The sun waslow in the sky, casting an orange glow over the porch. I stretched out on the wooden bench, soaking in the last warmth of the day, my back against the side of the house. A cool breeze rustled the leaves in the trees, carrying the fragrance of pine and damp earth.
My eyelids drooped. It’d been a long past few weeks, and my mind and body were feeling it. I was almost asleep when a sudden incline jerked me awake. Beth pulled her car into the driveway and put the car in park.
She got out, slamming the door, her expression dark. Then I noticed what had upset her. My new neighbor, Wade, had emerged from behind the rhododendrons, a bag of cat food in one hand.
The last time I’d seen him, I’d felt the strangest sense of power coming from him, but I didn’t sense that now. He just looked like a regular man. His brown hair, streaked with gray, was a little messy, and his dark blue eyes were bright. He wore a t-shirt and sweatpants that hid his dadbod, but also, somehow, looked niceon him. All and all, he was so unthreatening that I had to wonder if I’d imagined the sense of power coming from him before.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t imagined Beth’s strange hatred for him. That was clear in the way she glared at him now, as he smiled back at her, seemingly unaware of her feelings.
"Just what are you doing skulking around in the bushes?" Beth said. Her hands were on her hips, bags hanging from her arms, eyes narrowed.
Wade grinned, unfazed, and his gaze moved from her dark jeans to her blue t-shirt, to her face, as if he was trying to figure her out. "I've been seeing a stray cat in the area, and I've been trying to gain its trust. Maybe take it in, get it fixed, give it a good home." He shrugged like it was unimportant, but I got the sense that it was to him. "My last cat passed a while back. I miss having an animal around."
Beth's glare softened slightly. She had a weakness for strays, human or animal. Still, she said, "There are plenty of shelters if you want to adopt."
"I prefer to rescue the wild ones," Wade said lightly, his eyes gentle. "The ones who need someone to love them. Seems there's always one that finds its way to me right when I'm wanting a new pet."
For one second, I honestly got the strangest sense of déjà vu, along with a sense that I was always meant to be standing right here at this moment. But why? It had to do with these two people who were practically strangers. And yet, if you took away Beth’s hatred for this guy, he sounded like the perfect fit for her. I mean, wasn’t she herself notorious for taking in strays that nobody wants? And didn’t he feel a bit like a stray himself?
After a moment, Beth made a derisive sound. "As nice as that sounds, feral cats are more likely to rip your face off than snuggle up to you."
Wade's grin widened. "I like a challenge," he said, sly and teasing. "Speaking of challenges, how about we go for dinner sometime?"
Beth looked caught off-guard for half a second before her gaze narrowed again. "In your dreams." There was a hint of humor in her voice. A spark of something else too, was that attraction?
Wade didn't seem bothered by her rejection. "I've heard there are some interesting critters in these woods. Maybe you'd like to join me on an exploratory hike."
"What made you think that?" Beth asked with a bite to her words.
I almost scoffed. What made him thinkthat? Who was she kidding? Beth would love to go for a hike to look for unusual animals. I bet shealreadywent for hikes looking for them by herself, so why not take a companion with the same interest?
He shrugged, completely unbothered by her seeming disinterest, but also not pushy or aggressive. "I heard you were an animal lover. We have that in common, so a hike seemed like the perfect chance for us to get to know each other better."
"You thought wrong." Beth stalked past him to the porch, bags clinking.
Anyone who saw her might think she was just irritated, unfriendly, or even angry, but I knew her better. She hid it well, but Beth was running away. Why? I had my suspicions.
I waved to Wade as he headed back to his house, whistling. He waved back, his expression calm and friendly, not at all bothered by Beth running away. I suspected he’d treat Beth much like the stray cat he was trying to get to love him… and maybe she needed that.
Inside the house, I closed the door and took a deep breath. Out of all my friends, Beth was the one I’d enjoy this conversation with the least. She was finally ready for it, but it wouldn’t be pleasant. When I looked at Beth, she was studiously unpacking candles and herbs from her bags, but her cheeks were flushed.
"So, you going to tell me what that was about?" I asked, knowing that with Beth it was best to be direct.
“Nothing, why?” she said, not defensive exactly, just on-guard.
I smiled. “Come on, now, we’ve pretty much known each other forever. If you can’t tell me, can you tellanyone?”
Her expression faltered. She kept putting all the items from her bags on the counter, and I waited. Waited for her to tell me what was going on, or, maybe waited for her to admit it to herself.
Finally, Beth sighed. "I hate to say it, but I find him attractive. That hasn't happened since..." She trailed off, then shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I'm happy on my own."
It hadn’t happened since Roger. The man she loved with all her heart. Actually, that wasn’t true, she divided her love between him and her sister, raising the much younger woman with all the care of a mother. Those two people owed her everything, and they hurt her in an unimaginable way.
Beth was prepared for everything in life, but not her sister and her ex getting together. No one could be prepared for that.
But as much as Beth pretended otherwise, I knew she missed being married. I knew she missed having a family outside of us. She had so much love to give, more love than anyone I’d ever met before. It was a shame for her to lock it all away, just because she was scared.
"You know, that's what everyone says before they fall in love.” I gentled my words with a smile.
