A split second later, it began vibrating in her hand – the buzzing she’d heard. Sliding her thumb across the phone, she whispered hoarsely, “Hello?”
“Miss Thompson?”
“This is she,” she replied automatically, as she stared in disbelief at the distance, processing what exactly was happening right now. How was this cell phone even working when there was no signal? Did that mean she could check her accounts, her email, call her mother? – and she drew in a nervous breath at that thought because she wantedto share in her adventure with someone, anyone, so she didn’t feel like such a failure.
“Miss Thompson, I apologize for the delay, but it took a little bit to get the signal out to your new business. Our lines go as far as Yonder and Ember Creek… and well, it’s farmland out further, so there was no need for a tower,” the voice droned on in an apologetic tone that struck her as odd. “But when the mayor called, then we had an anonymous benefactor privately fund the new tower proposed, well… it’s very hard to say ‘no’ to that, you understand,” the voice scoffed and gave an indignant huff as Heidi covered her mouth to keep from crying out in shock as it hit her.
Jack was the anonymous benefactor? He funded a cell phone tower, so she could have a signal again? He paid for a tower for the town, for her, instead of funneling it into some other things, like his house or replacing his old truck?
Mimi’s words hit her once again, like a freight train. She’d said that their family was loaded, but she really hadn’t believed her deep down inside. Sure, it was one thing to purchase a building eighty years ago, but this? Jack and his grandmother were loaded-loaded… like filthy-Richie-Rich-loaded.
“So the signal should be strong enough for your business, and if you could just verify that your point-of-sale transactions will also process, that would be wonderful,” the voice continued. “I apologize for any loss of business that this might have caused by such an inconvenience…”
What did he say to them?
“But we’re doing everything in our power to meet the deadlines set with the funding…”
“T-Thank you,” she choked out and ended the call, shocked. In fact, she was so flabbergasted that she sat down on the floor, collapsing in a heap and staringat the shiny new Apple phone in her hand. It chimed once more, and she looked at the screen – and melted.
Any guy can get his girlfriend flowers – but I’m not just any other guy.
Weeping emotionally, she hit reply.
I noticed.
Do you like peanut butter and jelly?
No.
Oh, then maybe we can have cereal together for dinner?
Heidi laughed tearfully, her heart melting in wonder at this man she’d met by sheer chance on some bumpy road in the middle of nowhere.
Only if it’s Cinnamon Life or Lucky Charms…
I knew you were perfect. See you this evening.
It’s a date.
Smiling softly, she dialed her mother’s phone number and remained seated on the floor, almost afraid to move or get up because it might disrupt this magical dream that she was in the middle of.
“Hello?” her mother’s voice answered – and Heidi wept at the sound of it. “Heidi? Honey, is that you? Where are you? Are you hurt? What’s going on, baby?”
“Mama,” she began brokenly, trying to curb the sobs,but it was too much. Everything came out in a rush of emotion that she couldn’t hold back, even if she wanted to. “Oh Mama, I’m in Texas… and I’m opening a business here, plus I met this guy – and before you say anything – he’s different…” she breathed, realizing that it was so very, very true. “He’s different from anyone I’ve ever met or known… and I think I’m actually happy, Mama.”
Thirteen
JACK
“Now I knowwhat a spider feels like,” Jack muttered aloud to himself as he slung the roller up and down the wall in record time. He was pulling so many strings, calling in so many favors, that it was staggering… and working. He never imagined that coordinating the festival, funding improvements, or working with the mayor’s team would be so time-consuming. It was like everyone wanted his attention, and the only person he wanted to give it to was Heidi – who was lost in her own business – and he couldn’t be more proud of her. For someone to take over, revamp, and renovate from the ground up… well, at least a major cleaning, at least. That was a lot of work. It was staggering to imagine she was opening so soon, and grateful that he’d coordinated the date to fall in line with her first weekend.
Just then, the dull bell on the front door clanked – and Jack winced. He was going to have to take it apart and clean it again. Some ‘genius’ who owned the house before him had painted both the inside and practically the interior of the old bell mounted in the middle of the front door. It wasan older type that you cranked that charmed him immediately. No electric bell, but classy, made with care, lovingly created by someone. That doorbell, heck -the whole house- had been neglected for so long – but that was before him. Now, the bell, the mail slot, and every other original thing he found in his home were now in the process of getting new life breathed into it… even if it felt like he wasn’t equipped to be doing so.
“This ship ain’t going down without a fight,” he muttered, putting down the roller and wiping his hands on his blue jeans that had seen better days – and grimaced. He had paint splatters everywhere, and time had gotten away from him. There was no hiding any of this or making excuses, he thought before yelling out loudly, “Coming!”
Carefully stepping around the paint tray, Jack walked to the front door from the sitting room and yanked it open. Heidi’s eyes met his, they glanced up toward his hair, and then she smiled…oh man, that smile was everything,he thought, swallowing.
“Bad timing?” she began, and then looked past him. “If this is not a good time or if you’re busy, we can do this another…”
