Small-Town Dad

by Jean C. Gordon

  “I see.”

  Why did everyone keep saying that? If what they were seeing was him and Anne as a couple, they needed their vision checked. If he were looking for a relationship, which he wasn’t certain he was, what he wanted was a child-free relationship.

  “Got them.” Anne held up the black leather driving gloves as she stepped from the classroom into the hall. “Jennifer, hi!”

  “I saw Ian and Neal.” Jennifer’s eyes sparkled again. “And I thought I’d catch you and thank you again for all of the time you spent helping out at day care this week. It was a lifesaver with my assistant being out sick most of the days.”

  “Don’t thank me,” Anne said. “Ian and I got as much out of our time as you did. I think he’ll adjust much better to coming this week without me.”

  “See you tomorrow morning, then. And you, too, Ian. You all have a nice afternoon.” Jennifer looked directly at Neal.

  Neal strained to return her seemingly innocuous smile. Jennifer obviously thought they were spending the day together. Which they weren’t. Unless his mother decided to invite them to dinner. Which he fervently hoped she wouldn’t.

  “Neal?” Anne broke into his thoughts. “Your mom will be waiting.”

  He blinked her into focus, and the questioning tilt of her tentative smile made his heart do a double somersault.

  Yes, he hoped his mom didn’t invite Anne to stay. He needed some time alone to rebuild his wall of reasons why they couldn’t be together. Because right now he couldn’t remember any of them.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Anne steeled herself not to shiver in the chilly fifty-eight-degree temperature of the birthing center construction trailer while she and Ray Newcomb, the representative from GoSolar, waited for Neal.

  What had prompted her to wear a dress rather than one of her wool suits? Habit. Michael had always encouraged her to balance what he called her male business mind with femininity. Under the desk, she smoothed the soft, silky skirt of the wrap dress. She had warmer outfits that were probably just as feminine as the dress. But they hadn’t garnered her as many compliments. To be honest, she wanted to look nice for Neal. She’d thought she’d seen a glimmer of disappointment in his eyes last Sunday when she’d declined his mother’s invitation to dinner. She wanted to explore that glimmer.

  Ray finished reviewing the meeting agenda and laid his plans out on the desk. “These trailers sure don’t warm up fast, do they?”

  He must have seen her shiver. Anne glanced over at the portable electric radiator that was glowing away in a valiant effort to warm the room. The GoSolar representative had worn a flannel shirt over what was probably a long-sleeved T-shirt. She silently chided herself for putting personal—and ungrounded—wants ahead of business practicality.

  “Except in the summer,” she said.

  “You’ve got that right.”

  A silence settled over the office. Ray looked toward the door, checked his watch and looked back at the door, seemingly uncomfortable that she’d taken Gary’s place in the meeting. That, or he was in a hurry to get the meeting over with, which would be out of character for a salesperson.

  Ray checked his watch again.

  Neal wasn’t late. She mentally jumped to his defense. They were early.

  The trailer door opened letting in Neal and a shot of frigid air. He quickly closed the door behind him.

  “Anne.” He looked from her to the clock and back.

  “Gary got tied up with another project in New Hampshire, so I’m sitting in.” If Neal was surprised that she was here instead of the project manager as he’d expected, he’d done a good job of hiding it. And of hiding any pleasure at seeing her here. “This is Ray Newcomb from GoSolar.”

  “Neal Hazard.”

  Ray stood and the men shook hands.

  Anne bit her lip. She was behaving like the high-school girl with a crush she’d once been. Why had she told Gary he didn’t need to let Neal know about the meeting change? Because she’d thought it would be fun to surprise him. How unprofessional could she get? This was a business meeting, not a social engagement.

  Neal took the chair next to Ray.

  “I really like your ideas,” Ray said. “They weren’t at all what I’d expected from a college freshman. Then Gary forwarded your resume and I saw your experience.”

  “Thanks,” Neal said. “I’m very interested in the potential of solar power.”

  “It shows.”

  Anne silently told herself that the pride she felt in Neal was nothing more than an instructor’s pleasure in a student doing well.

  Ray looked across the desk at her almost as an afterthought. “You’ve reviewed the plans?”

  Anne bristled. Of course she’d looked at the plans, and not just because Neal had worked on them as part of his class. Ray must not realize who she was.

  “Yes, I like to keep a hand in all of our projects.”

  Ray gave her a curt, dismissive nod and turned his attention back to Neal.

  “Dr. Howard reviewed everything before I submitted the plans to Gary.”

  Rather than soothing her, Neal’s defense left her more ruffled. While she knew she should be appreciative, she resented Neal’s thinking he needed to defend her almost as much as she did Ray’s dismissal of her authority.

  Anne reached over and pointed at the schematics. “I had Gary make a slight change here to your plans.”

  Neal leaned closer to study the diagram, his eyes bright with interest. Anne warmed at his respect for her knowledge far more than she had at his defense of it. Ray sat back in his seat, arms crossed.

  “Yes.” Neal nodded. “I’m not an engineer, but as an electrician, I can see how that change in the circuitry will improve the flow.”

  Anne explained her change to Ray. “It shouldn’t make any difference in your bid.”

  Ray uncrossed his arms. “I’m not an engineer, either, so I’ll defer to your expertise.”

  She reveled in the satisfaction Ray’s response gave her and immediately regretted her reaction. Lord, please forgive me my pride. The short prayer popped into her head naturally and made her feel more in control of herself and the situation. She smiled.

  “Go ahead. Tell us why we should use GoSolar.” Leaning back in her chair, she faced Ray and his presentation, all the while glancing sidewise at Neal, enjoying his intent interest and pointed questions, taking pleasure that she could give him this opportunity.

  They did make a good team, like back in high school. But they weren’t in high school and she shouldn’t read anymore into her pleasure than teamwork. If she didn’t watch herself, she’d be drawn into believing the gossip about her and Neal that, after Sunday, was sure to be spreading around town.

  Ray finished his presentation and looked to Neal, who turned to Anne.

  She hoped he’d caught her slight nod of thanks. Thanks she’d give him verbally once Ray left.

  Anne stood and offered her hand over the desk to Ray. “Thank you. As Gary told you, we’re taking bids from several solar companies. I have yours.” She patted a green folder on the desk. “I’ll pass on my and Neal’s notes to Gary. It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”

  Ray shook her hand. “Same here.” He rolled his copy of the plans and put them in the cardboard tube he’d brought them in.

  Anne stepped from the desk to walk him to the door.

  Ray stood but didn’t move. “Neal, have you got a minute? Like I said, I went over your resume and your references. GoSolar could use you. We’re always looking for reputable licensed electricians to do final hookups for us. We can grab a cup of coffee and talk about it.”

  Anne held her breath waiting for Neal’s answer. She’d planned on Neal staying so they could go over Ray’s presentation together.

  “Sounds good to
me. Did you need me to stay for anything?” he asked in what sounded like an afterthought to Anne.

  “No, we’re done.” She kept her voice carefully modulated so her disappointment wouldn’t show. “Gary’ll give you a call when he has the other solar company presentations scheduled.”

  “Great.”

  He grinned and her heart hitched at the pure joy in it. Except the joy was for the work opportunity, not for her.

  “We can get coffee at the Corner Café in Ticonderoga. You can follow me over.”

  “Sounds good.” Ray opened the trailer door. “When can I expect to hear something, Dr. Howard?”

  “I plan to make my decision by the end of the month.”

  “Thanks.”

  After a perfunctory wave, Neal followed Ray out the door.

  Anne shivered and picked up the folder with Ray’s quote and stuffed it in her briefcase. She’d look it over in the comfort of her office at the college. Alone. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like she and Neal had plans for after the meeting. He hadn’t even known she was going to be there.

  She snapped the case shut. What was wrong with her was that she couldn’t get the picture of Neal and Ian at church story time out of her head. And it didn’t help that every day when she dropped Ian off at the church day care, he asked, “See Neal?”

  She lifted her camel-hair coat off the coat tree and shrugged it on, taking a moment to luxuriate in the added warmth. This morning, for a split second after Ian had turned his big blue eyes on her and once again asked, “See Neal?” she’d entertained the thought of bringing Ian with her so he could see Neal. Then her business sense had snapped in. She’d braced herself for his disappointment and given him her usual, “Not today, sweetie. Neal’s very busy.”

  She flicked the room heater off. And from the conversation with Ray as they were leaving, Neal was about to get busier. Anne opened the door to a snow globe of fat flakes and a dusting of snow that made everything look fresh and new. Neal had seemed very interested in the prospect of working as an electrician for GoSolar. She hoped he wasn’t overextending himself and neglecting his classes. His academic advisor, Jeff Lawler, had said Neal had a spotty attendance record in a couple of required core classes.

  She opened her car door and tossed her case across the seat to the passenger side. After all of her qualms about her ability to mother Ian, here she was fretting over Neal like a mom. She turned the car on and put it in Drive. Halfway down the gravel drive to the highway, she hit the brakes.

  Money! Neal must need the work. That’s why he jumped at the offer Ray had made. It made sense. Neal must have lost business while he was serving in Afghanistan with his reserve unit, and construction in the area was still depressed from the economic recession. He needed to support himself and Autumn while they went to school. Why hadn’t she thought of that?

  She put the car in Park and grabbed her cell phone.

  “Adriene.” She addressed the Green Spaces chief financial officer. “I have another scholarship candidate. I know we’ve traditionally given the scholarships to students entering their junior year, but I have a unique student here at NCCC. He’s an older student.” She described Neal’s situation.

  “I’m sure he’ll be transferring to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute once he finishes here and will really need the scholarship assistance then. If you can email me the recommendation form, I’ll complete it and send it right back. Thanks. And Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.”

  Anne ended the call, smiling as she drove the rest of the way to the highway. She’d been so busy since returning from Sudbury, she hadn’t given any thought to Thanksgiving next week. She had so much to be thankful for this year. Ian, her position at the college, her new friends in Paradox. God had been good to her. Warmth that had nothing to do with the heat blasting from the dashboard filled her. And she could share her good fortune with Neal.

  * * *

  Neal stared at the words on his laptop screen. He had no motivation to finish this paper, except it was due the day after tomorrow. He’d done the research and what he’d written so far was probably fine. But he had no interest in it. What would he ever use general psychology for? He’d mastered all the psychology he needed raising Autumn. And it wasn’t likely he’d need that knowledge again. Except for helping Anne with Ian. He tapped his fingers on the desk. But Ian and Anne weren’t his responsibility.

  He forced himself to resume his writing, pounding on the keyboard in hopes that getting the paper out of the way would lift the heaviness he couldn’t seem to shake.

  Footsteps sounded in the hall outside his room, followed by a knock on the door.

  His dad pushed the door open. “Sorry to interrupt you, but I could use a hand. Your mother’s washing machine is leaking and I want to look at the connections.” Ted Hazard shook his head in disgust. “But she’s fussing about my back. Thinks I could throw it out again like I did last summer.”

  “No problem, Dad.” Neal was up and across the room in the time it took him to answer. “I’m basically done here.”

  He followed his father to the basement, where the washing machine stood in a puddle of water.

  “Let’s have a look.” His father plugged in a trouble light and hung it on one of the hooks of his mother’s indoor clothesline.

  Neal pulled the washer out from the cement wall.

  His father squatted and held the light up. “Just what I thought. The drain hose is split. Want to run up to the hardware store with me to get another one?”

  Neal rubbed his neck. He should finish his paper and tackle some of the other assignments he’d let pile up. “Sure. Your car or my truck?”

  “The car. I want to get gas for your mother while we’re in town. She’s driving Edna Donnelly up to Saranac for a cardiologist appointment tomorrow.”

  “Is Mrs. Donnelly okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s her regular checkup.”

  Neal followed his father up the stairs.

  “Mary,” his father shouted from the kitchen to the living room. “Neal and I are running over to the store to get a hose to fix the washer. Need anything from town?”

  “Not that I can think of. Thanks,” she called back.

  Outside, Neal opened the door to his parents’ sedan, lowered himself into the passenger seat and adjusted it back.

  “So,” his father asked, as he turned from Hazard Cove Road to Route 74, “how was your meeting with the construction manager and the solar guy?”

  Neal stretched his legs. “Gary couldn’t make it. Some problem on another job.”

  “Rescheduled, then?”

  “No, Anne filled in for Gary.”

  “Interesting.”

  Neal ignored the inflection in his father’s voice. “She keeps a hand in the business even with her teaching position.” Neal didn’t know that for a fact, except for the birthing center project in Ticonderoga. But it seemed like Anne.

  His dad slowed for the curve into the Village of Schroon Lake. “That’s a lot of responsibility. Heading up an international company, teaching at the college and, now, raising little Ian.”

  “Yeah,” Neal agreed. And Anne didn’t just teach at the college. She was in charge of the environmental studies program. “Makes me feel like I could be doing a better job of handling my business and my classes.”

  “School’s not going any better?” His dad turned into the combination lumberyard hardware store.

  “Not exactly.”

  “You coming in?” Ted opened the car door.

  “No, I’ll wait out here for you.”

  Neal folded his hands behind his head and leaned back on the headrest. Closing his eyes to the glare of the cloudless ice-blue sky, he weighed whether to bring up his doubts about college. After the offer Ray had made him this morning at the café, he was serious
ly considering ending his college career, such that it was, at the end of the semester. Except what kind of example would that set for Autumn?

  He took a deep breath and blew it out. And Anne would be disappointed in him. The truth was that bothered him more than any concerns about Autumn. He had no doubts Autumn would finish her nursing program and probably go on somewhere else after NCCC. She loved it. Like Anne seemed to love her work. He liked his work, too, but he couldn’t say the same for most of his college classes.

  “Hey, you napping on the job?” His dad opened the truck door and tossed the bag with the washer hose onto the backseat.

  “Resting my eyes.”

  “That’s my line.”

  Neal laughed. Whenever anyone caught his dad sleeping in his recliner in front of the TV, he always said he was resting his eyes.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” his dad asked abruptly when they hit the highway home.

  “What do you mean?” Neal said, automatically taking on the defensive bent that had marked his younger relationship with his dad. Old habits died hard.

  “It may be none of my business, but something’s eating at you.”

  “Ray Newcomb, the representative from GoSolar, made me an offer I’m hard-pressed to refuse.”

  Ted scratched his head. “Your school project?”

  “No, business. GoSolar would like me to be one of their electrical contractors, hooking up the solar installations.”

  His father nodded.

  “I’d get some travel out of it. They’ve done projects all up and down the East Coast.”

  “You want to take the offer.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Go for it. Autumn’s on her own now for the most part. We’d be here for her when you’re traveling. Emily and Drew, too. It’s not like when you were deployed two years ago and your Mom and I were in Florida with your grandmother. What’s stopping you?”

  “College. I’d probably have to can the spring semester. Don’t know about the fall one. Ray said he could keep me busy spring through late fall, depending on the weather. But what kind of example does that set for Autumn? My quitting after one semester? And even with you being here, I know how hard it was on Autumn when I was in Afghanistan.”