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“The sunsets must be awesome from here.” I imagine the sun in its glory flashing off the water.
Solid as a rock, John looks to the other shore and makes a noise in his throat. “I’ve never really thought about it before. I’m rarely home in time to catch the sunset.”
Sad. “Dallas is a long way.”
“The commute is a killer, but…” His pause is thoughtful. “I needed to get away from the city.”
I put an extra step between us. It’s hardly my place to ask.
I assume the river is a busy place on the weekends, but right now, the only sign of life is a lone canoe slowly making its way in our general direction.
“You ready to head back?”
No. “Sure.”
Falling into step, John tucks his hands in the pockets of his slacks, drifting to the edge of the path.
“Have a seat?” He motions toward the patio furniture once we’re back at the house.
As much as I feel like it’s time this visit ended, I drop willingly into one of the lounge chairs. The peace of this place is a balm after a challenging day.
John sits on the sofa, stretching before he sinks his spine into the cushions. With a yawn, he kicks his feet onto the iron and glass coffee table. There’s a clump of dirt wedged into the heel of his dress shoe and a few stickers piercing the hem of his slacks. I hope he has tweezers to pry the prickly suckers out of the fabric.
Somewhere in the distance, probably from his lone neighbor on the cul-de-sac, children squeal playfully. After a moment digesting the tranquility, I smile. “It’s wonderful here, John.”
His teeth sink slowly into the inside of his lip. “I think I’m going to sell.”
I straighten. “What? Why? This place is perfect!”
“It is.”
“I don’t understand.” His reasoning or my reaction.
His face creases. “I’m rarely here, Hollie. And look at the place. It deserves some TLC. It’s meant for a family. Maybe someone will move in who can give those little ones across the street some playmates.”
And why can’t you?Sure, his one son is grown, so maybe he’s not looking to do fatherhood all over again, but why no woman in his life? I may be presuming too much, yet I’ve been through his home now and seen no signs of life outside his own quiet existence. He grouses about being old. As far as I can see, he’s a man in his prime.
Heat rises across my cheeks. I’ll say nothing of my musings, of course—but I know what they are, and they’re more than random. I can’t deny them any longer. Wonderings of what it would be like to be kissed by John are like incoming fire every single time I’m around him. I never have these thoughts about other men. Soneverthat they leave me unbalanced and confused.
I’m still a young woman, but men are a complication. Sure, I don’t have the life I dreamed of when I was young, but severing men from my existence was sheer necessity at the time, and the decision has served me well.
I think.
Would Jacob agree? He’s longed for a father—and suffered for my choices.
“Hollie?”
I blink, John’s curiosity coming into focus.
“I’ve lost you, haven’t I?”
Sometimes my face shows things I don’t mean for it to. The clearing of my throat emerges like the attempt at a cover that it is. “Where would you go?”
During the deep pause, I pretend oblivion to the question in his gaze. “Back to Dallas, I guess. Buy another condo.”
“But you said you needed to get out of the city.”
He shrugs. “And I did. I’ve had my reprieve.”
