by Noelle Adams
He’d grown up in this town and was used to everyone knowing his business. The whole town knew when he got drunk after football games in high school. The whole town knew when Maria was cheating on him with every loser she could find. The whole town knew when he and Dee had loud, angry fights all the time when they were married.
But Allison was different. He didn’t want her to know all that.
“I want you to talk some sense into this girl,” Dee said, finally getting back to the point again.
“It’s not his business, Mom,” Cali whined. She’d been fiddling with her phone during the previous part of the conversation. She hardly seemed aware of what was going on.
“Maybe we should have this conversation somewhere else,” Rob suggested, doing his best to sound calm.
“Where, exactly?” Dee demanded. “You never come over anymore, even when I need you!”
“I’ve been busy,” he gritted out. He’d mostly been trying to wean himself away from helping her out every time she asked. “Okay, fine. What’s going on with this guy, then?”
He couldn’t help but notice that Allison was looking a little flustered as she loaded plates onto a tray for the family at the far end of the restaurant. She was probably very uncomfortable about the scene Dee was making. Who wouldn’t be?
“Nothing is—” Cali began.
“He takes her money!” Dee broke in.
This distracted Rob enough for him to turn back, his spine stiffening. “What?”
“He doesn’t take my money. I lent him a little bit once.” Cali looked bored and annoyed. She rolled her eyes in a characteristic way.
Rob scanned her face, hoping she was telling the truth and that Dee was blowing things out of proportion for attention, as she often did. “How much did you give him? Has he paid you back?”
“It’s none of your business!” Cali wailed, as if the world was out to get her.
Rob was going to ask around about that Nelson boy and, if the stories were true, he would think of something to do. He didn’t want some loser mooching off of Cali, who had little enough money as it was. She might not be his stepdaughter anymore, but he still felt responsible for her.
He was thinking about this, absently watching Allison carry the large tray over to the table.
Dee evidently saw where his eyes were focused. She made an outraged hissing sound. “If you could get your eyes off your stuck-up girlfriend for even a minute, you might be able to help!”
Rob couldn’t stifle the groan this time. “For God’s sake, Dee—”
“Don’t you ‘For God’s sake’ me!” Dee gave an indignant huff and pushed her stool out without warning, abruptly and with unnecessary force.
Allison was walking behind her just then, and the stool slammed right into her.
The tray she was holding crashed down in a loud and shocking fall, and Allison herself stumbled, barely catching herself on the stool.
Rob jumped up and moved toward her, helping her to her feet. “Are you all right?”
“Is she all right?” Dee screamed. She had a few grits on her shoes, but otherwise she was unscathed. “I’m the one who could have been killed by her clumsiness!”
Allison was staring at the mess of food and broken plates on the floor, and it looked like she was close to tears.
Acting on instinct, Rob reached out to put a supportive hand on her back. He murmured again, “Are you all right?”
“I’m okay,” she told him, sounding a little choked.
“She’s the one who dropped it! I’m the one who got scared out of her wits!” Dee screeched.
“I’m sorry,” Allison said immediately, kneeling down to start picking up the broken pieces of plates. “Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay!”
“Yes, you are,” Rob snapped, absolutely fed up with her nonsense. “You didn’t even get touched.” He knelt down next to Allison, helping her pick it up. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Allison looked too shaky, and her eyes were still lowered so he couldn’t see her expression. But he saw a little tear slip out of her eye that she quickly brushed away.
He swallowed a surge of anger. Dee had made her cry, and there was nothing he’d been able to do to stop it from happening.
“Everyone saw what really happened,” he told her, so low that Dee couldn’t hear. “Please don’t be upset.”
Allison’s eyes darted up to his face, and she gave him a grateful little smile.
“Excuse me,” Dee broke in. “I’m the injured party here.”
Allison took a breath and stood up with the tray. “I’m very sorry. If you’d like to order anything, I’ll be happy to cover it.”
She shouldn’t have to do that. It hadn’t been her fault.
“No, thank you.” Dee glared at Allison and then took Cali by the arm and started flouncing out of the restaurant.
But she threw Rob a look of icy anger that let him know he was in for it. Maybe not now, but at some point.
Rob had never been so glad to see anyone leave in his life.
Chapter 5
On Thursday night of that week, Allison was sitting on her couch, searching through classes on the website of the local community college and trying to feel excited about them.
She didn’t particularly want to take Geography or American Literature I. But if she was going to get a degree, she knew she needed to, and she felt a little guilty that she’d fought so hard to take college classes while she was married, only to be so reluctant now that she was free.
Staring at the Web page, she was hit with the bleak realization that she was never going to get her little jewelry shop in Charlotte.
It was going to take her forever to just finish college. Then she’d have to find a better job where she could earn a lot more money than she was making now. She’d have to save money like crazy, and even then she might not be able to make it work.
She was an idiot. A silly fool. For dreaming that it could ever happen without Arthur paying the bills. She’d clung to the fantasy like a little girl because it was the only concrete thing she could visualize as making her happy.
But now all she had was a crappy job and a mostly empty house and a bunch of boring college classes in her future. Telling herself to take it one step at a time didn’t really help when she could no longer imagine herself in a life she really wanted.
She needed to do something, though, or all her effort and emotional turmoil would have been for nothing. Finishing college was the obvious first step, as Vicki kept reminding her.
Community college classes were cheap. And since she was earning so little, she would probably qualify for some sort of grant that would reduce the tuition even further. She’d determined that it really wouldn’t take that much money out of her savings to start up classes again. Vicki was right. She needed to just get going on them. Even if she was unable to see how she could ever have her little jewelry shop, she couldn’t get stalled just because she didn’t have everything she wanted.
Feeling kind of blah and exhausted, she filled out an online application and submitted it before she could change her mind.
Then she requested her transcripts from the larger state school she’d enrolled in back in Charlotte.
Then she put down her laptop and her glass of cheap red wine.
At least she only had one more day of work this week. Then she’d have two days coming up to spend how she liked.
When she heard raised voices outside, she stood up—groaning a little because her feet hurt—and went to peek through the blinds. It was just dusk, and there was enough light for her to see across the street to Rob’s house.
There was a sporty little red car in his driveway.
Maybe he had a date.
The thought made her feel slightly sick, although she knew she had no grounds to feel that way. That scene with Dee in Dora’s earlier that week should have turned her off from him. He obviously had a very complicated personal life, and it wasn’t really so
mething she wanted to get involved with.
But she kept seeing his face when Dee was throwing her fit. He’d been concerned about Allison—about whether she was upset by the hysterics—but he’d also been really troubled and frustrated.
He’d looked helpless. It was the only time in the month and a half she’d known him when she’d ever seen him look helpless. He was always so strong and capable and solid. But at that moment he’d looked…just as human as she was.
She couldn’t stop thinking about it. It made her want to help him, take care of him.
Not that she’d be any good at taking care of men. She’d had no practice at all. Arthur had never wanted or allowed it, and she’d never really felt the inclination anyway.
Looking out at the street in the dim light of the nearly set sun, she wondered what it would be like to take care of Rob—when he needed it.
She heard the voices again. The main one was female, and it was screeching loudly. That gave Allison a clue, so she wasn’t surprised when she looked closer and saw Dee’s brassy blond hair and slim figure on Rob’s front walk.
He was out there too. They must have stepped off his porch because they were now visible. He wore a T-shirt and a pair of sweats that made Allison think he hadn’t been planning on going out tonight.
Dee must have shown up uninvited. After what had happened on Monday, there was no way Rob would have invited her over for a cozy evening.
Allison was too far away to see Rob’s expression or hear any of the words they were saying. Rob must be really upset about this. It was almost as public as the scene Dee had made at Dora’s.
Allison felt bad for him and worried, and incredibly annoyed with Dee. What was wrong with the woman, anyway? Why wouldn’t she just leave him alone?
Allison wanted to do something but knew there was nothing to do. If she went over there, she would just cause more problems and Rob would be even more embarrassed. So she just kept watching—getting more and more upset by the fight as it continued for almost ten minutes.
Eventually Dee headed for her car, but Rob was right behind her. He was trying to take the keys away, which must mean Dee was drunk. This thought was confirmed when, with great difficulty, Rob herded Dee into the passenger seat of his truck and then backed it out of the drive.
Poor Rob. What a way to spend the evening.
Allison told herself the issue was settled now, so there was no sense in hovering near the window anymore. She put away her wineglass and straightened up the kitchen and living room, although they hadn’t been that messy.
She thought about going to bed, but it was just after nine. She was tired but also kind of wired, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. She would have called Vicki, but her friend was going to the symphony tonight.
Allison turned on her front door light and grabbed her broom, stepping outside to sweep her front stoop and the short walk to the driveway. It needed to be done occasionally. It didn’t have anything to do with being outside to see when Rob got home.
The concrete was eventually spotless, and Rob still hadn’t returned. With a sigh, Allison gave up and went back inside.
She was closing and locking the front door when she heard a car on the street outside. She peeked back out the blinds to see Rob’s truck returning.
She waited for him to get out, but he didn’t.
He just sat in his car for a really long time.
There didn’t appear to be anyone in the passenger seat, so maybe he was just on his phone or something. But why was he just sitting like that? He should go back inside and get comfortable.
She kept watching, getting more and more worried for no reason that made any sense. She just knew something was wrong with him.
Eventually her concern overcame any hesitancy she normally would have felt. Rob had never invited her over to his house, but she was just going up the driveway to check on him. She was wearing cropped yoga pants and a pink tunic top that always slid off one of her shoulders. She slipped her feet into her favorite silver flip-flops and walked across the street.
Rob still hadn’t gotten out of his truck. His head was leaned back and his eyes were closed, and he looked terrible, like he could barely move.
She knocked on the door of the truck.
He jerked visibly and opened his eyes, looking shocked as he reached over to open the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Sorry,” she said, feeling silly now that she was here. “I just saw…saw what happened earlier, and then I saw you sitting out here. I was…I was worried.” She dropped her eyes, hoping he wasn’t going to tell her she was being stupid or send her away.
His voice softened slightly. “I’m okay. Nothing for you to worry about.”
“You seem like something is wrong.”
He looked like he was going to say something, but then he gave a little shake of his head. What he said was clearly not what he’d been about to say. “I’m just tired.”
“Then you should go inside and take it easy.”
“I am.” He slid out of the truck and straightened up, putting on a smile that didn’t ring quite true to Allison. “I hope your evening didn’t get interrupted by all the noise out here.”
She smiled back, since he obviously wanted to get back to normal interaction between them. “Not really. I was just signing up to take college classes.”
“Oh yeah? What classes are you going to take?”
He looked better, either from her presence or from thinking about something else. Allison decided she wasn’t going to leave him yet. She didn’t want him to go inside and stew about whatever had upset him. “I’ll tell you about them if you invite me in. I’m on my feet all day, you know.”
“Of course you are. You can come—” He broke off, as if he’d just remembered something.
She pretended she hadn’t noticed the interruption and walked up his front steps. He had no choice but to come too and unlock his door.
She realized why he was reluctant as soon as she walked inside. The place was a mess. The door opened into a pleasant great room with good hardwood furniture and big windows. But there were newspapers and mail and empty glasses on every surface, and the floor was covered with shoes, socks, tools, and what appeared to be the contents of an entire junk drawer. She could see into the connecting kitchen, and it was just as messy.
She was absolutely positive that this was what he hadn’t wanted her to see.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you never clean up a little?”
He gave her a rueful look. “Only when I have to. Sorry. I know it’s a little…”
“It’s a lot.” She giggled again. “I don’t understand. The outside of your house is perfect.”
“I like yard work. I hate housework.” He pushed a hand through his thick hair, clearly torn between amusement and embarrassment. “We can go over to your place if you’d rather.”
“Oh no. You have a much better TV. Just clear some stuff off the couch so we can sit down. Can I get us something to drink?”
“Sure. There’s beer. Or water. Those are your choices.”
Allison snorted with amusement again as she braved the kitchen to get two beers out of his large refrigerator. There wasn’t much else, just some bottled water, some butter, and an ancient jar of pickles. No wonder he ate out all the time.
He’d moved the piles of newspapers, books, and file folders off the couch and was brushing off what was likely crumbs when she returned to join him.
“What do you want to watch?” he asked, picking up the remote and clicking on the TV.
“Oh, I don’t know. Anything but sports.”
“Great. Those are the only channels I know.”
She laughed again, feeling giddy for absolutely no reason. She had no idea why seeing his messy house would endear him to her, but it did. It made him feel more accessible. More like her. “Well, flip until we find something good.”
They eventually found reruns of a sitcom that both of them liked
well enough, so Rob left the TV on that channel. “You were going to tell me what classes you were taking.”
“Oh. Right.”
So she told him about the classes she was looking at and the classes she’d already taken, and what majors she was considering and how she really wanted there to be a degree in jewelry making.
“You like to make jewelry?”
“Yeah.” She flicked her earrings, which were loops of pretty silver and pink beads. “All the jewelry I wear I made.”
“Really?” He leaned forward, peering at her ears. “Those look really good. You wear all kinds of fancy stuff, don’t you?”
She understood this question to be a compliment. “I’ve been doing it for years now. When I first got married, I was really bored, so I took this workshop on jewelry making. I enjoyed it so much I kept doing it, and then I would give what I made to my friends, and they’d all love it, so that’s when I decided I wanted to do it as a business.”
“Why don’t you?” His eyes still looked kind of heavy, like he wasn’t quite recovered from earlier, but he also appeared genuinely interested in what she was saying.
“It takes a lot more money than I have.” She sighed. “I used to hope Arthur would fund me. I even made up a business plan and everything to prove that I knew what I was getting into. But he just refused. He said it was throwing money away and that he didn’t want his wife in a ‘service industry’ anyway.”
“Asshole,” Rob muttered.
Allison reached over to pat his thigh. “A lot of people have dreams like that. Usually those dreams don’t come true. There’s no reason to assume mine would.”
“Well, there’s no reason to assume it wouldn’t. How much money do you need?”
“Way too much.”
Rob’s brow furrowed the way it did when he was thinking hard. “Maybe you could start small, then. We have a lot of craft fairs and little knickknack stores around here. Maybe you could sell some of your stuff there. It would be something, anyway. Maybe a piece of the dream is better than nothing.”