“I know.” Chloe randomly twirls in a circle and then stares straight at Ryan. “I got some paint on my hands, though.” She drops her voice, like she’s confiding a secret. “But that’s okay. Nana said artists get messy and I am an artist,” she proclaims proudly, puffing out her chest as her big blue eyes sparkle.
“Yes, you are,” Ryan agrees. “I’ll keep this with me right here.” He folds the sheet and places it inside his leather jacket. “Because it’s just so special, okay?”
“Uh, okay.” Chloe looks up at the sky, already much less interested in this conversation than she was a minute ago. Something else has already caught her attention.
“All right, I’m heading out. It was great meeting you, Marie.” Ryan smiles at my mother and she stands up a bit taller. Wait, is she wearing makeup? Mom never wears makeup.
“The pleasure was all mine.” She titters like some kind of shy school girl, not like my silver-haired mother. Red flushes her cheeks and I glare over at my friend with suspicion.
Ryan shrugs and revs up his motorcycle as I push ideas of my mother having some kind of inappropriate crush on my old SEAL buddy out of my mind. I won’t even let myself think of anything more inappropriate than that going on here. I’d have to bleach my brain.
Mom gives a little wave and then walks over to where Chloe has begun picking the last of the wildflowers and dandelions from the side of the driveway.
“I’m gonna pick you some flowers, Nana! Aren’t they soooo pretty?”
“They are,” Mom agrees, smiling at her with the pure joy that comes with being a grandparent.
“Hey, man, thanks for this. I had a great time,” Ryan talks loudly over the roar of his Harley engine. “About the girl, the only thing I can think of is that when you lose something, they always say to retrace your steps. Maybe she lives around the fairgrounds and she’ll be searching around there too? I dunno. It’s worth a shot maybe.” He shrugs and flips the visor on his helmet down before backing out of the driveway.
“Buh-bye!” Chloe yells and waves both of her hands wildly over her head, hopping around the front yard at the same time.
As I watch Ryan drive away his words echo in my mind. Retrace your steps. That is the advice they always give when you lose something. And... Ella lost her ring! I jam my hand into my pocket and pull out the band. I wonder if she’ll retrace her steps to try to find it. The idea floats up inside me like a red helium balloon into a sunny autumn sky. The sheer joy it brings me is enough to let me know what my plans are for tonight.
Retrace my steps. That’s exactly what I’ll do.
16
Ella
“Pfft, you’re joking, right?” The man with the ruddy complexion laughs from behind the Lost and Found counter. “Are you seriously telling me that you thought someone would find your diamond ring and turn it in?” His laughter turns into coughing and he doubles over, his large belly hanging as he has a hacking fit.
Tears blur my vision and my chin quivers. “Can you check? Please?” I beg him to at least look for me, since all he’s done is laugh at my request so far. “It was my mother’s ring and it’s really important to me.” My voice cracks and a fat tear slowly slides down over my cheek. I brusquely flick it away, but I know he already saw it.
Pity washes over his face as he sizes me up from head to toe. The man sighs, like what he’s about to do is going to be the biggest waste of time ever. “Wait here. I’ll take a look.” He clamps his jaw down, pronouncing his jowls even more.
“Thank you.” I nervously tug at the empty spot on my finger where my ring should be. After last night, I didn’t think I’d ever bother coming out in the evening again. The whole situation was just too close of a call. I found it hard to get my heart to stop racing enough that I could even get to sleep.
However, I woke up this morning with an exhilaration inside of me that I’ve never known. Like the happiness I’ve been reading about for years in my romance novels had suddenly been unlocked inside of me. My morning was full of dreamy smiles as I remembered the fun I had with Jackson last night. But that all came to a screeching halt when I realized my ring was missing.
I searched my room, tossing the few belongings I have, even recklessly pulling out the clothes I still hadn’t had a chance to put back in Sylvia’s closet. I shook them mercilessly, hoping the ring would drop out of them somehow.
It didn’t.
So, after I did the supper dishes, I approached Sylvia in complete desperation and asked her something I’ve never requested in the entire six years I’ve been living under her roof: if I could go out.
She tilted her head at me suspiciously. “Where are you trying to go?” Her eyes bored into me, trying to pry out my secrets, but I kept them under lock and key.
“I just wanted to go for a little walk,” I lied. “I’ve been finding myself getting a little sleepy in the day and heard that exercise can help with that.” I was lying through my teeth and hoping she couldn’t tell.
Sylvia squinted at me, finally answering, “Fine. I don’t mind if you go for a walk. But let me make it clear. If you’re not home by the time I lock the doors, you better find somewhere else to go because you won’t want to deal with me,” she threatened and I gulped hard.
“I understand.”
I walked out of the front door, feeling how a criminal must feel when they’re finally released after a life sentence.
The entire way here, I watched the ground like a hawk, hoping that somehow I could spot my ring along the way. Maybe it bounced out of my bag when I was running home last night? Maybe I dropped it somehow at the fair? I scoured the streets with no luck, making my way back along the path I had ran down in terror only last night.
“Naw, lady, there’s no rings at all back there. Especially not some fancy diamond ring. Like I told ya, the chance of someone turning that in is slim to none.” He saunters back over to the counter and holds out his hands like he’s trying to show me he doesn’t have it.
“Thank you for looking,” I sniff and turn away, quickly stepping out of the musty building and back out into the crisp air. I can’t give up this easy! I just need to think of where Jackson and I went last night and check to see if I dropped it somewhere. I try to think of the last place I remember it being on my finger. I scan the fairgrounds, my eyes sliding over all the bright lights, searching for something to jog my memory.
The Ferris wheel.
My eyes lock onto the ride that’s sitting in complete darkness and silence, still out of order. My heart pumps harder as I rush over to the barricade locked around the huge wheel. My head moves back and forth like when I get to the exciting part of a book and I can’t take in the words quick enough, searching for my lost jewelry.
Nothing. Well, not nothing. There is plenty of garbage, pieces of junk food and tiny stuffed toys like the one Jackson won for me yesterday strewn around. However, one thing is most definitely not there: my ring.
Defeated, I slink over to the empty park bench along the side of the ride and flop my head down into my hands. Tears splash against my palms as I sob. It’s like I lost her all over again, like the one part of my mother that kept her here on earth with me has been stolen. Just like the rest of my family, just like the rest of my life, has all been taken away. I can’t stop the sadness from spilling out. All these years it’s been building up inside and that ring was the only thing keeping it locked. Without that ring, I feel so lost. So naked. So vulnerable.
“Hey, don’t cry. Are you searching for this?” A familiar voice wraps around me like a warm hug.
I sit up, jerking my head from my hands, and stare through my tears, trying to blink them away and focus my eyes on the thing being held out in front of me.
It’s Jackson, and he’s holding my ring!
“Oh my God.” I leap from the bench and run into his arms. “How did you find it? You’re my hero,” I gush, clinging onto him tight.
“I told you I’d get you the best prize at the fair, didn’t I
?” His gray eyes gleam as he wraps his arms around me. “I don’t know if I mentioned this, but I was a Navy SEAL,” he mocks himself and I laugh.
“How can I ever repay you? Name it.” I step back and hold out my hand as Jackson drops the ring in my palm. I don’t even think about my words as I slide it down over my finger and admire the way the colored lights shimmer off the edges.
“Repay me, huh?” He tilts his head and runs his hand over his beard. “Anything I want?”
I know he’s teasing me, but I can’t stop the fiery heat billowing out over my cheeks.
“I, um, I didn’t mean it like that,” I begin to explain.
Jackson laughs. “Hey, I don’t know what dirty things you were thinking, but I was going to suggest you let me take you out for a coffee.” He tilts my chin up until my eyes lock onto his. “I know the perfect place and it’s not far from here. What do you say?”
My heart is thudding fast against my ribcage. The last twenty-four hours have been an absolute whirlwind of emotions. I don’t know if I can take much more. But this is living, isn’t it? This is what life is supposed to be like.
Not just an endless list of menial chores and solitude, but this rush of happiness. This buzzing sensation that overtakes me when I look into his eyes. The heat that rushes down my body and pools in my belly. This is what life is all about.
I bite my lip, knowing I might be opening Pandora’s Box, but right now I just don’t care. I still have hours until Sylvia is going to lock the house up.
“Yes,” I answer simply. “I’ll go out for a coffee with you.”
17
Ella
Jackson and I walk arm in arm down the quiet street. I love looking into all the restaurants and shops at night. Seeing tiny slices of the lives the people inside are leading as the light illuminates them like actors on a stage. It’s almost like watching fragments of movies as we walk by outside in the dark, cool night. This one is about a couple meeting in a bookstore. That one is about the cracks in a tense marriage showing over dinner. Over there is a show about an elderly couple out on a hot date at a pub. I make up the little stories in my head, smiling as I walk beside Jackson on the sidewalk, eager to see where this story goes.
“I’m so glad I found you. I couldn’t get a hold of you on Tinder and I couldn’t find you on Facebook. If you weren’t at the fair tonight, I had no idea how to get that ring back to you.” Jackson looks over at me. “Did you, um, delete your profile?” He watches my face as I think of a way to avoid the pointed question.
“Yes,” I answer simply, “it’s complicated.” I sigh.
For a few steps he says nothing. I can almost hear his thoughts churning in his mind. He probably thinks I’m weird or hiding something. I am hiding something.
“You’re not… are you married?” He seems to almost choke on the words.
“What? No! Why would you think that?” I’d laugh if I didn’t find the question so insulting. I know I don’t have a real history with love or dating, but if I did ever find the one, if I ever did commit to a man and promise to spend the rest of my life with him, there’s no way I would ever consider sneaking around on him.
“Well, it’s just that the ring looks like a wedding band”—he nods at my hand—“and you deleted your profile right after our date. I mean, it just made me think you might be… never mind.” He sounds exasperated.
I can’t blame him. He knows something is going on and I’m not exactly going out of my way to clear up the details for him.
“No, it’s nothing like that,” I reassure him. “It’s just that my employer doesn’t approve of the whole Facebook thing, so I deactivated it. That’s all.” I shrug and hope my vague answer is enough for him. I’d hate to ruin this short time I have with him. I’d hate to have tonight end on another bad note. I’m not really lying to him, but it’s not like I can just come out and confess my illegal status. That would be foolish and dangerous.
Jackson mulls over my words and then stops to a complete standstill. Oh no, he’s not happy with my lame excuse. I guess this is the end of the night after all.
“What’s wrong?” My voice squeaks as I wait for him to accuse me of lying, or even worse, being some kind of cheating wife.
“Wrong? Nothing, this is the coffee shop.” He jerks his thumb at the door of Julianna’s place. I was so lost in my worries I didn’t even notice.
“Oh, I come here all the time.” I light up and swing the door open, practically dancing inside. Behind the counter, wiping off the machinery, is Julianna. Her eyes grow wide when she sees me and she does a double take before checking the clock on the wall. She’s never seen me in here at night before. She’s never seen me in here at any other time than when I go for Sylvia’s daily ‘bitch special.’
“Ella! You’re out late.” She flips the cloth up over her shoulder and looks over at Jackson. “Oh, are you on a date?” Her eyes twinkle and my cheeks flush.
I flick my gaze at Jackson, not really sure what to call this. “Um, yeah, I think so,” I answer shyly.
She laughs and shakes her head. “Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m shutting down for the night. We close early on Sunday,” she explains. “But if you want, I can turn the espresso machine back on and make you guys a couple of drinks for the road.”
“No, that’s all right.” Jackson holds up his hand. Turning on his heel, he looks down at me. “I should probably get going soon anyway. My mom is babysitting Chloe and I don’t want to stay out too late.”
“Oh, of course.” I try to hide my disappointment, but I’m doing a terrible job. “I understand.”
“Why don’t you come to my place for a coffee? I’ve got everything there that these guys have. Tea, coffee, great conversation, a sexy ex-SEAL.” His eyes sparkle as he teases me.
“I don’t know.” I look over at Julianna, but she’s waving her hands frantically, mouthing the word “Go” over and over.
“Sounds like a magical night to me,” she helpfully interrupts and I shoot her a look.
“I mean, it is still early.” I play with my ring as I weigh out my options.
“It is,” Jackson agrees. “And there’s the conversation with the sexy ex-SEAL. Did I mention that?” He grins and I can’t help but laugh.
“Okay, I’d love to,” I agree, throwing caution to the wind for once. I still have four hours before I need to be back to the house, so why not?
18
Jackson
I pull up at my place and lead Ella to my door. She seems a little timid about coming inside. I wonder if this is all too much to ask of a lady I just met. I mean, she’s about to meet my mother. She’s at my house. Maybe I didn’t really think this all through very well. The idea wasn’t to overwhelm her, just to give us a cozy place to get to know each other that wouldn’t be shutting down early tonight.
I don’t have much time to worry about it because as soon as I open the door I’m met by my mother’s voice calling out to me.
“Jackson? Oh, thank God you’re home. I’ve had the worst time trying to get Chloe to sleep tonight. I’m just not sure what’s going on with her.” I can hear Mom making her way out from the living room and down the hall. “She woke up in absolute terror. Let me tell you, it would break your heart, and she told me she had a dream about a spider named—oh my goodness! I didn’t realize you were bringing home company. I’m sorry.”
Mom comes to a dead halt and closely examines Ella. The worry that was just tattooed across her face disappears and a knowing smile replaces it.
“Yeah, we’ve dealt with the spider dream before,” I admit. “I think its name is Hampy or something. Mom, this is Ella.” I hold out my palm toward her like I’m offering up a fine bottle of wine. “Ella”—I look down into her huge doe eyes and give her hand a squeeze, hoping she’ll relax—“this is my mother.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you.” Ella nods her head and Mom smiles up at me like the Cheshire cat.
“Oh no, dear, I
’m just so happy to see Jackson out on a date. My word, how long has it been now? Well, at least a couple years, right?”
“Mom.” I grind my teeth together and give her a look that’s begging her to stop.
“Oh, right, okay. I trust you understand how to deal with this whole Hampy thing better than I do if she wakes up again. I’ll, um, yep, I’ll just be on my way and get out of your hair. I don’t want to interrupt your night any more than I have. Just pretend I wasn’t even here!” Mom rambles as she struggles to stuff her feet into her shoes.
“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I encourage her to make this short and sweet.
“It was nice to meet you, Ella. You’re such a sweet thing, isn’t she, Jackson? So pretty.”
“Mom!” I cut her off gruffly and she clamps her jaw shut.
“Thank you,” Ella answers graciously, watching my mother with amusement.
“Good night, Jackson. Good night, Ella.” Mom finally gets her wits about her and picks up her purse, tucking it high into her armpit. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She gives me a quick squeeze. “Oh, I’ll give you one too.” She grabs Ella before she has a chance to react and gives her a hug.
At this point, I don’t even know what to say. I just wait for my mother to head out the door, watching to make sure she gets into her car safe before shutting the door and shaking my head. “Sorry about that.” I cast a sheepish glance at Ella.
“Don’t be”—she waves it off—“your mother is adorable.”
“That’s one word for it.” I smirk.
“Daddy?” Chloe’s wavery voice cuts into our conversation.
I kick off my shoes and quickly head up the stairs.
“Coming, honey.” I make my way to her room and realize that Ella is right behind me. I reach Chloe’s door and she’s sitting up straight in bed, completely frazzled. “Hey, what are you doing up so late?” I ask gently as I walk into her room.
Tinder Ella: A Modern Day Single Dad Fairy-Tale Page 7