by Lisa Heaton
“Then save what you don’t spend. It doesn’t matter to me.” Handing her the pen, he said, “All you have to do is initial beside the number I’ve added and sign at the bottom.”
Her heart was pounding so hard against her ribs that she was feeling a bit nauseous. Looking into his eyes one final time, she asked, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Are you?” Reaching out, he wrapped his hand around her forearm and leaned in closer to give one final reminder, “Remember, one year, that’s all. After that, we go our separate ways.”
The look in his eyes was peculiar. In that moment, he went from warm and friendly to cold and determined. For the first time, he seemed nearly unkind. “I understand.” Turning her attention back to the document, it was then she saw his last name for the first time. His name was not on the draft of the contract, and she wondered if that was intentional. Keller, he owned the building, and for that matter, Keller Industries entirely. She assumed him to be a top executive certainly, but never once had she considered that he might be the owner. Shaken by the realization, she hesitated for one moment more, and then finally, she initialed, signed, and added the date, 4/19. At that point, it was official.
An awkward silence settled upon them both until dessert arrived. Something about sharing a dessert, however, ended the silence. As each battled over their fair share of cheesecake, quickly they were laughing and joking again. Feeling triumphant that she was able to get the last bite, she rested her fork on the plate and sighed. “You know what I believe?”
Certain there was nothing serious on her mind, he leaned back in his chair and studied her for a moment. Finally, he asked, “What do you believe?”
Appreciating the moment, maybe even feeling a bit giddy still at the thought of the entire evening, Chelsea proclaimed, “Life is short. We should eat dessert first. That way, we get the whole piece of cheesecake and share the steak.”
What an outlook to have. For just a second, John looked away, fearing she might catch a glimpse of how he envied her youth and fresh way of looking at such a simple aspect of life. Most people, him included, spent their entire lives following rules and standards that were totally unnecessary. “We’ll do that next time,” he assured her.
Playfully, she asked, “Promise?”
“I always keep my word, Chelsea.”
A look, similar to the one before, briefly clouded the kindness in his eyes, and she had a sense his words were meant to be another reminder. Less affected than before, she simply grinned. “Good to know.” Moving in closer, she said, “Okay, give me your best and worst of the day.”
Leaning in as she did and resting his elbows on the table, he rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. “Best would be dinner. Worst was that I had to let someone go today.”
“Oh, that’s sad.” While she considered asking him more details, she decided against it. He seemed to have plenty of people in his life to discuss business with. That was not a role she wanted to play.
“For me, best was the cheesecake and the worst was getting here.” Laughing, she asked, “Have you ever seen Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the movie?”
“I have.”
“That was my day today. A friend agreed to bring me tonight but something came up. Another friend offered but was running so late that I had to call a taxi. I was pushing it on time and that makes me crazy. I hate to be late.”
As she talked, she was so expressive with her hands that he had a feeling if he held her hands still she’d be struck silent. Already she talked to him as if she’d known him for years, like Brittney or Megan might do. There was no pretense or hidden agenda. For the first time in many years, he simply enjoyed someone’s company without fear that he might somehow get sucked into to a game plan or scheme.
“So you don’t have a car?”
“I do. It’s just in the shop. It wouldn’t start yesterday, so I had to have it towed.” She’d never tell him, but until he paid her for her monthly living expenses, she would have no money to pay for the repairs. With her parents so strapped on the farm, she could have never asked them for the money either, so for the time being, she had no transportation.
As he asked further about what might be wrong, before she knew it, he was offering to go and check on it the next day. While she protested, he insisted. Finally, she said, “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. I want to.” Leaning nearer, gazing into her eyes, he assured her, “I only do what I want.”
Nodding at his words, she shivered a little. Once again the intensity with which he looked at her was a bit unsettling. His gaze was penetrating, as if he were looking past her eyes and into her thoughts. This man was such an enigma. One minute he was open and friendly, the next he had this incredibly forceful manner about him that caused her to feel slightly flustered.
After gaining her composure, she knew it was settled and that he’d go by the next morning to check with the mechanic. She was grateful, but dreaded the point at which she would have to admit she couldn’t afford to have it repaired, fearing that when she told him, he’d insist on paying for the repairs. Her hope was that she could wait until he paid her for the first month’s expenses.
The idea of him giving her checks monthly caused her to feel suddenly anxious. There was something completely uncomfortable about taking money from him, especially such a large amount. On the other hand, with that kind of money, she could more easily afford her share of the rent, but even considering that, the money aspect of their arrangement didn’t seem right. Since he asked her not to get a job so that she would have more available time, she could accept the smaller amount she requested to begin with, but not more than double what she needed. Her mind was boggled and so full of such thoughts that she missed his last statement. “Huh?”
“I said I’ll drive you home.”
Not wanting him to go out of his way, she almost insisted on calling a cab. But if she had to pay for a cab, it would leave her flat broke, so she reluctantly agreed. The reminder of how broke she actually was gave her clarity on her moral dilemma. Until she could figure something else out, she would have to depend on John, or rather John’s money, to simply get by. How had things gotten to such a desperate place? First losing her funding, then her job, it was as if the deck was stacked against her. But because of John, all that changed. How blessed was she?
As John led her through the restaurant, she noticed several people look up at them. Smiling to herself, she decided she may as well get used to it. Most likely, they were trying to figure out if she were his daughter or his date. The thought caused her to giggle to herself. Thinking back to that moment when she so tentatively pressed, “Send,” she decided it may have been a good decision after all.
Outside, they waited at the entrance of the restaurant. Since it was early still, she wondered what he might do afterward. It was a strange arrangement in which she couldn’t ask such a question. While she probably could have, it seemed somehow inappropriate. Theirs would be separate lives except when they were together for dinner or possibly travel. No doubt it would be unusual, but as far as she could envision it, it would be her typical life and schedule with some dates added in. What he did when they were not together was none of her business just as what she did was none of his. Smiling to herself, she realized how amusing that was since she did nothing but study and go to class. It was a rare occasion indeed for her to even go out with her friends. He wouldn’t be missing much in not knowing about her personal life, but she had to believe, his was another story entirely.
Looking up at him, watching him as he spoke rather abruptly into the phone, she understood completely the looks they received as they walked through the restaurant together. After further consideration, she realized most were women and all were looking at him, not them. For her sake, it was a good thing that this was in no way a relationship. If it were, she’d never have such a man all to herself.
Even as he talked, he could see Chelsea was cold. The evening air was quite ch
illy. Removing his jacket, holding his phone to his ear by resting it on his shoulder, he draped it over her shoulders. When she smiled up at him, he detected something unusual, something he’d not seen in her eyes up until that point. Or maybe it was a similar look as when he held her chair out for her. A lack of expectation of being treated properly was as close as he could come to defining the look. And something about that gave him the desire to do even more for her.
Just as he finished his call, a long black limousine pulled alongside the curb and John reached for the door. Looking up at him, she grinned and admitted, “I don’t know why this surprises me.”
Sliding into the seat beside her, he felt a sense of something nearer to happiness than he had felt in many years. He looked forward to showing her a new world. Already, his mind was churning up ideas of where he could take her and the things he would like to do for her. Having resources beyond her understanding, he would be sure to show her the world, maybe even Montana.
Early Saturday morning, Chelsea’s phone was buzzing on the table beside her bed. Reaching for it, she didn’t recognize the number and considered ignoring the call. When she glanced at the clock, she realized it was after ten, extremely late for her, but it was well after two a.m. before she went to sleep. Her mind was so filled with the evening before that she could hardly shut it down long enough to fall asleep. Even when she did begin to doze, something John said or the memory of how he looked at her came to mind and she would feel suddenly nervous. Many times she recounted their conversation, trying to remember if she said stupid things or if he seemed bored with her conversation. This went on for hours. Most prominent in her mind was the sight of him removing his jacket and draping it over her shoulders, multi-tasking on his phone as he did so. He grinned, maybe even winked at her as he pulled the jacket together in the front. Like a father or big brother might do, he very sweetly rubbed his knuckle along her cheek. That time she was sure he winked.
The buzzing continued, so finally she answered, “Hello.”
“Are you still asleep?” Looking at his watch, John made a mental note that Chelsea was not an early riser, unexpected for a farm girl.
She sat up quickly when she recognized John’s voice. “No. I’m awake. Well, I’m awake now. I didn’t sleep well…”
“Come outside.” With that, he hung up and waited.
Quickly, she threw the covers back and jumped from the bed. Ashley was still sleeping, so she quietly got dressed, brushed her teeth, and ran a brush through her hair. With no makeup on, she looked pale, but hated to leave him waiting any longer. Grabbing a tube of mascara, she quickly brushed it on. That helped a little, but still she was embarrassed by how he’d see her. As she made her way through the quiet apartment, she prayed that no one would hear her. Her other two roommates were likely sleeping still since they stayed out until the early hours of the morning. Silently, she turned the lock and stepped out into the hallway and quickly ran for the stairs.
Walking down the sidewalk, trying to steady her breathing, she saw him further out in the parking lot. This time he was not wearing a suit, but rather a long sleeve white button down with the sleeves rolled up and dark jeans. He smiled at her as she drew nearer, and when he did, she thought he looked even more handsome in the sunlight and dressed so casually. Whatever nervousness she felt when she left her room faded when he smiled as he did, warm and friendly, almost as if he were expecting her to look as bedraggled as she did.
“I checked on your car. It’s twelve years old. That’s part of the problem.”
“I know, but it’s gotten me around so far. What else did he say? Is there hope?”
Lifting his hand, he allowed the keys to her new car to dangle from his finger. “This is not twelve years old. You should never have to worry about making it to dinner on time again.” After dropping her off the night before, he spent over an hour researching smaller SUVs, determined to find her something safe and dependable. Having settled on this model of car, when he left the auto shop, he went straight to the dealership.
Chelsea simply stood there, staring at him with her mouth hanging open. It took at least a minute for her to look at the car they were both standing beside. It was a white Mercedes SUV. Was he serious? “Do you mean I’ll get to drive this for the year?”
The near disbelief of her question stirred John so deeply inside, he took another step toward her, assuring her, “No. I intend it to be yours.” Allowing his words to fully register, he then added, “When yours is repaired, we’ll have it taken to the dealership on trade.”
“John…” She could hardly speak. He was actually offering her an expensive car. Never, not once, had she been in a Mercedes. But how could she accept something so extravagant? It wasn’t right.
Matching her tone, he mocked, “Chelsea…” He knew she’d try to say no, even though she really wanted to say yes. “Do you want to argue or take it for a spin?”
Reaching for the keys, she then threw her arms around his neck and squealed.
Surprised at first, he eventually hugged her in return. The feel of her in his arms stirred up conflicting emotions within him. His natural instinct was, of course, to release her and step quickly away. For so many years he hadn’t held anyone so closely, at least not with pure intentions as he felt toward Chelsea. Softly, he asked, “Are you happy?”
“Of course I’m happy.” Stepping back, she wondered aloud, “Why would you do this?”
The sight of tears pooling in in her big dark eyes shook him up for a few seconds. Finally, unsure of the reason himself, he simply shrugged. Then he offered, “Because you need it; because I can.”
Driving around the block, she could hardly believe it was hers. He showed her all the features and told her about his research the night before. This model was ranked second in safety. He told her he didn’t like the body style of the highest ranked model as well as this one. Listening to him, she had to hide her amusement. He was extremely thorough, so much so, he reminded her of her dad. That, she determined, she would keep to herself. Such a comparison would not likely be received as a compliment.
When she pulled back into the parking lot near her apartment and they stepped out, a car appeared as if out of nowhere. She watched blankly as he walked toward the long dark car.
Tossing a hand in the air as he did so, and without turning to look at her, he said, “Enjoy your day, Chelsea.”
Leaning against her new car, she watched the limo pull away. Something told her the year to come would be more extraordinary than she could even imagine. How had life taken such a turn? A girl who ran from any hint of interaction with a man was suddenly dating the wealthiest man she’d ever known. Well, maybe they weren’t dating, but they were something.
Two days later, she received an email from Irene with an invitation to the opening of an art gallery. The time and place was listed, but that was about all the email said. At the thought of seeing John the next evening, she felt a little flutter of excitement in anticipation of it. Leaning back in her chair, she looked over at her open closet, wondering what she might wear. She had no idea what would be appropriate. The dress she wore to dinner with him was the nicest she owned. Ashley’s closet had little more than hers, so that wouldn’t be an option. Since her new car arrived, Ashley had asked a million questions. Chelsea’s only response was that she traded her old car in. Other than that, she offered no other explanation.
Grabbing her phone, she dialed Irene’s number. When she answered, Chelsea said, “I received your email, and I‘ll be there. But can you give me some idea of what I should wear? I’ve never been to anything like this.”
Irene smiled at Chelsea’s lack of sophistication. From the outset, she’d been supportive of John’s decision. No matter the girl’s age, Irene was just glad to see him willing to have some companionship. She’d been with John since the early days, more than eighteen years. When he married Tracy, Irene was at his wedding. When Tracy died, she was at her funeral. Since that time, John had hardly liv
ed life outside of work. There was a season when he spent time with a string of women, but she knew that was his way of trying to overcome his grief after losing his wife. Since then, he’d shut down emotionally. Over the past few days, however, she noticed a new spark in his eyes. He seemed almost happy, something she would have once believed impossible.
“It’s a finer gallery, so I would think a cocktail dress would be appropriate.”
“Hmm, okay. Well, if I can’t get something like that, what would be next best?” Chelsea had a credit card and was considering charging a dress, with the intention of paying it off once John gave her some money.
Irene hesitated for a moment, wondering if it had to do with what she could afford or if she was simply unsure of what was proper. “Would you like to meet and pick out something together?”
“Really? You would do that?” Chelsea sighed, relieved. She was so far out of her element that she hardly even trusted her own judgment as to what to wear. In her world, there was never a need to get that dressed up. Back home, even at weddings you just wore your Sunday best. A cocktail dress? Why, she’d never even had a cocktail.
They agreed to meet that evening after Irene got off work. Irene suggested Rodeo Drive, which caused a knot to form in Chelsea’s stomach. Whatever she found there would cost much more than she was comfortable charging on her card. Regretting having agreed to meet Irene, Chelsea wished she had never called her. Too late to get out of it, she decided she would look around with Irene, then when they were done, she would go elsewhere to find a dress, something discounted.
After hanging up from Chelsea, Irene went into John’s office and held out her hand, saying, “Give me your credit card.” Without asking why, he did so. On her way out of his office, she said over her shoulder, “I am taking your little girl shopping for big girl clothes.” Hearing him chuckle behind her, she never looked to see his face, but she was sure he was amused.