“My dad’s in there. The same one that taught me how to lift your wallet. He’s drinking away whatever money he’s managed to con or swindle out of his latest victim, and I don’t want him seeing you as his next one,” I admitted, looking down in shame. “And if I’m honest, I don’t want you looking at me differently, either, and believe me you will when you see what bad stock I come from.”
“You know, my mum has a saying,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “The worst manure grows the brightest flowers. I think it was her way of telling me that, no matter how bad my dad was, it didn’t mean that I was bad too. I think the same applies for you.”
“Your mom sounds like a smart woman,” I said.
“She is, and I’m pleased to tell you that all the smart genes are genetic,” he said with a wink that made me laugh. I felt so silly for almost crying, but I couldn’t help feeling angrier at Dad that, in addition to his long list of misdemeanors, he also managed to unwittingly ruin my date.
“Listen, I don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely starving. Why don’t you wait in the truck and get the heater going, and I’ll go back and see if I can order something as takeout?” he suggested.
“That sounds great,” I replied on a sigh, relieved that he was being so great about this. After settling me safely in the truck like the gentleman he was, he went back inside and emerged fifteen minutes later with a couple of bags.
“I don’t know what that is, but it smells amazing,” I said as he climbed in the cab to join me. The air was warm and permeated with the most mouth-watering scents.
“Wait until you see what I ordered. This lot’s going to put us in a food coma for a week.” I smiled at his enthusiasm and settled back against my seat as he pulled away. I hummed along to the radio as he drove, not really saying much until he pulled up on top of a ridge that looked down over the whole town. The flutter of snowflakes was whimsical and romantic, and the tingling echo of a Christmas carol that drifted up from the town made this the perfect setting for a festive date. Our feast was mainly bar food, but on my empty stomach, the banquet of ribs, fries, and burgers, together with the leftovers from the coffee shop, tasted like gourmet cuisine. We parked, and with the radio playing softly in the background, and smiles on our faces, we ate like kings.
Chapter Nine
Lauren
I never thought I’d be the sort of girl to waste time mooning over some guy, replaying every word of a shared conversation in my head, yet that’s exactly what I found myself doing the next morning. The early breakfast rush had passed, and while I enjoyed a brief lull before the mid-morning Christmas shoppers would stop by, I cleaned down the empty tables and daydreamed of Jensen and our magical evening together.
“Lauren, isn’t it?” I turned toward an older lady, who’d taken a seat at the table behind me.
“I didn’t see you there. Yes, I’m Lauren. What can I get for you? I can recommend the hot chocolate, and we have a special offer on our fresh pastries this morning,” I said.
“Do you think you could sit down with me for a moment?” she asked. Her request was odd, considering we’d never met before. Combined with the fact that she knew my name, I was immediately suspicious. Feeling uncomfortable, I looked toward the counter for Jill, but she must have slipped into the kitchen.
“I’m sorry, but I’m working right now. I’d be happy to get you anything you’d like, but I need to be available to wait on other customers,” I replied.
“It’s all right, Jill and I are old friends, and I’ve already asked her permission. I really won’t take up more than a few minutes of your time,” she said.
Taking her at her word, I sat down opposite her hesitantly.
“We’ve never met before, but my name is Nancy Adler,” she explained.
I smiled when I realized who she was to Jensen and how she must know me.
“I’m sorry, I had no idea who you were,” I replied. “Jensen has told me all about you and Ronnie. I’m so sorry for your recent loss, but Jensen speaks very highly of you both. He loved your husband very much.”
“You and Jensen must be getting very close if he’s talked to you about my husband. You know, Ronnie always thought of Jensen like a son. He was very protective of him, and to a degree, I feel as though that responsibility has fallen to me with his passing. My decision to come and speak with you hasn’t been the easiest, but I think Ronnie would have wanted me to say something,” she said.
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Mrs. Adler, but why are you here?” I asked, cutting to the chase. My initial happiness had ebbed away with her words. The tone of her voice was gentle enough, but it was clear that her reason for being here wasn’t good.
Rather than looking put out at my harsh abruptness, she looked almost sad as she considered my words. “Jill tells me that you’re a nice girl and a hard worker, and she’s not the sort to give praise where it isn’t due. I want you to know that I’m not here because I think you’re a bad person. Despite my misgivings about your father, I trust Jill, and she’s had nothing but praise for you,” she said.
“But despite that, you don’t want me with Jensen,” I said, delivering the truth she was having trouble saying.
“I want what’s best for him. I want him to have the freedom to pursue his dreams. To achieve everything that he’s worked so hard for. Everything that Ronnie helped him work toward. With Ronnie gone, we’re all in a vulnerable place right now. All I’m asking is that you don’t take advantage of that vulnerability,” she explained.
“So, you’re asking me not to see him anymore?” I asked.
“No, I’m not asking that. It’s clear that you’ve become friends, and he needs a friend at the moment. All I’m asking is that, when the time comes for him to leave, you let him go. From what I hear, your father is the kind of person who might take advantage of the sort of opportunity that your association with Jensen would present. Don’t let that happen. If you care about him at all, protect him from your father by letting him go. Let him achieve those big dreams of his,” she replied.
I wanted to yell and scream at the unfairness of her words, but she wasn’t wrong. No matter how I felt, I knew that I was a bad investment for a man like Jensen, and there was no doubt that he was better off without me. Still, the truth hurt.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Mrs. Adler. I’ve never held out any hope of a future with a man like Jensen. When the time comes for him to go, I’ll wish him well with all of my heart. Until then, I plan on making the most of the time we have together. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work,” I said, and with as much dignity as I could muster, I stood and walked away from her, willing my tears not to fall.
Chapter Ten