Peaceful.
“We’re dating in a way now, Pawpaw. And he’s treated me awfully good. He’s helped me with my house, airs up my tires, protects me, open doors for me, cares for me.”
And then she broke. She cried, leaning over as the tears dripped onto the dress that lay in her lap. “Saves me.”
His truck was coming up the drive, and now it was too late to change. She was going to have to pray that her well-styled hair, cute makeup, and earrings would suffice. Oh, and shegrabbed a trendier slouch bag. Evie laid the dress on the bed and hurried to the kitchen to grab some snacks and quickly stuffed them in her purse. She couldn’t forget her CBD chews, or her antacids either. She heard Caleb coming up the steps after closing his door and doubt came hard like a tidal wave, crashing into her happy world and destroying it. She felt she looked stupid.
The doorbell rang, and she couldn’t turn back now. “Coming!” she called out. Teddy appeared from the bedroom, sat down, and softly closed his eyes up to her. Evie scooped him up and kissed him. “Wish me luck, little man.”
She walked to the door, fixed herself once more in the mirror next to it, grabbed her purse, and opened the door. There he was all rugged with his blue jeans, beanie hat and warm sweater. And she felt like she was trying too hard with her makeup, hair, earrings, and beautifully white snow boots.
He smiled underneath his sunglasses with a hand cooly placed on the door frame. He lowered his glasses in a joking fashion. “Hey, cutie. Goin’ my way?”
She smirked and checked him up and down. “With you lookin’ like that, I’d ride the highway to hell with you.”
He gave her a hug, brushed her arms, and looked at her with meaningful eyes.
Once more, he held the truck’s door open for her, and she climbed in with a thankful grin. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, princess,” he said sweetly. Caleb put her suitcase and bag in the back and laughed, looking at the design on it. “What’s with you with cats and flowers?”
“Oh! I actually designed that graphic, and my brother Darren got it turned into a bag for me. Cool, huh?”
“Sounds like you got a nice brother!”
The back door was closed, and he looked, noticing movement out of his peripheral. Sarah was gathering her mail at the end of her driveway but had paused to look at them. He simply waved.
As Caleb got in, he looked in his rearview mirror and started the engine. Evie turned around. “What are you looking at?”
“Sarah was staring at us. Watch what I’m about to do.”
He backed up skillfully, turned around, and headed down the driveway. Evie looked forward, seeing that Sarah was still standing there and watching them.
As Caleb pulled down to the end of the road, he took another glance at the broken mail post. “Don’t worry. I’ve still got it in my truck bed, and I’ll fix it when we come back tomorrow.”
“That doesn’t matter to me. I wanna know why you two are having a staring contest.”
Before he could even pull out a bit, Sarah started walking over to Evie’s side, but Caleb rolled down her window and called, “You’re gonna come over here and talk to me.”
Evie’s body tightened with the thrill of his confidence.
Sarah tried to protest, but Caleb shook his head and beckoned her, “Nope, you’re gonna talk to me.”
Sarah walked in front of the truck and came to Caleb’s side. He rolled down the window. “Evie had a hard week and is not in the mood. What can I do for you?”
“I told her last week that she needs to be careful being seen with you, and she’s doing this again.”
“Are you her mother?”
“No, but?—”
“Are you her boss?”
“No, but?—”
Caleb lifted his hand to silence her. “Listen, this poor woman has been through hell these last five months. And I’m the only one making an effort to reach out to her. She fainted from the fucking stress, Sarah. That’s some serious shit. She’s not eating. Look at her, for fuck’s sake!”
Sarah tried to talk, but he sat up right and leaned out his window to her a bit, his deep voice growing in warning, “How would you like it if I told you to stop fucking around with other guys while Joshua is at work?”
