by T. K. Chapin
A light knock sounded on the guest house door as I curled my hair in the bathroom. Setting the curler down, I went and answered it.
It was Bethany.
A head full of messy brown hair and mascara spread alongside her eyes made it apparent that she hadn’t taken the news about Dad well. I couldn’t blame her. I was upset also.
“How long did you know?” she asked, sniffling as she opened the screen door and stepped inside.
“Not even twenty-four hours,” I said as she followed me back toward the bathroom.
“Wow.” She laughed. “You are really bad at keeping secrets, Grace.”
I laughed and nodded in agreement. Picking up my curling iron, I continued to work on my hair as I looked in the mirror. “I am curious. Why were you crying about Dad getting that job? Seems kind of odd to be that teary-eyed about it.”
“I don’t know.” She touched her forehead as she appeared to roll back the tape in her head to earlier that day, before she found out the horrible news. “I guess I was just happy for him. I cry when I’m happy lately. Having kids screwed up my hormones forever, I think.”
“It is pretty awesome that he’ll be working out here. It’ll cut down on his commute.”
She nodded and took the curling iron from me. As she began to curl the hair in the back of my head, I was overwhelmed with the sense of my bigger sister being in the room. She was more than a friend or a person I knew. She was my big sister and my best friend. We smiled at each other in the mirror, and for a moment, it was as if the pain of knowing about Dad didn’t exist.
Then she said, “So you’re wearing the butterfly dress. Fancy place?”
“Clinkerdagger.”
“Of course it’s the Clinkerdagger. So overdone.”
“Hey. I haven’t been there!”
“That’s true, that’s true.” She kept curling and soon, she started to cry. Stopping, she looked at me in the mirror once again. “What are we going to do about Dad?”
“We’ll pray for him and try to help however we can. That’s all we can do.”
She took a deep breath in and let it out. “I guess I always viewed Dad like a superhero or something. I never thought he’d die.”
“Me too.”
A knock came at the door a moment later. I checked my phone on the bathroom counter and saw that it was time.
“It’s him, huh?”
I nodded.
Coming closer to me, she checked my curls and then looked squarely at me as she grabbed my arms. “Forget about Dad tonight, Grace. You should enjoy yourself and get to know this guy. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Leaving the bathroom, Beth hurried over to the window and stole a glance out the side of the curtain before I made it to the door.
“Oh, wow. He’s hot!”
Blushing, I shot a daggering look her way. “Stop it. You’re married!”
“Hey. Invite him to Dad’s party at Riverfront Park on Saturday. We’re throwing him a party for his new job.”
“Okay.”
Opening the door, my heart began to pound as I saw him holding a fresh bouquet of flowers. Wearing a white button-up shirt with a blue striped tie and a blazer, he looked as good as he made me feel to see him. Tonight was going to be delightful. I could sense it.
Chapter 17
SITTING ACROSS FROM OWEN AT the restaurant that evening couldn’t have been more perfect. Our conversation flowed back and forth like a river finding its way to the ocean. I loved being with this man because of the way he made me feel from moment to moment. He made me feel important and cared about. I suspected that he loved being with me too, judging by the constant smiling and eyes gazing my direction. I didn’t catch him check out a single female through the entirety of the evening, something I always saw Harvey do. After the waitress took our plates from the table, Owen took a drink of water and then looked out the large windows beside our table.
“Before anything more happens, Grace, I have to ask you something important.”
My insides squirmed. What’s this about? What’d he need to know that was so important to him that he’d stop an otherwise pleasant conversation? “Sure, I guess. Go ahead.”
“Are you a Christian?”
My heart melted as I saw the seriousness written across his face. I could tell if I said ‘no’, he’d finish our date politely, take me home, and never take another look at me. That might be problematic for some women, but for me, it wasn’t. Not exactly the type of question I wanted to hear. Beaming, I replied, “Yes, I am. I’m a little surprised you ask, though. I’ve never seen you at the church in Newport.”
He breathed a relieved sigh and took a warm bread stick from the basket between us. “That’s great news. Yeah, I don’t attend there. I live on the South Hill in Spokane, so I attend Faith Point.”
“Oh, wow. I had no idea you lived in Spokane. So, you drive out here to teach every day?”
“Yep, sure do, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love the kids out here in Newport. I’d never work in the city again.”
Leaning on the palm of my hand, I looked him in the eyes and said, “Thank you.”
Letting a light laugh out, he asked, “For what?”
“For getting me to come on a date with you. I’m really happy how this has turned out.”
“I’m glad too, Grace. Hey. You want to get out of here and go play some miniature golf? Honestly, this tie is killing me right now.”
Laughing, I said, “Sure. But if you get to lose the tie, I’m losing the heels.”
“Deal.”
Standing up from our table after he paid the tab, we headed out of the Clinkerdagger and to his car. As we walked down the sidewalk, he held my hand. Waves of warmth cascaded all over my body at his touch. Making it to his car, he opened the door for me on the passenger side.
I lowered my head to get into the car but stopped, wanting to thank him again for the dinner. Turning my head to speak, I suddenly found myself only a few inches away from his lips. I could feel his breath. I could smell his musky cologne mix with the light rain that had fallen outside while we were eating our dinner. I closed my eyes as I was sure we were about to kiss.
“You okay?” he asked, killing the moment in an instant.
“Yeah. Sorry.” Opening my eyes, I fumbled my words. “I just wanted to say thanks again for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.”
I got in the car, but I couldn’t help but wonder why he didn’t kiss me. As he circled around the back of the car, I pulled the visor down quickly and checked the mirror. I checked my teeth, thinking maybe there was something in them. There wasn’t though. Then he got in on the driver’s side and I flipped the visor up.
“You ready for some miniature golf?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, but be ready to lose. I always won with my siblings when we’d go as kids.”
“You think you’re still good after all this time has passed?” He asked playfully with a grin.
I smacked him jokingly and let out a laugh. “You can’t make old people jokes with me! I’m a woman. It’s against the rules.”
“Rules? Oh, like not breaking and entering kind of rules?”
We both laughed again. The joking, conversation, and chemistry continued to flow throughout the rest of the evening over miniature golf and then ice cream. I don’t think either of us wanted dessert, but I knew we both didn’t want the evening to end. When he finally dropped me off back at home that evening, he got out and walked me to the door. Maybe now that kiss would come?
Chapter 18
MY HEART POUNDED AS OWEN leaned in toward me as we stood atop the steps of the guest house in the doorway. Closing my eyes, I waited for the perfect ending to the perfect evening. Instead, what I felt was the side of his thumb brushing my cheek.
“Sorry. There was a fuzzy on your cheek.” He pulled away from me. I opened my eyes as embarrassment washed over me. “You’re a great gal, Grace. It’s been a pleasure spending the ev
ening with you.”
What on earth is going on? No kiss? This didn’t seem right. I pushed it all aside, though, and responded as if nothing was wrong. “I had fun too. I wanted to ask you earlier but forgot. Can you tell me why the photograph mattered so much now?”
Tossing his head back and forth, he debated on telling me. “I don’t know . . .”
“Oh, c’mon. What’s the big deal?”
“Okay.” He pointed toward the shoreline that led toward the property where we met. “That house wasn’t just any house you stumbled upon. That was where my grandpa grew up. I had accidentally set fire to it years ago when I went through this rebel teen grunge phase. Don’t ask. Anyway, I always felt guilty about that, especially since he never repaired it or anything. The day you and I met last year, Grandpa Jack was on his death bed. I didn’t know it then, but he only had a couple of days left. When I gave him that picture, he smiled. He hadn’t smiled in months, but he did that day.” Stopping his words, Owen smiled as he looked into my eyes. “You made him smile that day. I feel incredibly grateful for you.”
“I just found a picture though.”
“It wasn’t just a picture.”
Owen came in closer and leaned in. Finally, he kissed me. Floodgates of warmth opened in my heart, spilling out through my whole body. The waves crashed through every part of my being. Then he took a step even closer, and one of his hands found the small of my back as he kissed me deeper.
As we released, I couldn’t stop smiling. Slowly, I opened my eyes and looked at him. The kiss might have taken a bit longer than I had wanted, but it was worth the wait. His eyes looked deeply into mine, and he brushed a few strands of hair behind my ear. Suddenly, he furrowed his eyebrows.
“What’s this scar from?”
My moment of enjoyment was ripped away from me instantly. I took a step backward through the doorway and shook my head, thinking of Harvey. “Nothing.”
“Whoa. What’s going on?” He could read me like a book. He could see I was hiding something. “What are you not telling me, Grace?”
I hadn’t told him about Harvey all evening. For all that talking we had done, I failed to mention his name even once. It’s why it was such a good time. I thought it was a good thing to not talk about him, but a part of me knew I just didn’t want to admit I was ever with a guy like him. I was nervous how Owen would feel about my past. “It’s nothing, Owen. Can we drop it?”
“I want a future with you, Grace. I can already tell that. Sometimes, to have a future, you have to let go of the past. Please tell me?”
“You’re right. This isn’t a ‘stand on the porch’ kind of talk though. Want to come in?”
Chapter 19
HOLDING ME IN HIS ARMS on the couch, he stayed quiet as he ran his fingers through my hair and listened. His touch felt so comforting, his presence so right for the moment. I had exposed all my wrongdoings with Harvey and also the abuse I had been through during the relationship. Owen did something I wasn’t used to any man ever doing in my life, and that was to simply listen without speaking a word.
His hand left my hair and slid down over the top of my blanket to my side. He peered into my eyes as I peered up into his from lying on his chest.
“I’m sorry he hurt you like that, Grace. It kills me to know you had to go through it all.” Owen’s eyes were watering as he spoke, and it made me feel uneasy.
“You seem really emotional about this,” I said, sitting up. I grabbed his hands. “I’m okay now.”
Dabbing his eyes with his fingers, he let out a short laugh, obviously embarrassed by his watering eyes. “Sorry. I don’t mean to get all emotional on you. I watched my mother go from loser boyfriend to loser boyfriend when I was a kid. They were all the same. Wanted to be my dad. Wanted to be the fun guy. They never lasted, though, not a single one of them.”
Getting up off the couch, he glanced at his watch. “I’m glad I found God when I did. He changed me for the better. I hate to say this, but I’d better get going if I’m going to make it to class in the morning with the ability to teach.”
“All right. I’ll walk you to the door.”
I walked with him to the door, and as he turned to me at the door, I grabbed his arm.
“So, you don’t think I’m stupid?”
He shook his head, gazing into my eyes intently. “No. He was the stupid one.”
Leaning in, he kissed me gently and then headed out to his car.
“Saturday, at Riverfront Park. Don’t forget.”
He started walking backward. “No problem. I’ll be there. Can I see you earlier than Saturday? Maybe tomorrow?”
“Sure. When?”
“Tomorrow at six. Meet me at my Grandpa Jack’s lake house?”
“For what?”
He didn’t reply, just smiled and turned back around as he was almost to his car.
Resting my head against the doorway of the guest house, I watched as my perfect date got into his car and began to leave. Arriving at the idea of being okay with a date with Owen was hard, but it turned out to be better than I could have ever hoped for it to be. The thought of telling Owen about Harvey was hard also, but that turned out okay too. Every obstacle I’d perceived coming my way was overcome with ease. God showed me that I didn’t need to worry but only trust in Him.
Chapter 20
WITH OWEN ON THE BRAIN the next day, I couldn’t stop smiling at work. He was a pleasant distraction from the reality of my father’s fragile heart. At about three o’clock in the afternoon, a woman came into the thrift store. She held the hand of a young boy, most likely around the age of five or so.
“Hi. Could you show me where the 4T boys’ jeans are located?”
“Sure. This way.”
As I led her through the thrift store, I passed Melinda, who was helping a man look at couches. The guy looking at couches smiled at me, but I quickly looked away. I had zero interest. Coming to the clothing rack, I turned to the woman.
“There’s not a ton here, but here’s the selection we have right now. We usually see an influx of clothing come at the turn of the seasons, so be sure to check back off and on through the year.”
“Thank you so much.”
Leaving the woman and the child, I walked back through the store and to the cash register up front. As I walked up behind the counter, the man who had been looking at couches approached with a tag in hand. Laying it down on the counter in front of me, he said, “One gently used orange couch, please.”
I smiled and took the tag and scanned it.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked, tapping the fingers of his right hand against the counter.
“You already have by asking me that question. Right?”
He grinned. “Ha. I didn’t even realize.”
I grinned politely. “What’s your question?”
He pulled his wallet out from his back pocket and then slid his credit card through the machine. “How is it your wife cheats on you, and you are the bad guy who has to move out? Makes no sense to me.”
I shrugged. “Maybe you can lie down on your new couch and tell your therapist all about it?”
He laughed. “You have some quick wit, Miss . . . ?”
“Grace. Here, sign this.” I gave him a credit card slip to sign.
After he signed, he handed it back to me with a smile. “Have a good day, Grace.”
The door chimed as he walked out. I popped open the till to put the credit card slip away but noticed he wrote something below the signature at the bottom. It was his name and number.
“He’s cute. You should call him,” Melinda suddenly said beside me.
“Nah. I like Owen.”
Placing the receipt in the till, I shut the drawer and left the cute weird divorced couch guy off my radar.
After my shift at work, I headed to Jenny’s house. She had left me a voicemail while I was working in regard to my forgetting my pair of sunglasses there at the Bible study on Tuesday night. After I knocked on the
door and stood waiting for her to answer, flashes of last night and Owen ran through my mind. His lips against mine. The feeling of his hand on my back. A chill ran the length of my spine. I couldn’t wait to go see him again in an hour. I was curious to see what his surprise was for me at his grandpa’s lake house. After a few minutes passed and she still hadn’t answered her door, I wondered if I should leave, but before I could make it down the steps, she answered the door.
Turning around, I saw her eyes watering and a smear of blood across the corner of her left eyebrow. My heart tumbled.
Chapter 21
MY OWN PAST PLAYS TRICKS on my mind, makes me think people are in danger when they are not. All that had happened to Jenny that afternoon was that she had slipped in the bathroom while grouting her bathtub moments before answering the door. Her head hit the faucet and cut the skin.
“And that’s why it took so long for me to answer. I was trying to collect my thoughts and stop crying.”
I nodded. “I know. Sorry I started asking questions about who was over here.”
“It’s okay. With what you’ve been through, girl . . .” She shook her head. “I’d be asking questions too.”
Smoothing my thumb over the corner of my sunglasses in my hand, I smiled as I thought of Owen. Lifting my gaze, I said, “I met someone.”
Her eyes widened. “Yeah? Who?”
“Owen. Last night was our first date.” Grinning as I remembered his shirt balled in my hand last night as we kissed, I said, “He’s a sweet guy.”
“Is he a teacher down at Newport High?”
“Yeah. You know him?”
“I know of him. You’re aware that I help with the youth at the Church at the Lake on Wednesday nights. All the girls at Newport high have a crush on that teacher. Even your sister’s daughter gushes over him.”