August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (10 page)

The One That Got Away

The third house was the smallest of the tiny homes we visited. As we walked to the front door, I tried to imagine this house with more than one room, but just couldn't make it fit. It seemed impossible that anyone could live in such a pillbox.

As Emma knocked, I knelt on the porch to admire a molded figure of an angel. “What a beautiful statue.” The little, two-foot figure was intriguing with all its detail. Her sweet face was bowed in prayer over her folded hands.

“It is very old, too.” Emma knocked again.

I ran my fingers down her ceramic hair that looked as though it should be silky soft as it flowed over a billowing gown and between wings that could’ve been on doves.

Quicker than I expected, the door jerked open. From my position, all I could see were hairy bare legs and very big feet. This little, old lady had the most muscular legs I’d ever seen, next to Eli and Mike. I looked up and attached to the hairy legs wasn’t an old lady, but a young man. He was good looking and I knew without a glance that Destiny was drooling. He looked down at me and a smile slowly unfolded.

He was affected.

The thought of waiting in the Suburban didn’t come quick enough. He reached his muscular hand down to help me up. It would’ve been rude to refuse his help, although it would’ve been kinder to run to the Suburban and lock all the doors.

This was going to be a
long
visit.

With his unwelcome help, I stood and found myself looking down into the glazed eyes of an affected guy about two inches shorter than me. His hazel orbs stared at me from under curly, light, brown hair. He didn’t speak. His stunned expression did all the talking.

“Well, Caleb, invite the ladies in.” An elderly gentleman ambled up behind the young man, grinning broadly at Emma.

“Hello, Isaac.” Emma smiled tightly.

Isaac shuffled up and pecked her cheek.

The old man, slightly hunched, walked with the aid of a carved cane. He smoothed what hair was left, neatly over the top of his head. Though crisp and clean, his clothes hung from his bony frame. The royal blue ascot that wrapped around his neck and tucked into his button down shirt led me to believe this visit was more to him than just casual.

Caleb wouldn’t let go of my hand as he led us into a small but well-kept living room. The house was actually deeper than it was wide. From the front it looked small, but inside I could see a long hall led off the living room to at least two bedrooms and a kitchen.

The elderly man motioned for Emma to sit with him on the small couch. Caleb led me over to the love seat by the window. I stopped abruptly and sat on a wooden chair that obviously had been brought in for more seating.

“Wouldn’t you rather sit on the love seat? It’s more comfortable.” He twitched his eyebrows at me.

I looked at Emma, hoping for help. Her brow was furrowed and her mouth was in a tight, straight line. No help was forthcoming, so I stood, grabbed Destiny, and made her sit with me on the love seat.

“You’re right. It is more comfortable, thank you.” I smiled, but didn’t look him in the eyes. That would’ve been a dangerous move.

Emma glanced from the couch to the love seat with discomfort. I had a sneaking feeling she’d hoped to use Destiny as a buffer, but I grabbed her first. Our genial host finally got Emma to sit, but she sat further away than he wanted.

It was too much to ask for Caleb to be discouraged. He picked up the wooden chair that I’d abandoned and with one finger, carried it over and placed it next to me.

“Caleb is my grandson, who’s visiting from the University of Alaska. You remember him, don’t you, Emma?” Isaac looked only at Emma as he spoke with love.

But was that love for his grandson or Emma?

She frowned. “It has been a long time. If I remember correctly, he had braces the last I saw him.”

“Yes, he’s grown up a lot. He’s on the university’s wrestling team. Caleb, show them your muscles.” Isaac’s grandfatherly pride glowed.

The young man obeyed immediately, raised his arm and flexed. His already strained t-shirt looked on the verge of bursting at the seams. All I could do was stare.

Destiny reached out, but stopped short. “Can I touch them?”

Caleb gladly moved closer to me. “Sure, touch away.”

When I didn’t reach over and take my turn, he put it in my face. “Don’t be shy, I don’t mind.”

“That’s okay, I see very well.” I pushed my glasses back into place and wished I could feel how rock hard they obviously were. Maybe next year, if he were still willing.

He moved his flexed arm closer. “Ah, come on, I don’t bite.” His big toothy grin didn’t make me so sure of that. “Not much anyway.” He and his grandfather laughed. Destiny giggled.

He wouldn’t give up and I was backed against the seat cushions as far as I could go.

Emma cleared her throat. “Isaac, this is Sylvia, our new next door neighbor that I told you about.” Isaac inched closer to Emma, who inched away. “Sylvia, this is Isaac Wellsman.”

I looked over Caleb’s bicep and waved.

“I’ve known him as long as I’ve lived in Talkeetna.”

The smiling old man moved closer. Emma was out of room on the small couch.

He leaned toward her. “I’ve been chasing Emma for over twenty years.”

He reached for her hand, but she pulled away as she leaned over for the box she carried in.

“Unfortunately, she runs faster than I do.” He winked at me.

He tried again to move, but Emma placed the box between them. He grinned at her, obviously enjoying the challenge.

Caleb wasn’t budging, so to make him stop, I reached up and gently pinched the enormous bulges. I was right, they were rock hard. He put his arm down with a smile.

“Isaac, I didn’t know your grandson was going to be here.” The way Emma glanced in my direction it seemed her statement was aimed at me.

It was probably just my imagination. Although, after last month she had to understand there was something weird about me, at least around boys.

Caleb leaned closer.

Isaac shrugged “I didn’t know either. He just showed up at my door last night and we’ve been bachelor’ing it together.” He spoke to me. “Caleb is a very good cook.” His eyes didn’t stray long from Emma. “He made me an omelet this morning that was almost as good as yours.”

The gleam in his eye hinted at something personal. Even Destiny’s brows rose.

Emma must’ve read our faces. “Isaac was sick and I came over and made him an omelet, fifteen years ago.” She frowned at him. “Back then, it was good for you. You know very well you shouldn’t be eating eggs, now.”

He grinned at her concern. “I’ve always known you cared about me.” He leaned closer.

She put her hand on his shoulder and pushed him back. “Yes, I care about all my friends.”

Lightly, he placed his hand on hers. “Very good friends.”

She gently pulled her hand away. She was … blushing? “I think I’ll start tea.” She stood and he leaned to follow. “No, Isaac, I want you to tell the girls about how Talkeetna was settled.” She picked up the box and went to the kitchen.

I wanted to go with her, to get away from Caleb, but it would’ve been rude not to stay and listen to the older man. Meanwhile, Caleb practically sat on the arm of the love seat as he strived to get closer. I leaned as far over as I could without displacing Destiny. She thought it was funny and watched Caleb, waiting for his next move. As strong as he was, I was afraid of what that might be.

Isaac stared lovingly after Emma until she disappeared into the kitchen.

Heaving a deep sigh, he turned to us. “She will always be the one that got away.” He looked wistfully at the kitchen door, but when he turned his attention to us, he had a mischievous grin. He raised his voice. “The real reason she wants me to stay and tell you a boring story is because she doesn’t trust herself to be alone with me.” He chuckled. “She’s afraid I’ll whisk her off her feet.” He winked at Destiny.

He didn’t look like he could whisk the dirt off the floor, let alone the ever active Emma.

Caleb stroked my hair and leaned closer to look in my averted eyes. When my glasses fogged I knew it was time to move. Scooting away from him and off the love seat, I nudged Destiny and took her place. She eagerly moved over and into Caleb’s outstretched arms. She gave him one of her dazzling smiles. He frowned and put his arm on the back of the couch.

Huh? Caleb didn't respond to Destiny, which must’ve been a first for her.

She frowned and folded her arms over her chest. “What am I, chopped liver?”

Isaac laughed as Emma returned with a tray of tea and brownies.

He looked longingly at Emma then back to us. “No, Destiny, you’re beautiful, but you can’t change another’s heart.” He and Emma traded knowing looks.

The making of a very good story simmered between them.

Meanwhile, Caleb leaned all the way over and reached his arm along the back of the love seat until he was able to place his hand on my shoulder. I pushed Destiny against his arm and moved forward in my seat. She stifled a giggle.

Emma served tea, as only Emma could. Even though we were in a tiny room, in a modest home, she behaved as though we were seated in a castle parlor with royalty. Come to think of it, I’d always found myself behaving as though being with royalty had been the case. Everyone probably reacted that way with Emma.

Destiny had to give up her cherished position with Caleb when she was handed her cup. Caleb reached for me, but Emma cleared her throat and handed him his cup and offered him a brownie.

Isaac took a brownie. “Are these the ones with chocolate chips and cherries?”

Emma smiled. “Of course, I know they are your favorite.”

He cut a piece with his fork. “You’re my favorite. The brownies are an added bonus.”

He took a bite. Emma frowned and opened her mouth. He moaned with pleasure as he chewed and she softened her expression with a smile. There must’ve been something there at one time. What would it take to get her to tell their story?

After one bite of brownie, Caleb settled down, a little. When his eyes weren’t on me, they were on the piled platter of brownies. My stomach didn’t like the interloper. Caleb had a healthy appetite, but I out-ate him by three. No one seemed to notice, or everyone was too kind to say anything. I enjoyed the brownies almost as much as Isaac did.

He turned out to be a retired teacher and Alaska history buff. He never did tell us the history of Talkeetna, preferring to tell us the history of how he met Emma. A constant blush radiated from the object of his desire, as she time and again interrupted him and suggested another topic. No matter what she did, he always found his way back to their story. Unfortunately, he never got around to their courtship, Emma saw to that.

The way Isaac caressed Emma with his eyes, made me long for someone of my own. Someday I’ll have a guy to look at me like that. From the corner of my eye I could see Caleb, whose glazed eyes were locked on me. But I didn’t want that. I didn’t want affected adoration. Now, Isaac’s glowing love was another matter. I could imagine him, when they were younger, holding her tenderly in his arms. Why hadn’t Emma chosen this adoring man to spend her life with? He was quite a bit older than her, but seemed spry for a man in his eighties. This was a story I had to hear from her and I’d bet it was a very romantic tale.

Each time Caleb finished a brownie, his attention came back to me. He would reach behind Destiny and she would lean into his arm and bat her eyes at him. He would take his arm away and fold it over his chest.

She’d look at me with a puzzled expression and I would shrug. This wasn’t winning me any points with her. Would this be the event that chased her away? Whether it was, or not, she stuck in there every time Caleb so much as twitched. At one point, I thought she would sit in his lap, but she shoved a brownie in his mouth instead. While he chewed, she dished him up two more and a cup of tea. It did the trick and he relented for the time being. Destiny’s a great friend. I hated that I would lose her.

The cardboard box between Emma and Isaac groaned, with a deep crunch, when Isaac scooted over one too many inches.

Emma jumped up. “Oh, look what time it is. Where has the day gone?”

Isaac pulled his arm out of the cardboard box with his brows scrunched together. “Do you have to leave already?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” She picked up the cups and saucers on the coffee table. “It is getting late and I have dinner to fix.”

I took her lead and cleared the rest of the dishes. Destiny fed the last brownie to Caleb as I dashed to the kitchen. Boy, was I going to miss her.

From the kitchen, I heard Isaac fussing. “Now, Emma, don’t you bother with the cups and dishes. I’ll take care of that. It’ll give me something to do when I’m
all alone
.”

Isaac’s play for sympathy must’ve fallen on deaf ears because Emma zoomed in and stacked everything next to my pile. While I rinsed, Emma checked the fridge and cabinets.

She tsk’d and shook her head before turning back to me. “He cannot be eating right with all this junk.” She put her arm around my waist. “Let us get out of here.”