Worth the Wait

by Traci Douglass

  Forget that in another life, another time, if circumstances had been different, Mandy would be just his type.

  Wait. What?

  Man, those fumes drifting from Mark’s stain must be stronger than he’d thought. He swiped a hand across his damp forehead then started on the balustrades. Mandy passed him again on her way out to the porch and he caught a hint of her perfume, fresh and floral, the scent reminding him of spring meadows. His gut tightened in frustration. This was not how he wanted to spend his days here at the house, constantly on guard against her sunshine assaults. He liked his darkness these days. Bad enough they’d see each other around the house all the time, living together, working together to get this place into shape, sleeping one floor apart…

  Booming drums and electric guitar screamed through the air, jarring him out of his thoughts. “What the—”

  “Got me,” Mark yelled, leaning out of the living room. “Jack, what is that crap?”

  “My band’s new demo track.” Jack called down through the second-floor railing. “We’re calling ourselves the Secret Keepers. What do you guys think?”

  “I think keeping that noise a secret is a great idea,” Alex grumbled. “It should come with a warning label.”

  “Whatever.” Jack lowered the volume and gave them a disgusted look through the second-floor railing. “My drum solo is crazy.”

  “I’ll agree with the crazy part.” Mark chuckled and returned to his worktable.

  “You guys just don’t appreciate quality when you hear it,” Jack shook his head and went back to work, humming along with the tune.

  Alex moved on to the next section of crooked banister, reaching for his level, only to find it wasn’t there. He must’ve left it upstairs when he was working earlier. He straightened and started up to the second floor, bypassing Jack jamming to his tunes and heading toward the large bedroom Mandy had chosen for herself. The door was partially closed, and he stopped dead in his tracks at the off-key screeching curdling the air. He’d thought Jack’s music was bad, but this took it to a whole new level of awful. It sounded like a cross between a scream and a dying cat.

  Adrenaline flooded his system. Oh God. What if the spiders were back?

  Sweat prickled his forehead as he grabbed his level from the floor. Not the best weapon ever against insect attack, but it was all he had. He’d squash first and ask questions later.

  He shoved the door open with his shoulder and charged inside, only to stop short at the sight of her in the corner, using her hairbrush as a microphone while she serenaded a fish tank atop a pile of boxes. Too stunned to move, Alex stood there as Mandy swiveled to face him, eyes closed and butt twerking as she belted out an ear-bleeding rendition of Van Halen’s “Jump.”

  Right. Back away slowly. She’ll never know you were here, just…

  Her eyes opened, and his hopes fell.

  Mandy screamed and Alex panicked, throwing his hands up and dropping his level.

  “Sorry!” he yelled. “I’m sorry.”

  “What are you doing in here?” Mandy tugged out her earbuds, the volume still loud enough for him to hear Eddie’s scorching guitar solo. She clicked off her iPod then smoothed a hand over her messy topknot, breathing hard. “You scared me.”

  “Sorry. I came to get my level.” He pointed at the tool near her feet. “What are you doing?”

  “Cleaning. Unpacking. Getting Duckie’s area set up.”

  “Duckie?”

  “My goldfish.” She pointed at the fish tank.

  “Oh.” Alex picked up his level then stepped closer to peer through the glass at the small goldfish. “He’s cute. Looks kind of lonely, though, with nothing but gravel.”

  “I’ll get him some stuff.” Mandy frowned, arms crossed. “Just haven’t had time yet.”

  “Sure.” He swallowed hard, just then realizing how close they stood, close enough for him to hear the catch in her breath and see the rise of pink in her cheeks. Close enough that if he leaned in just a little, he could kiss her and… God. He needed to get out of here. Now. Alex cleared his throat. “I should, uh, get to work.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  Except neither of them moved. Time seemed to slow. The air sizzled with possibilities.

  And if that’s not your clue to bail, I don’t know what is…

  His ribs ached and his temples pounded. This crazy attraction to Mandy threatened everything he wanted—safety, security, solitude. He tugged at the neckline of his T-shirt, wondering when the room had gotten so hot. “I’m, uh…” He inched back toward the door. “I’m gonna go.”

  “Okay.” She fiddled with the handle of the hairbrush, lowering her gaze. Her nails were painted red, the color matching the logo on the front of her Les Mis shirt. He hadn’t noticed that before. All he could picture were those pretty crimson nails scraping down his back.

  Oh, boy.

  This was stupid. Insane. Idiotic. This wasn’t him.

  She was strictly off-limits. Period. Amen. End of story.

  Then she stepped forward, putting them toe-to-toe again. “I have one more box to get.”

  Damn if her nearness didn’t cause his muscles to go lax and the pressure in his head to ease. She blinked at him, and he stared into her blue eyes. So, so blue. Mesmerizing blue. The thought of leaving and everything else went right out of his head. All he could think about now was her, how she looked, how she smelled, how those pink lips of hers might taste if…

  “Hey, Lex?” Mark called from the stairs. “You still up here?”

  Pulse racing, Alex stepped back and blinked, the spell broken.

  Mark walked in, smears of stain covering the apron he’d put on over his clothes. His gaze darted from Alex to Mandy then back again. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  Words croaked past Alex’s tight vocal cords, his eyes still locked with Mandy’s. “Mark, this is Mandy. Mandy, this is my friend Mark Goodwin. We worked together at the IRS.”

  Mark pulled off a rubber glove to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  Mandy finally tore her gaze away, her expression as poleaxed as Alex felt. “Same.”

  “Sorry to hear about your mother,” Mark said.

  “Thanks.” Mandy set her hairbrush aside and smiled, small and sad. “It’s been a lot.”

  “I’m sure.” Mark rocked back on his heels. “Alex tells me you’re an actress. Not many opportunities around Heavenly Falls, though.”

  “Tell me about it.” Mandy laughed. The fact his best friend had made her laugh when he hadn’t made Alex’s gut tug. He wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t like it. “That’s why I’ll be selling my half of this place as soon as possible and moving to Hollywood.”

  The reminder of her plans caused Alex’s heart to stumble, which was silly. They’d been over this. She’d be gone and he’d have the house to himself. It’s what they both wanted.

  Wasn’t it?

  Of course it was.

  “Cool. Well, I used to be in an improv group here in town. If you’re interested in joining while you’re here, maybe we can grab a drink sometime and chat.”

  Okay. Yeah. Time to get out of here and get back to work.

  “Let’s go back downstairs and let Mandy get settled.” Alex herded his friend toward the door, ignoring Mark’s scowl. At the threshold, he glanced back at Mandy. “And don’t worry about the last box. I’ll bring it up to you later.”

  “Okay.” Mandy gave him a curious look. “Thanks.”

  Out in the hall, Alex breathed out through his nose and forced his tight shoulders to relax.

  “Explain to me what that was all about,” Mark said, his tone angry.

  Alex wished he could. Except he didn’t understand it himself. “She’s busy.”

  “Uh-huh.” Mark gave him a peeved stare. “If she’s taken, just say so.”
r />   “What?” Alex frowned. “No. It’s not like that.”

  “Sure. Whatever.” Mark headed back downstairs. “I need to get back to this wainscoting before the stain dries.”

  “What were you going to ask me?” Alex called, but it was too late. Mark was already gone. He slumped against the wall, his mind jumbled. What was wrong with him? If Mark wanted to ask Mandy out, let him. Mandy didn’t mean anything to him, not like that. He wasn’t jealous, because that would be crazy. He had no right to be jealous. Mandy didn’t belong to him any more than he belonged to her. They were roommates, nothing more. And maybe, if he told himself that enough times, he’d make it true.

  He let his head rest back against the wall and gazed around at the second floor while his heart rate steadied. There was a time, before the shooting, when he’d imagined moving into a huge house like this with a wife, filling the place with laughter and love and children.

  Now, it just seemed like another reminder of chances lost.

  Shoulders slumped, he went back downstairs. Two more hours passed before he’d replaced the last balustrade and fitted the landing tread into place.

  Time to make other repairs. He limped down the hall to where Mark was working. “Sorry about earlier.”

  “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” Mark sighed, then looked back at him. “How about dinner? My treat?”

  “Sounds good.” Alex checked his watch. It was nearly six. “My treat, though.”

  “Okay.” Mark called upstairs. “Jack? We’re ordering dinner. What do you guys want?”

  “Let me check with Mandy,” he yelled back, then seconds later. “How about pizza?”

  “Pizza it is,” Alex yelled back.

  They went into the kitchen and Mark sank into one of the chairs. “She seems nice.”

  “Yeah, she’s okay.” He pulled a menu up on his phone. “The regular?”

  “Fine with me.” Mark grabbed a bottle of ale from the carton on the table.

  Jack came in as Alex dialed, heading to the sink to wash his hands. “Mandy said anything but black olives or anchovies. And tell them not to forget the dipping sauce this time.”

  Forty minutes later they dug into their feast around the kitchen table.

  “So, you guys all worked together?” Mandy asked, wiping her mouth on a napkin.

  “Yep.” Mark swallowed a mouthful of food. “I recruited them both out of college.”

  “Wow,” she said. “Math is so not my strong suit. Most embarrassing situation I ever had in school was when the teacher called me up in front of the class to solve a word problem.”

  “Ugh. Reminds me of gym class,” Jack said. “Rope climbing was hell on earth.”

  “You were good at football, though. Got a scholarship.” Alex sat back and pushed his empty plate away. “Jack came in handy with some of our more difficult cases.” He hesitated, his face heating. “I mean, their cases. Not mine anymore.”

  “You could always come back.” Mark watched him over the rim of his bottle. “Plenty of audits to go around.”

  “And get stuck behind a desk? No thanks.” Alex pushed to his feet and tossed his trash away, restless now. “The only reason I went to the IRS was to be an investigator, which meant I’d be out in the field. Otherwise, I would’ve ended up back with my dad.”

  And if he’d worked for his dad, they wouldn’t be sitting here now. The darkness outside the window over the sink matched the shadows gathering inside him. What-ifs didn’t do anyone any good. This was his present now. He needed to deal with it and move on.

  “Besides, I’ve got the house to keep me busy,” he said, flashing a smile he didn’t feel. “My disability checks pay the bills and I’ve got some savings. It’s all good.”

  Is it though?

  The scrape of Mark’s chair across the tile floor sliced through the silence. “It’s late and I’ve got to commute to the city tomorrow.”

  “Me too. Ugh. Don’t remind me.” Jack stood as well. “You’re lucky, Lex. Construction is way more fun, and you’re getting a second chance to do what you love.”

  Lucky wasn’t the word Alex would’ve used to describe himself right then.

  They walked down the hall, and Mark grabbed his jacket. “Seriously. You should come out to dinner with us and the gang from work one night. Bring Mandy along. They’ve got karaoke.”

  “I’ve got too much to do here,” Alex said. “Besides, singing in front of a bunch of strangers really isn’t my thing. Thanks for the invite, though.” He held the door for his friends while they trudged outside.

  “I’d have to check my schedule,” Mandy said, moving in beside Alex in the doorframe. “I’ve got lots going on. But thanks for the invite.”

  On the street out front, cars rushed past, going who-knew-where. That had been Alex once, too, caught in the hustle and bustle. Not anymore.

  “Let us know if you change your mind,” Mark called from the curb before getting in the passenger side of Jack’s truck. “Everyone would love to see you, Lex.”

  Alex waved.

  “I’m going up to check on Duckie then head back to my sister’s apartment,” she said, sidling past him out into the hall. “My Uber should be here soon. Don’t forget I won’t be here until later in the afternoon tomorrow. Have an early shift at the diner in the morning, then I’m filling out an application for a new job after that. What time are the exterminators coming?”

  “Nine,” he said. “Why?”

  “I’ll make sure the movers deliver my stuff after that.”

  Right. He stowed he remaining pizza in the fridge. Tomorrow night was it then. They’d be actual roomies. A tingle fluttered inside him. Not anticipation exactly, but not dread, either. A horn honked a few minutes later and Alex called up to let Mandy know her car had arrived.

  She rushed down the stairs, tugging on her jacket. “I fed Duckie and changed his water. He should be fine until I get back tomorrow. Have a good night.”

  “Good luck with your application,” he called as she ran down the front stoop. He waited until her car had safely pulled away before locking the door and shutting off the lights, unable to shake the buzzing hollowness that everything was changing, whether he wanted it to or not.

  Chapter Five

  Mandy stood outside the nondescript gray exterior of the Playground the following afternoon, staring up at the homemade sign, complete with small, colorful handprints. Gina hadn’t been wrong, Mandy loved kids, but now that she was here, peering inside the front windows at the group of about fifteen children, all huddled around a man with buzz-cut gray hair and a pink flowered shirt, she couldn’t seem to stop fidgeting with the black pantsuit she’d changed into after her shift at the diner. Maybe it was too formal. Maybe she should go home and change and come back later. Maybe the extra money she needed would drop from hooves of a glittering unicorn.

  Dang it. She needed this job and she wasn’t about to let her nerves keep her from getting it. She took a deep breath and entered the place, stepping into the large open room. The first thing she noticed was the thick purple mat on the floor. The second was the battered upright piano against the far wall and the plastic milk crates stacked high and frothing over with toys. The air smelled like childhood—Play-Doh and crayons and baby wipes.

  “Can I help you?” a woman asked from behind a desk to Mandy’s right. She reminded Mandy of Octavia Spencer, and the tension inside her eased a bit. Octavia was one of her favorite actresses, and she hoped to work with her one day.

  “Uh, hi. Yes.” She smiled and smoothed a hand down the front of her white shirt. “I’m here to apply for the reader position.”

  “Okay.” The woman handed her a clipboard with an attached pen. “Fill this out and bring it to me when you’re finished.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” Mandy glanced down at the nameplate on the desk. “Brenda.”
/>   “You’re welcome.”

  Brenda went back to work, and Mandy took a seat in one of the plastic chairs lining the front windows, keeping an eye on the group while filling out her application.

  The guy leading the group was reading from one of her favorite books as a kid, Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, and he just reached her favorite line.

  “Let the wild rumpus start!” the man yelled, and pandemonium ensued. Children scattered, yelling and giggling and running. Mandy couldn’t help chuckling along, her feet itching to join in the ruckus. Finally, the group returned to their circle and Mandy finished her application. She took it all back to Brenda’s desk, along with a sheet of references.

  “All right,” Brenda said, giving the application a quick once-over. “Dr. Scofield should be right with you.”

  “Thanks.” She returned to her seat to wait, nerves nipping at her heels once more. Based on the group leader’s jeans and pink Hawaiian shirt, she’d definitely overdressed, but it was too late to change now.

  Soon the group disbanded and parents arrived to pick up their kids. The man who’d been doing the reading came over and picked up the clipboard from Brenda’s desk.

  “Miss Reynolds?” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Dr. Leo Scofield.”

  “Nice to meet you.” She started to get up, but he waved her back into her chair then took the seat beside her to read through her paperwork. The longer he stayed silent, the more her mouth dried and the heavier the quiet became. She should say something, anything, so he didn’t think she was a total dud. Mandy swallowed hard then said, “Impressive how you kept all the kids engaged.”

  “Thanks. It’s a skill you develop. And why a theater background helps—or at least a flair for the dramatic.” He looked up from her application, frowning. “Why are you interested in the reader gig?”

  “I majored in theater.” She waved toward her application with a shaky hand then clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m a professional actress. I love children and want to help people.”