Jake,” she said as she held her hands in front of her in a form of surrender.

  “I just meant I hear a lot about her, at Rita’s and the grocery store, around. One of my friends is the receptionist at the Lake Breeze. Gabby hasn’t exactly made it a secret that she’ll be headed back to Chicago the first chance she gets. I just wouldn’t want to see you get your heartbroken.”

  “We’re not taking things that seriously. It’s fine. I can handle myself,” he said tightly as he pulled into her driveway.

  “Okay, you know I’m only looking out for you, Jake. Thanks for the ride,” she called as she leapt to the ground.

  “Anytime,” he answered back. He waited until she had gotten inside before he put his truck into reverse. He knew Sam had the best intentions with her advice. She had told Jake on more than one occasion that he reminded her of her little brother, and she did take on the role of protective older sister at times, but Jake didn’t appreciate this instance.

  He gnawed at the inside of his cheek with worry. His more sensible side knew Gabby was a flight risk, but something inside told him she wanted to stay in Clear Lake, but she was determined not to admit it to herself, or anyone else for that matter. He had been the same way when his mom had died, but shortly after moving to Clear Lake he realized the hole inside him hadn’t went away because he changed his address. Moving didn’t bring his mom back, it had only helped put physical distance between him and the place she’d died. He hoped over time he could convince Gabby that she couldn’t outrun her pain. Jake turned onto the long gravel path that led up to his house, and was greeted by his black Lab, Smudge, when he got out of his truck.

  “Hey, girl. I missed you today,” he said as he rubbed behind her ears. She wagged her tail happily and trailed him to the front door, where she waited for him until he reappeared thirty minutes later freshly showered. “Sorry, girl. We’re not going for a run tonight. I’ll see you later, be good.”

  Smudge looked at him so dejectedly when he got back into his truck he felt terrible. He was only going to be gone a couple hours. Ah, what the hell.

  “Come here, girl.” Smudge bounded toward him before he could even finish his sentence. “Okay, you can come with me, on one condition; you have to ride in the truck bed. Come on, back here,” he told her as he lifted down the tailgate. She happily leapt into the back of the truck and looked at her master expectantly as if to ask, “Where are we going?”

  ***

  “Hi Jake,” Gabby greeted him as she opened the front door. “Hey, who’s your friend?”

  Following her eyes to his truck bed, Jake smiled. “Oh, that’s Smudge. She used to be the only woman in my life, that is until you came along,” he told her with a wink.

  “Oh no, is she jealous?”

  “No, she’ll take whatever attention she
can get,” he replied. “Listen, I thought since it’s such a nice night, we could go get some ice cream?”

  “That sounds good, let me just tell my dad really quick.”

  Gabby trotted back to her father’s room. “Hey dad, I’m headed out for ice cream, do you want me to bring you something back?”

  “No, thanks. I’m still full from that delicious dinner, Boogs. Have fun with Jake.”

  “How did you hear me talking to Jake over this?” Gabby asked as she pointed to the TV that was blaring commentary about a baseball game.

  “I have my ways,” he replied mischievously. “Have fun, honey.”

  “Thanks, Daddy. I will.”

  When Gabby walked outside, Jake was putting a leash on Smudge and talking to her softly.

  “Oh, I thought we might walk to get ice cream?”

  Gabby nodded her approval and bent down to greet the pooch.

  “Hi, girl. I’m Gabby,” she said as she stroked the top of her head. Smudge gave Gabby an appreciative lick. “I guess she approves of me.”

  “Just wait until you have an ice cream cone in your hand,” Jake said with a laugh. The three of them set out the few blocks to the ice cream parlor.

  “I wanted to thank you for sharing your story with me, about your mom,” Gabby said. “I’m sorry I had such an attitude. I should have never presumed you couldn’t understand where I was coming from or that my loss was so great, no one else would ever understand it.”

  Jake shrugged off her apology. “I didn’t think that’s what you were doing,” he assured her. Jake stopped walking to let Smudge sniff around a tree and play. He suddenly remembered the conversation he had with Sam earlier in the afternoon. Even though she was trying to look out for him, Sam’s words had struck a chord. Jake tried to appraise Gabby as discreetly as possible. As his eyes took in her long muscled legs, trim torso and wavy hair he knew without a doubt Gabby had broken her fair share of hearts. She caught him staring at her and her hazel eyes flashed with curiosity.