by Sierra Rose
He had left me, and now I had to pick up the pieces and carry on. I felt like I’d been hit by a whirlwind. I only hoped my friend Erin was right, that in the end, it would all make me a stronger, more independent woman. I refused to be a damsel in distress. I knew I’d get through it, especially when there was so much possibility just waiting for me on the other side.
I thought about my daffodils I planted outside. If those bulbs had the strength to make it through the harsh winter and fight their way through the cold, dark muddy earth to find the sun to grow and bloom, then surely I could too.
I was a grown woman, and I intended to teach my daughters that when push comes to shove, grown women roar!
Chapter 14
I woke up early and went around the house and put old mementos and photographs where I didn’t have to see them all the time. I boxed up any of his stuff lying around. For me to move on, I needed all his stuff gone so I could forget his pathetic existence.
Alexis called.
“I told you no more Lifetime Movie Network movies and Moose Tracks ice-cream!”
I chuckled. “I didn’t watch any movies. Right now, I’m packing up...um...uh, what’s his name’s stuff?”
“Tom?”
“Oh, yeah, him.”
“He’s a distant memory, huh? You’re moving in the right direction, girl. Want me and Art to come over and help?”
“Nah, I got this, and uh, there’s the doorbell. Tom’s here to pick up the girls.”
“Why?”
“I’m going into work today. I gotta run, sis.”
Tom took the girls for the day, allowing me to pick up some overtime. I was happy about that, because I could use every extra penny I could get. My boss wanted us to help clean out the building next door, so I headed over with some of my co-workers and started clearing boxes.
Just as I picked up a big, bulky, heavy box, I clumsily bumped into someone. “Oh! Sorry,” I said.
“No biggie. I’m always glad to bump into you,” Foster said.
I inched my box down so I could peek over the top, my heart racing. Just the sight of him sent sparks flying. “Oh, hey. Hi.”
He grinned, his eyes lighting up. “Hey, beautiful.”
I was taken aback by his handsome face. We hadn’t talked in weeks, and he was like a ray of sunshine after a long, dark winter. I wanted to caress the sexy stubble on his jaw but I resisted the urge; his five-o’clock shadow made him look so rugged, mysterious, sexy, and delicious that I couldn’t take my eyes off him. “You’re helping too?” I asked.
“I needed a side job. My roof’s leaking, and that’s not a cheap fix.”
“I’m so sorry. Working on Saturday has to suck.”
“It is what it is. I’m not gonna cry about it. I just do what I gotta do.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I figured I might as well pick up some overtime too,” I said trying not to gawk at his smokin’-hot body.
He winked. “Lucky for me.”
I grinned. I wasn’t sure where we exactly stood, but he certainly loved to flirt with me. My gaze darted to all the other boxes. “Looks like we’ll be here all day.”
“Well, at least I won’t mind the company.”
We kept working, and before I knew it, it was almost lunchtime. I didn’t mind the physical labor, because I often tired of sitting at boring desk all day. For me, it was a nice change of pace, and Foster being there just made it all the nicer.
Foster held out his hand. “C’mon.”
“Um...where are we going?”
“I’m taking you out to lunch.”
I blinked. “You are?”
“Yup.”
His beautiful grin sent a shiver down my spine, and the fact that he wanted to spend time with me made my heart skip a beat. Grinning, I reached for his hand, and he gripped it tightly and led me out the door. He didn’t let go of my hand till we reached the restaurant strip near the university.
He turned and said, “Oh, and we’re going out too.”
“We are?”
“Yeah. It’s time we figure out what’s going on between us, because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. It’s been driving me nuts, acting all official around you and only talking to you at work. I need to know if you’re feeling what I am.”
I shot him a puzzled look, wondering if he was some kind of player.
“What? You think I’m kidding?” he asked, his blue eyes blazing.
I smirked. “I hope not.”
“Great, then we can talk about our date over lunch.”
The next thing I knew, I was sitting in a restaurant, having lunch with the most gorgeous guy I’d ever seen.
Foster took a sip of his drink, then stared at me with an amused look on his face.
“What?” I asked.
“You shot me down before, yet here you are, having lunch.”
“Does this qualify as a date?”
“Maybe a pre-date.”
I laughed.
“So, tell me, Morgan, what was holding you back before?”
Slowly but surely, the truth came out: “I-I’m married.”
Shocked and stunned, he inched back. “Uh, I had no idea. I’m so sorry. I don’t hit on married women, and I didn’t see a ring on your finger so I just assumed—”
“I’m sorry I misled you,” I said sadly. “It was wrong, and I’ll understand if you never want to see me again.”
“I love meeting new friends, so don’t worry about it. We’re just two people having a bite to eat after working all morning. No biggie.”
“I guess this screws up our date for tonight.”
“Maybe. I don’t make it a habit of dating married women.”
I winked. “Lucky for you, I won’t be married much longer.”
“Huh? You’re divorcing?”
“Sadly, yes. I never would have taken your number if I wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure you’ve got a long road ahead of you.”
“It’s okay. Our marriage was over years ago. It still hurts a little, but I’m glad we got to the root of the problem. We are just...completely different people. He isn’t who I thought he is, so it’s best that we just go our separate ways. He’s moved out and has his own place. He even has somebody special in his life.” Before he could dwell on the subject and ask more questions, I changed the subject. “So, tell me, Foster, why is a hot guy like you still single?”
“I haven’t dated much since my wife died. It happened five years ago, the big C. She was so young. Now, I try to concentrate on my work and raising my girls. For a while, I was obsessed with working out, always going to the gym to take my mind off things. Even now, I put all my extra time into bodybuilding. I guess it’s some way to sidetrack the pain.”
I swallowed hard, understanding his pain. “I know what you mean. I’ve been throwing myself into raising my girls, since I really haven’t had much else to count on for so long.”
He looked so sad, heartbroken, and hurt. “Then we have that in common.”
Who knows? I thought. Maybe two broken hearts can help one another heal. Maybe we can mend each other, find happiness once more. Maybe...
The waitress brought our chicken sandwiches, interrupting my thoughts.
“Thanks,” Foster said, smiling up at her.
I tried to lighten the conversation, as I couldn’t stand the sad look on his face. “Since you don’t date married women, I guess I can gobble this up however I want. A friend won’t care if I drip mayonnaise on my shirt, right?”
He laughed, a deep, husky chuckle that I loved. “You’re so beautiful,” he said, staring into my eyes. “If I had somebody like you in my arms, I’d never let you go.”
“And you’re so romantic, Mr. Mailman,” I said. “You’re the perfect guy. I wanted to go on that date with you so bad, but we’ve gotta let the dust settle, ya know?”
“Yeah, I get it, but I’ve got a proposition,” he said.
“And what’s that?�
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“It’s obvious that we have an undeniable connection, something we can’t fight. How about we agree right now that the second the ink dries on your divorce papers, we’ll go out?” His eyes penetrated mine with probing intensity, casting a spell on me.
I held out my hand. “Deal. We’ll just stay friends...for now.”
“Wow. The friend zone’s gonna be hard with you, darling.”
“I want to do this the right way.”
“Me too.” He grinned widely. “Besides, you’re worth waiting for, even if you are covered in mayonnaise,” he said, nodding to a dribble on my collar.
“You’re so sweet...and I’d have to say the same about you,” I said, gesturing to a bit of barbecue sauce that was residing on the corner of his yummy-looking mouth.
Just as we prepared to leave, it began to rain lightly. I followed him outside, and we started walking back to the campus. The drizzle soon turned into a downpour, lightning flashed, and thunder clapped.
“Wanna make a run for it?” I asked.
“What for? We’re already soaked,” he responded.
I laughed. “Right. We can’t get any wetter.” Just as the words left my mouth, I gazed over at him and realized how wrong I was.
He ran his hand through his hair, slicking it back, and droplets beaded on his eyelashes like tiny diamonds. Rain soaked his tight t-shirt that was already mercilessly stretched across all his glorious muscles.
“We sorta first met in the rain, remember?” he asked. Before I could answer, before I could tell him I would never, ever forget that, he cupped my face and pressed his forehead to mine. It was such a romantic moment, just the two of us in the rain, so incredibly close.
I couldn’t help staring at the man, because he oozed sex appeal. Kiss me! I screamed in my head. I just wanted to jump in his arms, run my hands through his wet locks, and kiss him like he’d never been kissed before.
He pulled me close. “I’m crazy about you, Morgan.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, you make me feel weak in the knees every time you touch me,” I confessed.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed talking to you over the last few weeks,” he said. “You’re so distant at work and barely said anything when you signed for the packages. I thought you’d given up on me, but I figured you needed some space, and I didn’t wanna pry.”
“I know. I should have been honest with you from the very beginning,” I said. “I know firsthand how it is when someone keeps things from you. I won’t do that again.”
“What’s done is done. All I know know is that I wanna kiss you now, so passionately that you’ll never want to come up for air.”
“Soon enough, Foster, I’m sure you’ll leave me...breathless.” I touched his face. “I know you said what’s done is done, but I’m still sorry I didn’t tell you I’m married.”
His mouth hovered over mine, and he pushed a wet strand of hair out of my face. “What’s life without a few complications?”
“I know. I just...can’t stop thinking about you,” I said with heartfelt honesty, overcome with the desire to pull him closer and make out with him right there in the rain, like a couple of teenagers at prom.
“I have a feeling you just might be the best thing that will ever happen to me, Morgan Tyler. For that, I’ll wait as long as I have to.” He softly kissed my forehead.
I smiled, then slowly spun around and spread my arms out, dancing in the rain. Our gazes locked as he picked me up and joined me in the dance. I laughed even harder as droplets pelted my cheeks; I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed that hard.
“You’ve got such a cute laugh,” he said.
“Well, I can’t help smiling. You brighten up my day every time I see you, just like today.”
“Well, spending time with you has been the highlight of my day—that, and seeing those wet clothes cling to you like glue. I gotta admit that I’m a little jealous of that t-shirt.”
I grinned, he smiled at me, and we ran, hand in hand, back to the university. We finished up our work for the day and made plans for dinner and a movie at his place, a bit of a meet-and-greet for our kids.
Chapter 15
On Friday night, I took my girls over to meet his. We made dinner, and everyone got along nicely.
After dinner and a movie, the kids went off to play upstairs, and we stepped out on the back porch to have a beer. We talked about our kids, and he listened as I went on and on and on about the twins. I learned a lot about his, too, and they sounded like sweet kids. He told me about his job, and I told him about mine. We learned one another’s favorite interests in hobbies, and we became fast friends. Yes, there was an undeniable spark, but we had more than that in common.
“My girls really like Becky and Shelia,” I said, “and I think they’re adorable, just like their daddy.”
“Thanks,” he said, blushing a bit. “Anna and Emma are dolls, just like you.”
I smiled. “Thanks,” I said, my cheeks reddening too.
“Being a single dad is the toughest job of my life.”
“You’re not alone,” I said, gripping his hand. “I’m here if you need me. I can babysit or come over and help clean or whatever.”
“Thanks, Morgan. It’s nice to be with a woman who understands what I’m going through, and if I can ever help you with anything, I’m here for you as well. That’s what friends are for, right?”
“We make a great team.”
He gripped my hand tightly. “Yes, we sure do.”
“What makes you think you’re ready to date?” I asked. “I mean, how can you tell?”
“This isn’t a date, remember?” he said, grinning. “It’s two friends hanging out on a Friday night.”
I smiled. “Right. You don’t date married women. You just...hold their hands.”
He softly kissed my hand, then let go. “You’re so beautiful, Morgan. It’s hard for me to keep my hands to myself. I do apologize.”
Mesmerized, completely captivated by our shared connection, I whispered, “You’re forgiven. But, one friend to another, are you sure you’re ready to date again?” I asked.
“It’s been five years since cancer took my wife. I’m ready to open my heart to another person, if I can find someone willing to play bellhop with my emotional baggage. I want the chance to experience that joy again, the chance to fall in love. Patty wanted me to be happy, and I think it’s time to move on.”
I touched his hand. “I know it’s hard.”
“I think the hardest thing was coming home to an empty house,” he said.
“I can imagine. I sort of felt the same way when Tom moved out.”
“She wasn’t there to greet me, to ask me how my day was. Then, when I ate dinner with the girls, the chair opposite mine was empty. I couldn’t stand the thought of being so alone. When I went to sleep, the bed felt so big, and I only had the pillows to hug for comfort.” He touched his head. “You must think I’m really corny.”
“No, not at all. I’ve been through it myself. Being by myself for the first time was a bit overwhelming at first, almost crushing. I’m sure the two of you created many wonderful memories together. You should wrap yourself up in those when you feel alone.”
He sighed. “Memories of her are really all I have left...well, those and our girls. They look like their mother sometimes, like little pieces of her. Anyway, losing her changed my entire life. I was devastated for years. I couldn’t date because I couldn’t stand the pain, but something inside told me I’d survive. When it got to be too much, I just hit the gym and bench-pressed or boxed my troubles away.” He paused, then continued. “I won’t dwell on her, but I wanted you to know.”
“Patty was a lovely person, I’m sure. I know for a fact that she had good taste,” I said with a comforting smile.
“Thanks,” he said.
“I have lots of emotional baggage too. I thought I’d met the man of my dreams, but he stopped finding me attractive a long time ago
, and that was pretty much the end of it. He ignored and neglected me for so long. I should’ve known there was something going on, that he had a lover on the side.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Morgan,” he said. “Any man would be a fool not to find you attractive.”
“Well, not any man,” I said. “Oh, hey, I saw a picture on your mantel, you in all your football gear. What were you? Seventeen?”
“Something like that. I love that picture. I was a quarterback. There’s no greater adrenaline rush than running out onto the field. I’ll never forget it. The crowd cheered, the band played, and the cheerleaders were rooting for us. The whole atmosphere was charged. Those were my glory days, I guess.”
“Tell me more.”
“Well, I was a bit of a Bo Jackson, played both baseball and football. I started for the Mount Oak Central baseball team as an eighth-grader and earned five varsity letters.”
“Wow.”
“I played quarterback, lineman, strong safety, placekicker, and punter in a primarily option, run-oriented offense. My father was the head coach, so I had to be good.”
“Quite the jock, huh?”
“Yeah, but my football dreams fell short. I got married instead of going to college, and that caused a real rift between Dad and me. He was so livid when he found out I had gotten Patty pregnant. When I landed the post office job, I was thrilled to be able to bring home a stable paycheck, but to this day, Dad’s still pissed at me for doing what I wanted to do. I loved football, but it was really more his dream than mine. I love my kids and wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“Right. You can’t live someone else’s dream,” I said, patting Foster on the hand. I could feel his sadness and pain, and I hoped he could someday mend the broken bridge between his father and him.
“I mean, I loved sports, and it might have been my dream at first, but things changed. Things just...happened, and I had to go with the flow,” he continued. “I was happy, and I think that’s what matters most, but Dad doesn’t see things that way. I think he even holds it against my kids, like it’s their fault.”