Aribelle joined him at the door. “I couldn’t help but overhear you’re the new girl from Accelerated Employment. I’m Aribelle, the girl you’ll be replacing. Come on in, I’d love to show you around.”
Thaddeus stared at Aribelle, unsure if she was being genuine or not. He’d thought she’d be upset at her replacement showing up. Aribelle smiled and pulled the woman inside.
Sarah seemed surprised to see Aribelle. “Oh, I thought you would be gone by now. I wasn’t expecting…”
Aribelle laughed and looped her hand around Sarah’s elbow. “You’ll find many things you don’t expect here.”
Oh, great. What was she going to tell Sarah? Thaddeus pinched the bridge of his nose and took in a deep breath.
Aribelle turned to him. “You can go back to what you were doing. I’ll give Sarah the tour.”
He did as he was told, sitting back down in the dining room. That didn’t keep him from hearing everything that was said.
“Never mind him, he can be grumpy at times, but underneath all the cantankerous grouchiness, there’s a slightly less grumpy man.”
Thaddeus snorted. She was a piece of work.
Aribelle took Sarah through the rooms on the main floor. “Here’s the laundry room. Go ahead and just start doing his laundry. He loves it when the help is assertive and takes command. You don’t have to ask him what needs to be done. Come in and start working on what you want.”
Thaddeus rubbed his temples. He’d have to remember to thank Aribelle for all her helpful advice later.
The women went up the stairs. “Here’s Thaddeus’s room,” Aribelle said. “He often has bloody clothes strewn about.”
Sarah sucked in a breath. “Really?”
“He’s part of a fight club. They meet at night. It’s the most awful thing. He comes home with all kinds of injuries.”
“Isn’t that illegal?” Sarah said.
“Might be. I don’t know. He doesn’t talk about it and don’t ask him. It makes him grouchy.”
“Is that where his scars came from?”
“Yes. Sadly, he won’t quit. I guess they give him some kind of vitamin that makes him heal faster. I think he’s addicted to the pain, myself. My only hope is that someday he realizes he doesn’t have to be in pain to be a good person.”
Thaddeus picked up a puzzle piece and tried to ignore the conversation happening upstairs.
“This is his office. You won’t have to clean much in here. He doesn’t really work. He’s independently wealthy.”
“Must be nice,” Sarah said.
“Not really. All that money, but I don’t think he’s very happy. Won’t let anyone get close to him.”
“That is sad.”
“Come on. I’ll show you the dungeon in the basement.”
“What?”
Aribelle laughed. “Just kidding. I think it’s a wine cellar.”
Thaddeus chuckled. He’d been afraid of the basement when he was a kid, and he’d told Aribelle about it. One of his babysitters had convinced him it was a dungeon and there was some poor old man locked up down there. His father had gently guided him down the stairs so he could see for himself. No dingy prison awaited him. Only some old bottles of wine.
When Aribelle was done giving Sarah the grand tour she gave her instructions on mopping the floor. Aribelle’s footfalls came closer and she sat down at the dining room table with him, a smug smile on her face.
“Very funny,” he said. “You think you’re Woody Allen now, huh?”
She made a face. “You need to update your comedic references.”
“Seinfeld?”
“A little better, but I still wouldn’t call him current.”
“I’m not addicted to pain,” he said quietly.
Her gaze turned soft and she exhaled. “I know.”
“And I’m not an unhappy person.” This was especially true when Aribelle was around.
She squinted at him like she didn’t believe him. “When’s the last time you were truly happy?”
Last night, when he’d held her in his arms and kissed her. “I’m happy right now. I hear your car being delivered.”
She stood and rushed to the front door. He followed after her, anxious to see her reaction. Aribelle stepped outside, her eyes wide as she stared at the 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit. He’d been lucky to find one. The only difference from her old one was it was blue instead of red.
“Thaddeus,” she whispered. “How did you…?”
“I have mad internet skills.”
She snorted. “No, you don’t.”
“Okay, I have rudimentary searching skills, and I happened to get lucky with a dealership in Carson who had one of these.”
A balding man got out of the Rabbit as a Toyota Corolla pulled up. He waved a few papers at Thaddeus. “She’s yours, I just need you to sign a few documents.”
“Actually, she’s hers,” he said, pointing to Aribelle. “She can sign them.”
After the paperwork was done and the men had left, Aribelle turned to him and hugged him. “How did you know that car meant so much to me?”
He ran his hand down her silky hair. “A hunch.”
“I’ll pay you back. When I get another job and get back on my feet.”
“You don’t have to, Belle—”
She silenced him with a kiss, which he gladly accepted. See, he was a happy person. Right now, he could be the happiest person on the planet. He explored her lips, letting the sensations wash over him. When she pulled back, he kissed the tip of her nose and sighed.
“I know I don’t have to. I want to.”
“I won’t argue with you. Because I’m a happy guy.”
She burst out laughing. “You have mellowed out a lot since I first met you.”
Because of her. She was the light in his life, the joy in his days. Too bad it wouldn’t last. “And you’re just as demanding.”
“I demand we go back inside. I’m freezing.”
Chapter 23
Aribelle ignored the tight feeling in her gut as Thaddeus spent the afternoon on his computer looking up apartments for rent. At first, he would ask her about each one, making sure she’d like the one he picked. But when she objected to the apartment on Dodge street because it was two blocks from the Doughnut Hole, he shooed her out of the room. He didn’t want to listen to her fake objections anymore.
So, she sulked at the table and worked on her dad’s puzzle. It was almost complete. Sarah finished the laundry and made lunch, and then cleaned the kitchen. It was nice to know Thaddeus would have someone taking care of his daily needs once she was gone.
Gone.
The word was so final. A hollow feeling entered her chest. Thaddeus was sending her away. It hurt to think about it, so she pushed the thought out of her head. After Sarah made a light supper, an amazing pasta dish Aribelle drooled over, she left and it was just Thaddeus and her sitting at the dining room table. Aribelle tried not to feel jealous over Sarah and her cooking skills. She was old enough to be Thaddeus’s mother.
“I found you a furnished apartment in Carson.” He picked up his fork and took a bite.
Her mouth went dry. She’d known he would find one. What did she think, that being a baby about it was going to stop him? “How far? How much rent? Because I don’t have a job yet so I can’t afford much.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll pay the rent.”
He really wanted her gone, didn’t he? “How much?”
“Fifteen hundred.”
She choked and took a drink of her water. “Fifteen hundred? I can’t afford that. Not even if I get a job.”
He frowned. “I said I’d pay for it.”
“If we can’t have a relationship, then I need to be on my own. That means getting a job and supporting myself. Not living in an apartment that some
rich guy pays for, like a mistress or something.”
He flinched, her comment hitting its intended mark. “It’s in a safe neighborhood.”
Ouch. A jab about where she used to live. Well, after Gavin turned out to be a nut case, she couldn’t blame him too much there.
“And just because we can’t have a relationship doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”
Her anger melted away. “I care about you, too.”
“Then let’s call a truce. You won’t tell me how to spend my money, and I won’t force you out of here before you’re ready.”
Sounded like a good deal to her. “You’ve got it.”
After supper, Aribelle started to feel cooped up. “Mind if I take Bugs out for a spin?”
Thaddeus grinned at the name. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know. Into town. Drive around. Nowhere specific.” She slipped into her coat. “Wanna come with?”
He looked like he wasn’t sure at first, but then nodded. “Okay.” He followed her outside.
She unlocked the car for him and he got in on the passenger side. She took a minute to adjust her mirrors and make the seat comfortable. He rolled his eyes. “You gonna start this thing up or what?”
“Patience is a virtue.”
“A virtue I don’t have,” he said, although his voice held a smile.
She finally started up the car and put it into drive. After she turned onto the road toward Carson, Thaddeus said, “You drive like a grandma.”
“Is that a compliment? Because it didn’t sound like one. But you’re a passenger in my car, and I can’t imagine that you’d be complaining that I’m a safe driver.”
He smirked. “I guess it’s better than wrapping the car around a tree.”
“There was a deer in the middle of the road!”
“Just trying to rile you up. It’s so easy to do.”
She turned on the radio and slid the dial until her favorite country station was tuned in. “There. This will give you something to do while I drive so painfully slow.”
His chuckle was soft but warmed her insides. She drove to Carson, and before she could think about it, she was in the same subdivision they had been in yesterday. Aribelle looked at the street names. She hadn’t meant to drive back to Catherine’s house, but now that she was in the neighborhood, she wondered if she could find the exact house again.
She turned down Ash street and Thaddeus sat up in his seat. “What are you doing here?”
She thought about pretending she didn’t know where she was. She had sort of ended up here by accident, but he’d probably see through her. “I wanted to see if I remembered where she lived.”
His eyes grew dark. “Don’t mess with her, Belle. She’s dangerous.”
“I’m not going to mess with her.” When he shot her an incredulous look, she repeated, “I’m not! I wasn’t even planning on ending up here.”
“Then let’s go. This neighborhood gives me the creeps.”
“Fine with me.” She drove out of the neighborhood, satisfied that she could find Catherine again if she needed to.
She turned onto a major thoroughfare and headed to downtown Carson. Thaddeus watched the buildings speed by his window. “Where are we headed now?”
“I thought maybe I could run into the library. Pick up a couple books.”
“You’ve read all the books at my house?” He gave her a teasing smile.
“No. But I was in the mood for something more…modern.”
“I see. You’re a library snob.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “The last time someone at your house bought a book, fax machines were the big thing.”
“You’ve re-kindled my love for reading. I plan on ordering a few new books for my library.”
“Good.” She pulled into the parking lot for the downtown library. “Maybe you’ll get some ideas in here.”
“You expect me to go in there with you?”
For Pete’s sake. She tried not to roll her eyes. “You don’t have to. But it’s a library. No one cares what you look like. Everyone in here is either reading or looking for something to read. No one will pay attention to you unless you somehow get so angry that you go all beastly on everyone. And I don’t know what could make you do that. Not finding the right book?”
He seemed to consider her words. “Okay. I’ll go in.”
Her stomach fluttered. She hadn’t really expected him to agree to it. Getting him to go into a public place with her felt like a huge victory. Maybe even the beginning of a change in his life. She tried not to place too much importance on it or make a big deal out of it. “Come on, then.”
He got out of the car, flipped the hood of his jacket up, stuffed his hands in his hoodie pockets, and followed her into the building. At first, he stayed behind her like a shadow, not saying a word, silently hovering. But as they walked down more aisles and were alone most of the time, he started to come out of his shell.
She knew where her favorite paranormal books were kept, and she pulled one off the shelf and handed it to Thaddeus. “You should read this. I think you would like it.”
“Chosen? What’s it about?”
“Teenage vampire slayer. It’s the first book in the Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy.”
Thaddeus snorted. “Now I have to read it.”
“You won’t be disappointed. Barbara Ellen Brink knows how to craft a great story.” She smiled as he tucked the book under his arm. She continued to point out books she’d read, and he added two more to his stack before they were done. She picked out three as well, and they took them to the checkout.
He leaned on the counter and crossed his arms as she checked out the books. “You seem more relaxed,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. Inside she was dancing.
He smiled at her. “This was nice. Maybe we could…do it again sometime.”
This time she let her face show what she was feeling. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
They left the library, stepping out into the cold night air. Had it dropped in temperature since they went in? They hadn’t been in there that long. She hugged the books to her chest and walked on the sidewalk toward her car.
A man walked on the sidewalk toward them, his head down. He shoulder slammed into Thaddeus. “Oh,” he said, looking up. “Sorry.” Then his eyes narrowed. “Hey, you’re that guy.”
Thaddeus frowned and ducked his head. “I don’t know you.”
The man wouldn’t be deterred. “I saw you hanging around outside the bar a few weeks ago. You got in the middle of a knife fight. Really stupid thing to do.” He cracked his knuckles and took a step closer.
Recognition flashed across Thaddeus’s face before he scowled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hey, man, I don’t forget a face. Especially not yours.” He pushed Thaddeus’s shoulder, hard.
Thaddeus made a low growling noise in his throat. Aribelle squeezed Thaddeus’s arm in hopes that would calm him down. “We were just leaving.”
“I hope you’ve learned your lesson, not to butt into the middle of things where you don’t belong.” The man backed up a few steps, then turned around and walked away.
Aribelle hurried Thaddeus to the car, distraught that their outing had been ruined. Now Thaddeus would never agree to go out with her again. She could already see the lecture that would come when they were alone in the car.
But instead of lecturing her, he sat still and silent as she drove. Every once in a while, she’d glance at him, but he looked the same. Finally, about a mile away from his home, she blurted out, “I hope that little run-in doesn’t discourage you from going out in public anymore.”
He gave her a flat look. “Little run-in? The man barely touched me and I almost lost it. If you think we’re okay pretending we’re so
me happy couple, you’re delusional.”
She didn’t know what to say. If she could kick that man in the shin, she’d do it. Why had that had to happen? She’d only wanted to spend a nice evening together…
But she was living in a fantasy world again. Deep down, she knew it. Thaddeus couldn’t change, and she shouldn’t expect him to. She sighed and turned into his driveway. She couldn’t stay with him any longer. She had to move on with her life. Tomorrow she’d move out and start looking for a new job.
Chapter 24
Thaddeus didn’t know what he expected Aribelle to do, but packing up and leaving wasn’t it. He’d figured she would hang around at least for another week. Maybe two. Sure, he’d secured her an apartment, and it was move-in ready, but she’d been dragging her feet so much he hadn’t thought she’d move so soon.
The sound of the vacuum running upstairs set him on edge. He’d told her she didn’t have to clean the guest bedroom. Sarah would be coming. That was what she was paid to do. But Aribelle had insisted.
The vacuum shut off and he heard the sounds of her putting it away and coming down the stairs. She entered the living room and wiped her hands on her jeans. “Well, I guess this is it. Everything is packed.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait until the coffee cake is done?” Yes, he was a blithering fool. He knew it.
Her eyes held uncertainty, and he was pretty sure she simply wanted to leave so she could forget about him and this part of her life. “All right,” she said, hesitation still putting an edge on her words.
He jumped out of the chair and went into the kitchen to check on it. When he’d found out she was leaving, he’d quickly made up the batter and stuck it in the oven, hoping it would at least keep her here for a few more moments. Pretty stupid.
“It will be done in about five more minutes,” he said, looking at the cake.
“I’ll go wait in the dining room.”
He nodded, knowing she wanted to see if she could finish up her father’s puzzle. She’d worked on it until late last night, but it still wasn’t done.
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