By the time I catch up with Natalie, she has her hand on Eli’s shoulder, and they’re walking back to her car. “Hey Natalie! Is everything okay?”
They both stop and turn to face me. Besides the disappointed look on Eli’s face, they seem like they’re okay. I let out a breath that I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“Yes, everything’s fine. Uh, I have to work a double, and I had to come pick up Eli on my lunch break because I won’t get off until later now.”
She turns to go as if that’s reason enough. “Let him stay,” I tell her.
She stops and huffs as if she’s frustrated. “Uh, I can’t pick him up by five. That’s why I’m getting him now.”
I laugh because I have to. There’s not any woman, hell there’s not even a man, that doesn’t do what I say the first time I say it. Well, except for my brothers. They do their best to grate on my nerves. “I understand what you’re saying, but I’m telling you that he can stay the rest of the day. He can have dinner with me and my brothers and then I’ll bring him into town.”
She’s already shaking her head before I get the first thought out. “No, I can’t ask you to—"
I interrupt her. “You’re not asking me. I’m offering.” I watch as Eli looks between his mom and me. He’s hopeful, and I have to admit, I am too. I don’t know why it’s so important to me, but I want her to trust me, and I’m willing to earn it.
She’s weighing her options, and I’m ready for the no I feel is coming. I’m almost holding my breath waiting for it.
“Please, I don’t mind at all,” I assure her.
She starts to fidget. “If he can stay later, then I’ll run back out here and pick him up after my shift. It may be six or seven.”
Eli doesn’t stick around. He hollers, “Thanks, Mom!” and takes off running back to the barn. Natalie laughs, and I join in.
“I don’t want you to have to come out here again, especially after working a double shift. It’s fine. I’ll bring him into town after dinner.”
She doesn’t argue, which I was prepared for. She looks at her phone and then back up at me. “Okay. I really appreciate it.”
She turns to go, and I follow her to her car. My eyes are glued to the sway of her hips. When she opens her car, I don’t try to delay her like this morning. I’m ready to just watch her drive away again, but she surprises me when she gets in and rolls the window down. “King...”
She says my name so softly that I can hear the vulnerability in it. I know this is probably hard for her to let someone do something for her. “Yeah, honey?”
Her eyes widen at the endearment. “I don’t... I’m not sure why you’re doing this for me and Eli, but I really do appreciate it.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I just don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful is all.”
I lean down and put my hands on the open window. I lean down until we’re face to face. “I know you’re not.”
She nods, opens her mouth, and closes it again.
Smiling, I ask her, “What is it?”
She looks away from me. “It’s nothing.”
I reach in, and for the first time, I touch her. I put my hand on her chin and pull her so that she has to look at me. “Look at me, honey. I want your eyes on me.”
She doesn’t pull away. She blinks up at me, and I can see the insecurity on her face even though she’s trying to hide it. “Talk to me. What were you going to ask?”
She puts her hand on my wrist and pulls my hand away from her face. I try not to let it bother me or take it to heart. It’s obvious Natalie doesn’t trust easily, and the way I treated her that first day isn’t going to help me anyway. I need to be patient.
I smile warmly at her, and she frowns. “Why are you doing this?”
This time it’s me that opens my mouth and closes it again. I don’t even know how to answer that. Everything inside of me is screaming to get away. I know I don’t want to get hurt again, and if anyone could possibly do it, it would be this petite single mom that is way too independent. I take a deep breath, breathing in her strawberry-scented shampoo. “I wish I knew.”
She lets out a breath, and it’s like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. It’s almost as if she was afraid of the answer. I guess she’s not any readier for this than I am.
I pat the door and stand up, putting some distance between us. “Be safe driving back into town. I’ll text you when we’re on our way.”