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Cathie looked hurt for a second but then nodded. “You really have changed.”
“Yes, I have.” And along the way she’d lost Rick.
Chapter Ten
Rick listened to Melissa’s message on his cell phone. “Hey. Mikey has a program at school on Thursday night at seven. He wants you to come. I just thought you might like to know.” The thinly vailed attempt at matchmaking didn’t escape his notice. Yet this might be his chance to see Carrie. At least she couldn’t make a scene about him being a jerk when children surrounded them.
The next evening, he took his seat next to Melissa on the third row from the front in the school auditorium. He had to admit he was nervous. Mike sat on the other side of her. He leaned up and grinned. “Nice to see you in the land of the living.”
“Funny.”
Mike chuckled as the curtain opened. For the next hour, children sang, danced and did skits. In one, Mikey rolled himself out to join a group of other kids dressed as vegetables.
When Rick caught a glimpse of Carrie in the stage wing, his heart raced. He could hardly believe he was under the same roof as her. How would she react when she saw him? Would she still be interested in talking to him? He could only hope.
Mikey waved wildly at Rick and his parents at the end of the skit. He then pointed in the direction of where Rick had seen Carrie. Had the boy told her he was coming?
At the end of the program a man who introduced himself as the headmaster came out on stage. He said, “I’d like to introduce the teacher who put all this together, Ms. Carrie Rodgers.”
Pride surged through him at the man’s announcement. Carrie was amazing. As she crossed the stage, he had to stop himself from going to her and taking her in his arms. Dressed in a simple, blue dress and with her hair pinned back on the sides, she was everything he’d ever wanted. He had missed her.
Rick saw the second she realized he was in the audience. Her eyes widened. There was a tremble to her hands as she accepted a bouquet of flowers. She left the stage with her back straight, not looking his way. Would she speak to him?
As the crowd rose to leave he asked, “May I go get Mikey?”
Mike and Melissa grinned at each other. Melissa said, “Sure.”
“Nothing like having your kid used as a wing man,” Mike said loud enough for Rick to hear as he walked away.
Ignoring his friend, he climbed the steps at the side of the stage. His chest tightened. He’d be seeing Carrie in a moment, if she hadn’t gone out the side door. Pushing back the curtain, he saw children and parents mingling around. There was no sign of Mikey or Carrie. Moving further into the backstage area, he located Mikey who was talking to another child. Carrie stood nearby having a conversation with a woman.
“Uncle Rick,” Mikey called. “Did you see me dressed as a cabbage?”
He glanced at Carrie who was now watching him. Continuing to Mikey, he went down on his heels and put his palm out. “Best looking cabbage I’ve ever seen.”
Mikey’s small palm hitting Rick’s made a pop.
“Ms. Carrie showed me what to do.”
Rick glanced at Carrie. She was standing by herself now. “She’s pretty special, isn’t she?”
Mikey nodded.
“Excuse me a sec, okay buddy?” Rick stood and walked toward Carrie.
As he approached she said, “I’m surprised to see you. I didn’t know kindergarten spring shows were your thing.”
There was that humor he loved so much. “Sometimes they’re the perfect place to find the best people. And I thought you might think twice before pointing at me and shouting to the world ‘He’s a jerk’ if there were a lot of children around. I’m sorry I turned out to be such a jerk after all.”
The tenseness in her body eased and she gave him a soft smile. “You weren’t a jerk. Just hurt and you had every right to be. I’m the one who’s sorry. My only defense is that I didn’t know how to come clean and have you still like me at the same time.”
She sounded so remorseful he wanted to pull her to him and comfort her. “Do you still like me?”
Carrie nodded. “Very much.”
His heart started to beat again. There was still a chance.
Rick took her hand. “Could we go somewhere and talk about it?”
Carrie smiled. One that reached her eyes. “Yes. Please.”
“Hey, when I said you could get Mikey, I didn’t know you were going to leave him sitting by himself all night,” Mike said in a dry voice that held a teasing note.
“Sorry about that.” Rick took Carrie’s hand as they joined Mike and Melissa beside Mikey. Rick wasn’t about to let her go again. It felt right to be touching her again.
“I think we need to get this young man home to bed,” Melissa said taking the handles of Mikey’s wheelchair. “Even with the long weekend ahead, you need rest.”
“Later guys,” Mike called.
Rick looked at Carrie. “Can I give you a ride home?”
“I’d like that. My car’s in the shop. I was going to call a taxi.”
In the car, Carrie couldn’t believe that Rick was really sitting next to her. She had hardly been able to take a breath since she’d seen him in the audience. She kept debating whether or not he was there to see Mikey or her? She’d acted cool while all she’d wanted to do was jump into his arms. When he had showed up backstage, she’d felt more confident. The second he met her gaze, she knew he had come for her. After he took her hand, she’d found home again.
“Do you mind if we go to my place?” Rick asked.
“Before I answer that, tell me why you came tonight?” She wasn’t going to settle for a fling.
He looked into her eyes. “To see you.”
“Why?” She was being bolder than ever.
“Because I discovered that if I couldn’t trust you then I couldn’t trust anyone. You’re special. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it. Or that I didn’t already know it after being around you.”
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Right answer. Let’s go home.” Her middle fluttered at the look of desire Rick gave her.
“Sounds good to me.” He squeezed her hand, he’d only let go of it long enough to get in the car.
Rick said, “I saw Cathie today at the office. She apologized and told me that I’d be crazy if I didn’t ever speak to the greatest person on earth again, her sister.”
“She said that? She turned up at my place on Sunday night. We had a long talk. I told her I was making some changes in my life. She was going to have to handle her issues by herself. I’ve decide that it’s time I let Cathie live her own life. It isn’t my job to protect her when she messes up. S
he needs to learn to clean up after herself. I’m sorry we both put you through what we did. It was wrong. I won’t ever do anything like that again.”
Rick glanced at her. “I think that’s probably a good idea. But I do owe Cathie a vote of thanks.”
“Why?”
Rick stopped for a traffic light and looked at her. “I wouldn’t have met you without her.”
For the first-time Carrie believed she and Rick had a real chance. She smiled. “Come to think of it, I owe her thanks as well.”
As they walked into his house she asked, “How did your meeting with Herbert go?”
“He was disappointed you weren’t there, but he got over it. He agreed to sell me the land. You were the first person I thought about telling. If I hadn’t been so stubborn you would’ve been around to celebrate with.”
They stood in the middle of the living room. “I’m here now.” She could hardly contain her joy. Being in his arms again was all she could think about. Making her voice as suggestive as possible she asked, “How would you like to celebrate?”
He kissed her hard, as if he were a man finding water after a long drought. She returned his passion with all the longing and desperation she’d felt over the last few days. Not letting her go, Rick led her upstairs to his room.
Sometime later, after she’d found her pleasure at least twice, she whispered, “I love you,” as he entered her.
Rick looked down at her and smiled. After his last powerful thrust he found his released and crooned, “I love you, Carrieee.”
The End
