“I don’t know…” he dragged out, his eyes dancing.
“I do,” she shot back through gritted teeth – and saw his whole demeanor change. His eyes closed, his jaw clenched, and he sat there as if someone had just personally offended him. “Helloooo?”
“Someday,” he began in a low, terse, emotional voice. “Someday you’re gonna say those words to me again in a whole different context. I’m a patient man, but I think I just discovered my limit.”
“Because I said ‘I do’… oh ho! Wait a second, buster – hold up – I am not saying that kind of ‘I do’ to anyone until I’m good and ready. I was talking about your supposed secret that you are holding out on me,” she sputtered in a rush, feeling her cheeks heat at the immediate thought of them holding hands before a pastor or a justice of the peace. Marriage felt like a pipe dream. It was something other people got to have – not her. When she pushed and pushed, finally finding someone to agree to marrying her… it was the wrong guy – in so many, many ways.
My Own Personal Nightmare, Part Deux… no thank you,she thought painfully as Jack’s fingers brushed hers, lacing their hands together. They sat there, hands clasped, and his eyes were on them like it was some sort of invisible tether between them… and she understood.
Her own eyes were marveling at the differences between them, something so innocent yet startling. She had always thought he was thin, kind of on the scrawny side, yet tall – except sitting here beside him, she was realizing that he wasn’t scrawny at all. He was muscled, wiry, his forearms had ropes of sinew with an occasional lifted vein that was probably some I.V. nurse's dream… and his hands?
His hands were warm, calloused, and strong – enveloping her own. She had never felt like a small woman around Joe. Her ex used to make cracks about her needing to ‘tone up’ or ‘wear things that fit her a little better’, but Jack never said any of that. No, Jack teased her, he baited her, he…he cared for her like she was important,she realized with that simple touch. She kept comparing him to Joe in her mind, but that was a horrible comparison – and so unfair to Jack. He deserved so much better… and she?
Heidi swallowed and looked up at him, meeting his eyes that were now focused solely on her.
Oh mercy,she thought brokenly, drawing in a breath.I deserve someone like him…
“I am so proud of you taking this on,” he said hoarsely, staring at her, his eyes searching and full of emotion. “Someday you’re going to believe in yourself and see that wonderful woman that I see before me…”
Heidi’s eyes instantly blurred at his tender words and the chords they struck within her, like he was playing apersonal tune that only she knew or recognized. He was saying all the things that she needed to hear, things she craved and had pushed back for so long.
“And someday, when you are ready, some very lucky man will get the honor and privilege of you saying ‘I do’ to him,” and his voice broke, causing him to make a nervous little laugh that was so him. “I hope he knows just how lucky he is – and I hope he’s everything you could ever need.”
“Jack…” she whispered, but the sound didn’t come out. Nothing escaped her as she sat there, staring at the man before her, who was ticking off every checkbox within her soul, someone she never imagined could even make an impression on her.
Maybe it wasn’t the hot guy, the smooth talker…
Maybe it should have been the right guy, a man whoheardher…
He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away, rubbing the back of his neck absently in that nervous fashion of his.
“Listen to me, carrying on like some fool,” he uttered hoarsely, clearing his throat once more. “Goodness, there must be a lot of pollen in the air or something because my sinuses are a mess. What about you?”
“Oh yeah,” she managed, grabbing a napkin. “My eyes are watering from the pollen. Stupid allergies.”
“Exactly – stupid allergies,” he agreed and then looked at her, giving her a shy smile. “When does this place officially open?”
“The café?” she started because it was so out of left field from the prior conversation that they’d been having. “Um, well, I was thinking of doing a soft open next Friday just to check things for the weekend and…”
Jack shot out of his chair, yanking up his burger and nodding. “Perfect – gotta go!”
“Go where?” She stood quickly, moving a few steps instinctively to follow him, and then stopped as he paused in the doorway.
“My time’s up, remember?” he tossed, grinning at her.
“B-But the surprise?” she stammered, shocked. He was leaving, taking off after that sweet moment, and that was it? Maybe she needed her head examined, because not only was he leaving, but something was rattling in the bag… almost buzzing.
Why would the bag be buzzing?
“Right on time,” Jack chuckled, and looked at his watch again, those hazel eyes flashing a mixture of pride and joy, only to shake his head once again, before stepping out into the street. She stood there, stunned… only to be greeted by a small chime in the silence from behind her.
“What the…?”
Turning, something tickled the back of her head as she walked those steps back toward the table, reaching for the bag. There was a weight to it, despite the burgers and fries sitting on the table where they had been eating only moments ago. Peering inside, she did a double-take – and looked up in time to see the police car driving away.
A cell phone?
Jack left her a cell phone… but why? How?
