Page 6 of A Simple Regret

Dad exhales and shakes his head before retrieving two slices for himself. “Would it have made a difference?”

“Well, I would have been prepared for running into him,” I reason.

“And you would have been stressing over it,” Dad states between bites. “It seemed pointless. You knew it would happen at some point, right?” When I give a slight nod, he continues, “You were aware he still lived here, and you’d run into him. I’m sorry it happened on day one, but now it’s done and out of the way.”

I nod, not quite sure I agree.

After a few bites, I say, “He’s still mad.”

“He’ll get over it.”

I snort and shake my head. “I’m not so sure.”

“He’s fine, Maren. I’ve talked to him many times over the years, and I’m sure he was just shocked to see you.”

“At least you’re consistent and didn’t warn him either,” I say with a small grin.

Dad chuckles. “Gossip’s like manure. It spreads easily but usually stinks.”

I make a face at his reference as Theo belts out, “Man-oooooer!”

“I forgot how much they hear and repeat at that age,” he says, an apologetic look on his face.

“Everything,” I insist, taking another bite.

“Stinky!”

I poke my head into Theo’s new bedroom for the third time since he fell asleep and just watch. He’s sprawled out in his race car toddler bed, his favorite Bluey stuffed animal tucked under one arm and a monster truck in his left hand. I can’t help but smile at the sight of my son. It’s an all-consuming love I didn’t even know I needed until he was placed in my arms.

Pulling the door, but leaving it ajar, I move across the hall to my bedroom. There’s not much in here yet. Most of my personal stuff is in the garage still, with the exception of my bed and two bags of my immediate need items. Toiletries for the bathroom, clothes to sleep in and for tomorrow, makeup, things like that. I don’t start work until Tuesday, so that gives me the weekend and Monday to get everything set up and ready to go. It’s a tall order, but I’ll have my dad’s help for moving the rest of the furniture from the trailer and garage into the house.

First thing I need to do tomorrow morning is go to the grocery store. From what Dad told me, much of the downtown is still the same, businesswise. There’s the hardware store, grocery store, pizzeria, banks, bars, and a few specialty shops. A few have come and gone or changed hands over the years, but the core businesses are still alive and well in Cooper Town.

I’m excited to see my new workspace at the salon. In fact, Jenn invited me to stop by tomorrow morning to check out my station. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit nervous to see Charli Miller. From what I was told, she has a massage studio within the salon, and while she’s off for a few more weeks on maternity leave, she’ll be back and I’ll be working within the same space as her soon.

I’m willing to bet I’m not going to be her most favorite person. Why would I be? When I left town almost eight years ago, I broke her brother’s heart, after making plans for a future together. Working within the same building might be a challenge. In fact, I almost declined the offer Jenn made me for that fact alone, but in the end, she made me a great offer in a gorgeous place, with the flexibility I need as a single mom, and I couldn’t pass it up. The only other option I have is to set up in my home, and I just don’t have the extra cash to make that happen right now.

I make my way back to the living room, where Theo’s small chair and the TV are sitting. Tomorrow we’ll bring in the couch, end tables, and other pieces of furniture, and I’ll continue to sort through boxes and put our life back in order. Dad asked one of his coworkers at the implement store where he works to help carry the heavier pieces into the house, and as soon as the trailer is emptied, he’ll use his truck to deliver it back to the rental drop-off.

Finally, I go to the kitchen. There are a few boxes sitting on the counter, ready to be unpacked. I made sure everything was clean and ready to go straight into the cabinets when I packed them up yesterday, so after I decide what’s going into which cabinets, I start removing the contents and putting it all away.

I catch movement out of my kitchen window above the sink and have a perfect view of the back of Camden’s property. Camden is in the yard, spraying something onto a car part in his hand, like a lubricant or something. He sprays a second stream of the liquid before returning to the garage and closing the door.

Our houses are practically identical, a mirror image of each other, with the exception of the back. Camden has a small porch with concrete steps, a smallish backyard, and a massive garage. Well, not necessarily massive, but much bigger than mine. His has two garage door bays and what appears to be either storage or a workspace. Mine is a single car garage with tons of yard, which is perfect for Theo and me. We moved from the city, from a small apartment without a yard, so to be able to run and play and have the space contained by a chain-link fence is exactly what we need.

I don’t know how long I stand here, watching out the window, but it’s much longer than I should. I’m not exactly waiting for him to return, but I admit, I wouldn’t mind catching another eyeful of my neighbor.

Camden was always the most gorgeous guy I’d ever met, and that hasn’t changed in the seven years since I’ve seen him. Now, adult Camden is all man. Lean, muscular, sexy man. Under the outdoor security light near his garage, I can see his eyes are still piercingly blue, and his hair just long enough I can run my fingers through it. He’s weathered, his hands stained from oil and grease, his skin kissed by the sun.

He looks amazing.

I work in my kitchen for the next hour, doing everything I can not to let my eyes stray toward the window. The last thing I need is for him to catch me watching him or looking for him while he’s in and out of his own garage. I’m sure he’s still processing, not only the fact I’m back in town, but also his new neighbor.

Pretty certain that wasn’t on either one of our bingo cards today…

While there’s more boxes of small appliances and pots and pans in the garage yet, I smile at the progress I’m making. I tear down the boxes and gather them up to take to the garage. I sneak a quick look at Theo once more, ensuring he’s sound asleep, before taking the boxes to the pile I’ve already started in the garage. I slip outside quietly, not wanting the door to close and wake my son, and even though I tell myself not to, I steal a look across the driveway. The lights are still on in his garage, and I can hear the sounds of an impact tool being used.

Memories assault me, threatening to take me back to a simpler time where it was only Camden and me. The two of us against the world, where our biggest problems involved math homework and where we were going to hang out on a Friday night.