“Benji doesn’t need more things to do. He needs to focus on his studies.”
“Mom, my grades are fine,” he said. “And if I can learn more now, it’ll be easier to do well in my classes once I get to college.”
There was a hint of defiance in his voice, but not an ounce of disrespect. I remember that age, feeling like a man, but being treated like a boy. Like you were one good decision away from opening the door to adulthood, but everyone kept hiding the keys.
Vera turned her gaze on me. “You really don’t have to.”
I nodded quickly. “I know, but I want to.”
Vera looked from me to Ben, then over to the table where my boss and coworkers were still eating, and finally nodded.
“Okay. Thank you, this is something I just can’t help him with.”
A wide smile broke over Ben’s face, and I could see how Vera still saw him as a kid; he looked like he’d just been invited to Disneyland. “Let me give you my number. Anything you need,just call or text. It doesn’t hurt to have a friend in the industry that you’re trying to get into.”
As I typed my number into Ben’s phone, I glanced up and saw Vera watching us with a smile on her face. For as much as she worried about her son, it was clear she would do what was best for him, even if it meant letting someone else in. Which, for reasons I didn’t want to examine too closely, made me feel about ten feet tall.
Chapter Five
Vera
Ihad wanted to ask Wyatt more about his thoughts on the nightstand design, but every time I was near the front counter, he and Benji were in deep conversation.
Benji’s dad, Scott, and I had led different lives than what Benji was pursuing. We had both gone into the trades. We struggled to help our son with his last year of high school and preparing for college. Benji and Wyatt seemed to bond over their interest in design and engineering, and I didn’t want to interrupt them.
The rest of my shift flew by. I wasn’t even sure when Benji and Wyatt took off. When I got home, I had a text from Wyatt.
Wyatt: I have a few ideas I wanted to run by you. Let me know when you’re free.
Vera: I’m not working tomorrow
I didn’t want to seem too eager, but I had to get this design done. I was also curious to talk to him about Benji. Wyatt seemed like a good guy, smart and sexy…
Wait, I didn’t need to be thinking about him as sexy.
I had a hard time accepting help, and somehow I had accepted his help with my business idea and my son. I couldn’t go another step, and bring sex into the mix.
Besides, why would a good-looking guy like him want to date a struggling single mom?
Wyatt: Can we meet at my place? I’ve got things set up in my garage so we can figure the design out.
I sent him a thumbs-up, and he texted back an address.
The next morning was Sunday, and Benji was still sleeping when I got up. After coffee, breakfast, andnotagonizing over what to wear, I got in my SUV and drove to the address Wyatt sent me.
Wildrose Bend was a small town as it was, but his place was even more rural than the town itself.
His property was extensive, with a wire fence around it, and a meandering dirt driveway. It was thick with trees in places and bare in others. If I had never met Wyatt, I would say it had serial killer vibes, but given what I knew of him, it was a symptom of a busy mind.
There were a few vehicles on blocks and stacks of lumber off to one side. The house came into view, and it was clear a home builder owned the place.
It was stunning.
A log home like the kind he built, all peaked roof and smooth logs. An enormous wrap-around deck extended across the front, and elaborate rock work covered the beams.
There was a detached garage with three bay doors. It wasn’t as fancy as the house, a basic tin structure, but one of the bay doors was open. I drove towards it and parked.
As I was getting out of the driver’s seat, I turned to see Wyatt coming out of the garage.
