Never Look Back (Coming Home Book 2) (23 page)

I hear someone walking up behind me and turn to see one of the other techs approaching.

“Sorry to interrupt, but there’s a customer up front who needs to ask you a question. Have a good weekend Jennifer. I’ve enjoyed working with you this week.” Jenny adds.

Jenny walks back to the front and I look over at Jennifer who now has her purse on her shoulder and is gathering her jacket and keys.

I don’t want her to leave without knowing for sure if she’s considering my offer, but I also know I need to tend to the customer. “I’ll call you tonight and we’ll talk more about it. Okay?”

“Sounds good. Talk to you then.”

And just like that she walks out the door headed home for the evening. I miss her already. I’ve still got a few more hours to go before shutting down the pharmacy for the day but a thought quickly comes to mind.

Now that the time has changed, I don’t like how it gets dark earlier in the evenings. It makes me feel like I should be going to bed sooner when it’s actually not as late as it seems. Although I am a little later than usual getting home this evening, I had to make a stop before coming home. I’m eager to talk to Jennifer to confirm our plans for Sunday, and I’m also looking forward to delivering the box I’ve just purchased. I hope she likes it and hope this will assure her how serious I am about spending time with her and with Chloe.

I pull into the driveway leading up to the guesthouse and see there’s a light on in the living room. It’s almost seven o’clock and I hope she doesn’t mind my stopping by without calling first. I’m so eager to deliver my purchase and to see how she reacts.

I walk to the door and knock gently. If Chloe is sleeping, I don’t want to wake her up. Almost immediately, the porch light comes on and Jennifer pulls the curtain covering the door back to peep out. When she sees it’s me, she opens the door. I notice she has changed into a t-shirt and leggings and is barefoot.

“Hey you.”

“Hi yourself. I’m sorry I didn’t’ call before stopping by, but I took the chance you wouldn’t mind.”

“Come on in. I’m glad to see you.” She has no idea how it makes me feel hearing her say this.

“Aww. Look at Chloe.” I say and walk over to where Chloe is laying on a blanket on the floor with some sort of activity device positioned on top of her. Even though I’m sure she really doesn’t have any idea what this gadget is, she’s kicking her legs about and making soft baby sounds.

“My mom got this for her. She’s really not old enough yet to be able to touch the little things that hang down, but she is able to get her legs high enough to kick a few things around. As long as the music plays she’s content, but once the music stops she starts to whimper. It keeps her occupied so I can get some things done around here.”

I kneel down beside Chloe and tickle her little feet that are kicking and moving around excitedly. “Hey there Chloe.”

I can only imagine how big Jennifer’s heart must be for this precious baby. Being a new mother, it’s got to be one of the greatest feelings in the world.

“So, what brings you by tonight?” Jennifer asks as she takes a seat on the edge of the couch and tucks her legs up underneath her.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I picked up a little something for Chloe this evening. We also didn’t get to finish talking this afternoon before you had to leave so I was wondering if you had given any more thought taking that stroll on Sunday.”

“I appreciate the offer, and I would really like to go, but like I mentioned earlier, I don’t have a stroller yet. Maybe I can see about getting her one for Christmas.”

I quickly interrupt. “Maybe you already have one and you just don’t know it yet.”

“What do mean?”

“Hang on, it’s on the back of my truck. I hope you like it.”

I stand up and head to the door not waiting to get a reaction from her. I’m back inside in only a few seconds, dragging the big box behind me.

The look on Jennifer’s face is priceless. She brings her hand up to cover her mouth and says “Oh my goodness. Todd. You shouldn’t have.”

“I wanted to. I hope you like it.”

“Todd, it’s perfect. Thank you.” She walks over to me and embraces me in a hug. I hold her probably longer than I should, but she feels incredible in my arms.

When she pulls back, I notice her eyes are moist with tears, but these are happy tears. I waste no time peeling back the tape from the box and lifting the stroller that’s wrapped in plastic from the box. There are a few attachments that come with it but I leave them inside the box. I place the instructions on the coffee table and remove all of the plastic. The stroller folds out and is pretty much assembled. I give it a push forward, then backwards, and I think it’s good to go.

“Looks pretty good to me. Why don’t we try it out?”

“Are you sure? Here in the house?” She asks almost like this is one of the silliest questions I could have asked.

“Sure. Why not?”

As Jennifer lifts Chloe up from her blanket on the floor, I pick up another blanket she has draped over the couch and place it inside the stroller. She carefully positions Chloe inside and buckles the seatbelt. I release the break from the wheel and slowly push the stroller through the living room and into the kitchen. The seat is tilted upwards slightly so that Chloe can see what’s in front of her, but she’s quiet as she takes in the view. We make a few rounds through the house then stop in front of the couch again. It doesn’t take long before Chloe realizes I’ve stopped pushing her and she begins to whimper slightly.

“Awww. Don’t cry Chloe.” Jennifer attempts to console her but Chloe’s cry intensifies. It’s obvious she doesn’t want me to stop.

I start pushing her again and almost instantly Chloe quietens again. “I think she likes it.”

I spend the next few minutes pushing Chloe around while Jennifer picks up the empty box and moves it back to the utility room. She gets a bottle ready to feed Chloe before putting her down for the night.

“Have you had anything for dinner?” I ask her on one of my strolls through the room.

“No, I haven’t. Would you like for me to see what I have in the kitchen? Maybe I can make us something quick. I know it’s getting late but maybe you’d like to stay for a little while.”

Jennifer lets me give Chloe her bottle and put her down for the night. I love this baby girl so much, as much as if she were my own.

Jennifer fixed us a salad and a bowl of soup. She kept apologizing for not having something better to prepare for us, but I understand she’s not used to having company over. I don’t hold it against her and actually prefer the lighter meal since it’s getting so late.

I help her put away the dishes and we settle down on the couch. I can’t help but wonder if this is what it would be like if she and I were a real couple or even married? Would we relax together just like this?

I pick up the remote control and notice the bottle of foot cream my grandfather gave her sitting on the end table.

“Did you ever use any of this stuff?” I ask jokingly. To my surprise, when I pick up the bottle, I realize it’s almost empty.

“That stuff is wonderful.” She laughs. “It’s no wonder your grandfather stocked up on it when he found it that day at the flea market.”

“What do you do with it?” I ask now curious about this miracle cream for your feet.

“I just rub a fair amount on my feet, then put socks on. I usually do it right before I go to bed at night. The next morning, you will be amazed how soft your feet feel.”

“Hmmm. Slide down that way.” I tell her as I point to the opposite end of the sofa.

“What? What are you doing?” She asks.

Jennifer scoots down to the end of the couch and I bend over to lift and turn both of her legs towards me so that her feet are positioned on the top of my legs. She’s already pulled her shoes off for the night and is wearing really soft fuzzy socks. I slip them off her feet and remove the cap from the cream. I start out with a small amount and rub my hands together so the cream isn’t cold when I apply it to her feet. Jennifer leans back against the cushions to get more comfortable and I begin to massage her feet, starting with the left one first. By the time I’m finished with the right foot, I notice Jennifer has become very quiet. Her eyes are closed and she’s barely awake. I don’t think she’s ever looked so peaceful and relaxed.

This evening has been one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time. Except for the night on the pier, that is. I hope this is only the beginning of what lies ahead for us.

The holidays have come and gone and I’ve gotten into a pretty good routine with Chloe. It’s hard to believe she’s almost six months old and growing so fast. It’s amazing how time flies but I wouldn’t trade a single moment I’ve spent with her. I often wonder if Brian ever thinks of her and what’s he’s missing. To my knowledge he doesn’t know if the baby was a boy or girl. It took a while, but he eventually stopped calling me at all times of the day and night. Sometimes I would answer his call, other times not. Every couple of weeks the phone number he was calling from would change and I guess instead of reloading minutes to his phone, he would just buy another one. Not one time has he ever asked about Chloe.

I’m still working four days a week at the pharmacy with Todd and I’ve also signed up for the certification program at the local community college. I attend classes two evenings a week and during the day on Friday. Beth has been the best sitter for Chloe and even has her making noises that I’m convinced will be “mama” pretty soon. I am so fortunate to have the Williams family in my life.

As for Todd, we spend a lot of time together away from work, time with and without Chloe. I feel bad for leaving Chloe with Beth so much but she swears it’s not a problem. Both she and Rick treat Chloe as though she is their own grandchild, and I guess, in some ways, she really is to them. Todd and I are more comfortable with each other every day and don’t feel as awkward being caught by his family for sharing an intimate moment. They treat me well, and I couldn’t ask for anything to be better than this. On the nights I have classes, Todd sits with Chloe until I come home so his mom can have a break and tend to things at home.

This morning when I arrive at work, I notice an envelope on the counter that I don’t recall seeing the previous night. I make my way around to all of the computers switching them on and making sure all the printers are loaded with labels. It’s the first of the month and we usually get pretty busy with customers coming in for their monthly refills so I want to have everything ready.

“What’s this?” I ask Jenny, the other tech, as I make my way back around to where the envelope rests on the counter. I notice it’s sealed and there’s nothing written on the outside. I hold the envelope towards the light but I’m unable to make out anything inside.

“I believe it’s for you.” She tells me without looking over at me.

“For me? Why would you think it’s for me?” I laugh.

I notice a smirk form on Jenny’s face and I instantly realize she’s involved with whatever is inside that envelope.

“Just open it.” She encourages.

I carefully peel back the back flap and remove the contents of the envelope. Inside is a card from a travel agency. On the front cover is the business logo along with the words “Let us help you plan your next trip.” I open the card and a business card falls to the counter along with a folder piece of paper. The paper is actually an email confirmation from a casino resort hotel in Las Vegas. As I scroll my eyes across the paper, I see Todd’s name along with the dates for which the room has been reserved. I’m confused as to why Jenny would think this is for me.